Café Vue at 401 St Kilda Road
Posted on | September 3, 2010 | 19 Comments
It was my Bro’s birthday earlier this month, and we took him out for a spontaneous birthday lunch to celebrate.
I have eaten at the St Kilda Road version of Café Vue a couple of times for breakfast/brunch, but have never ordered off their menu de jour. So a a birthday was the perfect excuse for an indulgent Sunday lunch.
I’m not sure why, but the bread at Cafe Vue comes in a bag. Strange, but cute. It was pretty good bread too.
For starters, Alastair had the crab risotto. It looks like glop, but goodness it was delicious, with the rice infused with the sweet flavour and aroma of crab. After one spoon of his risotto, I wanted to swap plates. Too bad he kept an eye on it the whole time!
Bro and I both decided to have the roast quail with classic stuffing. The quail was pleasant, and the nicely piped blob of mashed potato was particularly smooth and creamy.
For mains, Alastair had the braised beef cheek with confit potato. This was a rather generous portion of spoon tender beef. It was delectable, though Alastair struggled to finish it.
Bro and I both had the rotisserie pork with calvados and black sausage. It came with a wee bit of salad and more nicely piped mashed potato. Sigh. This was gorgeous – the pork was flavoursome and moist with super crispy crackling – it was a joy to eat. I almost never cook pork at home, so when I do eat it, it’s nice to have something so lovely. The other bonus was the ratio of crackling vs meat.
We also ordered two sides – fries ($8) and a plate of seasonal vegetables ($9). The fries were excellent – very rustic looking fingers of salty potato.
Sadly though, the seasonal vegetables turned out to be brussels sprouts. Major sadness! They were cooked with lots of butter and bacon, but even Cafe Vue couldn’t make them delicious. No matter what you do to them, brussels sprouts taste like brussels sprouts – it’s a sad fact of life.
Bro and I still ate them (at $9, there was no way we were leaving them!) but Alastair refused to help us. He’s so not a team player. Thanks for helping me choke down the brussels sprouts, Bro!
We decided we wouldn’t have dessert… and then Bro and I caved.
Bro had the chocolate soufflé, which looked light and fluffy.
And I had the yuzu panna cotta. The citrusy yuzu jelly had a very slight bitterness, which helped cut through the rich creaminess of the panna cotta on top. I have to admit I was a bit too full by this stage to totally appreciate it.
For lunch, two courses is $35, or three courses for $45. Dinner is slightly more expensive – two courses for $45 or three courses for $55. I think lunch is amazingly good value (apart from the $9 plate of Brussels sprouts – I’m still sad about it) but there is also a more casual breakfast/lunch menu that is cheaper still.
However, go take another look at the photo of the pork and tell me that’s not worth a slightly more indulgent lunch!
For some more posts on Café Vue at 401, check out these blogs:
Café Vue
401 St Kilda Road
Melbourne
Phone: 03 9866 8055
Web: www.vuedemonde.com.au
(Note: they only take bookings for the Menu de Jour)
Related posts:
- Japanese ITO Noodle Cafe: Siblings who lunch
- Cafe Vue: Christmas in July cocktail night
- Cafe Plum: 5
- A series of brunches: Auction Rooms, Orange and Café Plum
- Cafe Plum: revisited
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19 Responses to “Café Vue at 401 St Kilda Road”
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September 3rd, 2010 @ 11:44 pm
I have still not been. It is good value for the amount of food that you guys had! And such a pity about brussels sprouts. I have a love hate relationship with them
penny aka jeroxie recently posted..What ears Pig ears did you say
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Haha, Penny it appears I just have a hate hate relationship with brussels sprouts. I have tried to enjoy them – but just can’t!
401 is good, really good value.
[Reply]
September 4th, 2010 @ 10:51 am
how horrified would I be, if I ordered ‘seasonal vegetables’ and it turned out to be brussel sprouts. I’ve tried loving them, I really have. I tried cooking them a million ways but to no avail.
Brussel sprouts will forever be brussel sprouts. Yuck.
I’ll poke my head into Cafe Vue tho. Sounds good!
Celeste @ Berrytravels recently posted..June Cookoff- French Garlic Prawns
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Oh Celeste, I’m SO with you! I have tried to like them too, but errk. There’s no saving them!
[Reply]
September 4th, 2010 @ 11:09 am
At least they were seasonal. Though I’d be horrified to order the vegetables of the day to find BACON in it (just how many dietary groups can they offend in one dish?).
The only way I can enjoy sprouts is to toss them in olive oil and salt and bake in a hot oven to the outer skins are crispy but not burnt. Nice nutty flavour.
another outspoken female recently posted..another PR fail
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Hi AOF – I must say, the menu is not very vegetarian friendly. And you’re very right about putting bacon in the vegetables of the day!
[Reply]
September 4th, 2010 @ 12:07 pm
Heavens to Betsy, all you brussels sprouts haters! I would have clapped with glee to find these on my table. And before you threaten to downgrade my BFF status, Agnes my dear, let’s frame this in a different light: I should really be a BFFF (Best Friend Fantastic Forever) because I will *always* eat your sprouts for you.
Hannah recently posted..The Curious Chocolatier Dark Chocolate With Blueberries
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Hmmm, BFF you make an interesting argument. I will consider your proposal and get back to you.
[Reply]
September 4th, 2010 @ 1:39 pm
Pretty good value lunch menu. I’ve come to not mind Brussels sprouts, especially when doused in butter and spiked with bacon =p
mademoiselle délicieuse recently posted..Epicure Recipe Card 31- Baked Custard Tart
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Even with lots of butter and bacon, I still can’t seem to enjoy them. They are a lost cause. :p
[Reply]
September 4th, 2010 @ 6:58 pm
Looks delicious! I have been to 401 a couple of times and like it (thanks for the link!) but those meals look a lot fancier than what we ate! The 3 courses looks like a great deal, must check it out!
xox Sarah
Sarah recently posted..Steer Bar and Grill
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Hehee, I hope you enjoyed your meal there!
[Reply]
September 5th, 2010 @ 11:31 pm
I feel so crass for just plopping my mashed spud on the plate at home. Little did I know I should have been practising my piping skills with it! Oh the shame, I daren’t face my friends again
The brussel sprouts need to be sliced in half and browned up with butter, bacon/pancetta and bread crumbs. Much better.
Conor @ HoldtheBeef recently posted..When my baby smiles at me we go to Ria
[Reply]
September 6th, 2010 @ 1:23 pm
Mmm, look at all that crackling!!
That’s great value for the amount of food you had. I definitely have to go check it out!
April @ My Food Trail recently posted..Taste of Melbourne 2010- Part 2
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Oh the crackling was divine… so awesome
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September 14th, 2010 @ 9:11 pm
*flicks through diary/calender… to see if anyones birthday is close by…. so i can suggest to eat here HAHA
Allan aka almostalwaysravenous recently posted..A reminder to myself
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Haha, just go – you don’t need any excuse other than it’s a Friday night. Right??
[Reply]
September 15th, 2010 @ 4:46 pm
wow….seriously a bit late with this one but here goes….HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT!!!
Brussel sprouts as a seasonal veggie?? I dont have a problem with brussel sprouts per se, but if I got that as a side I would pick it up and throw it across the room!! Bring me some real veggies!!!!
Maria@TheGourmetChallenge recently posted..Beer Doughnuts
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 16th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
It sounds like you DO have a problem with brussels sprouts…..
[Reply]