The Kettle Black

Unfortunately seems like the food is all about the aesthetic, rather than substance. The restaurant was freezing inside, loud music blaring at 9:30am on a Sunday…food was very basic and small portions considering the high price point. Coffee served lukewarm, iced matcha milky, and hotcakes seemed like they were made the day before as they were dense and hard. Warm breakfast salad was a lot of kale and not much else…Wish I had better things to say about this cafe but left very disappointed…

More towards the pricey end, nice and clean interior/design. Beef pastrami Benedict was an interesting dish, worth a try, a bit rich in flavour. Chilli prawns dish might be spicy for non spicy eaters. Beautifully cooked dishes.

Very nice cafe . Breakfast was creative. The only overpowering was too much sambal on the prawns. Whilst the other dishes were delicious. The service was fast and the coffee smooth and at high quality.

We had a good brunch here! The quality of the food is good. The cafe was recently renovated and I loved the modern style they chose to adopt. The location is also perfect, just next to the royal botanic garden. The staff was friendly. The toilet wasn’t that clean and it’s hidden behind the kitchen.

Absolutely loved my visit to The Kettle Black! The coffee was rich, smooth, and beautifully presented latte art on point. The atmosphere is modern yet cozy, perfect for a productive work session or a relaxed brunch. Friendly staff, great service, and quality food all around. Easily one of the best cafés in Melbourne. Highly recommend!

I had an incredible brunch at The Kettle Black! The burrata was absolutely delicious, so fresh, creamy, and perfectly paired with the other ingredients. The chilli scrambled eggs were just as impressive, fluffy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. And to top it all off, the coffee was excellent. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Small menu, and a little pricey but worth it - granola and pastrami benedict were fantastic, with quality ingredients. Great if you want something a little different and a really good coffee.

Our group dined at the Kettle Black on the 13th of April in the late morning, and had a wonderfully pleasant brunch. For an entree and drinks, we ordered the Burrata and Greens with Smoked Salmon to share, a barista flight for myself, an affogato for another, and a pot of English Breakfast for the others. I quite enjoyed the batch brew that came with the set, and one of my friend was particularly fond of the Burrata salad, stating it was refreshing, and had set great expectations of what was to come. For mains, two companions had the Pastrami Benedict, one had a Breakfast Roll, and I had the prawn croissant; fries were also ordered on the side. The croissant was buttery, flaky and crispy in the right spots, and the portion of prawns allocated to it was definitely generous enough. The Pastrami Benedict had toppings superb with the pastrami, eggs, and hollandaise being up to the standard my friends yearned for. One of them did say the brioche could be toasted more, but this observation was so minor as not to impact the overall enjoyment of the dish. The other one had no toast with his, so his conjectures on baked goods in this matter do not exist. Lastly, regarding the mains, the Breakfast Roll was a filling, and comforting meal, with its simplicity standing out as its reasoning for its character. Finally, for a dessert we got the Black Forest Waffle to share. The berry sauce on the side was quite sour and tart, which I thought was a balanced addition to the sweetness of the creams on the waffle, although my companions didn't reason the same, so it was welcome that the sauce was not forcibly presented on the dish. The meringue cookie was also a nice little textural variance that added to the experience The atmosphere was interesting to say the least. Admittedly my feelings are a little mixed regarding the blend of architectural ideas, but it doesn't detract at all from the experience, although doesn't add much to it either. For the service however my feelings are quite fixed on it being of impeccable standard. It wasn't obsessive nor dismissive, and I would say that the right amount of attention was given to ensure the experience was smooth, but not interrupted. In conclusion, I would say this cafe is a good recommendation to those looking for a lovely brunch, and that I would return if I were in the area more often.

This cafe/restaurant is my local. I enjoyed a relaxed summer afternoon sitting on the outdoor patio with a glass of Rose - a very nice environment. I haven't eaten here yet, but the dishes I saw being served to others looked really good. I definitely will come back to sample more. The menu is not extensive but looks good, to suit a range of tastes and different sized appetites. Service is very good, that's a big drawcard for me to return. Thank you.

