A couple of years ago Browns was packed for breakfast and lunch…read more It was the cafe and brunch destination on Maling Road. But severe competition (*cough* Maling Room and Cornelius *cough*) has brought an extended lull in service. There is actually nothing wrong with Browns. It has great bread, a nice variety of cakes and sweets, passable coffee and reasonable service. But then, in this modern age, there seems to be everything wrong with Browns. The interior decoration leaves much to be desired, the coffee isn't beautiful or a joy to drink, and the menu doesn't have a rich variety of cuisines. If Browns wants to succeed then it needs to compete, and it needs to do it fast. There is no room for bland coffee and food on Maling Road. This is evolution, survival of the fittest. It may sound strange, but in a competitive and cutthroat industry like hospitality, you simply can't afford to let your guard down. Browns bakery is great for bread, but if you are looking for excellent coffee or interesting food, keep walking.

I agree with the review below, Maling Rd food and coffee is of a generally high quality and Brown's…read moreisn't the best in street but it's still not the worst either. I grabbed a takeaway latte here and it was as good as most places, the staff were really friendly and there was a great range of desserts that although a little on the higher end of average price-wise were good size servings too. I have a weekness for anything apple and the Apple Danish was delicious and reasonably priced at $4.30. They also have muffins, sausage rolls and pies (vegetarian options included), macaroons and artisticly designed tarts that look amazing. If you're after a sit down meal then there are probably better places on this street (like Cornelius) but for a quick bite and coffee there's nothing wrong with Brown's.

Yes, it's in Blackburn, an Eastern suburb of Melbourne. But for a surprisingly traditional taste of…read moreFrance, go no further than the French patisserie in Blackburn, Bonjour de France. I've been to France on the odd occasion, and I must say that every time I was in a Parisian bakery I'd think to myself "Wow, this feels a lot like Blackburn." That's not entirely true, but Blackburn and France are joined with a wonderful bakery serving the most delicious french pastries and more. Wit both owners as pastry chefs, you wont find a better place in a good ten kilometres of here. The only problem I've had every time I go it "What to have?" which often leads to "What to have first?" Vanilla slice with delicious flaky pastry. Tarts. Meringues. Eclairs. Cheesecakes. Truffles. The list goes on. For those after a more savoury selection, there is also pasties, quiches and pies. All bits are made fresh daily on the premises, so the best time to come is mid morning for the best selection available. Come any later and you may miss out. The coffee is a wonderful strong addition to the sugary sweetness of the pastries, and all the energy will keep you going until your next meal.

Always fantastic food here…read more You wouldn't expect this sort of quality in an outer eastern suburb shop yet this shop never fails to deliver. From their assortment of Pies and Quiches to the mouth watering pastries. I always buy the Vanilla Slice and recommend it to anyone interested.

So.. Provence Artisan Bakers have changed management.. again but they are still the best bakery in…read moreCamberwell for me.. The interior design has changed a bit though still offers the same amount of seating space as before. The menu has been tweaked a fair bit with the addition of a few items on the menu. I have so far tried the Chicken Tandoori roll and Chicken fillet baked with bread crumbs in a white roll with rocket and mayo, and they were very nice. I now have my eye on their sweet chilli scroll! They also have a different bread on offer with the slim hard crust roll having made way for a softer and larger brioche-like roll - a definite improvement for me as it does not feel like you're about to break a tooth every time you take a bit. A colleague of mine tried their muesli and yoghurt cup and she said it was really nice. Those with a sweet tooth will love the mini muffins, chocolate tarts and loads more treats that are on offer. Heads up - They only accept cash now. Unsure at this stage if they plan to implement an EFTPOS terminal or not.

I like going to Annie's Pantry just to look at their discount cake table. This row of delicacies…read moreare tasty, well made and really really cheap (see the photo attached). Just like an old fashioned bakery should be, this venue doesn't pull any punches with its cheese, cream and sugar. If you are after healthy food, then it's probably best to walk away. If you are in need of something naughty, then you are in good hands. Colourful biscuits, dense cakes and enormous loaves of bread dot the landscape and you'll have a hard time making a decision. Just make sure you check out that discount table, it really is fantastic. There is also a great selection of meat pies, so don't be afraid to ask what flavours they have and let the staff help you work your way through the options. Expect friendly service and lots of jokes. The two ladies who own this little bakery and always up for a laugh and were positively thrilled that I was taking photos of their products.

Zimt (cinnamon in German) is a great find whether you're having breakfast/brunch, coffee & cake or…read morewant to take-away a special sweet for dessert such as apple strudel or a berry tart. There is such a variety of beautiful cakes, slices and pastries to choose from. We had breakfast here. I tried the two olive & mushroom quiche which was delicious and chose the raspberry filled doughnut and slice of carrot cake as a take-away for later. The carrot cake with cream cheese icing was especially scrumptious, moist and not too sweet. There are also jams and an assortment of speciality biscuits which you can buy, perhaps as gifts. Will definitely be back.

I like cake, I like coffee and I like brunch - these guys do two of these things well…read more.. Zimt is now my local go-to place for a sweet treat. The carrot cake and vanilla slice are both pretty delicious with the coffee being a solid pass. Prices are a little high but it is Surrey Hills, dahling! We popped in here for brunch with out of town friends over the weekend and sadly, I was a little disappointed with the choices. Very limited indeed and sticks to patisserie items mostly. No fry ups here - think danish, tarts and muffins. Certainly hit this place up for cake and coffee, but give it a miss if you are chasing the grease on a lazy Sunday morning.

This is the place for traditional sourdough bread. Don't let the plain shopfront fool you. If you…read morewant real sourdough this is the place. Their Roggenbrot is good too. The Linzer tort is amazing. Love this place.

I really enjoy visiting this bakery. The staff are always so nice and friendly, and of course the…read moresmell of fresh baked goods is unbeatable! We get the wholemeal multigrain sliced loaf as a staple and my gosh it's tasty! The pink iced donuts and apple cakes are pretty damn delicious also!