Stop 17, Fitzroy (by invitation) by Bureaucrat

Wordsmiths, foodies and coffee lovers have a new hangout - Stop 17 on Smith St, Fitzroy. As the name suggest, Stop 17 is located at, well, stop 17 of the 86 tram route. Despite being only a few weeks old, locals are embracing Stop 17 and having had brunch there recently, we can definitely understand the appeal.

There's an all day breakfast menu which includes Stop 17's version of the typical brunchy dishes. However, the Lawyer was intrigued with the cutely named Krabby Eggs - it's not often you see crab in breakfast dishes and he was keen to try it.

This ain't no ordinary plate of scrambled eggs - this was da bomb! I had serious food envy and couldn't stop sneaking a forkful or ~~two~~ three of these delicious eggs. Imagine blue swimmer crab meat sautéed with garlic, ginger, shallots, red chilli and curry - don't be misled by the ingredients... this ain't curried eggs nor was it Asian style scrambled eggs. This was a beautifully flavoured and balanced dish. It was slightly sweet, a deep savoury umami flavour, a touch of zing from the chilli and loads of freshness from the ginger and shallots. It was a really gorgeous balance of strong flavours that came together perfectly without overpowering the gentle sweetness of the crab.

I went for a lunch menu item - the Tempura Fish. Top marks for the freshness of the fish fillet and the thin, crunchy batter. The fish was sweet and juicy, and there was no perceptible grease from the batter - bravo! It was served with a refreshing cold smashed minted pea puree, mayo tartare sauce and fries.

We also got two pots of chai to go with our meal - the Lawyer had his made with soy milk, while I opted for almond milk. They also have artisan cows' milk available.

There's also seating upstairs in the Writers' Room, which could well possibly be an Australian first. The room is dedicated to authors, screenwriters and directors and is designed as a creative space. During the week, you'll see local artists working on the murals of famous writers. Having sought their personal endorsements, Stop 17 is currently featuring the caricatures of Quentin Tarantino, JK Rowling and Stephen King.

The room is spacious, sunlit and will be a great spot for a drink when the bar is set up.

Downstairs, the vibe is relaxed, down-to-earth and mellow.

Verdict

We loved it.

Overall

Stop 17 is a really great cafe! We loved the fresh ingredients and the attention to detail they have for the food. Owners Ryan and Tyler have created a perfect oasis from the hustle and bustle of Smith Street. During our brunch, we were impressed to see the number of people coming in (both big and small groups) for a coffee or meal, which is a sure sign that Stop 17 is special given how new it is. Service is friendly and comes with a smile.