The Spotted Dog. 5 September

Father's Day. We hadn't booked anywhere for breakfast, so going out somewhere may have seemed somewhat foolhardy, however, we had a destination in mind and were pretty confident it wouldn't be full.

The Spotted Dog is a small, very basic, greasy spoon type place on Albany Hwy in Vic Park. It has several tables scattered out the front, but not really any space to eat inside. It doesn't look at all flash, squeezed into a kind of arcade next to a dry cleaners. In fact, it feels like a flashback to what Vic Park was about 10 or so years ago, before all the lovely cafes moved in, before the bogan pubs got facelifts and before the whole gentrification of the area really started.

There is a handwritten menu on a whiteboard with a big variety of breakfast dishes. Order at the counter, take a number and choose a table. Simple. I ordered bacon and eggs with a camomile tea, he ordered eggs benedict and a flat white, the three year old was being contrary and had already eaten, the baby played with my serviette.

The service was friendly, cheerful and fast. The food was good. Beautifully cooked bacon, perfect fried eggs with just the right amount of runniness to the yolk.  There was a heap of butter on the toast, which I don't like, I find it detracts from the flavour of the egg and makes the toast too soggy, but I know that others adore buttery toast, so I won't criticise that too much. The eggs benedict were lovely too. A generous serving and a good hollandaise. The coffee was good. The tea was leaf tea in a plunger! Happy days!

This was one of those times when your expecations are based entirely on the appearance of a place and end up being a complete contrast to the actual experience. It was cheap too. Whole thing came to $29.

There was a steady stream of people at The Spotted Dog, but they weren't rushed off their feet. As we drove away en route to see my in-laws, we went past Dome. It was packed. Poor souls, they didn't realise that a considerably better breakfast experience was to be had at the very humble little place just a bit up the road.

Part of me wants to make a comment about the decor and appearance of the place, because it's a long way from fancy and I suspect that might be the reason people avoid it (it was certainly the reason we've avoided it for years and years), however, there's something really lovely and honest about a simple place like this that just has good food, friendly staff and proper tea.

Try it. Swallow your "oh no, it doesn't look like a cafe" pride and try it. You may well be quite delighted.

Score - 4 eggs.