Borsch, Vodka & Tears
| Where | 173 Chapel Street, Windsor, 3181—View map |
Contact | 03 9530 2694 |
Website | www.borschvodkaandtears.com |
Open | Monday to Wednesday 08.30am to 01.00am Breakfast until 03.00pm |
Payment | EFTPOS, Visa, Cash |
Diet | Check with venue |
Seating | Inside and outside |
Kids | Welcome |
Pets | Welcome |
A taste of Eastern Europe in Chapel Street
Natalie Book 1 June 2008
It may not be called ‘Borsch, Breakfast & Tears’, but this Chapel Street institution is more than a Mecca for late-night vodka connoisseurs and those with a craving for the hearty Polish dinners their nana used to make. Recent changes to the breakfast menu mean that the emphasis is on savoury rather than sweet (the pancakes with lemon mascarpone and strawberries will be sadly missed). But there is certainly enough choice to tempt those seeking a more unusual breakfast experience, as well as your scrambled-eggs-on-toast punters.
The passing parade of one of Melbourne’s busiest streets may be only a few feet away, but the dim lighting, esoteric Polish film posters and artful mismatch of delightfully patterned china suggest another time and place. It’s East meets West – your dining experience will be soundtracked by anything from Aretha Franklin to Neil Young. (You’ll have to come in for a Wednesday night drink or dinner to experience the Stiletto Sisters’ brand of live Polish, Russian and klezmer music.)
Eggs Upstream (three lightly scrambled eggs stirred through with smoked salmon and served on rye bread) is a welcome addition to the menu, while those after an authentically Polska breakfast should opt for the hearty BVT Breakfast of eggs, Polish sausage and blintzes. And while the Poles are fond of their meat, a vegetarian option is also available. Vegetarians will also love the Eggs Avocado – decadently thick avocado slices artfully arrayed next to rye toast, perfectly poached eggs and slices of fresh tomato. This delicious dish is filling but not too heavy.
The breakfast drinks menu provides a nice selection of coffees, T2 teas, juices and a Virgin Mary. At Borsch the delight is in the detail: apple juice comes with an apple garnish, hot chocolates are beautifully presented and mochas achieve the perfect balance of coffee and chocolate. And if you’re in for breakfast on the morning after the night before, Borsch’s full extensive drinks menu is available for some hair-of-the-dog action, whether it be a Bloody Mary or a honey-infused vodka to go with your eggs.