Fourth Chapter – The Overview…
Food: Cauliflower Fries, Sweet potato and ricotta waffles, Raspberry and Coconut Pancakes, Acai Bowl
Ratings:
Food: 4.5/5
Atmosphere: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Value: 4.5/5
The details…
With seating inside for about 40 people and a mix of double and larger tables along with the aforementioned courtyard, Fourth Chapter is a large space. Which is a good job, because this place gets busy. With pretty much every table full and a line of people waiting to be seated for nearly the whole time we were there, this is a very popular local haunt. Thankfully, the atmosphere never feels anything other than relaxed and chilled out, thanks mainly to the friendly and efficient staff and the careful positioning of the tables to avoid making the space feel cramped.
We stopped in for brunch and were happy to go with their menu recommendations of the cauliflower fries, the sweet potato waffles and açai bowl. We also opted for a cheeky extra sweet dish with the raspberry and coconut pancakes because, well, why not?
The cauliflower fries were a great way to start our visit. A large bowl with a generous amount of fries and accompanied by a lovely sriracha aioli dip, this would make for a good snack or, as we did, as a starter for a larger brunch. A lightly fried exterior gives way to some of the lightest cauliflower we’ve ever tasted. A great little dish that Fourth Chapter are rightfully proud of.
The colour certainly pops off the plate with the sweet potato and ricotta waffles, thanks to the almost glowing yellow turmeric pickle hollandaise that generously tops off this dish. And it doesn’t just look great, as they’ve really nailed the balance of flavours here too. The combination of the light, soft and fluffy waffles along with the gorgeous maple bacon, perfectly poached eggs and, of course, that wonderfully luminous hollandaise, each bite is a treat for the tastebuds.
Always a favourite brunch option of ours are pancakes, so we were looking forward to seeing what these guys could offer with their visually stunning vegan pancakes. Not surprisingly, their raspberry and coconut pancakes were another hit with us. A simple and minimal presentation, this is another dish that relies on that little pop of colour to catch the attention, with the raspberries and pancakes contrasting with the clean white of the coconut and ice cream. A scattering of meringue finishes off the dish. Again, the flavours in the dish easily match its great presentation, with the pancakes having that wonderful, sponge cake-like texture and a good sweet taste. The ice cream adds a great freshness that also helps soften the pancakes further, and the syrup and fruit add another layer of flavours, making for a highly recommended sweet dish.
Stuffed with coyo, berries, granola, coconut water and a generous dollop of peanut butter, the açai bowl was, in itself, an incredibly filling meal. A gorgeously fresh and healthy bowl of food, the only thing we could criticise with this dish is the presentation. While still looking pretty good (and the way its colours mimic the pancakes), we couldn’t help feeling a little let down when compared to how the dish can look when seen on instagram. Obviously the chef was trying something a little different today, but we just felt it didn’t quite hit the mark visually. Having said that, it tasted fantastic. Great flavours and a lovely mix of textures, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this dish every time.
Everything else…
Website: https://www.fourthchapter.com.au/
Address: 385 High Street, Prahran
Opening Times:
Mon 7am to 4pm
Tue 7am to 4pm
Wed 7am to 4pm
Thu 7am to 4pm
Fri 7am to 4pm
Sat 8am to 4pm
Sun 8am to 4pm
Parking: There’s plenty of short stay street parking nearby. While close to Chapel Street, it’s still a fair walk so you’re not really competing with people parking for the shops there.
Getting here on PT: It’s on the 6 tram route, just jump off at Lewisham Road, or take the 216 or 219 bus and alight at High Street.
Disclaimer: We dined as guests of Fourth Chapter, Prahran. Reviews are honest and based on our own personal experiences. We cannot guarantee things at a cafe won’t change including, but not limited to, menu items and opening hours, so please confirm any details with the venue before visiting.
