Ø.12 Coffee & Eatery

Ten Years of Notes, One Test

3.5 of 5

Enete and Kasper grew up in Nørrebro and spent about ten years taking notes on what makes a café work before they opened one. Their complaint was simple: coffee shops do not take the first meal of the day seriously. So every dish has to pass a single test. Is this the best we have ever had? If not, it goes back to the drawing board. I have sat through strategy decks with less discipline than that.

The name comes from the address, Øster Farimagsgade 12B, and the menu reads like people who argued over every line. Eggs benedict comes on crispy sweet potato bubble and squeak cakes instead of an English muffin. The savory pancakes carry two fried eggs, bacon, sesame and maple syrup. The Ø.12 plate is the whole argument on one board, with avocado smash, scrambled eggs and bacon, chili cheese sausage from Slagter Lund, cured salmon, Gammel Knas cheese and chia pudding. Before eleven there is a morning plate with soft-boiled eggs and homemade jam. There is a long list of fresh juices.

Outside there are wicker café chairs facing a row of old townhouses, which on a mild morning is as good a seat as Østerbro offers. There are now two more branches, on Silkegade and on H.C. Andersens Boulevard, and they always hold seats for walk-ins. Order the benedict and decide for yourself whether it passes the test.

Order this: Eggs benedict on bubble and squeak cakes, The Ø.12 plate, Savory pancakes with fried eggs and bacon, Shakshuka
The damage: $$
Go: Before eleven on a weekday, for the morning-only dishes
Find it: Øster Farimagsgade 12B, 2100 København Ø, Denmark
Website: 12cph.dk