Once upon a time I was completely ignorant of the amazingness that is baked eggs. All this changed when I first visited a hidden gem in South Melbourne – although, Let Me Be Frank is now well known and can be humming along while packed to the rafters. Being adventurous, I decided to try the ‘eggs purgatory’ – beautifully runny poached eggs in a fiery tomato sugo atop of a bed of spinach and served with some dangerously delicious mushrooms. And so my mission was born.

2014 has been dedicated to finding Melbourne’s Best Baked Eggs, and yes, I have developed my own hashtag of #MBBE. I have journeyed from little local cafes all the way to Daylesford (yes, I do realize this is out of the Melbourne geographic range; I also attempted to find some Spanish baked eggs in Spain but my foreign quest was unsuccessful). I have met some wonderful people from many walks of life and explored parts of Melbourne that need to have the spotlight shone upon them. Thanks to one and all who have humoured me and joined me for baked eggs adventures or have given me the heads up on what café to check out next.

I have had numerous requests for a Melbourne’s Best Baked Eggs list, so I have decided to compile my 2014 list to help other adventurous souls discover the wonder that is baked eggs. However, a few disclaimers to the list – naturally it has been a highly biased mission based entirely on my opinion and tastebuds. The list is based on a number of factors –

 

1. Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Amount and components – one needs a decent amount of sugo and a killer spice combination definitely takes the experience to the next level
2. Eggs: Are the eggs cooked but still runny?
3. Sides: Can I order spinach and mushrooms as a bare minimum? Bonus points for ability to order beetroot, kale, spinach etc
4. Dish: The type of dish the baked eggs are served in. I have found that sometimes if served in a metal pan, the baked eggs can taste slightly metallic. My favourite is the French cassoulet dish or clay ramekin
5. Menu alterations (if needed): Given the paleo aspect, do the baked eggs come without cheese (generally feta), chorizo (not always sure of source), or beans? Or is it possible to have them served without dairy, gluten or legumes?
6. Service: The service received at the café – we are so blessed in Melbourne to have an abundance of top notch cafes, service makes all the difference

 

Bonus points were also awarded if:

• You can order veggie juices, especially cold-pressed
• Almond milk is on the menu
• The café was wheelchair and lycra friendly
• Quality of the coffee and tea

 

The year has seen an evolution to determine the factors above, hence if I was true to my research background I would be re-testing all the cafes I have visited this year to not only check-off against the checklist criteria but also to allow insight into the reliability of one baked-eggs to the next. However, in a bid to share some baked eggs wisdom, we will have to incorporate some memory recall bias. Another disclaimer is the south-east side bias – while I have visited a few cafes found in the North, being the south-east resident that I am, cafes within Melbourne’s South Eastern suburbs have been visited to a greater extant than the North or West. Ok, enough of disclaimers, lets get down to business.

 

Top 10 Baked Egg’s in Melbourne

Oscar Cooper’s

Details: 160 Greville Street, Prahran VIC 3181

• Menu name: ‘Shakshuka’ middle eastern baked eggs, spiced vegetable, chickpea & turtle bean (the first time I went in it was Italian style; this version was with silverbeet, veggies and spices, and therefore more paleo friendly)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: One of the best – beautiful combination; made friends with one of the owners, Paul, and now enjoy ordering an ‘extra’ side of this sauce.
• Eggs: Perfect
• Sides: great mushrooms
• Dish: iron baking dish
• Menu alterations (if needed): technically not during busy periods so probably head during the week, dietary concerns are catered for though
• Service: This is something that sets Oscar Cooper’s apart – love having a chat with Paul whenever I head in.
• Bonus points / comments:  Almond Milk, veggie juice, wheelchair friendly, coffee (small batch; rotating single origins) and beautiful teas, fireplace in winter

Patch café

Details: 1/32 Bendigo Street, Richmond Victoria 3121

• Menu name: Baked eggs- Tomato, chipotle, and chorizo
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: could have had about 3 times the amount!
• Eggs: perfect
• Sides: loved the spinach/silverbeet combo, mushrooms also amazing
• Dish: cassoulet
• Menu alterations (if needed): able to make dairy and gluten free but beans cooked in the tomato sugo
• Service: friendly and up for a chat
• Bonus points / comments: 100% WC friendly and cyclist friendly, 100% paleo, almond milk, cold-pressed juices, coconut milk, coffee by code black. It does get a bit cold during winter even with blankets so wear warm clothes during the colder months.

