Not quite a cafe and not quite a restaurant. Higher Ground has been operating for more than 2 years. And there’s still a long line to have brunch? Stunning monochromatic interior with mezzanine floor with splashes of greenery at every level.
Interior gets a 5/5, what about the food and drinks?
The wait was 45 minutes for a table for 3. We wouldn’t have waited in line if we couldn’t order coffee as we waited outside the verandah. Coffee was good, but again, have had better/creamier coffees.
Best was my lamb sausage roll, flaky and crispy pastry on a warm sausage roll spread with anchovy mayo. Anchovy flavour was subtle – made it yummy for me! The pickled cucumber was lovely – the dish needed the acidity to cleanse the mouth :). A well presented dish.
I ordered jasmine tea from their menu – $5, small pot with no loose leaves – I prefer the infuser and leaves left in the pot so that I could keep topping up with hot water and know it’s leaves rather than a tea bag. Unfortunately the tea flavour was too light, had there been tea leaves left inside, the scent and flavour would have been better to my liking – I didn’t enjoy this. [I’m asian, I like my tea leaves]
My second favourite is the Avo seed crackers with mojo verde, poached eggs and toasted fresh seaweed. The avo was fresh and the seed cracker was crispy. There was the right amount of verde to moisten the dryness of the dish.
Least favourite was J’s Eggs Benedict – dry cured ham, béarnaise, sourdough and vinegar powder. J liked it, but I didn’t like the dry cured ham, I felt that it was too smoky. Don’t be fooled, between the two slices of sourdough is several slices of cured ham. It was a nice surprise – more meat 🙂
By day, a breakfast coffee venue, by evening a fine dining restaurant and then bar by night.
I would recommend brunch at Higher Ground, but suggest you go there early or find a weekday to skip the queue. A great place to take friends from overseas to experience something different.
Location: 650 Little Bourke Street, CBD, Melbourne, VIC
Website: https://highergroundmelbourne.com.au
Tasteelicious Rating Service: 4/5 Ambience: 5/5 Entree: NA Mains: 4/5 Beverage: 3/5 Overall: 15/20
★★★★