Cafe Adventures @ Journeyman

169 Chapel St, Windsor VIC

9521 4884

7am - 4pm Everyday 

It's not everyday that I decide to venture out of the CBD to try out new cafes in other areas of Melbourne. After hearing about Journeyman from a few blogs I decided that it was finally time to partake on another adventure.

Journeyman delivers gourmet coffee and contemporary cafe foods which has everyone coming back for more, even whilst the kitchen was already closed I saw patrons come in to be sadly turned away unless they just wanted coffee. Luckily, I made it just in time and was able to dine with only a few minutes left.

With it's casual and comforting vibes, the industrial-chic hall is what makes the interior so great. With it's natural lighting from the ceiling, it delivers a perfect atmosphere and lighting for my photos.

Greeted by a warm and welcoming waitress, the service at Journeyman was delightful, with cheerful baristas and workers at the counter if you can tell in the photo above :).

 If the kitchen is closed, but in need of something to devour, then worry not as there is always pastries and cakes which make the perfect pairing for a great coffee.

 For those that love the taste of the coffee at Journeyman, you can buy their beans at the counter.

 Iced Mocha 

Basic and flavoursome, nothing wrong here but it was quite average.

(6/10)

 Iced Chocolate 

Now I have never seen an Iced Chocolate served like this, I am assuming the top section was milk/foam and the bottom was the chocolate goodness. We were unsure with what to do so we decided to just mix it in the end. Overall a pleasant and refreshing drink, though it could do a bit better in terms of sweetness as I felt it was lacking.

(6/10)

 Beetroot Cured Salmon ($21)

organic quinoa, avocado, chilli and kale salad, poached eggs, feta & herbs

Definitely a lot more than I expected, the beetroot cured salmon came out in a huge bowl and I was simply overwhelmed with the portion. A beautiful salad and the beetroot cured salmon was absolutely divine. the elements of the dish worked incredibly well with each other and is the perfect dish for those looking for a marvelous salad. 

Extra points for the feta in the dish, I felt that it added great flavour and just made the dish much more enjoyable, the poached eggs were also cooked perfectly with the heavenly yolk oozing right out upon slicing through with my knife.

(9/10)

Chilli Scrambled Eggs ($18)

Smoked Tomato, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil and baguette

Another delightful dish, to be honest I was probably more addicted to the baguette instead of the egg. The buffalo mozzarella, with fresh bread with olive oil was just amazing and I wanted more. 

Now onto the actual star of the dish. The chilli scrambled eggs were delicious and fluffy, soft and was cooked perfectly. Accompanied by smoked tomato and chilli, it added that extra flavour and kick which made the eggs delightful.

(7/10)

Food - 7 / 10

Ambiance - 9 / 10

Service - 9 / 10

Total FoOodie Points - 25 / 30

Cafe Adventures @ Journeyman

169 Chapel St, Windsor VIC

9521 4884

7am - 4pm Everyday 

It's not everyday that I decide to venture out of the CBD to try out new cafes in other areas of Melbourne. After hearing about Journeyman from a few blogs I decided that it was finally time to partake on another adventure.

Journeyman delivers gourmet coffee and contemporary cafe foods which has everyone coming back for more, even whilst the kitchen was already closed I saw patrons come in to be sadly turned away unless they just wanted coffee. Luckily, I made it just in time and was able to dine with only a few minutes left.

With it's casual and comforting vibes, the industrial-chic hall is what makes the interior so great. With it's natural lighting from the ceiling, it delivers a perfect atmosphere and lighting for my photos.

Greeted by a warm and welcoming waitress, the service at Journeyman was delightful, with cheerful baristas and workers at the counter if you can tell in the photo above :).

 If the kitchen is closed, but in need of something to devour, then worry not as there is always pastries and cakes which make the perfect pairing for a great coffee.

 For those that love the taste of the coffee at Journeyman, you can buy their beans at the counter.

 Iced Mocha 

Basic and flavoursome, nothing wrong here but it was quite average.

(6/10)

 Iced Chocolate 

Now I have never seen an Iced Chocolate served like this, I am assuming the top section was milk/foam and the bottom was the chocolate goodness. We were unsure with what to do so we decided to just mix it in the end. Overall a pleasant and refreshing drink, though it could do a bit better in terms of sweetness as I felt it was lacking.

(6/10)

 Beetroot Cured Salmon ($21)

organic quinoa, avocado, chilli and kale salad, poached eggs, feta & herbs

Definitely a lot more than I expected, the beetroot cured salmon came out in a huge bowl and I was simply overwhelmed with the portion. A beautiful salad and the beetroot cured salmon was absolutely divine. the elements of the dish worked incredibly well with each other and is the perfect dish for those looking for a marvelous salad. 

Extra points for the feta in the dish, I felt that it added great flavour and just made the dish much more enjoyable, the poached eggs were also cooked perfectly with the heavenly yolk oozing right out upon slicing through with my knife.