This brunch spot is extremely popular and I know why now. The exterior of the building has two elements, modern classic coffee shop and unique white detailed architecture. The coffee is also very good. They have pastries and doughnuts from doughboy. I recommend any of their toasts because the sourdough bread they serve is amazing. I got the seasonal mushroom toast. I didn't expect so many mushrooms, but the portion was large. Some basil pesto was drizzled on top and on the toast. It was a very satisfying meal. However, the wait can take a while. If it's only 2 people the wait will be shorter, but any groups larger than that will probably take 30 mins. Not so ideal in the cold, but they have heaters outside and you can order drinks while waiting. I do think it's worth the wait though.

Pretty cool place to chill and unwind .. patrons from all walks of life here.. guess it's more to do with the location.

A great breakfast menu. Our choices included the Chilli Scrambled Eggs, the Seasonal Local Mushrooms and the Seasonal Avocado. Presentation was superb, my stomach is rumbling. If I had to make one complaint, I needed a sharper knife to cut through the toast or develop stronger wrists.

The food was great as was the service. Would have loved to go back for the pancake with ricotta and berry. My power bowl was energetic and my wife had the duck noodle dish which she loved. Wish we had more time on our vacation to enjoy it again. Next time for sure if we are in south Melbourne/St. Kilda area.

Nice environment and beautiful place to eat. The pancake was very nice and 2 of us were able to eat it and still leave some in the plate. It did take quite some time to get the food, longer than the people next to us who ordered much later. All in all happy with the Kettle Black

Great great coffee! But I was so speechless when I was served avocado toast. I have no idea why it was served this way- deconstruction? Leaving to the customer to prepare it the way she wants? I was so displeased at having to pay so much money for something I expected to be smashed and spread for me instead of Doing the work myself. But the salted caramel brownie was good. If I had to go back, I'll try the hot cakes that everyone is talking about.

Really, really popular brunch place, and one can see why. The food is delicious, and the coffees well crafted too. Not cheap - most main dishes running $20+. Their egg based normal brunch dishes are just OK, but the standouts are the hot cakes and the waffles. Go for those if you're coming here for brunch!

Literally the best breakfast I have ever eaten. I returned twice during my recent trip. The coffee is exceptional some come with a palate cleanser of seltzer water other with a paper of flavor notes and origin. The food was great and well priced for the quality. Obviously the ricotta pancake is out of this world and should be shared by many (although we split it in half) as it is thick. It is sweet but not too sweet and has a perfect balance of light thick cake and crunchy nuts and seeds and refreshing fruit. Now the savory options are also exceptional. The mushroom toast is literally perfect. The balance of cooked, raw, and dusted mushrooms all meld together beautifully. Also a very generous portion. The burrata was fresh as can be and oozed onto the plate of mixed tomatoes. I can't speak enough great things and I will miss this eatery dearly as I eat my way through NYC.

After checking out all the insta photos and reviews for this place, I was finally able to check it out. Mainly because it was a Friday mid morning, it was easy to grab a spot! Walked into the cafe and loved the interiors of white walls, potted greenery and the way the tables were laid out. After a red eye flight I was desperate for a coffee. I ordered a latte which came out super quick and with the leaf coffee art. I was expecting a little more from the coffee but it was ok. Wasn't blown away. Although the hot cakes is the most popular, opted for the pulled pork hollandaise poached egg with pear. The dish was pretty well executed with the egg yolks runny and the pork being moist. My partner had ordered the cured kangaroo with chilli scrambled eggs. We were expecting a little more from the dish like chili dustings or flakes compared to chopped chilli. It just didn't have that oomph I was expecting. All in all a pretty great experience with service being top notch as well!