Feast of Merit

Details: 117 Swan St, Richmond VIC

• Menu name: Shakshouka – tomato, chili peppers, eggs, silverbeet, tahini labneh (has now been updated to a summer menu of….)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: One of the best I have had – brilliant combo of spices
• Eggs: Good
• Sides: amazing mushrooms and seasonal winter greens; the greens were not available on the summer menu
• Dish: Claypot
• Menu alterations (if needed): catered for on first occasion, beans built into sauce on second occasion so not quite paleo
• Service: Very friendly even during peak periods
• Bonus points / comments:  Tea (Larsen & Thompson) and good coffee with beans sourced from St Ali, cyclist and wheelchair friendly. Ran out of luck on the second visit – all smoothies and juices were already sold out at 10am. However, did enjoy a health tonic of ginger, honey and lemon!

Green park Dining

Details: 815 Nicholson St, Carlton North, VIC 3054

• Menu name: Baked eggs with lamb meurgeuz, (labne), harissa and coriander
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Slight twist with lamb meurgeuz
• Eggs: deceiving but perfectly cooked in the middle.
• Sides: some of the best mushrooms I have ever had, spinach J
• Dish: metal pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): easily accommodated
• Service: Very welcoming
• Bonus points / comments: Both cyclist and wheelie friendly cafe sitting amidst the park. These guys serve home-made almond milk, spinach, coffee with tasting notes, high end teas plus the regulars, and a daily detox juice.

Bowery to Williamsberg

Details: 16 Oliver Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000

• Menu name: Shakshouka baked eggs with (haloumi, crumbed eggplant), broccoli (and corn chips)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: wow, very different and delicious with a smoky flavour and awesome combination of herbs
  • Eggs: have never seen 3 eggs before and all beautifully cooked!
  • Sides: mushrooms and broccoli
  • Dish: small French cassoulet
  • Menu alterations (if needed): easily accommodated
  • Service: super friendly
  • Bonus points / comments: Not quite wheelchair accessible given the cobbled lane and steps; possible to sit outside on sunny day though.

ISIT cafe

Details: 11 Izett St, Prahran 3181

• Menu name: Shakshuka – Middle Eastern style baked eggs in a spicy tomato sauce, za’atar, coriander, extra virgin olive oil (plus non-paleo items)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Great – scrumptious spice combo
• Eggs: Perfect
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: ?
• Menu alterations (if needed): handled well
• Service: This is something that sets Oscar Cooper’s apart – love having a chat with Paul whenever I head in.
• Bonus points / comments:  Situated in a little town house, ISIT café completes the experience with the roaring (gas) fire during winter, delicious red veggie juice, and serves Ducale Coffee and Chamellia Organica Tea. A few steps out the front to entirely wheelchair friendly.

Cornerstore & Co

Details: 75 Ludstone St  Hampton, VIC 3188

• Description: Daily special was a Tuscan baked eggs – aubergine, a thick tomato sugo, and olives. The menu regular is baked eggs with onion, celery, tomato Eggs: Perfect
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Lots of a delicious sauce with spices
• Eggs: Beautiful
• Sides: thyme mushrooms, spinach, avo
• Dish: claypot
• Menu alterations (if needed): no worries
• Service: Welcoming
• Bonus points / comments: Massive shout out to Nicky St. Clair for making me aware one that one of The Hurt Box Cycle Coaching regular cafe’s served baked eggs. Cornerstore Co is very cycle friendly and highly wheelchair accessible with a gorgeous courtyard out the back. The portions are extremely generous, and the team take their coffee and tea seriously – my white peony tea came with three different timers (weak, medium, and strong). They also have a rotating juice special.

Hyde’n’seek

Details: 6 Yertchuk Avenue, Ashwood, Victoria

• Menu name: Moroccan eggs – two poached eggs in a tomato, capsicum sauce (with a side of hummus and Turkish bread)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Good amount and combo
• Eggs: Perfect
• Sides: mushrooms, spinach and olives J
• Dish: claypot
• Menu alterations (if needed): practically a ‘build-my-own’ baked eggs = awesome!
• Service: Very friendly, personal and welcoming
• Bonus points / comments:  Veggies juices, lots of different teas (think Afghan Green tea spiced with cardamon), very cyclist friendly given the sign down the bottom of the street pointing you in the right direction attached to a white bike with flowers in the basket. The name is a play on their location, it is very much in the middle of residential houses. A great place to escape from the daily grind.

