It’s heartwarming to see locals embrace their local eateries, and The Uncle Drew is still as popular as ever. Since its opening, a renovation has seen the touching up of the cosy back room, and new menu items have been brought in.

There are rotating granola and pasta specials, but we go for the a different one – the Pork Belly Yakiniku Brioche Bun. Also nestled between the brioche roll are tomato relish, pickled daikon, coriander, cress, cucumber and carrot. Instead of chips, there’s a tall, crisp and tasty potato and oregano hash. The thinly sliced pork belly is well-seasoned, and the savoury nature of the sauce is offset by the refreshing pickled daikon.

Now it’s time for some scramble. Moist folds of egg are laid over the multigrain toast, the nuttiness of the pesto enhanced by the addition of pinenuts. The capsicum-based spicy ajvar has some tang to it, and some creaminess comes in from the semi-melted grilled halloumi. It’s a winter-warming dish that’s a step ahead of your regular scrambled eggs.

Our sweet dish is the Matcha French Toast with chestnut mascarpone, callebaut white chocolate sauce, green tea granola, fresh berries and raspberry powder. The toast has been sliced in the center, wherein extra mascarpone is injected. The raspberry powder is a perky addition to the smooth flavours of the dish, and puffed rice gives it some extra texture.

Uncle Drew introduces more of Melbourne’s modern cafe culture to Clifton Hill with their tasty dishes. Their liquor licence should be approved in a few months, so patrons can enjoy local beer and wine too.

Disclaimer: I was invited to Uncle Drew as a guest, however, opinions expressed here are purely my own, and are based on my experience at the time

Uncle Drew Cafe
23 Groom St
Clifton Hill, VIC, 3068
(03) 9489 2077
www.uncledrewcafe.com.au/