Youngster Ascot Food Store is a fun little cafe hiding in the back streets of Moonee Ponds. Opened for just over a year and a half now it has made a name for itself as a neighbourhood gem and another reason to venture into the north western suburbs.
The cafe is a complete renovation of a former corner store and house and the new interior presents a modern yet slightly vintage design with the black tiled bar and counter and white tiled walls forming a sleek contrast with the added touch of some dark timber. Seating is a mixture of bar stools, a communal table, small tables and communal benches outside amongst large planter boxes.
The food menu is extravagant with a quite a mixture of styles of dishes offered by the dozen breakfast options and another dozen lunch options. Highlights include the Duck egg with toasted brioche, shiitake mushrooms and pecorino, Apple wood smoked ocean trout, Confit lobster burger and the Ascot Fried Chicken.
On this visit I ordered the soft shell crab burger with gribiche sauce, poached tomatoes and watercress. The creamy, flavoursome sauce complimented the tender and juicy crab well and the brioche bun was toasted to give that nice crunch.
And then there was dessert. Ascot Food Store is known for its donuts. Injectable donuts. Try and picture an iced donut with a syringe full of suave sticking out where the hole would be. Flavours vary day to day with usually a small selection on offer, on this visit I had mango, lychee and lime. It’s a great concept with a good flavour combination, but you need to be a bit careful with the squeezing the syringe otherwise you will end up with sauce all over your hands.
Coffee is from St Ali with a blend and single origin options available as espresso, filter and cold drip. Hot chocolate from Mork and tea from Storm in a Teacup is also on offer.
There is always a sense of adventure when you find a cafe in the backstreets of the suburbs, although there is a tram route running out the front, and Ascot Food Store is well worth the short trek.
Ascot Food Store
320 Ascot Vale Road, Moonee Ponds
03 9370 2649