Long Story Short

40 Crockford St
Port Melbourne, VIC 3207
http://www.longstoryshortcafe.com.au/

You had me at Tim Tam Pancakes. Frankly, the rest of the menu could be slops, and I would still be sold. The good news is, not only does Long Story Short serve the crave-worthy, one-and-only Tim Tam Pancakes, their all-day brunch menu is also filled with a plethora of other goodies, with no slops in sight. So let’s dive right in shall we?

Sitting eye-catchingly on a corner of a busy intersection, Long Story Short is the quintessential all-day cafe. The bright, spacious interior transitions easily from a pre-work bite to a long Sunday lunch, with a boozy drinks list to match.

I was intrigued by the Cold Drip Herbal Iced Tea ($5), made in-house, but I’m afraid I wasn’t a fan at all. As odd as this may sound, this tasted simultaneously too strong, and not strong enough. Whilst the herbal flavour was almost overwhelming, the actual drink itself was entirely tasteless. I’d give this one a miss.

The Smoked Cola ($6) on the other hand fared a lot better. Although slightly unusual for those who are used to the typical cola taste, this is a much more mature and nuanced version, with notes of vanilla, cloves, and cinnamon all intermingling in the fizzy drink.

Ribs at 10am? Oh yes you can, with the Slow Cooked Cold Drip Coffee Pork Ribs ($23). Set out more like a fancy share plate than brunch, this is for those of you out there who like living large.

What I hate about ribs is how I want to pick them up and gnaw the meat off them, except it’s not socially acceptable to do so in most places. These ribs circumvent that problem nicely by being so tender that the meat pulls off the bone with the gentlest tug from a fork. The rich aroma of the ribs was accompanied by a tangy herb salad, as well as a scattering of pineapple pieces for an Asian twist. It was an impressive dish for a neighbourhood cafe.

Continuing the trend of non-brunch-like brunch dishes was the Deconstructed Souvlaki ($21), with a side of Chips ($4) dipped in caramelised black garlic aioli.

I was very impressed with the richness and tenderness of the lamb, and how well the flavour was complemented by the delicate vegetables and smoky flatbread. Unfortunately, the lamb was just too salty, leaving me with the dilemma of wanting to eat more of the delicious lamb, yet being completely overcome by the salt.

And now, for what we’re all really here for: the Buttermilk Tim Tam Pancakes ($19).

So what you get here, kids, are 3 buttermilk pancakes, layered with Tim Tam pieces and poached nashi pear, deluged with chocolate sauce, and topped with a scoop of Tim Tam ice cream. My only complaint is that the pancakes were actually quite dense and doughy, but hey, how upset can you be at Tim Tam pancakes?

Despite being a little rough around the edges in places, I was actually rather fond of Long Story Short. I thought the menu extremely interesting (they have a fairy floss dessert burger!), and there was definitely a lot of potential there. Long Story Short, give this one a go if you’re keen for something a little different

Rating: 13/20 – once again, tim tam pancakes.
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.
Sweet and Sour Fork dined as a guest of Long Story Short.