Birdman, eating

I made a rookie mistake in preparing to eat at this next venue, a popular brekky spot on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy; the much-venerated Birdman Eating.

I read reviews first.

Not that there is anything wrong with people writing reviews about breakfast venues. Or reading them! In fact, suggesting that there was would probably put me in the category of such famous hypocrites as George W Bush, Dubya, and George Bush Jnr.

A little like taking Trip Advisor at face value though - which I've done, with regret - I read about coffees taking forever, terrible service, bad food, and an awful atmosphere, and I believed them.

So when KB and I arrived for our breakfast foray, I was pre-prepared to be pessimistic. On the occasion that I visited, however, I am happy to say that it was instead a briskly paced, well timed and pleasantly proper place.

Coffee, for instance, was great and served quickly. Cranky hangover types were dealt with with smiles and alacrity, and while there was an unaccountably perturbed table ("can't you do something about this noise?" My answer: "would you like us all to be a bit quieter, you little tw&t, all thirty of us?" Her answer "Would you like to sit outside instead sir?") the hustle and bustle felt like a well-oiled machine.

And the food? KB's sauteed mushrooms and the parmesan toast, just fine. No complaints. The big however?

I have an issue with the baked eggs. I think they're trying too hard. When I compare the baked eggs at Birdman Eating (any of the four varieties, but on this occasion I had the Mediterranean) to Liar Liar, or Cumulus... they're a poor second cousin. And these meals are clearly the piece de resistance of this little place, the clever trick, the novel idea.

But they're just average. OK. Not mind-blowing.

So while I was impressed by so much about this place, and perhaps because of and not in spite of the reviews I'd read before, the big bang was instead a fizzle. I'll give it 7.5 out of 10, with .5 off for trying too hard. 7/10.

Guys, do ONE style of baked eggs exceptionally well!