Given how many people go to this place to eat real sit down food for breakfast/brunch, you’d think this place was actually conducive for dining in. It’s really not meant to be an eat-in place and is more of a grab and go coffee shop, but people can’t seem to get enough of their meal offerings!
Little Collins is an Aussie cafe with good coffee and pastries. It’s a small shop with a few high tables, and 3 bar stools at the small window bar. They happen to also serve cooked-to-order breakfast/brunch foods and that’s what the people come for, ourselves included. Egg dishes, toasts, sandwiches, yogurt & granola bowls, salads, etc. are all on the menu, served all day until close.
The line moves fast and they make the food pretty quickly, but there just isn’t enough seating to accommodate everyone. If you’re lucky, a table clears up just before your food arrives, so you can sit down and eat it; otherwise I’m not sure what exactly you’d do. Wait in the hopes that a table opens up, which is obviously not good if you’ve ordered a hot meal? Or ask for a to-go box and pack it up to take it elsewhere instead?
Luckily, though it was pretty packed when we went, we snagged two spots at the counter. We knew it was supposed to have good food and all, but my underlying motive in going was to get my hands on some Vegemite, usually only found in Aussie cafes. Luckily, a number of them have been popping up around town.
We ordered the eggs and toast, which comes with two scrambled eggs and multi-grain toast, but I ordered an extra egg to make it three (since I was getting egg whites only) and requested Vegemite on my toast. Eggs were cooked exactly as I’d ordered. Only con is that the place doesn’t have ketchup (who doesn’t have ketchup?!) and so I couldn’t use it with the eggs. They offered sriracha or Tabasco instead. The toast came with two full slices, cut in half, so four triangles total, with Vegemite spread on top. There’s obviously no skill to this: it’s just cutting toast, taking a knife, dipping it into the jar of Vegemite, and spreading it on the bread. But it’s just delicious!
We also got the “Sweet Uncle Fred,” which is toasted banana bread, ricotta cheese on top, berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries), honey, and almond brittle. It’s a really good idea, kind of like a unique take on french toast. I’d recommend getting the honey on the side, so that it’s to your taste. You can’t remove the honey once it’s on, but you can always add more. The dish is great, particularly if you like banana bread. The bread could’ve been more moist, but it is a nice, thick slice. The ricotta and berries really add lightness to the dish.
Also ordered a flat white, which was (not surprisingly) good given that Australians take their coffee seriously. A big bummer, though, is that this place doesn’t have half and half or cream of any kind, so if you order a drip coffee, you have to have it with milk. I cannot even fathom the thought as I require ample amounts of cream! I won’t hold it against them, though, since their espresso beverages are good enough that you don’t have to drink drip coffee.
I like this place and I recommend it, but be prepared to pounce on any available table you see. It’s not meant for a leisurely, long brunch, but it’s great as a quick fuel stop.
