Reviews

"Great inventive menu and friendly helpful staff. Could have sat here all day"

"The food is great and the staff always have a smile on their faces"

"Best cinnamon scroll!"

"Beautiful atmosphere, lovely staff and great food. A very friendly community feel to it."

"Melbourne’s best kept secret! This place has incredible food and is a place I can’t recommend highly enough to friends and family."

"Great breakfast menu. The food is fantastic."

"Really good coffee at a reasonable price. The food menu looks amazing"

"We visit a lot of cafes as part of our bike rides. This cafe is easily one of the nicest in Melbourne and I think a lot has to do with the amazing people who run it. It shows when people love what they do. They put love into the food and the service and it makes for a great experience."

"Coffee was great and so was the service....thank you!"

"A fantastic cafe with friendly efficient service, delicious meals and tasty beverages. There's lots of seating both indoors and outdoors."

"Nice 2 hangout, tasty food good coffee Do yourself a favour if your in the area"

"Hidden gem"

"Wow! Amazing look and feel. Service is speedy and second to none! The coffee is so good it is life changing! Definitely found a new favourite breakfast and lunch spot"

"New favorite cafe, a hidden gem"

"Awesome place. Out of city noises. In a quite street.. food and service is amazing. Its like a house made cafe stuff. Even tough they guys helps people in saving stuff which is of no use. U just bring ur vegetables and get free cofee or food instead. Great initiative in saving food. Must have a visit."

"The coffee is great! Had the bacon stuffed mushrooms. The white bean puree is fantastic!"

"Cosy brunch spot with outdoor pet friendly seating. Food was delicious and pleasantly presented. There were so many options on the menu to choose from. Warm and friendly staff. It was busy but there was no wait time for a table and food. Highly recommended."

"Lovely cafe with some great staff that make you feel at home. The true definition of your local cafe, I only wish I lived nearer."

"Came in at the end of the lunch service and they didn't disappoint. The meals, coffee and staff were brilliant and loved the community vibe. We will be back. If you haven't gone off the main strip and discovered this local gem - you need too."

"Can get very busy here at times food is good"

"Good"

"Just moved to the area and have found my new local coffee and brunch place. Food and coffee was delicious and reasonably priced. Will be back :)"

"Very nice they have delicious yummy foods and drinks the staff are all quite nice but some things take a while but it's usually very fast to get food"

"Yummy"

"If you love coffee, you'll must go here for an exceptional coffee. Good service and friendly staff."

"Excellent service, girl who served us was attentive and friendly. Tables were clean and atmosphere pleasant. Very affordable. 3 mains, 4 drinks, no Sunday surcharge - <$80 Left a tip"

"Love darling st and always my go to for a great brunch. Service is great and menu is delicious. Consistently delivering tasty meals and coffee."

"Incredible. The staff were attentive, patient, and lovely. The food was INCREDIBLE! Exactly as on their website. So delicious, perfectly cooked! Can't wait to go back and try more from the menu"

"Cool place"

"Delicious winter warming food gr8 variety and lovely wait staff"

"I was really impressed with this cafe. Great menu, carefully prepared and well presented food, good coffee and friendly staff. We chose to sit in the covered courtyard outside which was cozy with the heater on."

"Great staff and food"

"Fantastic food and drink, wonderful staff and great atmosphere!"

"Amazing food, lovely people, nice space. And did I mention the food is amazing?!"

"YUM!!! I had the potato rosti breakfast and a smoothie, both utterly delicious and I left with a full and happy belly."

"Very busy. Menu looks great but the chicken pie special was not fantastic. Coffee was good though."

"Delicious crab omelette with laksa sauce."

"Had a great brunch here yesterday, delish fritters and strong espresso but, Guys, move the juicer out of the main room!!"

"warm welcoming staff， great service from local cafe，Nice food as shown on the photos."

"My favourite brunch spot."

"Very nice coffee. Good selection of food for such a small place"

"So good! Had so many brunches arround Mel, it is definitely the best. Mushrooms and burger were very impressive. Can’t wait to get back!"

"So good I literally am moving into a house on darling street just to accommodate my addiction to the breakfast bun (with a side of avocado)"

"Great imaginative food. Friendly staff. Attractive décor. Hot water served with espresso for long black."

"Brisket Eggs Benedict Chilli Scrambled Darling St Espresso is a humble family run cafe where they use nothing but locally sourced ingredients. It almost feels like you’re having a meal in someone’s home. They have a small outdoor courtyard which I personally think could be only improved with some music for a little bit of vibe. Their Eggs Benedict looked and tasted incredible I loved the use of brisket. The chilli scramble was also a hit, it had a slight sweetness to it, totally delicious. The green juice was, dare I say, abit tooo green, needed something to sweeten it and make it less gritty. A solid choice in the area, we will be back!"

