Flavours of Lakhoum
| Where | 175 Swan Street, Richmond, 3121—View map |
Contact | 03 9425 9805 |
Website | — |
Open | Breakfast Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday 9.30 am - Midday Thursday to Friday 9.00 am to Midday |
Payment | EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard, Diners, AMEX, Cash |
Diet | Check with venue |
Seating | Inside and outside |
Kids | Welcome |
Pets | Welcome |
Cardamon coffee stop
Claire Wiltshire 5 February 2009
A quick look around the "authentic" decor inside Richmond's Flavours of Lakhoum may well give you flashbacks to drunken late-night souvlaki missions. The interior is Middle Eastern kitsch; daggy copper ornaments and a painted Nefertiti bust overlook wall papered walls crowded with faded ‘60s images of Greece and Lebanon.
The authenticity spills over onto the breakfast plates too, as eggy standards intermingle with feta cheese and sausage. The menu keeps it simple with French toast, fruit toast and muesli with optional yogurt and/or fruit salad.
Traditionalists may opt for a plate of Eggs Benedict or Florentine, but Lakhoum puts a spin on these old favourites, using their trademark sweet Turkish bread as a base. Their poached eggs tend to be on the harder side, so if you like them runny side, say so!
The signature dish, the Flavours of Lakhoum Breakfast, is refreshingly vegetarian. The eggs, unusually, are fried and come with Greek-salad-style sides of cucumber, tomato and feta. But the real feature of the menu is the selection of omelettes. There's a swag of different fillings to choose from, including tasty sausage in rich tomato sauce, and each is wrapped in a plain omelette and served a top the familiar Turkish bread.
With no fuss wooden tables and chairs and a few lived in couches, the vibe of this cafe is decidedly relaxed. Ceiling fans and an open door send in the fresh air and quiet hum of adjacent Church St. For smokers, or those on the run, the gorgeous Moroccan style metal tables on the street are the way to go. Enjoy the experience with a delicious Middle Eastern coffee. As well as your standard brews, they offer Turkish and Greek styles. And for an especially aromatic indulgence, try the Lebanese coffee which is served like espresso with the added delicacy of cardamon.