Glen Iris Pantry

Details: 106 Glen Iris Rd, Glen Iris VIC 3146

• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Absolutely loved it – came with whole chunks of roasted garlic; ordered more of it!
• Eggs: nice and runny
• Sides: spinach and mushrooms J
• Dish: cassoulet
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: Welcoming
• Bonus points / comments:  Open fire, couches = winter heaven.

Mr Lawrence

Details: 92 Beach St, Port Melbourne

• Menu name: Shakshuka baked eggs, tomato and roast pepper sauce
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: One of the best – the sugo had been slow cooked with a lot of love.
• Eggs: nice and runny
• Sides: Nil.
• Dish: Ceramic bowl
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: Welcoming
• Bonus points / comments:  Head to Mr Lawrence for a no-frills, KISS baked-eggs that are delicious. Only open for brunch Sat-Sun 10am-12pm. Wheelie and cyclist friendly.

Top 20 Baked Eggs in Melbourne

The Herbert Café

Details: 41 Arthurton Rd, Northcote

• Menu name: Baked eggs in spicy tomato & onion shakshuka w/ chorizo, (feta & ciabatta)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: deliciously spicy
  • Eggs: could have been slightly less cooked
  • Sides: loved my non-culinary matching addition of a beetroot/walnut side as mushrooms/spinach not available
  • Dish: small French cassoulet
  • Menu alterations (if needed): easily accommodated
  • Service: Very welcoming
  • Bonus points / comments: Was slightly/extremely devastated they were out of their signature pistachio milk but these guys also serve kombucha, Padre coffee, and are wheelie and lycra friendly

Einstein 251′s

Details: 251 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield, Victoria

• Menu name: ‘The Atom’ – traditional middle eastern eggs served in a spicy tomato sauce (plus bread)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Delicious
• Eggs: Perfect
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: iron pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): above and beyond – altered mushrooms to be gluten free and very allergy aware
• Service: Friendly and accommodating
• Bonus points / comments:  What sets Einstein’s 251 apart is their interactive menu with pull-outs and quirky menu item names (I think this has been tamed down a little since I first went). Coffee by small batch roasters, T2 tea, fresh mint tea, and fruit and veggie juice.

The Counter

Details: 96 Auburn Road, Hawthorn Melbourne 3122

• Menu name: Shakshouka Moroccan baked eggs w. (Merguez sausage, Meredith goat’s cheese) & pistachio dukkah
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Awesome amount of Napoli, loved the dukkah on top and ordered some chili to spice things up
• Eggs: beautifully cooked
• Sides: garlic mushrooms were delicious!
• Dish: claypot
• Menu alterations (if needed): handled well
• Service: Kudos for handling the tricky patron next to us
• Bonus points / comments: Did have expectations for The Counter given all the heads up on Instagram. Good news – it didn’t disappoint! Tiny little café so can get cosy with the person next to you. Head outside to courtyard on a nice day. Coffee supreme, almond milk company, tea corporation tea.

Dimitri’s Feast

Details: 141 Swan St, Richmond

• Menu name: Baked Eggs w. sweet & sour roasted peppers (& black pudding)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Would love to take the confit cherry tomato sauce with basil and chili from the dish ‘Maria’s eggs’ and combine this with the baked eggs; would be a match made in heaven
• Eggs: sublime
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: claypot
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: super friendly and helped to find the warmest table in the house during Melbourne’s harsh winter
• Bonus points / comments:  Enjoyed my ‘wild greek mountain’ tea (tsai tou vounou or Sheppard’s tea) from tea corporation teas; it was slightly similar to green tea with a sweet, floral and earthy taste. Allpress espresso.  It also known for being good for your health and well-being, and is backed by research (yes, academic nerd)!!Not 100% wheelchair friendly, a few steps.

