Saturday mornings have quickly become my preferred day of the week! It’s always exciting to check out the latest cafes Melbourne has to offer. Over this past weekend, it was finally time to check out The Kettle Black in South Melbourne and see if all those social media photos really lived up to all the hype!
ATMOSPHERE & SERVICE
We arrived shortly after 11am and knew we would be waiting for a table. We put our names down on the list and took a seat outside in the sun on their ‘waiting bench’. You can’t really go past the front entrance without getting a good smell of the coffee brewing at their outdoor take away bar. Such a good idea for those who are waiting for a table to sit back in the sun and enjoy a cup of coffee!
The cafe is housed in a beautiful old two story Victorian style building with a sophisticated, relaxed vibe. The space is separated into a few different sections, keeping the feel of the house that was once there. Starting outside, the area is decked out with beautiful tables and white chairs to match the exterior of the building. Seating is available pretty much all around the front of the building to cater for those long waits in the morning.
Moving inside the white, clean atmosphere continues with hints of colour throughout. Soft green chairs fill the space to reflect the plant life scattered throughout the large floor to ceiling windows. Bright white walls, concrete flooring, rustic decor and funky light fixtures fill the space, creating a calm retreat and a breath of fresh air.
With such a busy cafe, the service needs to be flawless to ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience. We sat down at a communal table with glasses and a fresh bottle of water already waiting for us. Within a few minutes our orders were taken and drinks arrived. With such a long line of people waiting to be seated, the service needs to be spot on with no issues to deal with, which they excel in no doubt.
FOOD
The menu is small with a hand full of dishes to choose from, all of which sounded absolutely amazing! Although I so badly wanted to try the Hotcakes with Ricotta, blueberries and pure maple that has been Instragrammed so much recently, my earlier lack of a run changed my mind.
I decided to instead go with the ‘Soaked Muesli’ served with Australian grains, house-made yoghurt, seasonal fruit and colour edible flowers. I must say, my back up choice was pretty amazing and well worth it! The flavours were light and delicate and was quite satisfied by the end.
MC went with his typical build your own breakfast, consisting of two poached eggs, mushrooms, avocado chorizo and bacon. Although presentation may not have been the best, quality was all there. The bacon was more of a steak and the chorizo was generous in size as well.
With an older sister like Top Paddock, it’s no wonder there is a line out the door week in and week out. The food is exceptional, the service is flawless and the atmosphere is oh so chic! This cafe has quickly climbed the cafe ladder in Melbourne and I do not see it coming down anytime soon.
