Sir Charles – The Overview…
Food: Smashed Avocado, Eggs Benedict, Buckwheat Pancakes
Ratings:
Food: 4/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Value: 4/5
The details…
Larger than you’d expect, Sir Charles expands back beyond an open serving area to a semi-industrialised fit out. Exposed copper piping and stark black structural features pepper the interior and of course there’s those oh so Melbourne squares of greenery and assorted pot plants in every corner.
Sir Charles divides nicely into small sections, mostly dominated by a large communal table surrounded by smaller individual tables. There are a couple of areas towards the open kitchen at the back which could separate off nicely for private dining. If you can find a time to visit when it’s quiet, you’ll definitely get the opportunity to appreciate the finer details more and the thought that went into this venue. Visit when it’s busy and you’ll see the sweeping overview of stark contrasts and the noisy vibrancy of brunch in the inner suburbs.
The menu is actually surprisingly creative. It’s hard now to find one dish on a menu that’s unique but Sir Charles have several: the smashed avocado with spiced peanut dukkah, the spiced sweet potato fritters and the Christmas pudding French toast all stood out to us. We decided to give the smashed avo a go, with the eggs benedict and the buckwheat pancakes from the specials menu.
The smell from the smashed avo is just wow. Sadly it arrived before my latte did – which for me is a big no, especially when the venue is only 50% full. However we won’t hold that against them too much for now. The cauliflower bites on the smashed avo add an awesome texture to it! They’re a really great idea. Despite its strong smell, the peanut dukkah actually just adds a mild spicy hint to the dish. It’s definitely a different avocado dish, and if you’re bored of the same old mix of flavours it’s a must try!
Our other two Sir Charles dishes also looked amazing and there was a good contrast with the plating. The Benedict looks small at first glance – served atop a roti and in the middle of this huge plate. In fact it’s actually a densely packed little mound of crumbed eggs, bacon and one surprisingly filling roti! It’s got a good level of spice to it too. It’s the first time we’ve ever seen crumbed eggs on a Benedict which was really cool and combined with the roti it was a very different eating experience. It’s another one of those dishes you’ve got to try if you’re a benny fan.
Finally the pancakes were a huge serve! The buckwheat makes them a little denser than your typical pancake and I challenge you to finish all three of these. They were pleasantly sweet and a great use of seasonal produce with the plums. The maple crunch was a really nice addition for the extra sugary hit. I was concerned the banana ice cream and plum combo wouldn’t work but the mild ice cream didn’t overwhelm that rich plum. It was a nicely done dish and would be a great addition to the permanent menu, with revolving seasonal fruits!
Everything else…
Website: https://www.instagram.com/sircharlesfitzroy/
Visual Menu: https://www.mryum.com/sircharles
Address: 121 Johnston Street, Fitzroy
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: Keep an eye out for the permit zones, they’re a bit intermittent, but there’s plenty of short stay free parking on streets off Johnston Street
Getting here on PT: It’s a minute or so’s walk from the 11 tram (alight at Johnston Street) or get the 200, 207 or 966 buses down Johnston Street (alighting at Brunswick Street)
Disclaimer: We dined as guests of Sir Charles, Fitzroy. Reviews are honest and based on our own personal experiences. We cannot guarantee things at a restaurant won’t change including, but not limited to, menu items and opening hours, so please confirm any details with the venue before visiting.