To walk in to a cafe and instantly feel warm, welcome and be treated to a roast the owner, Vigen in…read morethis case, can wax lyrical about is surely a virtue of a country community with big heart. I was craving a proper coffee and with a little Internet ninja prowess somehow happened upon legend of Buffalo Girls. Driving down Duke Street we thought perhaps it had closed as no visible signs were around in this residential street. Sure enough, a few hundred meters down a gravel lane and behind a store called Lark, a door ajar led us to this coffee house. It's stripped back. A historic warehouse with ample seating, Vigen's tools of his trade up front and a central high-table for communal coffee drinking or, as the bags laid out tell the tale of a group stamping and bagging session for the beans he roasts in Kensington for Buffalo Soldier (his wholesale side of the business. It's the bean end of the business). It's a family affair here and afar, with most of the beans being sourced from his family's farms in Africa. Make no mistake, Vigen knows he's good (and backs it up with a coffee that is as good as you hope) but knows his limits and while great things are happening for this coffee roaster don't expect him to be in every cafe any time soon. Buffalo Soldier is about maintain quality over quantity. He's the kind of guy who is the eyes and ears of Daylesford. He knew exactly where to direct us for dinner and when it came time to select a bag of beans to take home, I'd initially chosen his Kenyan blend before he stopped and asked me, "Do you want something completely different to what you've tasted before?" and with a nod he started pouring a Rwandan roast into a bag for us. There were a few eats on the counter - freshly baked muffins and biscuits - but this place is about the bean. The exceptionally satisfying bean.

If you're coming up from Melbourne, you're probably used to the idea of the best places being a…read morelittle hard to find, so go sneaking behind the main street of Daylesford and you just might stumble upon Buffalo Girls Coffee Bar. It's a big old converted warehouse colourfully kitted out with impressive street art and an perfectly mismatched selection of retro furniture and fittings. The coffee is just fantastic. Whether you're a latte drinker or after something a little more fancy, Vigen will no doubt whip you up a flawless drink, and do it with a smile. There's something weirdly wonderful about the grungy feel of the place- sneaking away from the cappuccino drinking day spa types and stopping by here to read the paper and get your caffeine fix. Give it a go, for sure.

There was some sort of force field drawing us into Gourmet Larder. We tossed and turned about…read moresitting inside or out and in the end we took a seat by the window. There are tables available on the footpath for prime people watching, in the rear courtyard for a little more privacy or inside with an industrial but still cosy feel. The waiter was wonderful! Charismatic, cheery and funny. And whilst we did escape his memory for a while we didn't really mind. We only stayed for a coffee but it was a really good drop and I would definitely recommend giving the Larder a go!

Stopped by for a late breakfast & since it is always pretty busy here, luckily a table had just…read morebecome available for our group of 5. The service is friendly & bottled water was brought to our table straight away, as well as our orders taken for coffee.There's a large menu selection for all day breakfast. I was looking for a dairy & gluten free option & decided on the vanilla rice pudding with rhubarb, strawberries and flaked almonds which was absolutely delicious. The other meals for our group looked pretty good too, bacon & eggs were a generous size serving, there's definitely no scrimping on the bacon here. We were all very happy with our breakfast choices. No split bills, but that's ok. There's also produce available for purchase including coffee beans, wine, condiments & sauces. I would highly recommend Gourmet Larder when visiting Daylesford, whether for breakfast, brunch, lunch or just for a coffee.

Going out for a bite with my extended family is like flash mobbing a coffee shop. All of a sudden…read moreit's full of people and the staff don't know what's going on. We were down in Daylesford - spa town and lesbian capital of Australia, in your face Broken Hill - for a wedding this weekend last and it was late in the arvo and we just piled into the Himalaya, cousins and aunts and drunk uncles, sisters and nephews and brothers, pouring into the place like a a bunch of clowns pour out of a tiny car that couldn't possibly hold the number of clowns that come out of it. We got in just before the kitchen closed, and the food and drinks were all kinds of great. It's simple fare but done exceptionally well, with a vegetarian and vegan kind of twist - no meat, organic ingredients. My fetta-filled bruschetta was colossal, a real giant-killer both in size and taste, I also helped people finish off their burnt caramel shakes, marinated tofu salads, and eggplant and ricotta toasties. Delicious, all of it. And healthy, which is important considering the amount of drinking we were about to do.

When you're next meandering around Vincent st Daylesford and you feel like a coffee stop with…read moresomething sweet alongside I would recommend to pop into Sweet Decadence. There you can choose from a large assortment of chocolates to accompany your coffee, or mineral water scones to have with tea. I didn't try the scones but they did look fluffy & delicious. Also several cakes, slices & brownies on display. I opted for a slice of the carrot & walnut cake, so moist & delish. Wrapped chocolate gifts of various sizes are also available........maybe a surprise for someone who wasn't part of the girl's day of indulgence with a massage in Daylesford?

Lovely coffees... chocolates and iced-drinks! Priced A bit…read moreon the high side, but they are definitely worth it! lovely shop decor, check out the ceiling painting! always accomodating staff, help you out with your needs. take a peek in here next time you're in Daylesford!

