Upon initial inspection, Platform 7 looks just like any other Melbourne cafe. Think glass, timber and black tinted steel accents. But what really separates it from the rest is its love for Melbourne culture and flavour. This aptly named venue sits across Glen Waverley train station, slowly gaining popularity as locals discover its relation to legendary destination Hash Speciality Coffee.
On top of being a breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner venue, Platform 7 acts as an art gallery for Melbourne locals, showcasing artwork from local artists lined along the venue’s black painted walls, each wall dedicated to the artwork of one artist, and always rotating every so often.
It’s a little difficult to describe the cuisine, as the menu at Platform 7 features an array of dishes with Middle eastern, Asian, and Australian roots. Whether it’s the Breakfast Ramen ($18) on their brunch menu; dinner starter of Caramalised brussel sprouts ($13) with hummus; or main Duo of Bao ($26) with traditional Asian flavours of BBQ salmon, pressed soy pork belly, bamboo kimchi, sriracha mayonnaise and coriander, it undoubtedly leaves a bit of confusion. This however, does not take away from the quality and the flavour of the food.
Arriving for their brunch service, my guest and I decided to try the Black Truffle Folded Egg ($20) and the Zucchini, Corn & Kale Fritters ($18). The black truffle folded egg was rich in flavour that struck perfect balance between the egg and black truffle, paired with toasted brioche and a delicious mushroom duxelles spread that gave the dish a rustic aroma. The portion of the folded egg was quite larger than expected, so if you’re super hungry… you know what to choose.
The fritters already held a high reputation, making the cut to Platform 7’s newly edited menu due to popular demand. As soon as the dish was placed upon the table, it gave off an aroma that took you to the heart of middle east. With aromatic and strong flavours of burnt eggplant puree and ras el hanout spices and paired with Persian feta, this combination really gave the dish extra depth than any other fritter dish you could find at the next cafe. The fritters themselves are cooked the perfect way, with a firm, crunchy outer coat holding together a soft inside. It’s certainly a dish that will see you through the rest of the day.
If you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, desserts are always ready to devour no matter the time of day. Try the Maple French Toast ($19) for breakfast or a cheeky creme brulee ($13) after your dinner. And even better, you can also enjoy Hash’s famous Mork Hot Chocolate.
Platform 7
Address: 31 Railway Parade, Glen Waverley VIC 3150
Contact: (03) 8838 2896
Hours: Mon-Thurs 7am-5pm; Fri 8:30am-10pm, Sat 8:30am-11pm, Sun 8:30am-10pm
Images supplied.
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