Cafe Review: Bendigo Street Milk Bar

Location: 37 Bendigo Street, Burnley
Phone: 03 9428 4196
Cuisine: Coffee, Breakfast/Brunch, Modern Australian
Overall Impression: 8.5/10

Tucked away amongst the leafy, tree lined streets of Richmond, the deceptively named Bendigo Street Milk Bar is anything but a conventional neighbourhood milk bar.

Brimming with nostalgic charm, Bendigo Street Milk Bar is a welcoming café that exudes an air of calm and tranquillity.

The dining area is furnished tastefully in a "country cottage" style, with wooden furniture and scattered pot plants fostering a feeling of warmth and cosiness. This is further reinforced by the friendly and courteous service.

Near the entrance sits a large glass cabinet filled with a host of decadent sweets including brownies, coconut cake, blood orange syrup cake and the café’s most famous delight – homemade lemon slice (with lemons hand-delivered from a neighbour’s tree).

The permanent menu comprises many breakfast favourites, and the ever changing list of specials includes items like Chicken, artichoke and broad bean stew served with chargrilled polenta and Asparagus and broad bean spaghetti with shaved parmesan, lemon, mint and chilli.

Long Macchiato

The coffee is made from Australian-owned, quality-roasted coffee beans from Bean Alliance.

Braised Pork Shoulder Ragu with Parpadelle, Basil and Parmesan

The braised pork shoulder pappardelle was excellent. The pasta was perfectly cooked and al dente and was paired with a generous and hearty braised pork shoulder sauce. This was a simple dish that was perfectly executed - delicious.

Chilli, Coconut and Lemongrass Infused Chicken Salad Topped with Mango Salsa

The chicken salad was crisp and fresh, the chicken breast was tender and juicy and the mango salsa paired well.

Berry Smoothie

The desserts from the counter were of a similar high standard.

Orange Blossom and Pistachio Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

The orange blossom and pistachio cake was a particular standout. The cake was moreish, moist, perfectly balanced and beautifully textured as a result of the ground pistachios.

Lemon Drizzle Cake

The lemon drizzle cake had a delightful tartness and was again, very moist.

Bendigo Street Milk Bar over delivers in every respect. The ambience is relaxed, the service courteous and the food is simple, very well priced and perfectly executed. Who would have thought a "milk bar" would turn out to be the perfect cafe?

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Bendigo Street Milk Bar.