This was my second visit to The Food Gallary, second time to enjoy a very nice meal - today…read moreflathead, previously steak sandwich. The service is friendly and helpful, coffee is good. The menu will suit most tastes and budgets with a beer/wine list that is adequate without being showy. My only criticism is that, as with every commercial concern in these high-rent times, the tables are a tad too close...though not uncomfortably so. Deserves a rating better than average though not quite ready for a very good.

Over priced, poached eggs where terrible and cold. Hamburger was nice, but $25 for a hamburger is a…read morebit on the expensive side. Would not recommend.

What else would you do in the country but drink wine? I…read moredon't know the answer to that but I do know this modern wine bar is the place you will spend most of your early afternoons in Daylesford if you have any leaning towards grapes. Ridiculously cheap produce platters full of cheese, paté and local oil and a glass of wine from their huge selection of sparkling, white, red, rose and more is a great way to start an evening. If you visit over the weekend then get there early as the spots available to sit are fairly limited. The young ex-Melbourne couple that run the place are totally cool and make me want to leave "city life" and resign in the hills to do the same. Their knowledge of every product (from food to wine and gifts) they have in store is spectacular, and you won't be able to walk out without buying something - they have a knack of conveying the passion of the producer to the consumer. I'm in the country and in love.

I love the name of Wine and the Country because it so accurately sums up what lays inside - wine,…read moreand bits of the country. When I say wine, I mean A LOT OF WINE. There must be well over 100 wines to choose, from all over Victoria, Australia and the world. On my most recent visit I indulged in (one too many) natural wines, which were absolutely outstanding. If you have no clue about wine (like me) the ridiculously helpful staff will help. Seriously, just tell them your favourites colours/flavours/price range and they'll pick something out for you to take home or drink in store - YES, it's a bar too! When I say country, I mean delicious, locally sourced produce from the nearby country-land - Daylesford and beyond. Cured meats, small goods and freshly baked breads - they'll make you a platter to accompany your wine likes nobodies business. If you went to Daylesford, you would honestly be a complete fool to not go to Wine and the Country.

The service here was fantastic! The two people who worked here when I was there - an older woman…read moreand a British sounding man. They both offered lots of information about the food on sale. I ordered and award winning pie and my friend ordered a sandwich that was made by the owners mum. The pie was not too hot, flaky pastry and lots of filling. The sandwich was fresh. Don't think, just do it!

Amazing cakes made fresh! So many choices from cheese cake to vanillin slice and even yum Carmel…read moreslice. Real shame that there was a very rude server that had a terrible attitude. Only bad note about this place was her. Brighter note great baker and I highly recommend it!

An evening deep in dark Daylesford on a frosty winters night, my partner and I on a lovely weekend…read moreaway elected Rubens as our first feasting feat. Though, firstly we were told they were unable to seat us without a reservation on night like this. So away we went and returned when our time came. The interior is sparsely decorated, a pizza oven feature in the main dining area, a beautiful touch, if it functions, I do not know. Clean, contemporary, functional wooden furniture that cleverly compliment the exposed ceiling beams which are common in these parts. The restaurant was bustling and all seemingly enjoying. The serving staff are polite and professional, attentive however there were a few repeated questions, implying there was a lack of communication and/or organisation with front of house, however given how busy Rubens was this night, staff being over attentive is hardly a complaint. We ordered a Margherita, mostly because we couldn't decide on anything else. The ingredients were so fresh and the base was perfect! However, there was a shocking lack of depth to the flavour. Strange especially as one would assume the Napoli sauce base and the basil pesto on this pizza should be house made? All I could taste was sourness. There was a sad excuse for a garnish of grated beets and sparsely scattered roquette- refer to my photo. For $15, in Daylesford, I was disappointed frankly. Now, for one of the two issues that has lead me to to the two stars. I'll admit I made an adjustment to a menu item which is usually a no no however, the concept wasn't that dissimilar to what was already on there. I asked the for Napoli Marinara with Gnocchi instead of the listed spaghetti- why? Because I wanted Gnocchi. Boy, do I regret this order! I expected floury, potato pillows with fresh seafood and rich Napoli sauce. What I got was, sour mash potato marinara soup. Considering the beautiful meals I saw on other tables, I am unsure how my meal turned out this way. I sent it back. They didn't charge me for it. I would have expected an a word from the manager but didn't hear a peep. I was brought a spaghetti with Napoli sauce in place of my meal ($22) is strange to admit I was surprised we were charged for this, considering it is a basic dish chosen to correct an error? You may be surprised to learn, that the sauce was sour. This is the second reason I have come to the two stars, an Italian inspired/style restaurant that can not master red sauce is an embarrassment. To develop complexity and to balance flavour in a basic red sauce, is admittedly something that requires technique and practice, but possibly one of the most important things a chef/cook must learn. The Mango Island cocktail that is quite popular from all accounts, is very decent, strong and sweet, worth a taste if you happen upon Rubens. If..

We had a pleasant evening meal here at Ruben's…read more The starter sharing plate was delicious, as were the donuts for dessert. The pizza left me disappointed though. The base is not made in house and a bit frozen pizza-ish if I'm honest. Not what you want from an Italian restaurant. The toppings were fresh though. The pasta had by our friends was very nice from all accounts. Staff were very nice and very helpful.