Huxtaburger

January 27, 2013 7 Comments

Opening hours:
Mon – Thur: 11:30am – 10pm
Fri – Sat: 11:30am – 11pm
Sun: 11:30am – 10pm

Coffee: No coffee provided

Mr LB:
“Here’s the situation. It’s 3pm on a Sunday and you have either just woken up from last nights events, untangled yourself from a 18-hole golf game or for one reason or another you haven’t eaten something substantial. It’s not your fault, you were just too busy in your own world and now you have a need to fulfill the aching sensation in your stomach. You act fast in search of a café that is at open passed 4pm and has a kitchen still running full steam. You cast your net high and low knowing travel time must be short. First you try Pomona, but they’ve already closed. Next you try Milkwood and then Pope Joan, only to realise coffee and sweets are your only options. I have played the brunch chasing game on a number of occasions, with a terrible success rate. Whilst this situation actually occurred, we knew of one famous little spot in Collingwood that would settle my needs. It’s a little burger place that many of you should know all too well – Huxtaburger.

Touted as one of Melbourne’s best burger places, Huxtaburger has an unusually a tiny space. What they have done with that space though, is truly magical. As you enter to order it’s as if you are transported into an American diner, where you would expect the cashier to speak in a high-pitched American accent. Slightly annoying but charismatic, she would blurt out the orders to the grill man. For many good reasons this isn’t the case, but as I sat and allowed Miss SL to order for me, I noticed the vibe that Huxtaburger created. A diverse collection of people from all walks of life hanging out to enjoy a fine burger. Now that is cool.

Endeavour 2012 reserve pale & Fever – Tree Premium Ginger Beer

A beer was necessary for the warm weather and I went for the unique Endeavour 2012 reserve pale [~$8]. It was smooth and mildly bitter. It had a slight heaviness to it, which makes me think this type of beer could only be enjoyed as a once-off occasion. However, it was a good match with the Huxtaburger – beef pattie, mustard, mayo, tomato sauce, tomato, cheese, lettuce, pickles [$8.5] that I ordered to go with it!

Huxtaburger – beef pattie, mustard, mayo, tomato sauce, tomato, cheese, lettuce, pickles

If a picture could say one word about this burger, it would most definitively be ‘sexy’! It was a mouthwatering, eye poppingly good burger that was full of all the characteristics that would typically result in food envy. But, don’t just judge this burger by its looks, as taking a mighty bite is a little bit of heaven.

The bun was super light and fluffy with a subtly sweet taste. All of the flavours were spot on, resulting in pure satisfaction. The lettuce had that fresh crunch. The house-made mayo and mustard was rich and cream. The pattie had melted cheese and was tender with a true beef taste. In my mind it was the perfect burger. All the flavours were executed perfectly and once you’ve finished your meal you’re not left feeling like you had just eaten a hippo.

I’m not prepared to say that Huxtaburger has the best burgers in town. What I will say is that the experience of ordering a burger and sitting either inside or outside is something institutionally Melbourne. It is certainly a burger that surely would be in the top five of many peoples favorite burger joints. If you haven’t been yet, go immediately and order a burger. If you haven’t been in a while, go again and enjoy that Melbourne experience”.

Miss SL:
“Huxtaburger is a place that needs no introduction. The spin-off to the infamous Huxtable restaurant, it has a reputation of its own, known for take-away American-style burgers that are freshly made, hearty and down-right delicious.

The intent of the diner is immediate when you arrive – simply cooked burgers using fresh ingredients, cold beers and chips. On a summer afternoon, nothing could be better. As soon as you enter the crammed space, black and white printed diamond tiles laden the wall displaying the limited menu options. If you keep an eye out, there’s even a secret entrance to a wine bar / restaurant through an inconspicuous looking silver door.

I’m a total fiend for spicy food and opted for the Denise (the hot one) – Huxtaburger with Jalapeno and sriracha mayo [$9.50] with crinkle cut chips [bigger $3] to share with Mr LB and Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer [~$7].

There wasn’t really any available seating outside and we quickly dived in to share a table built for six with some strangers. I gave my Fever-Tree ginger beer a shake and what was instantly noticeable was the bits of ginger floating around inside the bottle. The bottle was quite small for the price but sometimes life is about quality, not quantity, and this was certainly the case here. It was sharp and very refreshing with the ginger flavour very prominently coming to the forefront of the palate.

