Le Chien

Le Chien
5 Gamon St, Seddon, VIC
Supreme coffee

All the reviews I've read told me to come early for a seat - we were fashionably late on a Saturday morning yet all was calm. We sat in front of the massive wall mural of a lady on all fours, a barren urban landscape and an old car in the background - if only I knew what it meant!

The name struck me as being Asian influenced, and the dish we ordered – Free range scrambled eggs with fresh chillis ($9.50) reinforced that impression. However, the menu has European/Scottish/French influences to prove me wrong. That said, the scrambles were amazing... Creamy, dreamy and almost like Bills. The chilli was hot, even for my standards, and made me devour it faster. The side of black pudding ($4), however, was nothing to shout about.

Coffee was surprisingly not bitter and the man ordered a 2nd - something he hardly does so I guess it was good. The hot chocolate, like most cafes, was more quantity than quality.

We also had the poached eggs on sourdough ($7.50), add mushrooms ($3), smoked bacon ($3.50) and tomato pickle ($1.50). The mushrooms were orgasmic - so tasty and not microwaved, which so many places do nowadays! The relish had too much Moroccan spice for me to eat it and the bacon was overcooked.

Other breakfast options were: Promite toast topped with poached eggs, tomato and avocado ($11), Welsh rarebit aka spicy cheese on toast ($7) and Lots lof avocado & tomato on sourdough ($8.50).

More substantial lunch/dinner options were: 6 varieties of pides, pappardelle with a beef ragu, veal scaloppini and an eye fillet served with a red wine sauce and tattie scones.The 2nd time I went there, the scrambles were just as good but the mushrooms seemed to have slipped.
The BLT sandwich with honey mustard mayo and rocket ($10) was well done.

If only they could get everything right, 'cos what they do get right, is amazing...