While Pavlov’s dogs were trained to salivate at the ringing of a bell, Pavlov’s Duck is a café on Smith Street in Fitzroy, which brings together Melbourne’s love of brunch and Sri Lankan flavours. Same same but very different. There will be salivating, but it’s more likely to happen at the sight of your meal rather than at the sound of any ringing bell.
The space is simple. Lots of light woods, black chalk boards, hanging lights, and coloured shelving, but all in a minimalist, rustic kind of way.
The menu marries more traditional brunch favourites, with Sri Lankan spices and ingredients. You can go for a more classic option like the smashed avocado on sourdough with cherry tomatoes, herbs, feta, radish, and lemon. For something a little more adventurous try the pumpkin and chia seed pancakes, spinach, lentils, yoghurt salad, coconut sambol, chorizo, and pickled chilli or even the organic croissant with chilli fried potatoes, Asian tabouli, green bean puree, and soft boiled eggs. If you’re more of a sweet breakfast kind of person, the chocolate fudge French toast stick with lychee, mint, wooddapple-cream, mango sorbet, and chocolate in three ways has your name all over it.
Coffee is by Padre coffee, hot chocolate is from Monsieur Truffe, and the tea is Larsen & Thompson. There are also a range of juices and smoothies for a liquid breakfast, for an energy hit on the run.
This place is taking brunch and giving it a good old-fashioned mix up. We rather like what they’re doing.
Pavlov’s Duck
03 9416 4336
401 Smith Street, Fitzroy
official website
