The Thousands

When not lending their respective gossamer vocals and mad drum skills to the quickening strains of Rise and Demise, Ange and Phil are to be found in the heart of Thornbury, a mere hop and skip from stop 37 on the 112 tram, dishing up toothsome eats that laugh in the face of standard cafe fare.

There’s the almond granola with vanilla yoghurt, spiced apple and berry compote, a cloak and dagger family recipe of Ange’s. Poached eggs come lean and green, with dukkah, avocado, and pomegranate molasses drizzled over wilted spinach and labneh. Or with a little Pearl Oyster tweak – with house-cured salmon, avocado, Jap mayo, lime, herb salad and pickled ginger. From 2 o’clock they serve steamed pork or custard buns, coaxing in all and sundry with the whiff of afternoon delight.

If you don’t eat food, then come and see Phil’s beautifully handcrafted wooden tables, the handy bag hooks under the counters, the menus hidden amongst the pages of hand-illustrated colonial geography books, or the lone pair of vintage roller skates hanging upon the wall. It is well worth a northeasterly amble.