Tucked away beside the rush of South Yarra Station and underneath a residential apartment block, Sth Central stands as a local gem in one of Melbourne’s most cafe and restaurant dense suburbs, catering to the locals with simple food done well, and with fresh produce.
With their new schedule to open for breakfast, Sth Central have just released a brand new breakfast menu, featuring signature dishes that will help you through that early morning. My curiosity peaked with the news, so I went down to this chic lunch and dinner restaurant to see if breakfast will live up to the standards of the rest of the menu.
Their Parisian styled, street-front outdoor furniture is perfect for these Autumn mornings, as it’s hard to pass up the opportunity for a meal in the bright sunlight and crisp morning air. Upon walking through the large tinted doors, we are met with a trendy space, a charcoal palette paired with bursts of subtle colour and industrial materials of steel and leather. The raw yet refined space lays the foundation for their meals – rustic but nonetheless, sophisticated and polished.
The menu is exciting to read, involving all essential elements to rouse your appetite. With an extensive drinks menu, Sth Central don’t make it easy to just choose one. Take your pick from coffee, tea, or go on a health-kick with their range of smoothies and juices. With a quick glance to the ‘something special’ section, I had to try their Breakfast Martini ($15) of Westinds Gin, lemon, marmalade and mint.
A slightly sweet hint from the marmalade, blended with the powerfully zesty punch, sure to getting you buzzing and ready for the day ahead. While it may be controversial to have alcohol in the early morning, it’ll be worth the sacrifice while you grace the day with a kick, as the longer you leave it to sit, the sourer it gets.
To see gnocchi on the breakfast menu was quite unusual, however the best dish to choose. The Breakfast Gnocchi ($21) with smoked salmon tartare, beetroot, poached egg and lemon was fresh, mouth-watering and beautiful on the eyes.
The gnocchi were beautifully soft, and seared on the outside for a great contrast in texture, with added capers to charmingly compliment the freshness of the salmon that is seasoned well.
Next we chose the smoked tomatoes, soft goats curd, Sth salsa, pickled chillies, poached egg & toast ($18) which featured a beautiful combination of flavours. The tomatoes were juicy and carried an aromatic smoky flavour from the new Inka grill introduced in their kitchen. Their Sth salsa is a beautiful addition to the dish, seasoned perfectly with capers, shallot and various other herbs. The heat packed from the chillies are paired gracefully with the smooth tartness of the goat’s curd, and all harmonised well as the yolk of the poached egg oozed out to bring the dish together.
If you’re in search of a new breakfast hotspot, Sth Central should be your number one choice. Sit outside and enjoy the sun of the early morning, or be seated inside with the trendy monochromatic interior, the food will not disappoint, as you’ll be left wanting to try every little bit of the menu.
Sth Central
Address: 4 Yarra St, South Yarra
Contact: (03) 8679 6755
Website: http://sthcentral.com.au/
Opening Hours: Seven days; 7am-late
Headline image provided and used with permission
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