Review: Jack the Geezer, Middle Park

Jack the Geezer is a popular spot, managing to achieve the perfect cafe culture that Melbourne is so famous for. It’s in a really neighbourhood spot, welcoming everyone from local dog walkers, to young families, friends and older couples. It’s bigger than you think, so make sure you take the time to pop in and look around for a table (check behind the counter) even if it seems full at first glance. Also, their back room is a great spot for a large group or private function.

Their menu is extensive and eclectic drawing on a variety of cuisines to create an interesting Melbourne brunch experience. There’s lots of choice and many dishes cater well for dietary requirements without having to make alterations. We tried the Middle Eastern, Buckingham benedict and French toast. 

The Benny was the most traditional breakfast dish of the three. Small and compact, we were surprised how filling it was, and we loved the choices of bacon, sausage, ham or smoked salmon toppings at no extra cost. We also liked that it was served on fluffy crumpets instead of the traditional sourdough; it made the whole dish feel lighter and we loved the vivid yellow pop of the saffron hollandaise. 

For a healthier option, definitely give the Middle Eastern a try. The warm falafel makes it feel so much more than a typical salad. There’s a nice texture from the pine nuts and the rosemary and basil dressing gave it lots of flavour. It doesn’t have the sweet element of many middle eastern dishes, and the salad is quite traditional, making it more of a widely appealing option to anyone looking for a healthy lunch. Where usually with these dishes, I eat all the good bits first, leaving myself with a pile of dry leaves and nothing to mix them with, I actually found this dish had so much variety that I was topping up my fork with hummus to make sure none was left behind.

Finally, we cancelled out the healthy dish by ending with the beautiful French toast. While it looks huge, as it was thick chunky slices, the bread was airy light. It had a pleasant sweetness from the maple syrup and a nice assortment of fruit around the side. It’s not an in-your-face, bells-and-whistles dessert, it’s a stripped back, sweeter brunch option that doesn’t make you feel full or on a sugar rush after a few mouthfuls. We loved finishing our meal of on this delicious sweet note, and hope to spend a lot more time at Jack the Geezer this summer.