The Kettle Black Melbourne – Possibly The World’s Best Ricotta Hotcake

[Melbourne] From the folks behind the one of Melbourne’s top cafes Top Paddock is The Kettle Black – yet another café which has entered that list.

With beach-like umbrellas and green plants against a white terrace house on the outside, the lush setting already sets the mood: I want to enter this café.

But hold up and join the queue first.

Good thing is the wait was considerably fast since the café had a huge space. The three of us went at 10am and waited for about 40 minutes before getting a table indoors. The advice is to head down as early as possible to beat the line.

Interior-wise, this café was a dream, not just for those lovers of anything white but also for all café goers.

It was hard not to fall in love at first sight with the gold accented furniture, hipster tiled floor, marble bar, floor-to-ceiling windows… everything in general.

For coffee, you can expect either filter coffee made using Small Batch beans, or espresso made using Five Senses’ house blend.

And then there is the Hotcake with Ricotta, Blueberries, Pure Maple, Double Cream & Seeds (AUD18, SGD$17.85), rumoured to possibly be the best ricotta hotcake amongst cafés round the globe.
If you ask me if it is true, as of now.

It boasted the right amount of fluffiness and airiness and moisture especially since the bottom is drenched with the right amount of maple syrup.

With their pronounced crunch, the seeds and nuts were an added dimension to the hotcake. You could also find blueberries infused within.

Unfortunately the cured wallaby for our Chili Scrambled Eggs with Cured Flinders Island Wallaby, Feta & Leaves (AUD18, SGD$17.85) was sold out (at 10am!) and we had to settle for chorizo as replacement instead.

The scrambled eggs were not exactly spicy, but the chili flakes did give the scrambled eggs an added seasoning. And the best part of the eggs is definitely the creaminess.

After all the meh plates of scrambled eggs in Singapore, this felt like bliss.

A safe option we had was the Benedict Style Eggs with Braised Pork Shoulder & Aerated Hollandaise (AUD17, SGD$16.85).

We had nothing to complain about the poached eggs which had firm whites yet flowy, orangey yolks.
The aerated hollandaise was light and had good balance of sweet and salty. If only the tender braised pork could be a tad juicier.

Despite the horde of people we saw queuing outside, there was no pressure to leave at all from both staff and diners.

So go ahead, indulge guiltlessly in a leisurely breakfast/brunch/lunch. Just do not be the pot that calls the kettle black.

The Kettle Black
50 Albert Road, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia
Tel: +61 03 9088 0721
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 7am – 4pm, Sat – Sun 8am – 4pm
http://www.thekettleblack.com.au/
Google Maps – The Kettle Black