Basket Brothers

Overview

Step into a land where hip hop is always playing and bros just want to be bros. Simple and cosy on Elizabeth Street, Basket Brothers is one CBD spot where you can drop in for a chill brunch or find relief from a furious hangover.

Operators Jono Forsythe (Mad Pizza e Bar) and Deepak Singh (formerly of Kantine) are no restaurant rookies, and they aren't looking to be the next trend with their new project. Instead, they have come together to create a safe haven for food that can withstand the test of time. They're a great team; Deepak handles the kitchen and turns out some serious plates, while Jono jovially chats with patrons and newcomers. With its windowed corner location, BB attracts all types — from lonesome writers to daters to groups of brunching bros.

The name of the game here is comfort food. The grilled ham and cheese ($9) is one of their nostalgia-driven dishes taken to the next level. A quattro formaggi, the creamy béchamel lovingly oozes from the sandwich while the housemade pickles give the dish a tangy crunch. The ham is thinly sliced and the sourdough perfectly crusted. The bacon and egg roll ($10), an Aussie staple, is made a standout with streaky bacon and a complex homemade barbecue sauce. The same sauce is used on their smoked brisket hash ($18), a CP favourite on the menu. The 12-hour slow cooked brisket melts in your mouth, and the barbecue sauce is smoky and cumin-scented. Served with a wild rocket aioli, the fresh herb balances the heavy dish and we wish there was an entire bucket of it. This is all topped with a jalapeño salsa, which isn't overpowering but adds a gentle kick to get your morning started.

And when it comes to lunch, well, who doesn't love a double patty cheeseburger? The Brother Burger ($13-$17) is well cooked and decadent. And while there is great variety in the BB menu, there is still an obvious sense of coherence; the sign of a truly talented chef.

The coffee is nothing to snark at either. Using Allpress Espresso, their single origin changes weekly. And if you're taking your finicky, health nut of a friend, there is still the 'light stuff' on the menu, including mango and guava bircher muesli and organic house granola ($10 each). But come on, live a little.

Basket Brothers is looking to open for dinner soon, but for now, catch them for lunch, brunch or breakfast seven days a week.