"Great food. Super friendly staff."

"Service was perfect. The food was also delicious and reasonably priced."

"Good service , good food and decent coffee"

"Lovely hidden away cafe in a converted corner store. Great little courtyard and catering for kids and pets. A true neighbourhood gem."

"Great place to eat. Food was awesome. Full of flavour. Fantastic service."

"Delicious food!!!!"

"We were staying at a friend's house around the corner and decided to have breakfast here. The coffee was great and the food exceptional! Highly recommended!"

"This place has got to have one of the most creative and delicious brunch menus out there. Dog friendly which is great, and great coffee and service"

"Popped into this cafe for coffee on mothers day was busy of course. Staff gave us instant greeting guided us to a back room was spacious .We were tempted watching food coming out to snack which we did was delicious x Will return."

"Great café. Delicious food and coffee. Friendly staff."

"Always great service, friendly staff and terrific food/coffee. So blessed to have this little gem just around the corner."

"Cozy little cafe next door to a school, easy to miss. Enjoyed the laid back vibe, staff were friendly, service was prompt and on point. Great menu items, there is a good balance between savoury and sweet. I enjoyed the breakfast board, has it has a little something of everything, without feeling too heavy. The coffee hit the spot, wasn’t strong, with sweet after notes. Heaps of parking, well worth the visit."

"Great brunch place with delicious food and friendly service."

"The best cafe in the area. Been here many times and everything I've tried has been excellent. The food quality and care of preparation gives me the confidence to keep coming back. Great service and friendly staff. Plenty of street parking. Beautiful and inviting atmosphere inside. I would say this cafe is the best hidden gem in the area. If you value quality, creativity, a warm atmosphere, and amazing service, then this is your place and your people."

"Great cafe, no indoor seating for prams. Food and coffee great. Staff friendly and helpful!"

"Always yum and staff are friendly"

"I'd been meaning to visit for a couple of years now after hearing about your effort to reduce food waste. We had a great time. Your staff are super friendly and were great with my preschooler who was creating a small amount of chaos. The food was tasty and in large portions."

"Great breakfast and coffee!"

"A beautiful space with delicious food and lovely service - we travel to make this our go-to cafe."

"Food was tasty, fresh and meticulously presented but most of all staff are soo warm and welcoming. We had a booking of 6 fairly loud friends and they did all they could to accomodate us and we ended up staying there for 3 hours. Highly recommend this spot for long brunches."

"Wonderful brunch, unfortunately there wasn’t much seating available so we had to sit in the little alleyway which wasn’t the best, but regardless the food was great. My friend ordered avo toast and I had the zucchini fritters, fresh, full of flavour, I would have loved some bread to pick up all that amazing sauce. I will be back again this week with family, for sure!"

"Very friendly nice food. The area could have been warmer"

"Good coffee"

"Great spot for coffees and a meal with colleagues."

"Great food and services"

"The food is always amazing and the staff really friendly. The portion sizes are very generous."

"Always reliable to get a good quality feed - whether breakfast, brunch, lunch or just a coffee. Service is good but can occasionally be slow. Great place for Moonee Ponds cafe scene!"

"The environment are very friendly. There are different type sitting area which either you want to sit comfortably inside, on the alley or playing with little kids at the backyard. Food is good with various type either veggies, fish, or meat. I have latte which good in my type with not too strong."

"Quality coffee!!! Great service."

"Great friendly service and food"

"Best coffee in the area! Excellent food and lovely staff. My fav coffee/brunch place."

"Lunch was Excellent. delicious veggie bowl salad. Could feel my Body rejoice, it was so well presented and healthy. Added in a few delicious expert made coffees to celebrate with my new healthy insides. Lmao"

"A very pleasant place for a coffee and babychino with my daughter and grandson. The staff were friendly and attentive."

"Fantastic service - seems to be a hands on owner/manager who went out of his way to look after our large table. Food was excellent - tasty and we'll presented - and the general consensus around the table was that the drinks were good too, from milkshakes to cold drip coffees. Would definitely go there again. Busy with a nice atmosphere."

"So lucky having such a great cafe to have close to home. Such a friendly team, great atmosphere and excellent food/coffee!"

"Excellent food and service. Highly recommended!"

"Great place and is walking distance from marbi river."

"Presentation FTW! We're regulars here. :)"

"This is my favourite cafe. The food is consistently lovely, and so is the service!"

