Rococo, Hawthorn

797 Glenferrie Rd
Hawthorn, VIC 3122

We had two families totalling 8 people for Sunday brunch. The menu is pretty good and easily handled the diverse needs of 8 people. We ordered a wide range of meals including salmon eggs, scrambled eggs, muesli, pancakes and fresh fruit with banana bread. The food was okay and they did try with the presentation. The pancakes had a novel presentation. The portions were pretty good, probably a little better than average. Coffee was average on Melbourne standards. The short macchiato was awful. The staff responded well to any issue but they were not attentive and there was a lack of any warmth or care. They never noticed water was low, didn't ask how the meal was and didn't ask if there was anything else we needed. The manager didn't seem to encourage staff but tended to run around like the proverbial chook. Rococo has a cafeteria feel to it and, like the staff, lacked warmth. Noise is a real issue here. Even though Rococo's was half full it was very loud and we could only hear the person next to us. There are many places better to go to in Melbourne than Rococo. We will not be returning.

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33 out of 50 - Happy belly
19 out of 30 - Tipability
2 out of 10 - Ambiance
5 out of 10 - Value
59 out of 100 TOTAL

Rathdowne Street Food Store, Carlton North

617 Rathdowne St
Carlton North, VIC 3054


We have been to Rathdowne Street Food Store four times with two great and two bad experiences. The terrible inconsistency means we will not be back. Such a shame because when they got it right they wee really good. They had what seemed to be a new manager when we were last there and he was terrible. He was obviously inexperienced, focused more on being busy and running around like the proverbial chook rather than ensuring the place was running smoothly and the clientele were happy. It took them forever to deliver the menus. When we reminded the manager he did not apologise but said he would be straight back. Another long wait and he sent another person. he meals didn't come at the same time. There was a long delay with two of the five meals ordered. Food was good but we have better elsewhere and even here previously. Short macchiato was terrible.

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Ratings:
33.5 out of 50 - Happy belly
17 out of 30 - Tipability
7.5 out of 10 - Ambiance
6 out of 10 - Value
64 out of 100 TOTAL

Atomica, Fitzroy

268 Brunswick St
Fitzroy, VIC 3065

Atomica is great place with outstanding coffee. If you love coffee definitely come here! We had salmon pesto omelette, Spanish omelette, vegetable breakfast with Moroccan beans (called MT), coffees and a honey dew + green tea combo. The meals had good sized portions though I don't like cold salmon with a hot breakfast. The vegetarian breakfast was the winner - excellent taste. Coffee was glorious. The short macchiato was excellent - just a smidgeon below The Maling Room, which does the best short macchiato in Melbourne. The honey dew + green tea was very good. Atomica has fabulous ambiance with music that suites the place very well. Waiters were attentive but they called have filled water glasses instead of being asked. The place is so popular that it takes a long time to get your coffee. They need to fix this. I bill came to $100 so it was a pain to pay cash. They need to fix that as well. These little short cuts are to make life easier for the staff but they are inconveniencing their clientelle. Overall, a terrific cafe and we will be back.

They only take cash!!

Ratings:
39.5 out of 50 - Happy belly
19 out of 30 - Tipability
10 out of 10 - Ambiance
10 out of 10 - Value
78.5 our of 100 TOTAL

Balzari, Carlton

Balzari

130 Lygon Street
Carlton, VIC 3053

Balzari was disappointing. The place just lacked any passion in the food, coffee or service. Five of us went for Sunday brunch. The guys left quite hungry as the serving sizes were quite small. Between us we had eggs, French toast, muesli and Italian donuts. The eggs came on toast that was burnt around the edges. The French toast was on very thin and small toast - sacrilege for French toast where you want thick pieces of toast to soak up that wonderful sauce. The muesli was okay. The cafe latte was okay but the latte can hide many coffee quality and barista sins. The short macchiato was terrible - bitter and grainy. The meals took forever to be served even though Balzari was less than half full. The ambiance was pretty good and the wood fire was nice although the restaurant was cold if you were not near the fire or one of the wall heaters. We won't be returning.

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Rating:

22.5 out of 50 - Not happy belly
19 out of 30 - Tipability
7.5 out of 10 - Ambiance
3 out of 10 - Value
52 out of 100 TOTAL

Birdman Eating, Fitzroy

238 Gertrude St
Fitzroy, VIC 3065

What a disappointing experience. Ordinary coffee, very small serving sizes and they forget they are in the service business. The serving sizes are ridiculously small for a guy. Our son ordered pancakes and received 3 of them, each seemed to be marginally bigger than a 50c coin. We had to order another meal. The food tasted pretty good. It was a cold Melbourne morning and the restaurant was full but the outside tables were virtually empty. We asked for a round of coffees while we waited but we were told they would have to take us off the waiting list if we had coffee at the empty outside tables. People in the service business who forget they are in the service business really tick me off. A bad experience and we won't return.

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Rating:
22.5 out of 50 - Happy belly
11 out of 30 - Tipability
7 out of 10 - Ambiance
1 out of 10 - Value
41.5 out of 100 TOTAL

Short Black Cafe, Camberwell

761-767 Burke Rd
Camberwell, VIC 3124

You don't go to Short Black for the experience. It has a Maccas wham bam feel to it. They use cheap tea pots and salt & pepper shakers but staff are nice. Coffee is really ordinary so don't think about ordering a short black as per their name. TV sets are distracting (I don't know why so many places have these large flat screen TVs??). Cushion seating is dirty in crevices. Pretty good selection of food and it is priced pretty much in line with the quality. Some of the staff are characters. There is an area down the back that can be good for meetings.

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Rating:
26 out of 50 - Happy belly
19 out of 30 - Tipability
4 out of 10 - Ambiance
5 out of 10 - Value
54 out of 100 TOTAL

Watts Cooking, Surrey Hills

Watts Cooking

147 Union Rd
Surrey Hills, VIC 3127

Watts is a decent suburban eatery but it is not in the same league as the cafes oozing in passion. Ambiance is poor, especially out the back. Coffee was quite average. One coffee arrived with a hair sitting on top while a chai latte arrived with a dirty glass. Service out the back was almost non existent. They missed out on some more drinks orders. The waiters were pleasant enough but you could tell it was just a job. Food was pretty good. We ordered pancakes, muesli and eggs. I'd say it is a really good place for locals but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way for it. We won't be returning.

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Rating:
30 out of 50 - Happy belly
15 out of 30 - Tipability
3 out of 10 - Ambiance
4 out of 10 - Value
55 out of 100 TOTAL