Spout

Details: 48 Glen Eira Rd, Ripponlea VIC 3185

• Menu name: ‘Shakshuka’ – Middle Eastern Eggs served in an iron pan with spiced stewed tomato sauce, (grilled haloumi cheese) and paprika
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Delicious
• Eggs: Perfect
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: iron pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): catered for
• Service: Friendly
• Bonus points / comments:  Tea (Larsen & Thompson), Coffee (allpress), cyclist friendly

Axil

Details: 322 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122

• Menu name: Baked eggs in a spicy roasted capsicum sauce with dukkah (and goat’s cheese feta/multigrain)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: A little on the lower-portion side but enjoyed the chili and dukkah
• Eggs: slightly overcooked
• Sides: spinach and mushrooms J
• Dish: metal pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): no fuss
• Service: Staff are friendly and the place has a nice humming vibe
• Bonus points / comments: Axil is another Melbourne Cafe institution and you will have to wait to get in here; naturally coffee is top notch. Wheelchair and cyclist friendly

Milk ‘n’ Honey

Details: 792 Glen Huntley Road, Caulfield South

• Menu name: Moroccan shakshuka, poached eggs in spicy tomato sauce (with pita and hummus)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: a bit of chili spice in a ‘goodly-amount’ of sugo
• Eggs: Perfect
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: metal pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: a bit frosty to start with but then warmed up significantly once my passionate-foodie side shone through
• Bonus points / comments:  Loved drinking out of an old honey pot for this whopper of a beetroot, celery, ginger, and apple juice. Brilliant tea menu, cute little café

Turquoise

Details: 451 Hawthorn Rd, Caulfield South

• Menu name: Eggplant (and feta) shakshuka – two free range eggs baked in a rich tomato sugo
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: loved the inclusion of eggplant in the ‘goodly amount’ of tomato sugo
• Eggs: Good
• Sides: thyme mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: metal pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): easily accommodated
• Service: Very genuine service
• Bonus points / comments:  Larsen and Thompson tea, padre coffee, very cyclist friendly and wheelchair friendly, loved al the little knick-knacks fitted out in this turquoise-themed café.

Mr Brightside

Details: 9/993 N Rd, Murrumbeena VIC 3163

• Menu name: Shakshouka – spicy tomato sauce, poached eggs, leafy greens (and crumbed fetta)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli:
• Eggs: hard
• Sides: rosemary mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: claypot
• Menu alterations (if needed): no worries during the week
• Service: Amazing (may have started before I arrived on social media and continued afterwards)
• Bonus points / comments:  veggie and super juices, T2 loose leaf, supreme coffee, wheelie and cyclist friendly. Very busy suburban café.

Third wave

 Details: 30 Cato St, Prahran VIC

• Menu name: Spicy Ratatouille Baked Eggs – A slightly spicy mix of eggplant, zucchini, red peppers, tomatoes, Herbes de Provence and other tasty morsels baked (plus cheese and chorizo) OR (!!) Shakshuka – middle eastern baked eggs : Eggs baked in a spiced and richly flavoured tomato and red pepper sauce, sprinkled with basil (plus fetta, toast)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Can’t go wrong with either combo
• Eggs: Good
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: clay ramekin
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: Unfortunately one of the reasons I haven’t been back even though the baked eggs were delicious
• Bonus points / comments:  Paleo-themed café.

 

Top 30 Baked Eggs in Melbourne:

Petty Officer

Details: 113 Victoria Ave Albert Park VIC 3206

• Menu name: Baked eggs in roasted tomato & red pepper sugo with hazelnut dukkah (and fetta/toast)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Beautiful
• Eggs: slightly overcooked
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: iron pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: Friendly and relaxed, although a bit forgotten on occasion
• Bonus points / comments:  Dukkah finished off a baked eggs really well, Larsen & Thompson tea, Axil coffee, beautifully sun-filled café

 Two Lost Boys

Details: 20/2 Maddock Street , Windsor

• Menu name: Baked eggs- French style white beans, eggs (topped with goats cheese served with rustic sourdough)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: an awesome amount but needed the chili option to spice it up
• Eggs: delightful
• Sides: spinach and mushrooms
• Dish: cassoulet
• Menu alterations (if needed): able to make dairy and gluten free but beans cooked in the tomato sugo
• Service: fantastic and very welcoming
• Bonus points / comments: An ability to escape from the outside world . Monk bhodi dharma coffee, wheelie friendly.

