The Kettle Black

The Midas touch. It's a thing and the team behind Top Paddock and Two Birds One Stone most definitely have it — in the hospitality scene anyway. Every cafe they open is welcomed with awards, seriously buzz-killing weekend lines, and some incredible coffee and food. The newest one to join the family? The Kettle Black.

Fresh from owners Nathan Toleman, Tim James, Sam King and Jesse McTavish, South Melbourne has secured itself a gem on Albert Road in this latest coup. The space alone will leave you in awe. Studio You Me were brought in on the design front and, quite frankly, they've nailed it. One half of the building sits in a new apartment building while the other sits snugly within the last terrace house on Albert Road. Nordic design can be seen throughout, with beautiful gold and green detailing. It's light and it's open, yet the separation of the two sections of the venue make it feel very intimate.

The food is so good that people are whispering about the possibility of a chef hat this year. (Scandal, but it just could be true.) The King Island crayfish roll with yuzu mayo and coastal spinach ($21) is already being dubbed The Kettle Black equivalent of the near-legendary Top Paddock soft shell crab roll, while the chilli scrambled eggs with air-dried Flinders Island wallaby, feta and leaves ($18) is an impressive breakfast offering. For a virtuous start to the day, you can't go past the house-made coconut yoghurt with gluten free-grains, seeds, nuts, Toorak Station prickly pear, rhubarb, citrus, fruits and flowers ($13). It's clean eating in a bowl.

In true Top Paddock style, the coffee menu is a good one. Single origin and filter coffee rotates, while a freshly juiced ruby grapefruit ($6) is a nice non-caffeinated liquid pleasure.

We're afraid of what the lines might look like in a week. If the regular queues at Top Paddock are anything to go by, try to get there on a weekday if you can.

Image courtesy of krisp_hn via Instagram.