Alfred B.
Yelp
Tarts, near the Hyde Park end of Lake Street, has been a favourite breakfast spot for many years. It is an attractive and welcoming place - busy to be sure - with seating both inside and outdoors. Friendly staff add to the feel.
On this recent visit, for breakfast, we were, once more, happy with the food, coffee and ambience- and value.
Kicking off with good coffee - smooth, creamy, right temperature - not too hot, but warm enough to bring out the aroma and flavour of the beans - we moved on to the range of breakfast options - much more than simply bacon and eggs at Tarts.
The vegan Buddha bowl was a hit. Composed of quinoa, spiced chick peas, lightly fried mushrooms, sweet potato, avocado, spinach all topped with roasted red capsicum sauce, a scatter of sesame seeds and pomegranate seeds - it both looked the part, and tasted it. Complementary and contrasting flavours and textures abound - you could feel it doing you good!
Another of our choices - baked avocado filled with a perfectly runny oozy poached egg and smoked salmon, cheesy panko bread crumbs atop along with grilled asparagus, and toast - was yet another of those little bit different but oh so enjoyable dishes. Loved it.
Of course for those with a more traditional - dare I say it, staid - breakfast dream, the Grande more than meets expectations. Creamy with soft curds, the mound of scrambled eggs was just right - and with crisped bacon, chorizo, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and ciabatta was all that an old style brekkie eater could want.
Tarts maintains its reputation as a top breakfasting spot - and with other very trendy places in close proximity, its continuing popularity confirms the quality of the Tarts experience.