Back when I started university, I made a list of potential cafes to visit during my breaks, dreaming all the food adventures I could undertake. Code Black Coffee was one of these, but like many on the list, I never actually made it in the end.

I find myself here during a catch-up, quite a number of years after making that list. The interior is stripped back and spacious, and splashes of colour on the walls keep it from feeling too sterile.

I order the seared herb and lemon tuna. The crumb that encrusts the egg is walnut-based. The relatively large pieces of nut give it a nice texture and chew that contrasts with the perfectly oozy egg within. There’s plenty of salt in the dish (maybe a tad too much) from the olive dust. I’m also surprised by the amount of chilli present, but it’s not a bad thing. It manages to livens up the tuna without overwhelming it. The confit tomatoes are very sweet, and provide a bit of relief from the salty and spicy flavours. Everything works very well together, and it’s one of the better brunch dishes I’ve had in a while.

Though I only try one dish today, it leaves enough of an impression that I regret not coming sooner. Code Black is a cafe I’d happily to return to, hopefully not too long from now.

Code Black Coffee
119 Howard St
North Melbourne, VIC, 3051
(03) 9329 1810
codeblackcoffee.com.au