"We were in the neighborhood and was looking for a cafe for brunch. Stumbled upon this cafe and it did not disappoint. Coffee was amazing! What’s even better was the food - Chilli Scram was so delicious; and even the prawn roll (I had the last one for the day which means it’s so popular that it’s sold out by noon) was such good portion and well-balanced. There was a courtyard at the back, really nice during the summery weather we had today and oh, they were dog friendly too. Chloe who served us was so friendly and pleasant. She made sure that we enjoyed our meal and even had a bowl of water for our fur babies. Well, that’s enough to tell you that we will certainly be back! Thanks team!"

"Good ambience and creative food. The overall experience was fantastic."

"What a gorgeous little place. Their menu looks amazing so will definitely be back to try various dishes. I started off with the chilli scramble as my first dish. Delightful"

"Such a lovely place to sit and have coffee and food. Coffee is delicious with all the fruity notes."

"Lovely staff, really tasty food"

"Had a nice brunch with the family and found service was fantastic. All were very friendly and everything we ordered was delicious. If your in the area give it a go."

"Delicious brekkie and coffee!! Aussie style"

"Good brunch spot to meet with friends."

"I was introduced to this lovely cafe by a friend and I’ve been raving on about it since. The court-yard at the back is my pick for a quiet and relaxed breaky... the staff, food and ambience are so homely, it almost feels like you’re being looked after by family! The food and coffee speak for itself at this humble cafe, it needs no bells and whistles, it’s just simply for what it is! Pet and kid friendly, great for all ages."

"Coffee spot on. ..staff helpful. Meals delicious. Jezza"

"Great place. Try the frozen chai"

"Delicious brekkie roll and super juice, dog friendly if you sit in the back alley"

"Great coffee, chai and smoothies. Excellent food with exceptional ingredients. Our go to place for brunch. Can be very busy, so book ahead if you don’t want to be disappointed. I recommend the Beef ragu gnocchi, Chorizo smoked scamorza cheese toastie and the breakfast bun."

"Great service, great food, great coffee. Hidden gem. Will come again"

"The best breakfast and coffee in Moonee Ponds. Our local fav"

"Fantastic change in food. Staff are incredibly helpful."

"Good variety. friendly place"

"Grateful for the intro to this amazing little place by a friend yesterday. Told my son about it and so HAD to go back today. Unlike some places that might be hit and miss depending on what you order, all the meals have been generous and absolutely delicious with flavours balanced and interesting twists from the norm. My goal is to try everything on the menu!! To top off the incredible food and coffee (made properly as YOU like it), the owner and staff are just delightful, this place has real heart and warmth."

"My absolute favourite cafe by far. It’s become my second home over the years and love the team behind it all. The folks working are a delight and the food is amazing and always fresh. I love, love, LOVE their coffee! Never disappoints."

"Food is really yummy here. Great location with good parking and great atmosphere."

"Cute little coffee place ❤️"

"Everything about this cafe is phenomenal. From the amazing coffee, to the expertly crafted dishes that taste as well as they present. What isn’t shown is the 2 other seating spaces that this cafe has. A beautiful art deco second dining room, and then a very generously spaced outside area that’s dog friendly. An experience you must have when north of Melbourne."

"Fantastic food, amazing coffee, and even better service. Chris and her staff always make you feel welcome and serve you with a smile. It feels right to start the mornings here."

"Fantastic food. very cosy admostpher. Great service. Fresh food. Good staff too. Keep it up guys."

"Definitely made improvements (renovations) since we visited several years ago. Place looks very neat and tidy... Staff were very pleasant and prompt. Food excellent and reasonable choice and variety. I had the baked beans"

"Good coffee. Nice staff."

"Lamb rack was great. Family friendly and a great space out back. Great place. We'll be back."

"Great food, great service. A must visit. Very creative food and beverage without the feel of a cheb changing the game too much to compete with other cafes. The simplistic complexity of the good food makes it one of Melbourne greats."

"Food outstanding, staff very nice, coffee very good, dog friendly..lovely place.. Unfortunately we had to wait nearly an hour fir coffee and food, admittedly they were very busy, as they are so good. I had a spinach waffle with poached salmon etc..was scrumptious.. Also my partner asked gf meal, and does get ill if eats gluten , she was served gluten...which is unfortunate, for her and the cafe.. CAUSE WITHOUT A DOUBT THIS CAFE IS FIVE STARS, ITS OUTSTANDING.. But these attentions to detail are really important especially for people that aren't gf, by choice but because it destroys there enjoyment of food..as it makes them ill... Get this right and this is 6 stars nothing around it competes..., keep improving. We will be back.."

