Little Flock Is Northcote's New Produce-Driven Coffee and Brunch Spot
It's inspired by and named after the owners' backyard flock of chickens.
Westgarth's newest cafe might be small, with space for just 46 seats, but its attention to detail is downright mighty. Called Little Flock, it's a passion project for local couple Miroslawa Kotowska and Michael Coates, named in a nod to the pair's own family of backyard chooks. This well-treated flock of feathered friends was also the inspiration when Coates and Kotowska were sourcing producers and plotting their cafe menu.
It means the eggs are from Gippsland Pastured, where there are just 16–21 chickens per hectare, and the bacon's free range and traditionally smoked by the team at Uncles Smallgoods. The couple even bakes their own rugbrød, a Danish rye sourdough that takes three days to make. It's a thoughtful menu filled with things the owners like to eat themselves — think apple caramel waffles, buckwheat crepes stuffed with masala potatoes and a grass-fed Cape Grim beef burger.
Coffee comes courtesy of North Melbourne's Small Batch roasters, via a customised La Marzocco or batch brew, and served in handmade cups by local ceramicist Yesha MacDonald.
The space itself is equally charming, sitting on the High Street site once home to Merricote. There's sunny street seating, a covered courtyard tucked away out back, and a cheery feel throughout.
Find Little Flock at 81 High Street, Northcote. For more information, visit the Facebook page.