White Bricks
125 Mentone Parade, Mentone
0402 220 614
Cafe
$$
Food
- Breakfast Ramen
- Salmon Stack
- Matcha Souffle Pancakes
The Good
It was a scrumptious start to our brunch with the Breakfast Ramen. Stunningly presented and immaculately decorated, the sizeable bowl looked totally irresistible. On top, the generous helping of chasiu pork was beautifully charred with a slightly sweet glaze. The pork itself was succulent and full of flavour, with bits of caramelised fat that provided plenty of flavour and texture. Alongside was strands of fungus and fresh leaves of Bok Choy, well matched by the perfect cooked half boiled soy egg. Within, the strands of ramen noodles were cooked just right, exhibiting just the right chewy sensation without being overly soft nor hard, all perfectly soaking up the flavoursome pork based broth that’s been stewing for 18 whole hours. Sensational.
The Salmon Stack didn’t disappoint either. The fillets of beautifully seared salmon stacked high on top of one another to form a precarious hill. This was dressed with an exceptionally appetising umami mayo that carried a hint of spice, perfect for bringing out the freshness of the tender salmon. Underneath the salmon, we found wholesome slices of creamy avocado and lightly sauteed leaves of earthy spinach. Along with pickled ginger and fluffy brown rice, this was one rice bowl that just kept on piling the flavours.
We concluded on a sweet note with the stunning Matcha Souffle Pancakes. Cooked to order, these pancakes were the definition of fresh! The tall, fluffy stack of souffle pancakes were beautifully spongy yet light, with a slight airy, eggy quality that perfectly soaked up the slowly melting dollop of chai ice cream. This was accompanied by the well-controlled sweetness of the matcha vanilla custard, which was rounded out by the slight tangy sensations of the Yuzu peel. A very well balanced dessert that simply hit the spot!
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
Borrowing from his experience as head chef at No.19, owner and chef Mino offers patrons and refined yet affordable brunch experience with a distinctly Asian twist.
Located in the beachside suburb of Mentone, White Bricks offers a seasonal menu that’s well thought out, perfectly executed, and utterly delicious.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Most definitely! One of the best feeds in the South-East!
Penguineats would like to thank owner Mino for inviting us to White Bricks.