"Great little cafe in side street of Moonee Ponds. Def worth a visit. I had the salmon which was fresh and cooked to perfection. See you again soon"

"Great little spot for coffee and breakfast"

"Great Place with Delicious Food. I would definitely recommend it."

"A little corner cafe with quality coffee and a tasty variety of all day breakfast and lunch. My new go-to in the area."

"Lovely and cosy place"

"Chicken burg is the best"

"Arguably the best Café in Ascot Vale. Beautiful dog-friendly yard, really great chefs, and awesome staff. The food and coffee is absolutely fantastic."

"such a lovely neighbourhood-like café, great quality food and the spiced hot chocolate is definitely delicious ."

"Breakfast burger with chorizo for the win."

"Stumbled across this cosy cafe nice and early, there were three other little families with young kids enjoying their Sunday morning brekky there. Great dishes. I smashed my flavoursome fish tacos, the husband enjoyed his breakfast board spread and our son finished all his chips. We'll be back."

"Quiet, creative, local."

"Interesting and delicious Coffee served in the European style"

"We came back for breakfast and coffee. But the place has been changes, the atmosphere so nice and pleasant, coffee and foods (Bake Beans) so delicious . Thankyou"

"Fantastic wee cafe with a superb breakfast roll. A hidden gem."

"Great options from their menu here, it’s obvious why this place is so solid in their customers. It’s a vibrant bustling cafe with great staff and food to go with it!!"

"Nice atmosphere and good food and coffee."

"Yummy food and friendly staff"

"Drink and food options are great! No split bills on weekends and family friendly."

"Nice local brunch, love the back seating"

"Egg Benedict with pork belly OMG!❤️‍"

"Awesome nice Cafe with really good food!"

"Nice place, good coffee and lovely staff."

"Incredible menu, moreish and delicious!! Sticky pork belly salad was phenomenal! Also has a very cute courtyard out the back. Will be back next time I'm in the area."

"Lovely food. Cute place"

"Great coffee and excellent menu, all the usuals with a bit of a twist. Photo of the mushroom with chilli scramble and the fritters. Loved also all the gf options and a great kids menu. The service was excellent. I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu."

"Everything is fantastic at this place! Absolutely love their toasties"

"First time there and it was a wonderful time the food, coffee and service were impeccable. I do recommend booking ahead as it very popular and busy busy."

"Great service and food, coffee good also. Will be back."

"Absolutely excellent coffee, food is quite good as well. Always friendly staff, delivering orders efficiently. Popular, get in early on the weekends!"

"Nice food"

"Discovered this coffee shop, today on my bike ride. I just had a coffee & seems alright. Will come back to try some food soon."

"Needed a quick coffee hit on the way to work, this place was close with great reviews. Did not disappoint! Excellent coffee!"

"Best eggs benedict I've had anywhere"

"Awesome suburban cafe, tucked away from the busy Puckle Street and Union Road shopping precincts. Food is always of a high standard, and meticulous attention to detail on presentation. Indoor seating is ample and spacious, and has a chic feel. Outdoor seating is relaxed and offers a nice shady retreat."

"The food and coffee was fab.. what more do you want.. thanks guys.. keep it up"

"Top local."

"Can't comment on dine-in experience as Melbourne lockdown hit, but visited here a couple of times for coffee fix. Coffee was really really nice and balanced and the same quality each time I ordered. Very moreish. Strawberry and Chocolate muffin was oh so good and full of both strawberry and choc..no skimping on ingredients. Such a great little local spot and will definitely return and try the food."

"Great location and great coffee"

"Consistently delicious food and drinks. The wait staff are polite and knowledgeable about the menu. My favourite thing is to have the breaky board with a side of mac cheese croquet so satisfying!"

"Delicious food! I’ll be back again!"

"Best food, coffee and service"

"Good coffee, yummy brunch offers, can't ask for more. It's a very instagrammable place if you're looking for something visually pleasing as well as offering good quality menu items."

"Cute little cafe. Tacos were to die for."

"Great corner cafe serving good food, great coffee. Falafel was not good, very floury and strangely textured - was only charged half price for it as I couldn’t eat it... Husbands breakfast was delicious. Really wanted to like this place, staff friendly and service was great, disappointing about the falafel perhaps a bad batch."

"The food and service here is outstanding. The menu is full of surprises and is always great. The coffee is awesome and so are the sweets"

"Terrific local venue with good food, excellent consistent coffee and very accomodating staff. Our kids also enjoy going there which makes it an easy choice for us. The place looks fresh and rejuvenated after it’s mini-renovation over Christmas."

