Phone: 021 0328 054
Open: Mon-Fri 7.30am to 3.30pm. Weekends: 8.30am to 3.30pm
Cost: $53.50 for two
SET UP & SITE
As a city-dweller, I watched with mixed curiosity and sentimentality as St Kevins Arcade underwent refurbishment during the past few months. Locals feared gentrification, and it's happened to some degree. But housed at the end of the arcade, in the space that was Alleluya's for 20 years, a bit of the old spirit remains, in the form of Bestie. Very vintage peach and forest green walls are a welcome contrast from the now clean, monochromatic arcade; a sweet little bonsai collection occupies a windowsill. Original features such as leadlight windows have been lovingly preserved. And the seating area is still the glorious suntrap it always was, overlooking Myers Park.
SUSTENANCE & SWILL
Ravenous after our hike up Queen St, we ordered quickly from Bestie's small but interesting menu. My husband tackled the vanilla and cinnamon muesli, which was nutty and crunchy and topped with seasonal fruit (tamarillos, plums, pears) plus a dollop of creamy coconut yoghurt. I opted for the creamed butter beans with fried egg, bacon and sourdough. While the portions felt a little on the small side - for $16.50 I'd expected two eggs and perhaps a bit more toast - it was a well-thought-out dish, with the egg fried in chilli butter, streaky bacon and copious amounts of well-spiced butterbean puree. Our trim and soy flat whites (Eighthirty) were glossy and smooth, just right.