My original intention when ordering the burger was only to eat half of it and give the rest to Mr LB, who was ravenous. As soon as I took my first bite though, I knew that all my good intentions were soon to go out the window. This burger was mine, and I was not sharing.

Denise (the hot one) huxtabuger with Jalapeno & sriracho mayo w crinkle cut chips

The bun was made of brioche – shiny on the top and extremely light in texture. It was like biting into clouds. The lettuce was incredibly crispy and the wagyu beef patty was just incredibly juicy. There was something about them that made me reminisce of home-made patties that were barbecued on the grill. It usually takes a fair bit of heat to raise a sweat under my brow but this burger actually got me there! The Jalapeno’s combined with the sriracha mayo really created a cocktail of spices.

As previously stated in my post about Hooked, I’m a massive fan of well-cooked chips. Crinkled cut chips, in my opinion, can never steer you wrong. I’m not sure if it’s the serrated edges that enable the chip to fry perfectly crisp, but something about their shape ensures that they’re well-cooked and golden brown.

Overall, Huxtaburger was well worth the trip. The burgers were the perfect size to be enjoyed – they were filling without creating the ‘stuffed hippo’ effect. Now to answer the question on everyone’s lips – are they worth the hype? The answer? Yes they are!”

Final thought: “Brioche buns as light as clouds”

Huxtaburger on Urbanspoon

Filed under Burger, Collingwood, North, Other Brunch Foods Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gardiner & Field

August 30, 2012 4 Comments

Opening hours:
Mon – Fri: 7am – 4pm
Sat – Sun: 8am – 4pm

Coffee: Gardiner and Field house blend, Maling Room Single Origin

Note: Cash only

Mr LB:
“The waiting game. It’s one of life true test of character, strength and endless entertainment when people go bananas with frustration. Some people can wait forever, while others see the opportunity cost of waiting for a table too high and immediately leave (most notable during my recent visit to Perth). Whilst waiting isn’t the most amazing or glamorous pastime, it’s where we found ourselves on a bright and sunny Winters day in a leafy patch in Malvern. Waiting to try the very new offerings of Gardiner and Field during their opening weekend.

The location for Gardiner and Field is perfect within a much needed location for Armadale; not on Glenferrie Road but close enough for brunch-goers to consider the small detour. Melbournians love to jump on new hotspots and since it was Gardiner and Field‘s opening weekend, the venue was overwhelmed with customers and the wait was rather long. I will admit at one stage I was willing to bail, but we were finally seated out in the lovely sun on a rather cool long bench. It was hard to get waiter service given how packed and potentially understaffed they were, but it also made things a little more difficult as a large group of friends-of-the-staff were very chatty to the waiter. I don’t expect the red carpet welcome but I would have liked to have been given some water, a menu and the opportunity to order a coffee once seated.

After all of the commotion with the unfortunate long wait and lack of service, it was time to finally enjoy a long black [$3] from Gardiner and Field‘s own unique blend. It was good to see that given the owners, Jesse and Nick who have had a wealth of experience from other well-established cafes, had made sure their coffee was a signature element and not just another already known bean. My long black was of a high quality with a fantastic crisp taste when it first hits your palate, from first to last drop. On this occasion, I found it difficult to identify any defining flavour, but I did notice a slight fruity taste lingering on the back of my palate. Overall my long black was fantastic for an original house blend – something that has to be given a lot of credit for. From my perspective they nailed the coffee component straight off the bat, although according to Daisy her mocha needed a bit more TLC.

The menu options at Gardiner and Field were limited but what they lacked in options they made up with quality. They could have gone with the usually suspects but they should be applauded for broadening the brunching menu. Who wouldn’t be interested in Broad bean, pea, mint and feta mash with prosciutto, and poached eggs [$17] or the Brekkie roll with ham, fried eggs, cheese, tomato relish and rocket [$10]. Unfortunately for me, the long wait had made me a little disorientated and the desire for brunch had slowly died with an “unch” becoming more appealing. I ended up going for the Spiced Lamb Burger with roasted capsicum, rocket and tzatziki on a toasted challah bun served with chips [$16.50].

