ORA CAFE

It’s suburban, it’s quaint, it will ripple your nostril hairs with the provocative smell of perfectly roasted beans (courtesy of Proud Mary). I’m aroused. The froth will dance on your spoon, settle on your whiskers and you will order another. Kew is a hop, skip and a jump away from the CBD, and you’ll be skipping away tralala. It is also very pooch friendly. Parkes (my photographer), Morty (his Frenchy) and I (future dognapper as I have decided that Morty will be mine) parked ourselves outside on the terrace. Instantaneously, there were lattes, dog bowl and scratching behind the ears. Only the dog mind you, though I do like a good scratch. Magnificent service.

Yes, the coffee is perfection, the temperature perfect – there is no burning of the milk or tongues at this establishment. Also, it takes a highly skilled barista to froth my soy latte – which sounds a little bit sexual, but I take my coffee seriously and would never double entendre my froth.

The menu is creative and tickles many of my fancies. Fried duck egg, black pudding, breakfast radish and parsley salad? Pancakes with hazelnuts, pears, blueberries and milk ice? Fresh ricotta, smashed broadbeans, soft egg and mint?

I eventually settle upon the Woodbridge smoked trout, torn soft boiled egg, avocado and herb salad. Parkes went for the salt cod, poached eggs, bacon, rye and dehydrated leek. Morty just had water because he had already eaten and Shmackos were noticeably absent from the menu.

The trout looks as good as it tastes. It is fresh and perfectly summery. Ora have their own herb garden out the back and you can tell that their produce was dangling itself in the ground only a moment ago. The egg is divine, the yolk oozingly ochre, the avocado fresh and creamy. Melbourne is very spoilt for brunch but Ora is certainly worth the hop, skip and a jump. I must revisit to try the fried duck egg and black pudding next time. Though, you will be tempted to order so much coffee you’ll be awake for days.

Ora Cafe

156 Pakington Street

Kew VIC 3101
(03) 9855 2002

Tues-Fri, 7am-4pm; Sat-Sun, 8am-4pm