Milkshakes and Poke, only in Melbourne!…read more I made sure I dropped by Naughty Boy during my trip down under, and boy was it naughty (and SO worth it!!) Tried the Berry Cheesecake Instashake, and their Poke Bowl. The shake kinda scared me at first sight, and I wasn't sure I would be able to finish it, but it was love at first sip! The cheesecake on top was light but delicious. The poke was visually appealing but a little too salty for my taste. The shake evened it out though. Ambience: very minimalistic and millennial Location: easily accessible by public transportation (which I took). Didn't see much parking though. Customer Service: Delightful.

Naughty Boy, doesn't it sounds like a convincing place to have your breakfast?…read more Located on the quiet end of Lygon Street, away from the more bustling cafe scenes of Melbourne CBD, you will find humble nook that shook Instagram feed. The interior inside the cafe is rather spacious but felt a little more budget, industrial and rustic thanks to the major applications of " ripped" wall and exposed bricks. Their menu is quite impressive, listing typical big Australian brunch menu (e.g: brekkie roll, fancy toast and hotcakes) as well as their "not-so naughty" menu (e.g: oatmeals, acai bowl, etc.). No matter what you ordered here, you can always count on the pretty presentation! For my first visit, I ordered: * Pavlova Instashake: They have about 3 "Freakshakes" flavors to choose from (the other two options are Chocolate Nutella fudge and Salted Caramel). The presentation was just as naughty as I had hoped - kiwis, berries, meringue and fairy floss on top of coconut and almond milk. Taste-wise, I was expecting it to be a jar load of sugar, basically a diabetes in a jar... as an art form, but it actually was very subtle and tasted healthy! I was almost disappointed that it doesn't taste as sweet as it looks, lol. * Red Velvet hotcakes: The presentation was orgasmic to the eye; brightly red color, decorated with vanilla mascarpone, berries and sprinkle with popping candy. Almost crazy, but yet still delicious, with the hot cake being mildly sweet and fluffy and the popping candy adds an interesting sensation with each bite. I must say, Naughty boy is as naughty as the name suggest. The food is utterly gorgeous and whimsical. The prices were a little steep with the Instashake costing $12 and the hotcakes $18 but I guess it was worth every dime just to be on the naughty side... once in a while :)

This place has been open for about a week. I spotted it on a reason strut up Nicholson and…read moreearmarked it for a visit. We arrived at about 7pm on a Saturday night and it was empty. We were warmly welcome when perusing the menu outside and opted for a table indoors. The staff were friendly, attentive and efficient. The decor is tasteful with black tables and solid white chairs. Their drinks menu is reasonable and we opted for a Pinot Noir and a Cab Sav, both of which were lovely. The food was delicious. We started with a dip - warm bread and three dips. We were offered more bread if we finished it before the dips, which we thought was a nice touch. For a main course, we chose a Paella Valencia and a risotto. There were three risottos available (chicken, duck & garlic prawn) and I went for the prawn. Servings were generous and the food was delicious. We couldn't get through it all and took our remainders home in Tupperware containers, offered by the table server. This being their first week, we were also offered complimentary desert, and we chose a slice of chocolate cake and ice cream. Divine. Nik@nicholson is the best new place to eat on this side of town. They're open from 8am and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. We were really pleased with our night and it's earned a hearty recommendation.

Came here without much expectation for a lunch-time special and was shocked at how good it was…read more The food was great. The Calamari just melted in my mouth. The slow cooked lamb shoulder with beetroot relish was everything I hoped for and more when I ordered it. The dessert was great too. The decor felt clean and crisp without being over the top or too edgy. Just comfortable. I've paid three times as much as this place cost me and walked away half as happy. At $30 for a shared entree, two mains and two desserts it's almost foolhardy to want to be wowed but we were. I know it was a special, but the quality and value was astonishing, honestly. If I lived nearby, I'd be a regular regular, for sure. My partner and I came back a few weeks later to see if we just got lucky but they served up more of the same. Delicious Food. Reasonably priced. I paid an extra $5 to get rib-eye with my lunch-time special and I have to say it was the best steak I've had in a while. Perfectly cooked. The cook and the wait staff seem genuine and deserve to make a go of it. I have no idea how busy it is at dinner but at lunch it was great and it is on my repeat visit list for sure. It's not silver service, so don't be confused by the 5 star rating I gave it and expect linen table cloths etc, but this place is an absolute gem nonetheless.

