Shanklin Cafe
500 Tooronga Road, Hawthorn,
03 8592 4640
Cafe
$$
Food
- Portobello Mushroom
- Baked Eggs Shakshuka
- Nutella Stuffed Pancakes
The Good
The Portobello Mushroom was absolutely delicious. Fried to a nice crisp, the panko crumbling on the outer offered plenty of crunch and a nice coarse texture that perfectly juxtaposed the soft, juicy mushroom within. Well seasoned with an abundance of zaatar spices offering up an amazing flavour, layer with squeaky halloumi and coupled with a beautiful romesco sauce that added sweetness, this was a flavour overload that’s far from your ordinary mushroom dish. The drizzle chilli oil on top of two perfectly poached eggs were the cherry on top that made it the highlight of our meal.
We also enjoyed the Baked Eggs Shakshuka. Served piping hot in cast iron, we found the rich tomato base well balanced in sweetness and acidity. Within, the thick, chunky sauce carried an amazing aroma, loaded full of grilled chorizo, sweet red peppers, and juicy tomatoes. The goats cheese added a beautiful creaminess and depth of flavour to the already flavoursome dish, and when served with some crunchy toast, this heart dish certainly satisfied in more ways than one.
We rounded off our meal with the stunning Nutella Stuffed Pancakes. Piled high on top stood three generous scoops of ice cream garnished with an Oreo. Sat underneath were the pancakes themselves, cooked just so, slightly sense and giving way to an inner oozing with Nutella. With plenty of Oreo crumbs adding texture and accompanied by fresh strawberries and caramelise banana, this very rich and sweet dessert dish felt so right, satisfying our sweet tooth but never overwhelming in any way. Just delicious!
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
It’s no wonder Shanklin Cafe is such a hit with the locals. Their subtle, well balanced Middle Eastern twists to seemingly ordinary breakfast dishes definitely added much flare and impressed in more ways than one.
When coupled with such warm, hospitable and genuine caring service, they’ve really got a winning combination.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Most definitely! This was certainly one of the most enjoyable brunches we’ve had in a while!
Penguineats would like to thank owner Francis for inviting us to Shanklin Cafe.