I finally made it! Of course it required my mother visiting and getting there before 9am on a weekday, but I got in without a wait. Clean, minimalist decor and bright windows grace the cafe. There is a coffee cart outside for those wanting take away. We were seated and served the tastiest coffee immediately. Off to a great start! Between the two of us we shared a hearty pulled pork with poached eggs and pears on toast, fruit and flowery muesli and a side of kangaroo tartare. The kangaroo was prepared well but due to lack of dressing there was not much to hide the gamey flavour. It was worth trying for the sake of it. Mom enjoyed her muesli and I almost finished the generous serve of pork. It was delicious and I would gladly return if it were as easy to get seated. However I would say that for slightly better ambiance and a menu I found more interesting, Top Paddock has it beat. Either way it's easy to see why these restaurants do so well. Kudos to the chefs!

Stunning decor and ambiance, great service, and even better food. There's usually wait by mid day, even on weekdays. Get their early if you don't like waiting, I would recommend before 10am. Their hot cakes are divine and is a must try. If you are looking for something like less heavy and more healthy, the flowery muesli is pretty great. They also have great coffee that is well sourced.

Excellent brunch place with its unique menu, great service, and cool decor. The place was pretty busy for a Tuesday around 10:30am but we were seated right away for a table of 3. The menu was pretty explosive with items like cured kangaroo which immediately catch your eye. We opted for the hotcake and the snapper sandwich which were perfect. I must warn you that the servings are very large and we could have easily shared our meals. Their coffee is also very good, so give it a shot.

If only the taste and service matched the creativity of the menu, pretty over hyped and over priced. We were walking to the cafe with a take away coffee from another place, when we arrived we were given menu's and promptly told the coffee would be taken from us and put in the bin as it was from outside, even though we were still ordering coffee from them too. They then proceeded to take 15mins to take our order and return with the coffee so wouldn't have hurt to let us finish it. I ordered the green juice which had far to much celery, this over powered the juice, it needed more balance to have a better less earthy flavour. We had a iced coffee and flat white which were nice and the best part of the experience. I ordered the beans with toast and a side of bacon, the beans where nice and flavourful, but were still just that a plate of beans and toast with some pesto for $16, the side of bacon for $4 was one slice and although nice and thick was still expensive for $4, as who only really wants 1slice? My boyfriend had the chilli scrambled eggs with cured kangaroo and feta, this dish totally missed the mark. No flavour /chilli taste in the eggs, feta completely over shadowed the dish, bread was stodgy and rubbery, kangaroo no flavour and bland. I feel this place needs to taste that dishes before they send them out, and I think it only has high reviews due to reputation and people people being impressed with decor and the menu. Unfortunately for me it missed the mark, and wasn't worth $69 for breakfast

Highly recommend this place! There is a great atmosphere - it's a little white house kind of stuck between big buildings - a bit of old in a lot of new. Very cute. The staff is super friendly and willing to help. And the food..... Amazing ! They are known for their hotcake and it didn't disappoint! Super yummy! I had the burrata with the herloom tomatoes too - and it was just lovely. I "know my burrata" and I can tell you that the one they use was a good one! We were 7 and didn't wait as long as we thought we would - we were put on a great table outside. It was just perfect. Coffee was good too!

Whilst this place has had amazing write ups in the press I found the coffee experience to be average! Firstly one size does not cut it in a city that has a population that loves coffee. Yes, you can order a large to have there in a takeaway cup but the term 'large' is used loosely more like one up from thimble size cups. No mega cups here but a slim hipster style takeaway cup! Food for others came out looking delish but menu prices are a little high, wine too is a bit pricey for a cafe. Outdoor dining and coffee cart is great and plenty of space. Service was good but a choir to try and pay via payWave. Had to ask twice to pay.

No trip to the city of cafe lovers paradise is complete without a stop to one of their infamous cafe, The Kettle Black. For months, I've been admiring this place from afar...literally! So when I was able to come back to Melbourne and visit my family, I knew this place is the first on my to-eat list. I came here on a weekday morning and this place is already bustling. From the outside, the building is beautiful as it combines the Victorian era as well as the modern architecture. The interior design was also very tasteful to the eye - classy and sophisticated. I ordered their hotcakes (with ricotta, blueberries, pure maple, double cream and seeds for $18) and while it took a good 30 minutes for the food to arrive, it didn't disappoint! This was probably the most beautiful, unicorn and rainbow prettiest pancakes I've ever eaten! Eating it is just as pleasurable. The pancake was very moist, deep and crispy while caramelized with the maple syrup. Portion was very generous, definitely enough to share for two. Be sure to try their drinks as well. Their hot chocolate was exquisite - It was rich, velvety and complex. The Ecuador rancho tio emilio coffee was also top notch. Overall, to me, Kettle Black was a very enjoyable Brunch experience that one must encounter when visiting Melbourne as it does cafe culture the best!