There are but a few places that make fine sourdoughs in this town and Sugardough is undoubtedly one…read moreof them. In fact, there are three other great bread shops within about a 500 metre stretch of Sugardough, and then there's nought for miles (?!?). Where Sugardough stands up is through the consistency and crunch of their breads. They don't over produce, so you won't be getting left over stock at the end of the day. This can mean that they won't have exactly the variety you're after, but you know it's fresh and that's of far more importance. They also do great (and consistently so) coffee, cakes, pizza slices and have some of the best pies in Melbourne. Actually, it's the pies that get me going back now that I don't live in the area -- they've still got a bit of a grip on me...

This little patisserie is popular - very popular - and there are hundreds of doughy, sugary reasons…read morewhy. It could be the rustic loaves and pastry filled shop-front window that draws passers-by in for a closer look, and then it could be the country-home interior inviting you to take a seat at one of the delicate tables. What it most definitely is will be the cake-muffin-pie-orgy of a display cabinet running the length of the café that hypnotises everyone who enters with promises of sweet, creamy treats that taste even better than they look. This place isn't just for the sweet of tooth though. There are delectable hot, savoury munchies - spicy Malaysian pumpkin tart, spanakopita with salad and homemade chutney, and breakfast pies, to name a few. Don't forget to check the specials board, and when the cosy café is just too full to accommodate you, place your order at the counter then mosey on out to the back garden for some sunny, courtyard action.

One would expect that a cafe tucked down a side street would be rather quiet, but it turns out that…read morethis is not always the case. Mind you, a sunny Saturday morning really does bring out the inner-Melbourne cafe crowd, and this place certainly seems to be one that draws a crowd. However, what really captured my imagination was the upstairs area. Okay, maybe it wasn't the best, but the atmosphere was relaxing, and the coffee awesome. Oh, and add some great staff, and you certainly have a wonderful place to spend a Saturday morning.

We come here a bit for a nice breakfast with coffee/tea whilst we're out for a morning walk around…read moreour neighbourhood. The menu has recently changed and we went there today after a couple of weeks being away overseas. We were surprised to see that there are NO eggs on the Monday - Thursday menu, which at first was a tad disappointing. After all, what effort does it take to fry, poach or scramble a couple of eggs right? Anyway I accepted that they don't cook eggs on weekdays, no probs, but to then see someone have an egg on their plate was very much a HUGE case of DOUBLE STANDARDS!! I questioned the girl as to why I was refused eggs whilst someone else has had one cooked for them. She said that she must have asked for one. Well, I asked for them as well, on toast, but was told that the menu has changed and we don't cook them weekdays! As I said, I accept change but to see someone else get what I was refused was, to say the least, a HUGE disappointment AS WELL as a BAD LOOK!!

The Ruben Sandwich was ok but could've used more pastrami…read more I ordered a side of scrambled eggs and hollandaise sauce, and it looked like it was just 1 egg used. Obviously, I was expecting 2 for the price. Our skinny flat whites smelled nice but didn't stand out when it came to their taste. The banana bread French toast was ok and looked fabulous. Service from the servers was above average and the kitchen was also prompt.

I can't speak highly enough about this place. There are a few interior rooms -- each small and…read morecozy. The staff was helpful and kind. I ordered the eggs benedict and the hotcakes with popping chocolate. Both were delicious. Plus the coffee is FANTASTIC. Glad I made the trip from the CBD!

This review can be summed up in three words: Thick Cut Bacon…read more A friend suggested the NCC as a great place for breakfast while I was staying in the neighborhood. He also recommended the Thick Cut Bacon, substituting poached eggs for fried eggs. He was not wrong in his suggestion of breakfast dish. The apple slaw was a tasty counter to the salty bacon and the poached eggs seemed to have been cooked correctly in the three times I ate there over a week. I also tried a couple of pastries, and they were excellent too. The staff was fantastic as well--friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to indulge letting an American watch a political convention streaming on his laptop for 45 minutes while he finished his breakfast.

Quiet little cafe and a nice place to start the day. The food is always good but they never quiet…read moreget the poached eggs right, there under every time. Coffee is nice but not great. Friendly staff and very relaxing.

I was intrigued by this place because of its consistently high score and high number of reviews…read morecompared to other well known cafes close by. We were definitely not disappointed. Let's start with the coffee, whilst not the best I've had was perfectly serviceable for a sunday morning. Where this place did excel though was the food. We ordered the eggs Benny with bacon and the ricotta hot cakes. When the food arrived we were blown away. The eggs Benny had the creamiest sauce with perfect poached eggs atop a delicious sour dough infused with rosemary. The hot cakes though we're the star. Enormous with a huge helping of mascarpone, perfectly poached pears, lemon curd and sprinkled with biscuit crumbs. Order it! We will be back to try the rest of the menu. If you don't have much time grab some of the sweets from the counter.

