87 Hudsons Road, Spotswood VIC (03) 9391 6016
On a freezing Melbourne morning, a warm welcome is what we needed – and it’s exactly what we received when we pushed through the door at the Duchess of Spotswood. We arrived early, and seated in a sunny spot against the white-washed wall, we could watch the wait staff, barista and chef as they worked.
Housed in an old butcher shop with its cool retro green tiles still intact across the front of the building, the fit out inside is simple, with timber floors, art for sale on the walls and a crystal chandelier for sophistication.
Opened a couple of years ago, the husband and wife owners, Andrew Gale and Bobby Green, have brought a little bit of refinement to this semi industrial suburb. Spotswood is located
7 km south-west of Melbourne’s CBD. Known for the Victorian Science Museum, Scienceworks, constructed in 1897, the location was used in films such as Mad Max, the Academy award winning short film Harvie Krumpet and the Australian film Spotswood, starring Anthony Hopkins, Toni Collette and Bruno Lawrence. Russell Crowe also played a minor character.
Bobby’s talents were refined at North Melbourne’s Auction Rooms, where she picked up her valuable coffee knowledge; and Andrew, ex Station Hotel, has worked in great restaurants all around the world.
The menu is English inspired food, so don’t expect to find the usual “big breakfast” on the menu. My choice was the King’s Woodcock – scrambled eggs with green tomato chutney and pork, fennel and chilli sausages. The eggs were delicious sitting atop the chutney as the perfect accompaniment, alongside the spicy sausages … perfect for a cold, blustery autumn day.
The coffee is excellent, as Bobby sources beans from several top specialty roasters around Melbourne and follows this through with good barista skills behind the machine.
The Duchess is licensed and is now open for dinner during the week.
When we’re next in Melbourne, we’ll make a special trip to the Science Museum as an excuse to visit the Duchess again.
Open Mon to Fri, 7am to 3pm; Sat & Sun, 8am to 4pm; and Dinner Thu to Sat, from 6pm.