Its a no brainer that you should start your day with a visit to kettle black. Their coffee is exquisite and the food is even better. I chose the pastrami and it to die for. Its their rendition on eggs benedict but better in my opinion. The wasabe is a pallet cleanser and it has a nice amount of heat to it.

Top Paddock and Two Birds, One Stone earned their spots at the top with amazing brunch/lunch menus full of inventive dishes. But the new offering from the same crew is their best to date. The Kettle Black is probably my favourite space so far and the food is just something else. Heading in on just their second day, this place is already pumping. No rest for a cafe kicking off with a reputation like this. It has been worth the wait too. The fit-out is stunning; a gorgeous clean space of black & white with splashes of mint green and gold. If you don't have time to join the masses dining in, a coffee cart awaits out the front for take-aways, including grab and go food. Not just pre-made sandwiches, I'm talking croissants filled with gruyere and pulled pork. Seriously. Inside, another espresso bar and filter coffee is on offer. Their 5 Senses coffee gets top marks and the filter was perfection - even served on a cute gold plate. If the sight of another poached-egg-smashed-avocado dish makes you want to scream, you will be overjoyed at the options here. As I mentioned, the menu is pretty spectacular. No doubt this will change seasonally, but at present there is everything from crayfish and wallaby to house-made coconut yoghurt. I opted for the Polenta Porridge with burnt maple, strawberry and basil. Aside from being probably the most visually delightful thing I've eaten since their flowery porridge at Top Paddock, this dish was just a joy to eat. Expect it to be busy, always. I don't see these guys getting a minute rest with a cafe this good.

All I can say is the hype is definitely worth it! As the new brother in to Top Paddock and Two Birds One Stone, The Kettle Black maintains the ceiling-high expectations that comes with it, but being in an absolute ripper location. Its a beautiful, old white building with plenty of history surrounded by new high-rises, a really gorgeous setting. The menu is amazing. Much of the offerings are obviously going to be in a similar vein to what you would find at Top Paddock. The hotcake - note the lack of an 's' there - was amazing. Just the right amount of maple syrup, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, and homemade ricotta baked into it! Even two of us couldn't finish it. I had the pulled pork benedict. I don't know why I always get sucked into pulled pork, as I always leave disappointed... But The Kettle Black's version was just about right - just flavoursome enough and not too stringy and tough. Coffee wise, we were able to try the filter and long blacks. They too were very good! Plenty of care has clearly been taken in this department. A mix of 5 Senses, Market Lane and Small Batch are offered, which is provides very hard choices to choose between. The only downfall probably comes as a victim of its own success - it was very busy, and that was just four days in, and I cannot see that changing. A mini cart was set up the day we were there for take aways which is a great idea - but otherwise, expect a small wait.

I'd put off visiting The Kettle Black because I'd heard about the long waits... and well let's be honest, it's sort of in an out-of-the-way place so it wasn't exactly the most convenient place for me to get to. I finally had my chance when I needed to be in this part of town for an appointment and arrive at noon on a Monday to a half-filled venue and staff eager and happy to serve. I had a limited amount of time to eat and run and they assured me that it wouldn't be a problem. Indeed I was out the door within 40 minutes of sitting down! I should have expected the fit out to be amazingly gorgeous, but nothing prepared me for just how beautiful the space is. I love the bright and open interior and that there's lots of nooks and crannies, making it feel a little smaller and more intimate than it is. My only criticism of the design is that it got very noisy as the lunch service wore on and I could hardly hear my dining companion speak. The food was lovely. We shared a fresh/cooked mushroom dish which was simple and delicious for lovers of the funghi, along with a kingfish dish which I was told was "salady" by the waiter but really wasn't what I had expected. It was nonetheless delicious, with ripe tomatoes, avocado chunks and crisp potato. This isn't a cheap cafe option, but you pay for the extra level of service, a beautiful setting and food that is creative and quick.