"Fantastic service, very welcoming & kind, great environment to be in. The coffee and muffins are perfect The management is exceptional Would definitely recommend others"

"I've been coming here every weekday morning to get a coffee to get me started for each day! Highly recommend to anyone who favours quality taste without having to pay an arm and a leg! ~ Liam"

"Great coffee... Nice environment... Great people We tried the Mexican bowl and chicken burger and we loved it..."

"Nice little place for breakfast and a coffee"

"Sunday morning breakfast, friendly service, great coffee and delicious food. Generously sized tables made this small cafe space feel really spacious."

"A fantastic setting to get some admin work done accompanied by great coffee, scrumptious food and lovely staff!"

"Fantastic warm and inviting cafe - staff even helped me find a local florist!"

"Nice small cafe, out of city."

"I live in the western suburbs but this place is worth the drive. I'd be happy to travel an hour to come to this beautiful little café. Once upon a time it was a little milkbar but has been beautifully converted into a warm and cosy café. I've been here on several occasions and I always forget to take photos but they have a fantastic Instagram page that showcases the beautiful café and their delicious food and beverages. Out of all the times I've been here I've never had a bad experience. The customer service is fantastic and friendly, they really make you feel comfortable. The food is exceptional and tasty. I especially loved the porridge they make, it goes down a treat on a cold winter's day. Before Covid I was making frequent visits so I could try the majority of their items on the menu. Unfortunately I fell outside the travel limit so it's been a while but to be able to attend again was music to my ears. I will most definitely add photos on my next visit that I go. Found some photos and that's paints a picture of just how good the food is. Best porridge I've ever had, such a wonderful winter dish. Food 5⭐ Coffee & Beverages 5⭐ Customer service 5⭐ Cleanliness & Comfort 5⭐"

"Fantastic cafe"

"Great local cafe. Awesome food and great coffee."

"Wonderful coffee"

"Amazing place, food was superb and friendly staff. Dog friendly as well. Definitely recommend!"

"Innovative and great tasting menu with friendly service."

"Great local. Great food, coffee and service"

"Great food"

"Hidden gem in Ascot Vale, friendly service and good (strong) coffee ☕"

"Always great ambiance, coffee, food and service."

"Nice ambiance, good variety of food in the menu, friendly staff. Good cappuccino, very good blueberry muffin and good refreshing smoothie. We like this one, well done guys."

"Nice place friendly staff..."

"Great team and coffee"

"An unassuming place located in residential Ascot Vale but arrival after 1pm with a healthy crowd indicated it is a popular place. Seating in and out is compact, but not to bad to feel like you are jammed in. Bike parking racks down the side to the rear but a few blocked by tables and plants. The service was good, friendly. Good menu variety. Wait times was quite reasonable. Finally, the food: cheese burger was a great burger and I'd even think about putting it in my upcoming top ten burgers of Melbourne news article. A great well cooked blend. The serve of chips though are the thin cut McDonald's style. Change these out to some healthier steak cut and you have a winning combo. Added a choc milkshake and it was a good priced lunch. My two friends reported they enjoyed their lunch. This place is located just off the Maribrynong River Bike trail if your looking for a place to refuel yourself. Otherwise, worth the visit."

"Great outdoor garden"

"Wonderful atmosphere a perfect cafe to have some brunch. Made me and my friend feel very welcome."

"Great service, awesome coffee and tasty menu. Nice little place for weekend breakfast. The staff are always friendly."

"Really cute little place with good food"

"Great food and atmosphere in this suburban corner cafe. Staff excellent especially Paige."

"Excellent."

"Great menu and lovely staff"

"Best staff. Best food. End of story!"

"A pleasant surprise at the corner of Darling Street Moonee Ponds. We enjoyed our breakfast at the courtyard, outdoor sitting. Staffs were friendly, good coffee and breaky. Happy to recommend."

"Lovely place in a hidden location with awesome breakfast"

"Consistently good food and great service. Can get a little squeezy at busy times"

"Cozy and friendly staffs. Easy to park."

"Amazing local cafe, always a smiling face and wonderful personable staff. The coffee is consistently delicious, even when they are busy coffee is worth the wait."

"Great coffee and friendly staff!"

"Food good, love going to cafes in residential areas! Good service"

"Excellent food and service always."

"Fantastic cafe, with delicious food, great coffee and a nice relaxed atmosphere. Have been many times and have always left happy."

"Do yourself a favour, get the breakfast board!"

"Great milkshakes .....particularly the caramel banana with ice cream and smashed Cornetto cone"