Spiced Lamb Burger with roasted capsicum, rocket and tzatziki on a toasted challah bun served with chips

Even though the small buns were very inviting, they weren’t reflective of the chefs original vision. We learnt later by talking to one of the owners that they didn’t anticipate such a high volume of brunch-goers, creating a short supply of food and a lot of creative improvisation by the chef. The burger was intended to be more of man-sized. Putting aside pre-planning and first weekend opening issues, my meal still looked yum and surprisingly tasted quite good. The lamb patties had a nice spice that was pleasantly acknowledged without being over dominating. The tzatziki sauce was the right texture to complement the pattie. My favourite element of the burger was the roasted capsicum as it was cooked to perfection as there wasn’t any trace of charcoal or being too soft. It delivered a good smokey taste and the moisture from the capsicum made it a notable burger.

Spiced Lamb Burger with roasted capsicum, rocket and tzatziki on a toasted challah bun served with chips

Like any skill, sport or profession that we take up, we are not expected to be the best on our first, second or even third attempt. Mistakes are a part of life, but it’s how you react to the mistake which I believe defines us. Whilst there was the wait and the unfortunate event of running out of ingredients, there were also some fantastic elements of Gardiner and Field worth checking out. Such mistakes can be rectified and with a little time to work out their kinks I believe they will deliver a fantastic brunch for all.”

Miss SL:
“When fellow blogger Daisy invited us to join her for brunch, we could hardly say no. Her super friendly online (and real life!) personality makes her a real treat and so we were delighted to catch up with her at the opening weekend for new inner suburban cafe Gardiner and Field.

The day was bright and full of hope as we waited outside amongst the hoard of fellow brunchers, our name patiently on the list. Time ticked away as we compared notes about our favorite dining experiences and the crowds seemed to swell – not quell – as we went on. A peek inside the venue revealed a rather small layout – the barista station was well adorned but the interior dining space was tiny, seating mainly tables for two, with only one or two tables suitable for groups. No wonder the wait was so long!

Quite literally one hour and ten minutes (!) later we were seated at the far end of an outdoor wooden bench. It was the longest wait I’d ever had to endure for a seat but our newfound company had kept my spirits high.

Waiters were hard to come by in the outside area and so we pounced on one walking by, ordering our coffees, which in my case was a double espresso [$3] of the house blend Gardiner and Field.

Our coffees came out and I was unsure if I had been given a double or single shot, as the cups were quite wide. The flavour of the coffee were lovely and had a notable hit of berries. Daisy didn’t feel her mocha was up to scratch, and after having a sip I could see why – it was far too watery and didn’t have a very prominent chocolate flavour.

It was time to order and the menu looked pretty yum. I’d decided on the Baked rhubarb and strawberries rolled in French toasted tortillas with orange, mint and a sprinkle of granola [$14.50] with a Snickers milkshake [$5] to accompany it, because I’m a guts. Daisy had ordered the Spiced Quinoa, pumpkin and chickpea fritters with flatbread, spiced yoghurt, coriander and poached eggs [$16.50] and a Cherry Ripe milkshake [$5].

Whilst we chatted as we waited for our orders to come through it was evident the cafe was entirely overwhelmed with the crowds that had arrived to try their food. Groups of four were milling around inside, outside and on the roadside. The maitre de looked rather stressed and I couldn’t help but sympathise with her.

Left: Cherry Ripe milkshake, Right: Snickers milkshake

My milkshake was first out and it was delicious! With real Snickers blended into the drink, my crunchy nut and chocolate milkshake was curbing my hunger pangs. Daisy’s Cherry Ripe milkshake was also quite reflective of the name, and rather delicious!

When our dishes came out I was pretty satisfied with what I saw. While the serving sizes seemed a little small I knew that it would be enough given my milkshake was well on its way to filling up my belly.

Baked rhubarb and strawberries rolled in French toasted tortillas with orange, mint and a sprinkle of granola

My main dish was lovely; the rhubarb and strawberries were sweet without being sickening. The French tortillas were a marvelous idea – somewhere between a French crepe and a Mexican tortilla. The shell was beautifully cooked and was not too sweet. The granola was generous and wasn’t just there for its looks – they created crunch, adding some dynamics in what was served. The orange was really juicy and cleansed the palate just when the strawberries and rhubarb became a bit routine.

