Hedgehogs

We headed here for brunch and thought it was a little gem. They’re open limited hour (breakfast/​lunch only) but serve both breakfast and lunch items throughout. On a random Wednesday, it was pretty quiet — the service was quick and friendly and we had our pick of tables! Though I think the outdoor ones maybe only seated up to two people? There were plenty of hearty veggie options as well as more meaty ones, and they were willing to make a small switch on the menu with no hassle. The food was pretty reasonably prices, came in fairly large portions, looked somewhat pretty, and tasted fantastic. I also appreciated that, in addition to standard coffee/​tea/​milkshake type drinks, they have a fridge that has a fairly extensive collection of beverages, including various healthy juices and low-​sugar options. Hedgehogs is a fairly casual, order-​at-​the-​counter kind of place (with super-​cute carved hedgehog numbers at each table), with a bit of an eclectic, country charm. We don’t get over to Bassendean too often, particularly at lunch/​breakfast time, but I would certainly go again next time we do!

I’ve been a fan of Hedgehogs for sometime. Being a vegetarian it’s great to find a place that does tasty vegie burgers — they call them nuttie burgers with delicious tomato relish. I usually go with a friend and we share one. No problem halving it and serving on separate plates. A good selection of cakes and they make great milkshakes. I have a coffee milkshake. Sometimes we go for coffee and cake and there is always something different in the cake line. I started going there when the previous owner was there and have continued with the new owners. There is a time limit on parking outside Hedgehogs but plenty of parking across the road. Not sure on the hours now but think most days it is open from 7 — 2.

Hiatus at Hedgehogs
Occasionally in a writer’s life one can have a leisurely breakfast with a young colleague who one admires in the certainty that they will succeed in the profession. Today was one of those rare days. As my companion was on the way to her day job, also creative, (no burger slinging here) we elected to meet at Hedgehogs on Old Perth Road Bassendean.
Bassendean is changing, the strip will soon have three fully occupied apartment blocks as well as more built on some off centre roadways. Hedgehogs has survived the upheavals and construction nestling comfortably next door to the very swishest apartments nearing completion. It has had a semi facelift, in cosmetic terms I would say new eylashes and highlighter, in restaurant terms new signage and chairs for the pavement area. It works, welcoming and somewhere to park my electric tricycle while waiting for my companion.
After the greeting we turned to the food order, one has to enter the small front area and wait for the barista/​owner to take your order while listening to the muffled sounds of strife from the kitchen. Entertained us both as some bacon and recalcitrant sever got a proper cursing. The well set out menu offers some nice surprises. My vegetarian friend chose the avacado, cheese, tomato on toast while I gluttonously plumped for Eggs Benedict.
I have experienced some delays at this venue before but today our morning coffees made a swift appearance and after an acceptable wait (perfect poached eggs and fresh hollandaise do require some close attention) our plates of deliciousness arrived.
Presentation is definitely not the forte here. My writerly friend’s plate was overfilled with two solid squares of beautiful crusty country style bread laid with lashings of the toppings, avos, cheese, tomatoes all jostling for space. The eater was enthralled,“real food” she exclaimed being young enough to tuck in with enthusiasm and stuff those «little bites» etiquette demands of later life. Her metabolism would take care of the consequences.
My plate was utterly concealed under a smothering of thick yellow sauce. Lovely but far too much, even our favorite chef Manu would have cried «enough sauce already». Half the quantity would have been a surfeit. The poached eggs were ‘a point’ as they say in France, bloody perfect as we say in Basso. The buried toast was tasty and perfect foil for the oozy yellow yolks as they spilled at the urging of my knife. A thin slice of very tasty smoked ham was visible reclining on the toast. A heavenly combination, Hollandaise, poached egg yolk and quality ham. The toast was a homemade tasting slice as on my companions plate. The crusts were toasted hard, but, that is the nature of real bread and very nice too for my taste, but then I have all my teeth.
Our coffees, namely a latte and my customary long black in a mug were smooth. No over bite. Altogether a nice breakfast in pleasant surroundings. A deserved Basso favourite.

Strolled down for my first brekky here today. It’s like having breakfast at your Mum’s. Honest food, honest prices, great coffee (I had poached eggs on toast and a large coffee for $ 15). Bassendean markets are also run on this street last Sunday of every month so it was nice to wander through after eating. It gets busy though so if you want a table outside its wise to get there before 9am. I will be back now I know it exists!
*dog friendly

Hedgehogs seems like a pretty hot spot situated pretty much in the middle of nowhere. The tables outside had a fair crowd at lunch time.
It is a cutesy little place with a cosy feel the café on the inside is really small so when I say its busy there would be about 10 people there and the place is full.
I wasn’t really a fan of this place as it was overpriced. You can place a judgement like this when you look inside the counter and a sausage roll that is about half the size of a normal one and $ 6. The quiches looked pretty plain and all that was under $ 15 looked really average even the name sack hedgehog slice was undersized and overpriced so I walked out.