Kevin S.

To quote (well it's more of a derivation from his actual quote but anyway..) Joey Tribbiani: "Coffee - goood!, Food - goood!"... So I can't find a reason to not like Dead Man Espresso really. I haven't really explored South Melbourne breakfast/lunch options however (thanks to Danielle S) I think this is about to change! We had lunch there on Sunday and it was really nice. Located on Market St, it's a short stroll from the South Melbourne market, Coles in Clarendon centre or Woolies in South Melbourne Central. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the place has a sleek feel about it. My flat white was nice and (after toying with the idea of getting the Roscoes Chicken & Waffles) I opted for the Pork Bun - Waffles are a sweet option in my book so...! - which was quite nice. They have a good selection of items on their menu to suit different tastes and I know that I'm definitely trying their blackberry waffles and smoked brisket sandwich on my next visits.

Eepeng C.

I was a huge fan of Seven Seeds so I was excited to try Dead Man Espresso, and it did not disappoint. Up a few steps from Market Street and through the single entry door, you'll find aesthetically pleasing interiors decorated with cacti and modern wooden finishes. Whether you're an inside dweller or someone who prefers the outdoors, you'll find your perfect spot, with plenty of seating inside and out. It's table service here, so sit back and peruse the menu as your coffee is brewed fresh from the Seven Seeds blend. Restrooms aren't often mentioned in reviews but I thought I'd give it a whirl- if you've maybe had a few too many coffees, rest easy knowing that behind a door that blends into the wall, there's one just for you. At first a bit hesitant about the Green Pancakes, I was persuaded by the offer of smoked salmon and poached eggs. And to my surprise, I loved it! The pancake was a little strange at first given it was made of vegetables, but the flavours of everything blended well together. Do I give this place a thumbs up? Sure do.

Lani P.

Walking past the evenly spaced wood panelling on the exterior of this South Melbourne cafe you might never assume that within is a cafe pouring soul-enriching coffee and green pancakes that will leave you forgetting there's anything else on the breakfast menu. There's ample seating including a gorgeous deck area and a long communal table in the centre. The staff are cheerful and happily provide table service. I arrived hungry for breakfast and ordered a flat white with the green pancakes that a friend had rated so highly. Green pancakes I hear your mind try to imagine what they might be. Well, for the uninitiated, these are savoury pancakes packed with greens (leek, spinach and who knows what other leafy goodness) topped with smoked salmon, watercress and poached eggs. If you want a wholesome start to the day acquaint yourself with these bad boys.

Sheenal S.

I'm always travelling to Fitzroy for brunch but I should appreciate more the area I live in. Hence, this warm saturday arvo, I decided to explore a top cafe in South Melbourne Located on a quiet street, this unobtrusive cafe opens out to a rustic interior with interesting foldable looking chairs, square tables and a high hipster factor (without the hipster music). Before you even sit down you are asked for your choice of beverage . Staff are quite attentive and considerate The menu is quite interesting but my eyes couldn't go past the mushroom pate on sourdough toast, poached eggs, feta, salad and honey walnuts. My brunch friend wanted something sweet so we got the ricotta hot cakes with hazelnut mascarpone and passion fruit curd . Coffees arrived quickly with gorgeous coffee art. The coffee is quite robust but creamy. Not my favorite but definitely a wake up call. The mushroom pate was delish with solid bits of mushroom. There was so much of it too. I didn't even need the poached eggs but I couldn't resist. The walnuts went so well with the mushroom and feta (plenty of it was provided). Such an interesting but complementary combination of flavours and ingredients. The ricotta hot cakes were equally sublime . Fluffy. We had three of them layered like a sandwich with rhubarb and poached pear stuffed inside. They went so well with the sour but sweet passion fruit curd and the hazelnut mascarpone. Omg heaven in my mouth As we were sharing, share plates were brought out. When we finished our savoury dish, additional share plates were brought out so that we had clean plates and cutlery to thoroughly enjoy the sweet brunch choice. Table was cleared readily to make room on our table and water jug was replaced when it was nearing emptiness. Very very attentive staff Love this place!!!!!

Mel P.

Dead Man Espresso has long been my favourite cafe in South Melbourne. Well, almost. I actually removed a 5 star review from here a while back as I grew increasingly frustrated with a slip in service and care. I decided to give it up all together after a sloppy, rude incident involving being handed a dripping mess of a coffee that was poured almost entirely outside of the cup, without so much as a bat of an eyelid. BUT I'm pleased to say I'm back. Needing a quick coffee fix on the way out somewhere I broke my boycott and saw familiar faces had returned behind the machines. The service was back up to scratch and all felt right in the cafe world again. So here we are again, faith restored. The coffee is always spot on, offering Seven Seeds espresso and the occasionally rotating filter brew (yes, served inside my cup now). The food is outstanding, with interesting offerings like a BLT with pork belly and "green pancakes" which are deliciously delicate broad bean fritters. It's breakfast only on weekends with lunch options and sandwiches available during the week as they service a large crowd of people hosting business meetings. Even when busy, Dead Man Espresso never feels rushed. I've always found it a relaxing spot, ideal for savouring the coffee, food and any company you've brought with you.

