St Baxter

Last updated on March 15, 2016

For Mexican food that isn’t just tacos and burritos (though you can find those here too), make a trip to St Baxter’s. It lists itself as a Californian eatery, but the food and decor has a largely Mexican bent.

On Brunswick Street, in the vicinity of New Farm cinema, is where you’ll find it. Painted in sunset colours, with windows that open out to the street for airflow and so you can watch the vehicle and car traffic go by, it has a relaxed feel. Upbeat music plays at a non-intrusive level, making it a place you can comfortably while time away at. It’s a good weekend brunch atmosphere.

stbaxterfront — View of the tables and one of the murals.

Board specials when we were there were BBQ anchiote chicken with kale Caesar salad and chilli prawn tacos with green mango salad.

Items on the brunch menu were either ones that you would typically think of as Mexican food, or others with a Mexican twist. We had the breakfast quesadilla, and the St Baxter eggs benedict (one of each of the above categories).

The breakfast quesadilla had egg, chorizo, melted cheese, BBQ corn kernels, and jalapeño. The jalapeño gave it a bit of bite, but there was a little dish of sour cream with the basket to temper that. The quesadilla had nicely crispy edges, with no burnt bits, and the egg and cheese melded together nicely.

stbaxterques — The quesadilla, fillings just visible.

The St Baxter’s eggs Benedict had the option of being served with lime and tequila cured salmon, or char grilled bacon. Nice as bacon usually is with most food, how could one pass up the flavours promised in that salmon? It did turn out nicely. Poached eggs with body yolks, lots of hollandaise sauce (some places give you just a drizzle), soft and tasty salmon, and toast that provided a contrasting crunch. There was kale too.