Bicycle Thieves

Bicycle Thieves lives on the quieter, lesser-used strip of High Street, just up the road from Northcote Plaza.

The eatery, named after the eponymous 1948 Italian film, is run by co-owner Chris Griffiths, who also co-owns Hawthorn eatery Bawa; Shri Bhagwandas, who’s behind Cremorne’s Sloane Ranger; and Joshua Clark.

A swathe of scarlet leather couches and polished wooden tables envelop the open-plan interior, and shiny brass and chrome fittings stretch over the service area. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the main road, splashing the 90-person space with light.

On the menu, crumpets with house-churned butter, leatherwood honey and lemon myrtle. Jaffles come filled with baked beans, bacon, fontina and a smidge of maple syrup; or with baked banana, mascarpone, chocolate, and house-made hazelnut spread. There's breakfast ramen, too, loaded with umami broth, noodles, a soft egg (slow-cooked for six minutes, then soy-marinated), kaiserfleisch, tofu and shiitake, topped with toasty chilli pangritata.

Coffee is by Duke’s, and there’s cold brew – try it with tonic and lime – kombucha, cold-pressed juices and sugar-free sodas.