Gas Eatery and Supplies

Details: 253 Coventry St, South Melbourne VIC 3205

• Menu name: Middle eastern eggs served with spiced stewed tomato sauce and paprika (plus non-paleo items)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Amazing amount!
• Eggs: Great
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: Iron pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): no worries – even managed to have a chat about paleo
• Service: Good
• Bonus points / comments:  From memory, bathrooms are upstairs so not WC friendly, cyclist friendly.

Little Henri

Details: 850 High Street, Thornbury 3071

• Menu name: Baked eggs w/ tomato, parsley + capers
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: I am greedy and needed more
• Eggs: Good
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: metal dish
• Menu alterations (if needed): catered for
• Service: Very friendly even during peak periods
• Bonus points / comments:  Tea (Larsen & Thompson) and good coffee, cyclist friendly, from memory wheelchair friendly.

The Ormonde Provedore

Details: 746 North Rd  Ormond, VIC 3204

• Menu name: Shakshuka – Israeli baked eggs, spicy tomato ragu, parsley, (labneh, ciabatta)
• Eggs: Perfect
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: A beautifully spicy sugo but would like to see more of it
• Eggs: have had both perfectly cooked and slightly on the hard side on different occasions
• Sides: mushrooms but no spinach; did add a roast pumpkin, quinoa, leek & pinenut gluten-free hash (great combo)
• Dish: metal pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): easily accommodated
• Service: Very welcoming
• Bonus points / comments: A regular coffee stop after training for The Hurt Box cycle group, this café is very cyclist friendly. Enjoyed a very generous sized juice of apple, carrot and ginger.

Woodfrog Bakery

Details: 108 Barkly Street, St. Kilda,  Victoria 3182

• Menu name: Baked eggs in spicy tomato Napoli with peppers (and freshly baked bread/ feta)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: a brilliant amount
  • Eggs: beautiful
  • Sides: Nil.
  • Dish: metal pan
  • Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
  • Service: Stern yet friendly
  • Bonus points / comments: Apart from bakery goods, baked eggs are the only item on the menu at Woodfrog Bakery; just the way it should be!!

 Eden Espresso

Details: 121 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern VIC 3144

• Menu name: Middle Eastern Eggs – 2 Poached eggs, served in a spiced hearty tomato concasse, topped (w pan-fried haloumi), chopped spring onions (and a side of crusty Turkish bread)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: A goodly amount! Would probably add some chili to the dish if possible.
• Eggs: perfect
• Sides: spinach and mushrooms J
• Dish: metal pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): no fuss
• Service: It’s always nice when you know the owner of the café; Jed makes people feel welcome from the word go until they are saying adieu
• Bonus points / comments: A down-to-earth cafe with coffee made from 5 Senses beans – these guys know how to make a good cup. Veggie juice available, organic loose-leaf teas.

Ernest V

Details: 432 Glenhuntly Rd, Elsternwick

• Menu name: A fiery Shakshuka baked eggs with capsicum/bell peppers, chili in a tomato napoli sauce
• Eggs: Perfect
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: A beautifully spicy sugo but would like to see more of it
• Eggs: Perfect
• Sides: thyme mushrooms, spinach, avo
• Dish: metal pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): easily accommodated
• Service: Very welcoming
• Bonus points / comments: Both cycling and wheelchair friendly, courtyard out the back, build your own veggie juice.

Montague Park Foodstore

Details: 406 Park Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205

• Menu name: Baked ‘Shakshuka’ Eggs w/ spiced tomato & pepper sauce (and fetta/toast)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Delicious – nice and hot!
• Eggs: Good
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: ramekin
• Menu alterations (if needed): pretty well handled
• Service: Good
• Bonus points / comments:  Cyclist friendly, beautiful to sit outside on a sunny day, Pardre coffee, Larsen & Thompson tea

Dood328

Details: 328 Victoria Street, Brunswick VIC 3056

• Menu name: Vegetarian eggs – 2 poached free range eggs w/ Napoli sauce, pumpkin, grilled Spanish onions, spiced cauliflower, mushroom, tomato, roasted capsicum (served with multigrain)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: simple and not quite enough to begin with so asked for more!
• Eggs: Slightly over cooked
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: metal pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: Very laid-back friendly staff with a chilled vibe and brilliant music – was not in any way, shape or form pretentious (quite refreshing).
• Bonus points / comments:  Got extremely excited about the amount of veggies in this dish, even added some artichokes to it. Nutrient heaven. This made up for the long wait! 2 steps out front/into bathroom – not quite wheelchair friendly but lycra friendly.

