Pope Joan - East Brunswick
Date: Wednesday 24th August 2011
Restaurant: Pope Joan - East Brunswick
Address: 77 - 79 Nicholson Street, East Brunswick
Phone: 03 9388 8858
Commentary : Sarah Andrew
This venue is always busy….seriously busy! Opening in July 2010 by Ben Foster and Matt Wilkinson, time has not stopped. This venue offers breakfast and lunch Monday to Sunday (7:30am - 3:30pm - ish). You will find somewhere to sit and sip out front, inside and out back in the garden. Whether driven by popularity or an original master plan, there will be extended hours and a bar offering in the near future.
The focus is on quality, affordability, local produce and friendly service. The wine list has a Victorian focus and changes with a frequency that requires constant attention as to what's new - a bonus to the regulars.You will find around eight wines (five by the glass), around four boutique beers and a cider, small but well formed!
Offering an ‘all day menu’ the selection is divided into traditional breakfast fare, savoury with boiled, beaten and fried eggs, sandwiches plus an option for kids. In addition there is a daily ‘specials board’ offering three to four plates from midday.
I have dropped in for a take-away coffee on a number of occasions and always promised myself to allocate time for a meal. So recently I did just that and stayed for a late lunch. I was in one of those indecisive moods so welcomed the suggestion by new recruit Lori Smith of a special consisting of kipfler potato, soft boiled egg capocollo, shaved fennel, green beans & seeded mushroom dressing….yum!
I still left with my regular take-away coffee but felt some-what satisfied that I had experienced Pope Joan from the inside. I am reluctant to share this with others for fear of permanently losing a summer seat outside - BUT wait for summer and this will be an outdoor oasis!
If you have been you will nod knowingly at this review and if you haven’t it is definitely worth checking out. My only recommendation would be to arrive early: early for breakfast, early for lunch and early for post lunch drinks.
Enjoy!