Typika, 6010

Britney Spears ‘Toxic’ and Anastacia ‘I’m Outta Love’ were the last tunes I expected to hear when I visited the latest hotspot for a fashionable brunch last week. I like to indulge in some noughties pop now and then, just not over morning eggs and artisan-roast coffee. Thankfully, the taste in brunch hour music was the only point out of shape here.

Typika has become an instant favourite among Western suburb ladies of leisure and you don’t have to spy hard to see why. Exciting menu, quality cooking, smart service and a behemoth space that features a state-of-the-art coffee roaster. With floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the lab-like roasting room takes the limelight at Typika. The mammoth yellow building is a bit of an eyesore from the street, but there's a buzz inside and you sort of feel like you’re dining in a stylish, pumping factory. 

The AM menu is fresh, thoughtful and full of things that sound like something you’d want to try. Typika really used their genius when they dreamed up the Spiced Beef Benedict ($18.50). Gooey poach eggs and tears of slow-cooked beef come smothered with Harissa (Tunisian chilli paste) spiced Hollandaise. A defiant version of a breakfast classic. It’s that dish that creates buzz, and launches a hundred Instagram tags. The dish that your boyfriend/dad/big brother will probably order. 

Eggs Benedict with salmon on house baked gluten free bread

Not having the backbone for beef at 10am, I went for the Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. The helping of fleshy pink salmon, wilted spinach and Hollandaise, was generous. What really impressed me was their Multigrain Gluten Free Bread ($2? extra) which they bake on site. A combination of Tapioca, Soy and Rice flour, this was seriously the most deceptively gluten-free bread I have ever tried. Springy, fluffy and wonderfully not like cardboard! 

The tour de force: coffee. Well, it was very good. Full-bodied, rich and smooth. The only downside are the steep prices, but admittedly, I wasn’t surprised by them in this neck of the woods, especially as the owners (of Cimbalino) are famously elevated pricers.

Also on offer are some little deconstructed cake pots and biscuits that would make fine breakfast dessert. Next time! 

With food this exciting and coffee this good; finally that mediocre Atomic place has some healthy competition. 

Food: 3.5/5 (Big portions, bold flavours and fantastic house baking)
Coffee: 3.5/5 (In house roasting is pretty good)
Service: 3/5 (Efficient but dismissive at times)
Ambience: 3/5 (On the fence. Bustling, open....questionable music)

Value: 3/5 (Not cheap. Paying for quality and locale.)