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Jerry's Milk Bar
| Where | 345 Barkly Street, Elwood—View map |
Contact | 03 9531 3078 |
Website | — |
Open | Monday to Saturday 7.00am to 5.00pm |
Payment | Cash |
Diet | Soy |
Seating | Inside and outside |
Kids | Welcome |
Pets | Unwelcome |
Can we go back again?
Ellie Parker 2 December 2008
Jerry's Milk Bar is one of those places that the locals don't want the non- locals knowing about. And fair enough too. Jerry's has got that kind of charisma that doesn't come easy on the South side. It has corner store charm combined with comfort food. Parents with tiny tots in tow flock to Jerry's for good reason. Kids are given more than a cursory nod and their orders are given top priority. Then there's the old fashioned lolly counter which holds infinite appeal to juniors.
Upon arrival, my 9 year old companion takes charge. He immediately scopes out the lolly counter, the milkshake flavours and the egg options. His yardstick is scrambled eggs, so we order this along with a vanilla milkshake. Whilst Joseph works out which lollies he is going to demolish after brekkie, I turn to the menu.
The menu has personality: corn and dill pikelets with smoked salmon, avocado, greens, red onion and lime mayo takes my fancy. It doesn't read like your average corn fritter. Nor does it taste like one. The lime mayo is delicious with the dill. The smoked salmon is great with the avocado. The pikelets themselves are pretty, flecked with the yellow corn and green dill.
Being the gutz that I am, I also sample the grilled Turkish bread with rose jam, mascarpone and soaked dates. The rose jam is made out the back. The soaked dates taste of honey, cloves and cinnamon and their gloop makes nice brown puddles in my mascarpone. It's light and fragrant. Lovely.
Most impressively is the prompt arrival of Joseph's scrambled eggs- a plume of golden yellow. The scrambled is made from Hens In Clover Eggs, which I'm lead to believe is significant. The nine year old tells me they are the best scrambled eggs he's ever had. I trust him. I love the fact he is intrigued by the Turkish bread toast, which he devours after the eggs.
I move on to the Canadian breakfast of pancakes, fried eggs, bacon and maple syrup. It's huge and delicious. I feel slightly piggy afterwards. I bear a greasy grin on my face that only appears after a particularly self indulgent feasting. One of the better Canadians on offer in Melbourne I would have to say.
Three delicious coffees and one milk shake later, we order a fresh lamington and a lolly bag to go. As we leave, Joseph asks me if we can come back soon- and therein lies Jerry's appeal. After only one visit, Jerry's immediately becomes a regular haunt, even for a non-local like myself. Sorry Southsiders, but you'd better make some room.