Clarissa Y.

Ambiance: Dead Man Espresso has a really clean and spacious look about it, which I really liked. Cafes usually end up a bit cramped and although those are cute and nice in the right circumstances, sometimes wide open spaces to sit down and relax without all the hustle and bustle is what you need as well. Customer Service: Although the service is attentive and helpful, it was pretty slow unfortunately. Don't expect for a quick pop-in and pop-out. Food: I had the Rosti - Smoked Salmon, Avocado, and Potato Rosti. It was alright, but a bit underwhelming especially considering that it costed about 17 dollars. Nice meal, but not at a great value in my honest opinion. --- Dead Man Espresso was cool, but didn't live up to the hype for me. I'll definitely come back every now and again, but I won't be excited about it.

Brooke R.

I ventured a little out of my way one day after work. Thought since I was sort of close, it was the middle day and I had wanted to try it out for a while I might as well make the effort. I'm really sad to say I was disappointed. This little venture proved to me just how important customer service is! I sat in a window seat, with the beautiful sun shining in and a book to read while I ate my breakfast. All the makings of a great cafe experience. Unfortunately the guy who served me was so rude, short and just plain uninviting. I felt uncomfortable the whole time I was there. So much so that I scoffed my avo on toast, didn't even crack my book open and then spent 10 minutes waiting for him to move away from the counter just so i would be served by the lady, who was nice enough. That's how uncomfortable an experience it was. But I do have to give credit where it's due. The breakfast was spot on. Avo on toast with pomegranate and other bits and bobs. A great hot choccie too! I'll probably give it another go. I'm all about second chances. But as far as first impressions go, I hope dead man espresso can work on their customer service.

Sarina W.

Had a ladies who brunch date with my gorgeous friend Nessy and saw that their menu has changed. Green pancakes are still there but what tempted me is the fried chicken with waffles. I can never resist the temptation of savoury sweetness! The chicken was crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside. The waffle was drizzled with maple syrup and was fluffy enough, however it would be nicer if the outside was crispier. Nessy had the scones and that looked amazing as well. To finish off I had a soy mocha made with Mörk chocolate which really hits the spot. What a fantastic brunch!!

Kobie D.

How can you not love Dead Man Espresso? Great location in South Melbourne, relaxed interior, friendly staff and great coffee with seasonal menu. Dead Man grow most of their fresh produce on their roof, yep their roof! Head Chef Bex Kaye pays that extra special attention to the detail of each dish which ensures a great dining experience. I've had a sweet tooth lately so opted for the Hot Cakes with Banana cream custard with a maple, caramel & cinnamon crunch. I swear heaven went into my mouth. The caramel crunch went so well with the hotcakes and banana cream - the dish was amazing. I live no where near Dead Man but made the trip especially there to check it out and was so glad that I did.

tallulah f.

I had heard a a lot of hype about Dead Man Espresso before finally committing to coming! Luckily this great little cafe lived up to my expectations. Looking quite a lot smaller than I was expecting the cafe makes up for it's small space with is BIG attitude. Quickly snapping up the last table on the indoor/ outdoor balcony we ordered our rounds of coffee and took a look at the very well presented menu might I say. I couldn't go past the special of the day; The Snapper, served with Chorizo, Kipfler Potatoes and Parsley Hash. It was a very good sized serving and incredibly tasty. We also ordered the Smoked Salmon Rosti which looked very appetizing indeed, great for anyone gluten free! The coffee also was well above average (although I have come to expect that from South Melbourne cafe's), but all in all a very positive experience I can't wait to go back and try something new.

Will F.

Great food, great coffee, great service. Only reason not a 5 out of 5 was that brekky was $21, not that I'm complaining was worth it

Jeff Y.

Really happy that dead man was open on Easter Sunday cos I was really craving eggs. The campfire breakfast was right up my alley however the mushrooms were over flavored by its herbs. Coffee's great and a cosy atmosphere. Recommended.

David S.

Well, they say don't judge a book by it's cover but I will add don't judge a cafe by it's name. I thought the name was pretty cool, and one of the yelp reviews gave suggested that it was pretty impressive. However, as it turned out, I was probably expecting a lot more than I actually go. The staff were okay, as was the open steak sandwich (though it took ages to prepare, and was a little on the small side) but the thing that really put me off the place was the coffee - it was absolutely disgusting. Okay, I never knew the difference between good and bad coffee until I came to this place, and when it comes to coffee, at least the one I had, this was absolutely the worst. I won't be coming back here any time soon.