The beginning of the week always calls for something delicious to set the mood for the week ahead. With a few cheeky hours free, I made my way down to South Yarra for a much needed lunch date with a close friend. It was a no brainer when she recommended we meet at Lucky Penny on Chapel Street.
ATMOSPHERE & SERVICE
This gorgeous cafe is split across two levels, their main cafe with both indoor and outdoor seating, followed by a small semi private space, perfect for events and private gatherings. I loved how the space was bright and airy with an abundance of natural light pouring in to this classic style cafe.
Exposed white brick walls, sandy coloured floor boards and rustic decor fill the narrow cafe. Large bay windows let in warm natural light, which creates a calming and inviting space. I didn’t get a chance to check out their dining space on the second level, but could only imagine it was equally as beautiful.
The service throughout the afternoon was attentive and friendly from the moment we walked through the door. I think they quickly noticed we had much to catch up on so left us be and only interrupted to take our order and bring the food.
FOOD
Everything on the menu looks so appetising, it made making a decision a difficult one. Since it was well after 2pm by the time we got there, I thought breakfast was out of the questions (even through their waffles section looked AMAZING! – we will have to save that for another visit!).
I took one look at the meatballs and it was an instant sell for me. For some reason I’ve been wanting home cooked meatballs, so this was the perfect opportunity. ‘Nonna’s Meatballs’ were housemade smokey wagyu meatballs with spicy tomato sugo, 24 month aged parmesan and a freshly baked foccacia. It was more sweet than I’m use to, however loved how meaty they were, and weren’t just filled with breadcrumbs.
We paired our mains with some ‘Sweet Potato Chips’ served with housemade aioli. I always get a bit nervous ordering sweet potato as it’s so hard to get them crunchy, however these were cooked to perfection! And actually tasted delicious dipped in the tomato sauce from my meatballs.
Overall, we had a wonderful afternoon at Lucky Penny. I’ve noticed so many negative reviews about the food and service, but our experience was nothing by flawless. I look forward to coming back and checking out their brekky dishes!