There's a reason that this place gets people's blood pumping when you mention 'The Kettle Black', and if you haven't checked instagram, you should because there's plenty of Instagram photos of the building, food and coffee. In general, I'm not a fan of waiting in a long line to be seated for brunch. So I decided to go during the weekday, and luckily I managed to get a seat almost immediately. Firstly, I would like to say the staff are friendly and attentive. A good cafe needs good people to deliver, and this place has it. I had the coconut yoghurt with gluten free grains/seeds, Toorak Station pear and Rhubarb. That's a lot words for one dish, but hey that's quite normal to see at some places. Haha. I was very pleased when this dish arrived, it was like art on a plate. Colourful, alive and cheerful. The burning question is, did it deliver on taste? Definitely. I enjoyed the various ingredients and textures combined. Only thing is the coconut yoghurt was slightly too sweet for me so I couldn't finish that particular part of the dish. If you're a fan of the food and coffee at Top Paddock, you'll most likely enjoy this place. I also had an Ethiopian Hunkute filter coffee, which was fantastic. It had a clean and medium body to it. The cafe is in a beautiful Victorian style building, and the interior had a clean Scandinavian style look. I like nice architecture and interior, so this made the experience even better. The Kettle Black is one of my favourite cafes in Melbourne for breakfast, brunch and filter coffee.

Kettle Black is the bomb!!! Great food looks gorgeous and taste fresh and tasty, smart service, attentive and on point,beautiful venue/ house and coffee cart outside for express visits. The infamous hotcake is as gorgeous in real life as on Instagram ;) it's not cheap, but generous in size and worth every penny. The special jumbo prawn on brioche is tasty and fresh. I enjoyed every minute spent at Kettle Black. It is loud here, so bring loud friends :D Ticketed parking around but there are some non ticketed 1 hr parking as well.

Albert Road has the unmatched and unparallelled ability to cram the most amount of the world's shittiest cafe's all into the one stretch of road. horrible throwbacks to the days of early 80's of cafe confusion, Albert road has quite possibly the most amount of 'Dive Cafe's'. That is until kettle black came along. Finally. The Kettle black is pretty much the highest end cafe I've seen for a while and boy are those queues long. Even whilst waiting outside at the coffee stall can be busy; it resembles a small train station platform at peak hour. Sleek Modernist interior, well presented and laid out, and the Victorian era grand terrace is almost crushed beneath the huge development that towers above it. Inside the facade of period charm has remained, including the stained glass windows, but they have taken it up a notch with the inside. Seating sprawls out over many areas. Breakfast comes in more of a modern focus, breathing new life into old classics, or even establishing new dishes. No roll your eyes it's served everywhere big breakfasts. The pulled pork Benedict styled eggs are quite good, and I leaning towards some of the bigger dishes as well. Filter Coffee comes in at $6 and is quite good. Be prepared for a wait as the kettle black is swamped by corporates, working people, mother's clubs, joggers clubs, over privileged school children, and everyone else inbetween.

The venue had been beautifully designed, pristine white walls plenty of natural light and the big round mirror that has featured on so many photos is stunning. Arriving at 10:30 there was a queue snaking around the corner. An hour wait for a table inside but no real wait outside so we grabbed a table there near the heater. The day was mild and this was very pleasant. We perused the menu and decided eggs were the way to go. We ordered the salmon tataki with poached eggs and the chilli scrambled eggs with feta and air dried wallaby. The food was delicious but the service left a lot to be desired. Our coffees came after our food and the managed to get one wrong, it happens but the right one came out as an accompanied with the bill. Wouldn't wait an hour but for 10-15 min wait great local. They even have a take away coffee bar for a coffee and cake on the run.