(9/10)

Chilli Scrambled Eggs ($18)

Smoked Tomato, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil and baguette

Another delightful dish, to be honest I was probably more addicted to the baguette instead of the egg. The buffalo mozzarella, with fresh bread with olive oil was just amazing and I wanted more. 

Now onto the actual star of the dish. The chilli scrambled eggs were delicious and fluffy, soft and was cooked perfectly. Accompanied by smoked tomato and chilli, it added that extra flavour and kick which made the eggs delightful.

(7/10)

Food - 7 / 10

Ambiance - 9 / 10

Service - 9 / 10

Total FoOodie Points - 25 / 30

 

Cafe Adventures @ Shortstop Coffee & Donuts

12 Sutherland St, Melbourne VIC

Phone: N/A

7:30am - 4:30pm Weekdays

9:30am - 4:00pm Saturday

9:30am - 3:30pm Sunday

Mmm, delicious donuts & coffee, what more can you ask for?. Shortstop coffee & donuts specializes in a range of freshly baked donuts and hot coffees that draw in new and returning customers every day.

A shame that the store doesn't do cold drinks, as when I was craving an iced coffee when at the time, but nonetheless the hot coffees are still a delight.

The seating in Shortstop are quite cramped, especially since the store is usually filled with people wanting coffee and donuts so it's quite rare to see a vacant table / seat.

They also have their coffee beans on sale if you love their coffee.

I came here at the hour before the store closed so the donut selection was limited, but nonetheless there was a great selection for everyone. 

Cappuccino ($4)

A refreshing drink, perfect for the sleep-deprived such as myself. Nothing that really stood out but just tasted overall a lot better which is to be expected for a specialty coffee store.

(6/10)

 New Orleans Iced Coffee Donut ($4.50)

The New Orleans Iced Coffee Donut was definitely the best donut from what my friends and I ordered. Packing a huge punch of flavour upon the first you it had a perfect level of sweetness and was perfectly paired with the cappuccino 

(10/10)

 Earl Grey & Rose Donut ($4.50)

Didn't really meet up to my expectations, the donut wasn't as sweet as I thought it would be, but it's a great pairing with the cappuccino.

(5.5/10) 

To be honest I don't remember what this donut was, and I can't find the name of it on the menu or online. But if you do see it around when you visit shortstop, what I can say is that the donut was pretty average. Didn't stand out in terms of flavour.

(5/10)

Food - 7 / 10

Ambiance - 6 / 10

Service - 6 / 10

Total FoOodie Points - 19 / 30

Dessert Adventures @ Lindt Chocolate Cafe

271 Collins St, Melbourne VIC

9667 0900

Mon - Wed: 8:30am - 6:30pm

 Thu - Fri: 8:30am - 9:00pm

Sat - Sun: 9:00am - 6:30pm

If you're someone that loves chocolate, then you'll know what Lindt is, and if you love Lindt, then I introduce to you to the haven of Lindt Chocolate Cafe. 

Filled with Lindt delicacies such as their signature chocolate items, cakes and beverages made with pure Lindt chocolate. You just can't go wrong here.

Interior 

Lindt Create-Your-Own Gift Box

They have a pretty cool create-your-own gift box where you can choose the box size, and fill them up with Lindt goods of your choice.

Cake Display 

Dessert Display

Brownies & Macaron Display

The Collection

With so many options to choose from, it was a great idea that I came here with a group of friends so I could try numerous delicacies Lindt cafe has to offer.

Opera Cake ($10.50)

A layered cake of dark chocolate ganache, coffee buttercream and almond sponge

I was quite disappointed in the Opera cake, Though I feel like the main reason was due to coming to the cafe when it was just about to close but the Opera cake was really dry and didn't have that smooth, creamy texture that most cakes have. But i'm sure that if i came earlier it would've been a better experience.

(5/10)

 Salted Caramel Cake ($10.50)

Dark chocolate mousse, crunchy hazelnut and salted caramel ganache on a Lindt chocolate brownie base

The Salted Caramel Cake on the other hand was pretty good. A smooth and creamy texture, with a beautiful salted caramel taste, it was great mood food. The salted caramel ganache was a great addition as it enhanced the salted caramel flavour when mixed together.

(7/10)

Lindt Chocolate Brownie ($6)

A tad dry, but I wasn't expecting much from a brownie, it was pretty good on it's own with a rich chocolate flavour. But it was definitely lacking something to make it satisfying, perhaps ice-cream would've been a good idea.

(6/10)

Lindt Mocha ($6.50)

Layers of Lindt dark chocolate, velvety milk and a perfectly drawn shot of espresso coffee topped with a Lindt chocolate thin

Topped with a Lindt chocolate, it was an uplifting drink. I reckon on the high end of the Mocha drinks I've had. A bit pricey but it's definitely worth it.

(7.5/10)

Lindt Decadent Chocolate Milkshake ($8.50)

Lindt excellence 70% dark chocolate ice cream blended with with milk and Lindt chocolate.

