This week we were invited to visit Niche on Bridge. Niche on Bridge is not your typical Melbourne cafe. Even in the middle of a refit, it was sleek, suave and reminded me more of a hotel restaurant than a Richmond eatery.
This place oozes professionalism and Daniel and his team went out of their way to make us welcome. All staff were smart and polite and it really did leave the feel of a place I’d be happy to host a business meeting, and well as somewhere comfortable enough to dine with my family. I noticed several families with young children arrive as we were dining, which further proved for me that this place will cater for everyone.
They open right through from 7am to 10pm offering breakfast until 5pm, a small lunch menu and a wider menu for dinner. There’s also lighter snacks available, such as toasties or cakes. We were there early and ordered from their brunch menu. I went for the blueberry and ginger pancakes (they are more like hotcakes), which I have to say were the biggest and best I’ve had so far (sorry penta). It is literally a hot cake – being the size of and thickness of a small sponge cake. Proudly described as “their most instagrammable dish” it plates beautifully, but also tastes amazing. The hot cakes were so light and fluffy. The ginger was just a hint, which pleasantly complemented the more prominent blueberry flavour. The ice cream was soft and smooth and was just enough to provide an extra element to the dish. It was thoughtfully presented with blueberries and compote between the two hotcakes, ensuring both were moist and full of flavour. Could I finish them? Of course not! Despite being delicious, the portion size is crazy large – making it great value, and it would be ideal to share as a sweet treat or as a breakfast dessert after ordering a lighter main each.
Mr boring has returned to form (although he did help me eat some of my hotcakes) and ordered scrambled eggs, bacon and hash brown. The presentation matched niches sleek image, and he found all elements enjoyable. He particularly noted the hash brown – which to me looked like a large triangular chip and got two thumbs up from him. My latte was very enjoyable. The coffee here is strong and sharp, with a slight bitter taste, a real one to wake you up in the morning. It felt like a nice fit for the restaurant actually, not scared to make an impression.
Overall, we really enjoyed our visit to Niche, and while not a huge cafe, it’s a comfortable size. It felt like somewhere which could comfortably sit at the base of a high rise in the CBD with its slick interior and strong coffee, but its Richmond location softens it, giving it an eclectic audience and a wider reach. The food is high quality, and well plated, with generous portions. Definitely worth stopping by if you are in the area.