Daisy shared one of her quinoa balls with us and it was packed with a cumin punch. The balls themselves were a little soft and fell apart as soon as I stuck my fork into it. I suspect this is because the kitchen had run out core ingredients, as I didn’t taste the pumpkin or the chickpeas (I think the chickpeas would have helped the balls stick together?!). It was still delicious though!
We couldn’t help but overhear one of the waiters talking to a customer about how they had such a high demand the previous day that they’d run out of bread! Yikes!

Spiced Quinoa, pumpkin and chickpea fritters with flatbread, spiced yoghurt, coriander and poached eggs

I had a taste of Mr LBs lamb burger and it was delicious, but the stand out element on his dish was definitely the chips. Being a big chip fiend I have to say they were extremely well made. They were a little flakey on the batter, golden brown, CRISPY, fluffy on the inside and perfectly salted. YUM!

As we were coming towards the end of our meals I noticed that the crowds had suddenly disappeared. An announcement shortly after was made to remaining brunchers that the kitchen had closed early. We talked to one of the owners – Jesse and he said they didn’t expect so many people on opening weekend and that they’d basically run out of food in the kitchen!

Overall the food at Gardiner and Field was good, but they need a bit of time to organise and prepare themselves for the weekend crowds. Hopefully they’ll sort themselves out for next weekend and order more supplies like bread rolls, bread and chickpeas! These guys are definitely worth keeping an eye out for and if you decide to go I’d heavily suggest you keep it to a group of two and go early morning or on a weekday. Happy brunching!”

Final thought: “Cafe worth watching… definite up and comer. Suitable for pairs – not groups”

Gardiner and Field on Urbanspoon

Filed under Armadale, Burger, Other Brunch Foods, South, Vegetarian Breakfast Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Brunching on the Streat

August 23, 2012 1 Comment

Opening hours:
Mon – Fri: 7am – 4pm
Sat – Sun: 8.30am – 4pm

Coffee: Social Roasting Company

Note: STREAT cafe replaces what was formally the Social Roasting Company. See our review of Social Roasting Company here.

Mr LB:
“If you have ever watched Steve Jobs’ Standford University Commencement Speech there is an interesting statement he makes, which is confronting and slightly morbid: ‘death is the single best invention- it’s a life changing agent to clear out the old for the new’. We all have our favourite things – be it ‘that old shirt’ right down to where we eat for brunch. It gives us certainty on what to expect and is consistent, ensuring a positive experience time and time again. However, being on the top and providing a constant level of happiness can never be sustained over long periods of time unless there is change. It’s with this that we are saddened to see our beloved Social Roasting Company change hands over to an organisation tackling youth homelessness head on, STREAT.

With a lot of small cafe acquisitions, my biggest fear is they really fluff up what was once a terrific brunching institution. However, STREAT must have performed their due diligence thoroughly. It’s immediate when you walk into STREAT that it’s not Social Roasting Company. There is intriguing artwork hanging to the left upon entering, which can be purchased if you are that way inclined. The cafe space itself is cleverly designed with traffic sign fixtures -think hanging lights with a lamp shade made out of a stop sign and round about arrows fixed to the barista station. Apart from the noticeable changes, the cafe ambiance remains the same – chilled with a rustic assortment of furniture where one can enjoy some coffee, food and the weekend paper.

Once we sat down, the first thing on my mind was to order a long black [$3.50]. My coffee had a clear, inviting coffee head which was followed with a lovely, smooth tasting coffee. I wouldn’t say it’s as smooth as a Proud Mary blend but it’s surely close to the mark. It was a good coffee and its shame there was no single blend on offer.

I had decided that it was time to remove myself from the safety of my favourite dish The Gather – poached eggs, wilted spinach, mushroom, hash brown, tomato and basil pesto on seeded sourdough [$18]. I’ve been trying to convince Miss SL to visit Huxtaburger lately, and my burger craving has starting to rapidly build. With this in mind, I went with what my gut wanted – a Beef burger with a grilled grass-fed Gippsland beef pattie, bacon, cheese, aioli, relish, salad + fries [$15.50].

