BURRINJA CAFE

BURRINJA CAFE
351 Glenfern Rd
Upwey

Phone 97545707
Closed Mondays

Daily 10.30 - 4pm

Hidden away in the Burrinja Cultural Centre in Upwey this cafe is a delight. It has comfortable couches to sit in and a relaxed ambience.

It can be a bit on the expensive side for lunch but the food is generally good quality and delicious. Home made cakes and great coffee make it a super place to while away a few hours and the scones are delicious.. They often have live entertainment and the Burrinja Gallery is just next door and  so artworks are displayed in the cafe too.

FOOD           4/5

SERVICE     4/5

COFFEE    4.5/5

SCONES    4.5/5

VALUE      3.5/5

TOTAL     20.5/25

Revisit?   Constantly.





THE IVY

THE IVY.

540 MT Dandenong Tourist Rd,
Olinda

Phone: 97512388

Fri – Tues 12pm – 12am

Wed closed

Thurs 6pm-12am

This restaurant was not open till 12 midday on the Sunday we went so do check before hand if you intend to eat here. It would have been nice if we had been invited to sit and wait or have a drink instead of being turned away and told to come back but I suppose rules are rules.

It has a pleasant interior with wood stove and attentive staff. The children’s menu is quite extensive with all the usuals however if you cannot get a high chair you would not be inclined to take small children. The menu also states that children must remain seated and quiet which we felt was a bit dictatorial.

 We thought pasta dishes for lunch at $23.00 was a bit steep but the servings appeared generous. There seem to be rather a lot of items on the menu which you cannot get until a certain time of day and the gluten free pizzas are not available on holidays which makes ordering a bit of a minefield.

This place is licensed and the alcohol comes in glasses but beware if you order water because you get a jug with plastic cups plonked on the table. Not me I am afraid! This was the ‘last straw’ and we walked out after cancelling our order so we don’t actually know what the food tastes like here.

I would like to know what you think. Plastic cups for adults!....really! Not only environmentally unfriendly but more expensive than washing glasses you would think.

RANGES AT OLINDA

RANGES AT OLINDA.

5 Olinda Monbulk Rd.
OLINDA.

Phone: 97512133

Daily  8.30-5pm

Tues – Sat 6-9pm.

Take your pick in this huge restaurant and sit outside in the fresh air or inside near one of their cosy wood fires. The mood is modern, airy and rustic.

I just love soup and I was not disappointed. It came steaming and delicious with large pieces of chicken in a huge bowl with crusty bread. The specials board changes almost daily so you do not know what to expect here but though a little pricey it is all good hearty fare.

The showcase holds an amazing selection of tarts, cakes and desserts each as delicious as the other, all come served with fresh cream/ icecream. The citrus tart was super special and creamy. The chocolate cake big enough for two. We even bought some to take home.

Good atmosphere here though the wooden floor boards make it a little noisy.

Coffee ...well make up your  own mind. I like my froth creamy and thats not how they do it here.

FOOD          4/5

SERVICE      4/5

COFFEE       3/5

SCONES       4/5

VALUE          4/5

TOTAL   19/25

Revisit?   Yes probably.    

PUFFING BILLY CAFE

PUFFING BILLY CAFE

1674 Burwood Hwy
Belgrave.

Phone: 97546115

It’s not flash, it’s not modern and there are more up market places in the Dandenong Ranges but you will go a long, long way before you find better value for money and more wholesome, home cooked fare than Belgrave’s own Puffing Billy Cafe. This place is an institution.  

On Sunday mornings  you can hardly get a table because the breakfasts served here are amazing. The big Brekkie is immense with eggs, toast, beans, tomato, hash browns, sausage and so much bacon you almost feel guilty eating it except it tastes so good. And the vegetarian muffin! If you are expecting a breakfast muffin like the fast food restaurants down the mountain, think again! This one is two muffin halves piled high with mushrooms, eggs, spinach and more.......All cooked fresh while you read the paper or drink their excellent coffee and peruse the memorabilia from your quaint booth. It hasn’t changed much since the days when my Mother would take me in during the school holidays for a lime spider and neither it should. When you are on a good thing stick to it!