This place seems to be super busy but turnaround is quick. It's gorgeous with white walls, white seating almost with a marble like look. Quite airy brights and spacious. Had indoor and outdoor seating. While you're waiting to be seated, order a coffee from their coffee cart. Pretty over priced coffee. A small which is only 8oz is 4.00. The coffee is quite strong and edgy. But nice. We were seated within 35 minutes on a long table shared with three other couples. The menu is pretty unique with lots of fish options for breakfast which I find bizarre. Food is on the expensive side. Portion sizes are large if you order the pancakes or porridge. If you order the fish, the fillet is quite tiny for the price you pay. My friend and I got the chilli scrambled eggs cured kangaroo with feta and toast as well as the ocean trout with salad and poached egg. The chilli scrambled eggs were orange and had some chilli flakes on top but were quite bland. The toast was the most awful thing I've had. Was impossible to cut into. Was tasteless, crusty and just awful. The feta was nice but really didn't go with the eggs. The cured kangaroo was an interesting addition but had no flavour other than the meat flavour and didn't add to the taste of the dish. The trout was nice. The salad that it came with was quite sweet and the egg was delicately poached with dark orange liquid oozing out of it. Pretty pricey for what you get. Food is pretty average. Presentation is fantastic. And service is awesome. They do split bills. Staff are really nice and friendly.

Once again The Kettle Black has surpassed itself The most innovative brunch menu in town and it caters so well for gluten free The only downside is that you can't book and due to it's popularity you may have to wait over half an hour for a table That is not an issue as you can grab a coffee from their outside coffee cart and sit in the sun and chat whilst waiting for your table I thoroughly recommend and will definitely be back

Thanks Kettle Black. Sunday breakfast was a pleasure. What a slick, contemporary venue with beautiful decor, excellent service, morish menu and wicked coffee. Must come back.

Beautiful cafe, love the decor. The staff are friendly and accommodating. I work nearby so frequent the cafe regularly and the staff know me by name and make me feel at home. I love the snapper burger, kale salad, croissants, the coffee is great, take away salads are delicious and the hot cake is a great treat but beware it is huge. It can get a bit busy at lunchtime and some people think that the cafe is pretentious.

My wife and I decided to have late lunch and try out the Kettle Black. We have been a fan of Top Paddock, so it was just about time when we try this newer addition to list of places in Melbourne. Within short walking distance from where we live. We had the King Island Crayfish in an Ash Roll with Native Coastal Spinach, Lime & Yuzu Mayonnaise and the Robbins Island Wagyu Skirt Steak served on the Kettle Black Bun. Both are nice dishes. Although the portion is small for the price tag. The staff are quite friendly. Although we had a feeling we were rushed to finish off the meal as they were about to close (fyi, it was about 15-20mins from closing which is quite plenty and we were about to be done). The interior is very nice design. Lots of natural light. The exterior is quite classy.

Staff were super friendly. Food was decent. Overall score 7/10 I would definitely go back and try other dishes on the menu.

I don't normally have brunch but I was recommended this cafe by a friend and was blown away. Their food not only looks spectacular but tastes amazing! I normally have the hotcakes here but decided to try the Cape Grim Beef with Kettle Black Bun. Although it was on the pricey side, it was well worth it! I normally take interstate or international friends here. The coffee is great as well!

We really wanted to make sure to come here, because our airbnb was just a few blocks away. We were not disappointed, and agree with the very positive reviews others have written about this establishment. I have a feeling this place is packed on the weekends, but due to it being early on Monday we were seated right away. The staff were super friendly, the food arrived promptly, and everything tasted absolutely delicious. I ordered the avocado on toast with a poached egg, and my wife ordered the bacon Benedict. I thought my dish was excellently prepared, and my wife was raving about the Hollandaise sauce, which was just the right amount. They also give you a seltzer water pallet cleanser with some of the coffee orders, which as new to me and a great touch. Not cheap but worth it for a splurge. Make sure to check this place out if you're in the area!