Beef Burger with a grilled grass-fed Gippsland beef pattie, bacon, cheese, aiolo, relish, salad + fries

It was an impressive all-rounder burger to give any good pub a run for its money. I particularly like the duo sauce – the top bun was a fantastic tomato relish with wholegrain mustard seeds and the base bun had a great soft aioli. The beef patty had a true authentic taste without feeling too heavy or chewy and was made completed with melted cheese (yum!). The chives on top of the bacon was a great touch and added a  nice herb flavour to the burger. While it may not look like the largest burger, you will certainly be filled or even possibly defeated by this monster.

Beef Burger with a grilled grass-fed Gippsland beef pattie, bacon, cheese, aiolo, relish, salad + fries

The saying is ‘out with the old and in with the new’ and I think STREAT have set themselves up perfectly to carry the baton that Social Roasting Company had developed over the years. It’s the time now to look at the street ahead and improve on what has been provided. We look forward to what happens next.”

Miss SL:
“Social Roasting Company has long been a favourite of Mr LB and myself. In fact, it was the first cafe we ever went together, starting our enduring passion for Melbourne brunch. Over the years we have returned to try different things on the menu, always marveling at the wonderful job Social Roasting Company did for Melbourne’s homeless. It made sense that, when we finally returned, it had been taken over by STREAT – an organisation dedicated to feeding the world’s homeless by teaching them life skills in the hospitality industry.

STREAT already has quite the reputation with their soup cart in Federation Square, which opened in 2010. They have been busily building their brand – now with a total of two cafes and two ‘streat’ carts fully operational.

We arrived to a mild change in decor. The lighting fixtures had changed, a zebra crossing meanders across the side of the barista station but overall the cafe maintained a relaxed environment. We helped ourselves to a table and pondered over our options, happy that they decided to stick with the whole ‘giant chalkboard menu’ thing that Social Roasting Company had going for it. The service was a little sloppy to start off with – the girl who was taking orders and seating customers practically ignored us and didn’t really attempt to chit chat or make us feel welcome (we later found out that she was intensely hungover – her spirits lifted towards the end of our meal).

I wasn’t in the mood for coffee and so decided on an old fashioned banana milkshake [$6] and- oddly enough – combined it with the Baked eggs with hash browns, cherry tomatoes, olives, Spanish onions and basil with toasted pide [$16]. My drink came out in one of those marvelous old school milkshake mixers – which equates to about 1.5 milkshakes in a normal milkshake glass (I’ve done the maths before!). My drink was really delicious in that banana-lolly kind of way. It was the right thickness, sweet and cooling.

Banana milkshake

My baked eggs came out and our waitress was singing to herself – her mood was lifting. My eggs didn’t look too shabby at all. I knew immediately that the eggs themselves on top would be slightly overcooked, but I didn’t let that stop me from enjoying my meal. When I cut into the first egg, it oozed very slowly out of its holdings. Thick and gooey, it was a lovely mix with the tomatoes used as the main sauce. The second egg, unfortunately, was too far overdone, and didn’t ooze at all. What a shame. The hash browns didn’t really taste like hash browns at all – they were more like much-needed chunks of potato, breaking up the flavours and adding density.

Baked eggs with hash browns, cherry tomatoes, olives, Spanish onions and basil with toasted pide

I’ve come to realise recently that I’m fussy with chorizo and so while the sausage used here was nice, it was not spicy enough for my liking. While I sound like I’m complaining about this dish, I’m actually not. Overall the meal was quite delicious, but it seemed to miss that spark that I’ve come to expect of good quality cafes.

Baked eggs with hash browns, cherry tomatoes, olives, Spanish onions and basil with toasted pide

STREAT have done a good job transitioning into taking over Social Roasting Company. I like that they have maintained some of the elements from their predecessor, including the best parts of the menu and the coffee. While their service levels perhaps needs a bit of tightening, the quality of the food that came out was as good as any other cafe. I certainly think giving the homeless a try to re-establish themselves is a great initiative – so why not give yourself a feed and do something good for society with the money you spend? Get yourself down to STREAT and see if you can spot the difference, because I’m sure you won’t be able to!”

Final Thought: “Brunching for a good cause”

Streat on Urbanspoon

Filed under Baked Eggs, Burger, Flemington, Other Brunch Foods, West Tagged with , , , , ,

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