Baba Sus

One recommendation by a trusted friend is worth ten positive reviews online. Sorry, Zomato; you and I go a long way back, and I love you deep deep, but it's true. 

"Baba Sus is my favorite brunch place in Melbourne!" my friend declared exuberantly about this Asian-Brunch fusion restaurant. We have similar taste, but she works with a larger dining budget. (This is the same friend who had sampled some of the best food Shira Nui offers - which comes with a hefty three-digit price tag.) So when she says there's a place she likes, I pay extra attention. 

And boy, I'm glad I did. 

The Beer Battered Chips ($8) had a wonderfully crisp exterior, while the potato inside of the chip was soft and steaming hot. The Sriracha aioli sauce in particular was so flavourful, I asked for more. We polished the entire bowl of fries off in silence - a mark of a delicious dish - and seriously contemplated ordering another round. But cooler heads than me prevailed. Drat. 

I wanted the Blue Mountains Waygu Burger ($18), but they were all sold out when we arrived at 1pm. I chose The Baba Sus ($18.50) instead, a double-cooked pork belly.  A dish carrying the name of the restaurant has to be outstanding right? The carrot-ginger puree has a bold spicy taste of ginger, which proclaimed the dish's Asian influence loud and clear. I'm not a fan of ginger, but I particularly enjoyed the sauce with the crispy pork belly skin.

Several dining companions had Inside Out ($17.50), which was scotched egg served atop a slice of toasted bread and served alongside mushroom. I had a bite, and the scotched egg was remarkably well-done, with a soft and runny interior. Mad props to the cooks. What I thought to be smashed avocado turned out to be mashed peas, which threw me off a little. I never did like peas, and a taste of mashed peas while I was expecting a mouthful of avocado did little to endear these green ****ers to me. I would have probably enjoyed mashing them though. 

The Hong Kong Egg Waffles ($14) was the star of the meal. Speaking as someone who regularly cuts down sugar in most recipes because I can't stand how overwhelmingly sweet most recipes are, I feared the waffles would be too sweet. But lo and behold, it was perfect. The vanilla custard plays off well against the berry compote, and the shards of pistachio praline atop green tea ice cream lends a nice crunch. 

My friend put down his fork when he saw the waffles, because he thought it'll be too sweet as well. But when we talked him into taking a bite, his fork stayed in his hands till the very end. Silly me. I could've just commandeered his share. What was I thinking?

The sole disappointment was the Vietnamese Coffee ($4.20), which a friend ordered. I could tell from the pallor of the coffee dripping into the cup that it was going to be one diluted cup, and his appalled frown after a sip confirmed my suspicion. Maybe they used the house blend instead of a Vietnamese coffee blend? 

Must-Try
Beer Battered Chips 
Hong Kong Egg Waffles