Set in an old church school house, this cafe is pretty stand-out when you walk along Church Street. Alongside it’s noticeable covered outdoor eating area, it also boasts a substantial number of tables inside the “school house”, which still retains many original features. It’s a gorgeous building, and ultimately, it sets the bar high for your expectations – and fortunately they are met. The coffee is delicious, and the extra touch of the beautiful latte art, really sits well with the vibe of the place. Alongside their brunch menu, they also offer a range of cakes which I unfortunately didn’t get to try on this occasion.
On the recommendation of a friend, I opted for the pulled pork benedict. I loved everything about this dish. The eggs were poached to perfection, the potato rosti were crisp and delicious and the beetroot hollandaise just balanced the dish nicely. I’d never had pulled pork as part of a breakfast before, and it complemented the eggs beautifully. I was actually surprised how much pork I got. It was soft and just fell apart in my mouth; this was definitely the main focus of this dish. All this and I didn’t even mention the beautiful plating yet! My other half ordered his usual eggs and bacon which he said were very enjoyable (I’m kind of running of out things to say about eggs and bacon now…)
There is a good atmosphere surrounding the cafe, it almost feels like a hub of the community, you are drawn to its bustling outside seating area, and the venue is popular with couples, friends and families alike. The only thing that lets Brighton Schoolhouse down slightly is the service. If you are used to Brighton, this seems to be fairly standard in the area, but for outsiders, the service is slooowwww. Lovely, but slow. We must have waited over 5 minutes just to receive menus, and another 10 before our coffee order was taken. It’s not a deal breaker by any means, this place is still amazing, it’s more one of those warning labels for both sides. For customers: WARNING, you will have to wait a while to be served, do not visit this cafe if in a hurry. For the cafe: WARNING, some people won’t wait that long, and they’ll never get to taste your amazing food.
Overall, we had a really enjoyable experience at Brighton Schoolhouse. It’s a little more pricey than other brunch spots, but you get top quality brunch and beautiful surroundings. It’s well worth the extra $$. I can’t wait to go back and try some of their other items on the menu, and maybe some of their delicious looking cakes too.