When it comes to brunch, everyone has their favourite go-to dish. My sister can't say no to smashed avo, my mum's a porridge fiend, my fiancé has his eye on a saucy brekky burger and my dad always opts for the chilli scramble. Me? I rarely select the latter – but a recent visit to Como Lane may have just turned me into a convert for life.
The brand new South Yarra café's perfectly fluffy scrambled eggs come served with Longrain's signature umami-bomb XO sauce, crispy chilli oil and the bright zing of pickled mushrooms – and let me tell you this recipe has been perfected. Poached peach pancakes with whipped vanilla cream also had us on cloud nine, and we certainly weren't mad about two tip-top toasties – a seeded mustard-slathered tuna melt and an ultra-creamy croque monsieur – courtesy of genius breadmakers Cobb Lane.
It's hardly a surprise Como Lane is magicking up some serious brunch brilliance, thanks to a very clever crew at the helm. There's Scott Pickett, the man responsible for bringing Longrain, Matilda, Smith St Bistrot, Estelle and Chancery Lane to Melbourne's dining playground, group executive chef and menu co-designer Stuart McVeigh, plus the duo's right-hand man on the pans – Como Lane's head chef Adam Lai (ex-Hardware Societe).
Slosh into the mix an ice-cold latte made with freshly brewed beans from Merchant Coffee Roasters and you're guaranteed a cute date made in heaven. And heaven is no hyperbolic overstatement, considering the picturesque charms of this new eatery and its sprawling, green piece of real estate; it's housed in the gardens of the magnificent Como House and Garden, after all.
Instead of pearly gates, you enter through splendid iron ones, past towering trees, a stunning fountain terrace and the historic mansion, which dates back to 1847. You can even book a tour if you're curious about the family who lived there (there's only one haunted room, we promise), but it's the café you'll be going back for.
The lunch menu goes beyond eggs and toasties, with classic Euro-leaning dishes like chicken schnitzel with celeriac, apple, horseradish and spiced butter sauce; wild mushroom and goats cheese quiche; and herb-dressed market fish; and you can enjoy your meal in the sleek, pistachio-hued space or out on the cute terrace. Once the liquor license lands, wines out in the sun are sure to be a major drawcard, and you can expect to see the venue's Parisian café aesthetic all over the 'gram.
Como Lane is open from 9am until 3pm from Monday to Saturday and from 10am on Sunday, at 20 Como Avenue, South Yarra. To find out more and make a booking, visit the website.
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