hammer and tong, fitzroy

hammer and tong brunch menu.

Fried chicken wings and soft drinks for brunch?

Yeah, that's the sort of thing you can get at Hammer & Tong (412 Brunswick St, Fitzroy).

Simon and I don't normally have carbonated beverages first thing in the morning, but we can be unorthodox once in a while. And, as it turns out, the housemade fizzes at Hammer & Tong are pretty nice - just a light hint of sweetness, which makes it refreshing and a not-so-unhealthy start to the day. Tropicana strikes us as predominantly passion fruit, with hints of pineapple and citrus. Turkish Delight is gentle, floral, rosy, with specks of vanilla.

hammer and tong housemade fizzes, tropicana (left) and turkish delight (right). $3 each.

It seems that our cafe brunches almost invariably includes a baked egg dish. At Hammer & Tong, the eggs are suspended in a tomato fondue, shakshuka-like, with addictive bites of manchego strewn through... please, sir, can I have more of that delicious cheese? On the side we have chorizo and flatbread to complete the picture.

hammer and tong baked eggs in tomato fondue, chorizo, manchego and flatbread. $17.

Then we have the fried chicken wings - nicely done, not too greasy, sweet and sticky in a gotta-eat-with-your-hands-and-lick-your-fingers kind of way. The chilli and crispy fried shallots hint at Asian inspiration, while the mango and pink grapefruit add an extra dimension of juiciness. It was only later, after we left the restaurant, that I realised that our plate didn't seem like it included avocado, as promised in the menu description. Still, it's an oversight I can forgive, all things considered.

hammer and tong fried chicken wings with mango, grapefruit, candied chillies, crisp shallots, avocado and lime. $15.

Hammer & Tong is ridiculously close and convenient for us and I hope to return again soon with Simon. We haven't had much in the way of eating out adventures lately (as you can probably tell from the lack of cafe/restaurant posts in this blog) in an effort to be more frugal - but I would really like to try their truffled duck egg, corn fritters, soft shell crab burger and popping candy pancakes, all of which seem to be fast gaining an excellent reputation. Hopefully my next visit won't be too far in the future.