Such a devine find. The owner and staff are such a delight, so welcoming and efficient. The coffee…read moreis consistent, full bodied and with perfectly displayed latte art. Food is delicious, edgy & delivered promptly.

I struggled to rate this place. I have rated it up a star due to the service, location and my…read morepartners meal. I'll start with the bad. My meal was a little on the boring side. I got the arancini balls. It came with 4 balls on top of dry mixed salad leaves and pesto on the side. The pesto and rice balls were amazing. The salad was sad and dry. A little dressing and this dish would of been a star! My partner on the other hand had the lamb cous cous salad. Perfectly cooked and fantastic flavours! Not a complaint. Our juices were fresh and large which was a nice change. The service was 5 star! We sat outside as it was a beautiful day. Unfortunately after we ordered a rather rude and loud couple sat next to us and started smoking. We asked to move inside and without question everything was picked up and moved with a smile! Outside is fantastic and great for groups. If you want a quieter meal just find a 2 seater off to the side. Mixed review but I think it depends on your choice of meal.

First impressions .. Wow .. what an amazing space! Reminds me a lot of a more intimate Higher…read moreGround. The interior is amazing, post industrial .. I love the sense of space from the wonderfully high ceilings. The front area under the umbrellas looks appealing too mixed in amongst the greenery. Unfortunately my visit went down hill from there .. I got quickly given a bottle of water .. but no cup to drink it in. Is drinking out of the bottle a thing now? Well this is Brunswick .. I got up and grabbed myself a glass. Coffee was a good temperature .. nice and hot! Though I felt a touch bitter. The menu had some interesting options on it. I decided to go with the Middle Eastern Breakfast (Poached eggs, grilled zaatar flat bread, beetroot relish, felafel, baba ganoush). It arrived in good time. Yet the poached eggs were undercooked, I pierced the egg and the yolks ran all over the plate like a burst dam. The beetroot didn't seem to belong .. it's flavour stuck out and overpowered. Zaatar spices were tasty but would've liked a crispier texture. An unpleasant aftertaste permeated too .. all in all disappointing. Service a bit mixed, some staff were friendly, others a bit cold. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing.. or perhaps my expectations sky rocketed when I saw the amazing premises. Regardless I doubt I will be back. Papers - yes Music - bouncing away in the background, easy to chat.

Do you know how hard it is to find a perfect soy latte in Melbourne? Bloody hard. Baristas often…read moretreat soy milk the same as dairy, leading to burnt soy that can ruin your precious caffine shot. Annoying Brother make the perfect soy latte. It's fluffy, creamy, and just a little sweet. It's mixed in with their house blend which is one of the best I've had. Their coffee is on point! The cafe itself is a sleek and modern affair with hardwood timber countertops and a neat and tidy decor. The staff are friendly and with an open window bench top and street-side sitting, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the sunshine during the warmer months. Annoying Brother loses some points due to their menu. I'm not the kind of vegan that demands that cafes cater 100% to my needs, but the menu here completely lacks diversity. I can only see one vegetarian option, and there is nothing that could be made vegan. Considering the number of great breakfast places that cater to all diets in the area, it is a little disappointing. If I'm looking for a caffine hit while I'm in the area though, I will definitely find myself sitting by the street, enjoying the rays.

Every Saturday morning, without fail, I will find myself grabbing a coffee from Annoying Brother…read more Despite living painfully close to MANY awesome coffee shops, before we head out to do our Saturday chores, my partner and I simply NEED to stop by. Nope, we've never eaten there. In fact, we've never even sat down and had a coffee. We've only ever popped by for a takeaway and have never EVER been disappointed. The magical barista will take your order, give you change and make your coffee ALL AT THE SAME TIME and my GOD it is a good coffee. Highly recommended if you're in the area and in desperate need of a caffeine hit.

I only just discovered this cafe this morning and am kicking myself that I didn't get in sooner…read more If you are willing to walk an extra block or two outside of the Rathdowne Village cafe hub, you will find a stunning venue that stocks Di Bella coffee and T2 teas (the best you can buy), and a variety of house-baked goods such as muffins (I had the choc-banana. Wow.), delectable cakes as well as savoury pies and sausage rolls. A full breakfast/lunch menu is also available if you are looking for something heavier. The service was warm and inviting and the food was very reasonably priced - only $3.30 for a coffee which is very cheap in this day and age! I cannot wait to go back here and slowly work my way through their menu and relax with a perfectly made latte.

Nice little shop, service was brilliant, coffee ok & food good. Had avocado with coriander & chilli…read moreand poached eggs. All was nice but I don't think there was even close to half an avo on the plate and a mountain of herb. Could be a really nice breakie if it wasn't on the stingy side. I will return to give it another chance.