Ten Square Cafe
120 Hardware Street, CBD
03 9670 6522
Cafe
$$$
Food
- Fried Chicken and Cornbread Waffle
- Miso Charred Mackerel
- Date Hotcakes
The Good
It was a great start to our meal with the Fried Chicken and Cornbread Waffle. The two pieces of fried chicken were absolutely sensational. The light, incredibly crisp batter enclosed an inner that was perfectly cooked. The tender, juicy and succulent chicken was nicely accompanied by fresh off the press cornbread waffles. With a crunchy outer that made way for a dense, spongy inner made of cornbread, the slight savoury sensations were juxtaposed by the beautiful thyme infused maple syrup that held it all together. Alongside was a sweet bacon jam and pickled cauliflower which worked wonders balancing out the richer components of the dish.
We also enjoyed the Miso Charred Mackerel. The simple yet elegant presentation formed the foundation of the dish. The Mackerel itself was incredibly fresh and beautifully cooked, the slightly crisp outer and fragrant sensation made possible thanks to the light charring. Paired with plenty of fresh, crisp baby carrots, deliciously meaty and juicy shiitake mushrooms, as well as leek and turnip scattered throughout, this simple yet elegant dish certainly impressed.
Our brunch concluded on a high note with the Date Hotcakes. The hotcakes were so incredibly fluffy and spongy, the moist inner dotted with dates were well proportioned and didn’t overwhelm with sweetness. Topped with an irresistible Kumquat Curd that created a sensational, tangy sweetness and paired with a butterscotch sauce that added an intense richness, all contrasted by the crunchy goodness of banana crumbs and whole roasted hazelnuts, this was undoubtedly the best way to round off any meal.
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
Inheriting the space of the famed Hardware Society, Ten Square Cafe had big shoes to fill. We are glad to report though that Ten Square exceeding all our expectations, delivering an exceptionally refined, quality experience from start to finish.
From the quality produce, impeccable execution, paired with great coffee and warm, genuine service, this is what a Melbourne brunch should aspire to be.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Most definitely!
Penguineats would like to thank Ten Square for inviting us.