The Kettle Black has done the community around its local vicinity a great service! An area that was lacking in good brunch and coffee spots, Kettle Black has come and filled the vacuum, with nothing short of great menu, good coffee and decor to die for! My favourite will have to be the crayfish roll that I've had for breakfast, lunch and even a snack. That's how tasty and easy it is! Other dishes I've had here include the homemade yogurt and baked beans with sausage. Every single dish I've had here has been made with the freshest ingredients and put together so thoughtfully! I also love that this is one of the few brunch places without ridiculous queues. Kettle Black occupies a fairly large space, with both indoor and outdoor seating (did I mention the cute little coffee cart for takeaway?!). I've never had to wait more than 20 mins for a seat. For those design lovers, the decor and fit out here is amazing! Clean crisp and tasteful, it's definitely an environment that will lift your spirits.

Poached eggs on toast cooked the way I like it, but the chorizo was pretty average. Coffee is a must

The best brunch I've had in Australia to date! Well worth the wait! My boyfriend ordered the bean with basil pesto and chorizo with a side of bacon. The mix of ingredients was a combination of unexpected awesomeness (direct quote from Pete). This hearty dish surpassed all expectations! Although the bacon was only a side it was worthy of being a main. It was one giant piece of 1/4" meat and tasted like a suckling pig cooked over a camp fire. The smoky flavour made my taste buds scream for more. I ordered the coconut chia with fruit, rose petals, and maple syrup. The layering of flavours in this dish was spectacular! Bite after bite, I loved every bit of this dish. This eatery should definitely be on everyone brunch list.

I had the porridge with side of toast and eggs and it was all very good. The presentation was awesome as well. The interior of the place was well done and staff was very friendly.

I came here again with friends who were visiting from out of town and insisting to go. As I said last time I was not floored, and was even more underwhelmed this time around. I just don't see the hype. I much prefer my locales like Oscar Cooper in Prahran or such. Much more simple, basic, and there isn't the waiting on the sidewalk pretension nor high prices etc. A lot of the food menu items, whilst daring on paper, don't really meet expectation or wow, sort of as mentioned before. As my experience with Top Paddock, I'd only return if a friend insisted, but I'd be unwilling. Personally, now that I'm a bit more experienced living in Melbourne, they strike me as tourist trappy. Although I've only tried Kettle Black and Top Paddock to date.

I know we are in Melbourne , and yes we are used to waiting to get a table, so we waited 30 minutes to get a table. We bought a coffee at the cart out the front and sat on the seats outside and waited . Actually the wait went quickly. And now I can see this place is so popular. The food absolutely excellent . I ordered , get this , chilli scramble eggs with kangaroo , I have never had roo for breakfast before . That's how this place thinks outside the circle , and my partner the citrus avocado and poached egg . Look seriously if you are ever down in Melbourne this is definitely one of the places I would come and wait to have breakfast .

The service from staff are great. They do their best to ensure you don't have to get out of your seat. From the moment you sit down, the staff ensure you have a drink in your hand and our meal was served really quickly as well. I highly recommend this cafe.

Beautiful space, beautiful coffee and perhaps the most instagrammed dishes in all of Melbourne. Even the staff are Instagram worthy in their cute little hipster wear. Having been a passerby customer and utilising the outdoors coffee cart multiple times, I felt it was time to step in and try the amazing menu for myself. Yes the coffee was great. When it arrived. For a Monday afternoon it was a bit odd having to wait 25mins for two lattes. Despite it being late afternoon we opted for a breakfast menu. I was rather sad to see my toast arrive burnt and with super cute little jars. The jars of butter and jam made me happy. Burnt toast didn't. My companion had a slightly better serving of toast and eggs. We asked twice for butter as he was being indulgent but it never showed up. The same story with the bill. The wait staff went round and round and we asked twice. In the end we walked to the counter to pay.

This place isn't closed! I get my coffee from here every morning. It's always got a lot of people in it for breakfast/brunch. I'm a fan of their coffee and food. Sometimes there is a wait for the coffee in the morning though. Just look for the house under the apartment building!

