A small slice of Latin America has recently settled into the hustle and bustle of Richmond’s Bridge Road. But this isn’t just another trendy Melbourne café as El Atino & Co offers a clear point of difference with its vibrant feel and full international flavour.
They say first impressions count and you’re sure to be impressed when you first walk through the door.
There’s no leaning over the table simply to be heard, as this restaurant is spacious, think warehouse-esque, making it the perfect place for an overdue catch up with friends.
El Atino & Co treats its customers to an all day breakfast and lunch menu served alongside a Coffee Supreme brew and Daylesford & Hepburn refreshments.
For your morning feed you’re most likely to be struggling to choose between the likes of a Ducle de Leche Jaffle, Avocado and Cilantro Eggs, and Mexican Molletes.
If you’re lunching later in the day you’d be hard pressed to go past the Pepito Steak Sandwich, 5 Chiles Prawn Tacos, or the Bife de Chorizo.
Upon my first visit for a leisurely Sunday lunch I happily devoured the melt-in-your-mouth Bife de Chorizo, essentially a steak with root vegetables and a side of salsa, while my other half virtually inhaled the Longanisa Burger from the specials board. It was that good he couldn’t put it down in between bites!
What I was most impressed with was not only the speed of service from the time our order was placed to food on the plate in front of us, but I was also blown away by the quality of the produce and just how jam-packed our meals were with flavour.
The other major point of difference is the café’s in-house Latin American food-store stocked full of genuine Latin American cuisine and authentic ingredients. So you can take home and recreate all the flair and flavour of your meal in your very own kitchen. But good luck because the bar has been set high!
* Update as of 2018 – El Atino & Co has now closed it’s doors