Now if you love a rich chocolate drink, then you'll definitely love the chocolate milkshake. My first sip of this and I was in heaven, rich, creamy and enhanced with that extra dark chocolate ice-cream, I could easily come back just for this.

(8.5/10)

Iced Coffee ($8.50)

Espresso blended with vanilla white chocolate ice cream, ice and topped with icecream and dark chocolate flakes

The Iced Coffee was pretty average in my opinion, the coffee flavour wasn't strong enough which led the drink becoming too sweet for an iced coffee.

(6/10)

Food - 6.6 / 10

Ambiance - 8 / 10

Service - 7/10

Total FoOodie Points - 21.6 / 30

Cafe Adventures @ Rustica Canteen

33 Guildford Ln, Melbourne VIC

9642 2203

7am - 4pm Weekdays

8am - 4pm Weekends

We were confused at first if Rustica Canteen was the same as Rustica Sourdough, and upon looking at the menu, we were sure that they were pretty much the same thing but with a few tweaks on their dishes.

Located in the hidden alleyway of Guildford Lane where another popular cafe 'Krimper' is located. Rustica Canteen provides customers with amazing food and a comforting atmosphere as their counterpart Rustica Sourdough Bakery.

The Selection

Dining Room

Counter

Selection of baked goods

We arrived at the last hour so most of the baked goods were already gone, we weren't able to try some but perhaps on our next visit we shall.

Crispy Skin Vodka Cured Ocean Trout ($19)

Smoked sea salt, radish - green salad, poached eggs, citrus yoghurt & light rye toast

The ocean trout was magnificent, Beautifully cured which enhanced the flavour by a mile, it worked really well with the other ingredients. The poached eggs were cooked perfectly and everything just seemed to work really well with each other, a pleasing dish.

(8/10)

Chilli Scrambled Eggs ($17)

Bacon, spring onion, manchego cheese on sourdough

Soft, fluffy and flavoursome, the chilli scrambled eggs are delightful. Though lacking on the chilli side as I couldn't taste any spice, the manchego cheese enhanced the flavour of the eggs which made it satisfying to eat. 

My friend was never a fan of sourdough as it was a challenge for her to cut so that was a downside for this dish, but i'm pretty sure requesting a lighter bread wouldn't be a problem here.

(7/10)

Iced Mocha & Iced Chocolate

I was unable to get the prices of the drinks but it was either between $6.5 - $7.5. Prices towards the pricier side, they were well worth, the way it was presented was great and unique. 

Taste, well that wasn't a problem as it was delightful, the iced chocolate being creamy and had a strong chocolate taste whilst the iced mocha maintained a good level of bitterness.

(7/10) for both

Food - 7.3/10

Ambiance - 8/10

Service - 8/10

Total FoOodie Points - 23.3/30

Cafe Adventures @ Little Rouge

12 Drewery Ln, Melbourne VIC

Phone N/A

7:30am - 6:00pm Weekdays

9:00am - 6:00pm Weekends

If it wasn't for finding out about this place on Zomato, I never would've found out about Little Rouge. I had absolutely no idea that there would even be a cafe in Drewery lane because I thought it was an alleyway for bins and such for restaurants on Swanston.

Little Rouge is a hidden gem located in an hidden alleyway between Little Lonsdale & Lonsdale st, A difficult place to find, it serves some of the finest matcha green tea beverages in Melbourne.

Drewery Lane (Outside Little Rouge)

Interior

Menu Board

The one thing I really like about Little Rouge is the ambiance, from the moment you walk in, you feel like you're at home. From the unique photo collection on the walls, to the sleek shelves with books and a type writer which is actually used by workers, it's definitely a relaxing atmosphere.

Matcha Latte ($4.30)

The Matcha latte had an perfect about of bitterness and wasn't overly sweet which is what I was looking for. It's pretty hard to find a good matcha latte lately as many cafes seem to be doing it wrong.

(7.5/10)

Iced Chocolate ($6.50)

It was good, but not as good as I was hoping it to be. I felt that the iced chocolate wasn't sweet enough nor it had enough of a 'chocolate' taste. 

(6/10)

Iced Matcha ($6.90)

The Iced Matcha was possibly the best Iced Matcha I have ever had, to be fair I've only had a few but Little Rouge's iced matcha was mind-blowing. Smooth, creamy and rich it became one of my favourite drinks to this day.

(9/10)

Almond Croissant ($9)

All the cakes which I was hoping to get were sold out already so the only thing left was the Almond croissant and a few cookies. In the end I decided for the croissant and i didn't regret a single thing. It was so long that I had a croissant that I completely forgot how much I love them.

 Soft and fluffy on the inside, accompanied with a crispy crust with a generous amount of almonds made it a great match with my matcha green tea.

(8/10)

Food - 7.6/10

Ambiance - 9/10

Service - 8/10

Total FoOodie Points - 24.6/30