Breakfast, lunch and afternoon teas and snacks and they even do take away.

** on the downside spare a smile for the older waitress who always looks harassed and run off her feet.

FOOD          5/5

SERVICE   4.5/5

COFFEE    4.5/5

SCONES

VALUE      5/5

TOTAL    19/20

REVISIT?   Definitely!!

MISS MARPLE'S TEAROOMS

MISS MARPLES TEAROOM.

382 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd.

Sassafras.

Phone: 97551610

11-4 weekdays

11 – 4.30 weekends

You can often see the line snaking down the footpath from Miss Marples on weekends and public holidays this restaurant gets so busy and they do not take bookings. You need to front up to the desk, give your name and stay close by for when your table comes up....and that could be a while, but it is worth the wait at least once.

Another Dandenong Ranges institution, the decor in Miss Marples is worth seeing. The interior is decked out with old fashioned clutter and in the chintzy style of an Agatha Christie novel complete with pictures of the stars of the films. From the floral curtains and the linen table cloths to the white aprons worn by the waiting staff this place is a step back in time but with a modern price tag....a rather pricey experience but worth it. Lunch here will certainly cost  more than other local places but when you include the ambiance, the decor and the whole novelty value it is a must do at least once.

Welsh Rarebit, toasted sandwiches, pot pies and trifle are on offer as are Devonshire teas with real English tea and cakes. The scones are rather more bready than are traditional but the jam is very good and the cream plentiful and delicious. If you are going to take on the Ice Cream Sundae make sure you have at least one friend as back up because they are not for the faint hearted, they are HUGE. Ask for 2 spoons or 3!

FOOD          3.5/5

SERVICE         4/5

COFFEE        3.5/5

SCONES      3.5/5

VALUE         3.5/5

TOTAL      17/25

REVISIT?   You do have to do it once!! Especially with visitors to the area

HARRY'S COUCH AND PHOTOGRAPHIC CAFE (Tapas Australis)

HARRY’S COUCH AND PHOTOGRAPHIC CAFE ( Tapas Australia)

1365 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd

Mt Dandenong

Phone: 97511104

Open weekends and some occasional evenings.

  We return to Harry’s  time and time again for the food, the divine decor and the cosy intimate atmosphere in front of the absolute best fake fire I have ever seen. There is always something to view on the walls, usually works by a local artist. 

The weekend breakfasts will have you loitering for hours over yet another coffee and if the weather is good you can sit outside. Mostly the coffee is pretty good but can be a bit hit and miss with creamy froth and flavour.

The menu changes seasonally and make sure you look on the specials board. We sampled mini hamburgers a while ago and they were wonderful.We shall have to go back and sample the new tapas menu.

This place is a joy and a secret foodies cave where you can while away a pleasant few hours savouring really good fare washed down with a bottle of wine or two. Unless you are with a large group, when you can be seated in the back room, see if you can sit in the main room by the fire or even outside under the trees. This place is what Sundays are all about. The service can be slow so be prepared to wait.

FOOD           4/5

SERVICE    3.5/5

COFFEE     3.5/5

SCONES

VALUE         4/5

TOTAL      15/20 

REVISIT?    Yes frequently        

KALLISTA DELI

KALLISTA DELI.

78 Monbulk Rd
Kallista.

03 97552887

Situated on the main road through Kallista this small deli come cafe has just as much seating outside as it has inside. The atmosphere is casual and it is a favourite meeting place for locals. I have never actually seen a menu here so just wander up to the showcase and point to what you fancy.

Make sure you order the flourless chocolate cake if it is featured, as it is rich and wonderful and comes with delicious thick cream. Otherwise the lemon syrupy cake is fabulous too.Coffee here is amongst the best in the Dandenongs though the hot chocolate is super too so it is hard to choose. Lunchtime treats include the vegetable frittata and the lasagne served with a fresh salad. The menu also includes assorted foccacias and a selection of savoury pastries and pies most days. You can also buy food to take home from the deli case. 

Make sure you are not in a hurry they can be a bit slow.

FOOD           4/5

SERVICE       4/5

COFFEE         5/5

SCONES

VALUE          4/5

TOTAL        17/20

REVISIT?    Definitely