La Paloma
Editorial
Like many Brunswick locals I've tried to keep this place a secret. You see, I am one of La Paloma's loyal tribe, and like a mother I have had to let go and share my baby, and it's been difficult.
This unassuming little cantina with its shrine to Diego Maradona, chipped crockery and back catalogue of Wax Poetics (the Hip Hop/Jazz/Funk/Soul bible), won't suit everyone and that's the point.
The small and slightly dilapidated front room, (on weekends a larger back room, complete with a foosball table, is opened up), barely squeezes in ten people. When the few small round tables are taken you can either squish in at the bar or sit outside where you are bound to have an encounter with one of Albert Street's off-beat characters. Weekday's breakfast is churros and um, churros, but lunch, where the choice is doubled, is where it's at. Tortilla or a salad and pastrami roll - that's it, except for Fridays when empanadas also appear on the chalkboard. The La Paloma roll is legendary. A huge and addictive construction of pastrami, avocado, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, cheese and home-made mayonnaise. Sounds simple, but it is a wonder to taste. On weekends the breakfast of baked eggs, Turkish sausage, salsa and labne is equally as habit-forming. The coffee is suitably Latino style - strong. The brand is Bailey, which is a specialty roaster in Melbourne, and if you haven't heard of them before it won't be long before you do.
A single turn-table plays La Paloma's excellent selection of vinyl, and don't even think about bringing your laptop here, it really isn't that sort of place. If you know your soccer feel free to strike up a conversation with the boys behind the counter. So serious are they about Argentina they brought in a small television for the World Cup, mainly for the enjoyment of the staff.
Rachel Cook, October 2010
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Michael
May 02, 2011
Was voted one of the best rolls in town, so the secrets well and truly out now.
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