Turtle Cafe, Elwood
If there's one place that most consistently follows the words "you should try..." it would have to be the Turtle Cafe, 1 Ormond Road, Elwood, Tel +61 3 9525 6952. So this morning I did. I wasn't at all impressed with the coffee, but the Turtle Benedict was very good.
They describe it as poached eggs and bacon on house-made bubble and squeak, topped with hollandaise. But it's more like potato croquette than what I would call bubble and squeak... even if they do slip a couple of peas and a bit of carrot into the mix. In any event, it's all good. The eggs and hollandaise, in particular.
But the coffee left a bitter taste in my mouth... literally and figuratively. The first cup had that dirty, bitter, watery taste that I normally associate with a skim milk cappucino. After a few brave sips I sent it back, on the assumption they I'd received a skinny by mistake. But the second cup was much the same, so I'm struggling to understand how such good coffee (Genovese) could be made to taste so bad.
The Turtle lives in a funny old wedge-shaped building in the middle of a multi-road suburban junction. Kind of like a cross between New York's Flatiron building and an abandoned slum house. But despite the run-down feel (or perhaps because of it) there's a steady stream of punters who keep coming back for Turtle eggs, pancakes, pikelets, and more.
13/20 "bubble and squeak"
They describe it as poached eggs and bacon on house-made bubble and squeak, topped with hollandaise. But it's more like potato croquette than what I would call bubble and squeak... even if they do slip a couple of peas and a bit of carrot into the mix. In any event, it's all good. The eggs and hollandaise, in particular.
But the coffee left a bitter taste in my mouth... literally and figuratively. The first cup had that dirty, bitter, watery taste that I normally associate with a skim milk cappucino. After a few brave sips I sent it back, on the assumption they I'd received a skinny by mistake. But the second cup was much the same, so I'm struggling to understand how such good coffee (Genovese) could be made to taste so bad.
The Turtle lives in a funny old wedge-shaped building in the middle of a multi-road suburban junction. Kind of like a cross between New York's Flatiron building and an abandoned slum house. But despite the run-down feel (or perhaps because of it) there's a steady stream of punters who keep coming back for Turtle eggs, pancakes, pikelets, and more.
13/20 "bubble and squeak"
posted by Jamie Wodetzki at 2:10 pm
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5 Comments:
Mushrooms at the Turtle are to die for...I agree about the coffee quote though.
Thanks for a great read - always enjoy your reviews of places outside of our area.
Rachael
Dont go there for dinner - absolutely terrible! Breakfast is consistently good - agree coffee can be hit and miss. Service is much better - they must have stopped hiring their staff our the front of Revolver each Sat morning...
Long term problem with Elwood is the service. Not sure what is going on but its like you have to be in the 'in crowd' in order to get good smiles and service. Not warm and friendly, only min politely friendly. And this is common complaint we hear from all our Elwood friends as well.
Sure it used to be known for its breakfasts but can't say that any more and its more commonly known for lacking warmth and service smiles.
Worked in the turtle as an alien for a year and thought the food was great, Amran taught me all I know now when it comes to great poached eggs! Miss you guys xx
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