I have to give all the stars I have to these guys. They're doing a good job. This must be the one of the best places I've been to in Melbourne. I had scrambled eggs with feta and avocado. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. One bad thing about this place is that is so PACKED all the time and you might have to wait outside for a while to get a table. I like the interior design, it's relaxing and the coffee I had was good. The staff is quick and smiling all the time.

Have been previously to The Kettle Black, I was excited to show a friend from Finland one of the best eateries in Melbourne. But unfortunately, it was embarrassing to take her there. I had the kale salad and greens, it was literally an entire bunch of kale and not much else. My boyfriend has the burger which was a steak sandwich with a sprinkle of greens and not much else. My friend had the salmon which was the best looking fish out of the three, but also underwhelming. Service was sporadic and granted it was busy. But to keep the reputation of one of Melbourne's best, you need to keep up and be consistent. Very disappointed and not sure if I'd go back

This has been on my to-do list for a while now. I waited till I had a Monday off due to the long waits we've all heard about. Staff were super friendly, helpful and welcoming. Seating me on the long bar in front of the coffee machines and brew bar. Amazing fitout with lots of white and marble with accents of gold and green. Such a fresh and pleasant change from the standard hipster cafe. Menu sounded fantastic with lots of interesting dishes. I opted for the Benedict style eggs with pulled pork. Honestly, I was expecting the presentation to be a bit more interesting from other reviews. It was a fantastic dish but just lacked a wow factor. Coffee was pretty good. Upon paying I noticed a display cabinet full of amazing looking sweets. Very tempted. My overall experience was great. Staff, fitout, food, coffee. I will be back and I will choose a more interesting dish.

First things first pick a busy time to go and expect to be waiting a while outside. At lunchtime on Australia day with the cafe looking quiet from the outside there was a 10 minute wait. Sunday morning expect longer. Once seated our coffee/tea/drinks order were taken and delivered but we had finished these before our food order was taken. If I'm doing brunch I kind of like my tea with my food. We ordered chili scrambled eggs with kangaroo on toast. I think scrambled eggs is a good simple benchmark of a breakfast and these had a texture and taste like I was eating an omelette. Definitely not blown away.

Friday morning around 10am and no problem getting a table outside even though I heard it can get crazy busy here. I went on the recommendation of a friend, along with a picture of the beautiful masterpiece that is their hot cake- and I was not disappointed. We all couldn't resist snapping pics of our food. Mine was perfectly soaked in maple syrup. My sister got the kale and seaweed salad with trout and egg, which she referred to as "divine". She doesn't refer to anything as "divine". Saying something!

This is my 2nd visit to Kettle Black. The first visit I had their amazing and prettiest looking hot cakes. This time around, I had the tataki ocean trout with kale salad. It is the most amazing ocean trout I have ever had. I really took my time eating this dish as I didn't want to finish it so quickly. Although there may be many dish that I would like to try on the menu, I think the next time I am back, I would like to have this again.

These are one of those places where the not so cultured tend to flock to grab a sense of culture. I won't deny it, it's a beautiful setting. The facade, being heritage listed, couldn't be demolished leading the architect to design around and above the facade. Although this is a typical response to heritage listed facades, the architects decision to juxtapose the old and new in a clash of ages, allows the design to stand out among the rest. Sadly, now to the food. The expectations were set high after hearing so much about it and hence were hardly met. The food is experimental for the sake of experimenting, the cafe seems to be engrained with the concept of 'less is bore' as opposed to 'quality over quantity'. Nothing stands out that any other cafe around the city strives to achieve and sometimes it feels as though the chef didn't quite think the combinations through; in attempting the wow factor it achieves the pretentious factor instead. Missing the point entirely of fresh, light, pleasing food. This cafe is simply for the crowds seeking a bit of the cultural flair, which sadly it does well to imitate. It's worth a visit simply for the architecture, but if you're there for the food head into the city instead and find yourself one of the many arcades with good food and vibrant atmosphere, something along the lines of ca de vin.