04 Nov Fat Penguin Cafe, Kew East
There aren’t quite as many well-known cafes in Kew East compared to nearby Balwyn, but thankfully there are still some that exist. Fat Penguin Cafe is one of these. It’s set up in what was once a house, and is larger than it appears from the outside. An outdoors courtyard is popular when the weather plays nice, the wooden communal tables and abounding greenery making it feel like a get-together with the neighbours in the backyard.
We decide it’s a little too hot to join in the revelry outside, so we take shelter indoors, where knick-knacks on the walls and shelves make us feel at home. A mixed berry smoothie is ordered for refreshment, thick and yoghurt-y with a hint of honey.
There’s a balance in the menu, not just in regard to the a range of items available, but also within each plate. I pick the Cured Salmon with Citrus Salad. The crispy skinned salmon is well-salted, but balanced by the refreshing salad of grapefruit, fennel, pomegranate and an orange reduction. Perfect for the heat today.
The rotolo pasta is a vegetarian option, but a heavier one too. The trio of rolled pasta sheets are filled with diced pumpkin, spinach, ricotta, pinenuts, sage and parmesan. The fragrant butter sauce makes us salivate as the dish hits the table.
The menu at Fat Penguin is well-considered and decently priced, and it’s a solid cafe that’s been happily embraced by locals.
Disclaimer: I was invited to Fat Penguin Cafe as a guest, however, opinions expressed here are purely my own, and are based on my experience at the time
Fat Penguin Cafe
713 High St
Kew East, VIC, 3102
(03) 9859 3252
www.fatpenguincafe.com.au
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