Baked beans are very easy to make, there’s not really any excuse for not making them great. They also consist of relatively cheap ingredients, so it’s difficult to justify charging a lot for them. The Premises (202 Bellair St, Kensington) let me down on both counts.
They got points for using a few different bean varieties, which provided a range of textures. And a good coriander pesto ensured the dish wasn’t too stodgy. However, the dish was woefully under-seasoned, even with the ras el hanout and chunks of feta mixed in. Also lacking was value ($13.50), despite the inclusion of at least three (small) pieces of bread.
Kensington is going to be home to a lot more cafes in coming years, and I think if The Premises is going to win its share of the locals’ wallet, it’s going to have to improve their value or lift the food up at least half a notch.
