There’s a solid chance you’ve been on a wander through the Cross, blinked, and missed the Silly Tart Kitchen on Kellett Street – despite the bright graphic murals that line the façade of the place. Inside, it’s equal parts kitschy and whimsical, chock full of mismatched furniture and vintage charm. And the magic continues in the pretty courtyard, lined with a vertical garden wall of herbs and garnishes.
Breakfast and brunch are the main event at Silly Tart, with a hyper-seasonal menu that revolves around what comes up from the family farm in Goulburn. Some things are sure-fire bets: the signature corn fritters with house-cured bacon, five-spice meatloaf and hasselback salt-and-vinegar potato scallops. They keep the kitchen open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, where you can expect the likes of flaming saganaki cheese to start, followed by confit spatchcock with lemon and ricotta fritters or milk-braised Borrowdale pork belly.
Housemade desserts like beetroot, chocolate and olive oil brownies or a carrot and chai cake are a drawcard in their own right, as is the bargain $35 chef’s menu and the added option of a $35 bottomless drinks offer that includes Mimosas, Bloody Marys, beers and wine.