 

Other baked eggs places to explore in Melbourne & Victoria (work your way down when exploring!):

Jerry Joy

Details: 128 Mansfield Street, Thornbury

• Menu name: Baked Eggs – Organic Baked Eggs in Tomato Sugo w` (Chorizo & Fetta)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Delicious
• Eggs: Beautiful
• Sides: cauliflower salad special!
• Dish: cast iron pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): more than accommodating
• Service: Brilliant
• Comments: Dietary requirements well catered for, loved sitting outside during a warm-spring day.

Porgie and Mr Jones

 Details: 291 Auburn Road Hawthorn Vic 3122

• Menu name: Dukkah eggs – poached w/ spinach, roasted red pepper + tomato, hazelnut dukkah (unfortunately a change to their online menu meant not strictly baked eggs)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Delicious but wanted more
• Eggs: slightly overcooked
• Sides: thyme roasted mushrooms and slow roasted tomatoes
• Dish: iron pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): no variations on weekends/public holidays
• Service: Friendly and on the ball
• Bonus points / comments:  A Melbourne institution, you need to get here before 10am if you don’t want to wait for a table; home of the first ‘smashed avo’ dish; Finn cold pressed organic root juices J, Wheelchair friendly (Note – cash only; ATM is next door)

Piano Piano

 Details: 126C Nicholson St, Melbourne VIC 3057

• Menu name: Shakshuka baked eggs with chilli, capsicum, and a tomato Napoli
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Yummo
• Eggs: one egg perfect, the other a bit overcooked
• Sides: green leaf salad, mushrooms, pickled veggies, tahini
• Dish: clay pot
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: Cannot recommend the staff at Piano Piano enough – super friendly, willing to alter accommodate dietary requests (even with the tiny kitchen!), and were seen given the little ones high fives in the midst of a very busy morning
• Bonus points / comments:  Mostly wheelchair friendly (one little step at the front)

Barry’s

Details: 85 High St, Northcote 3070

• Menu name: Hotpot eggs, chili, peppers, (labna), cucumber and tomato salsa,
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Needed a lot more!
• Eggs: Nice
• Sides:  mushroom and thyme duxelle, wilted kale!
• Dish: Bowl
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated even though it was busy
• Service: Friendly and pumping
• Comments: 5 senses coffee, specialty teas by Storm in a teacup, cold pressed-juices. Not quite a baked eggs but very enjoyable!

Mart 130

Details: 107a Canterbury Rd, Middle Park VIC 3206

• Menu name: Baked braise of chorizo, red capsicum, smoked paprika, tomatoes, queso garrotxa topped with poached eggs
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Wanted a whole lot more!
• Eggs: Good
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: iron pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): no alterations to specific dishes given small kitchen but could remove cheese from the eggs
• Service: Head to Mart 130 for a chat with Richard – he makes you feel very welcome!
• Bonus points / comments:  Massively cyclist friendly, few ramps/steps to get up, Geneovese coffee

LOCO

Details: 436 Glen Huntley Road, Elsternwick

• Menu name: Shakshouka  – onions, tomato, herbs and spices cooked into a salsa, two eggs poached inside
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Good
• Eggs: Good
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: metal pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: Played musical chairs to get away from the smokers and then the door draft; handled with aplomb
• Bonus points / comments:  Cyclist and reasonably wheelchair friendly, nice little-local neighbourhood café 

Hot Honey

Details: 40/42 Armstrong St, Middle Park VIC 3206

• Menu name: Middle eastern eggs – two poached eggs in a rich napoli sauce with chickpeas, dukka and a mint and coriander green chili salsa
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Good
• Eggs: Good
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: iron pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): pretty well handled but can’t remove the chickpeas
• Service: Good
• Bonus points / comments:  Cyclist friendly, amazing café to escape from the rest of the world, brilliant during winter next to the open fire. 

The Baker’s wife

Details: 414 Burke Road  Camberwell, VIC 3124

• Menu name: (rotating special) The Shakshuka – free range eggs poached in a specialty tomato base, herbs (& feta & chorizo/salami)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Good but struggled to pick around all the small bits of salami
• Eggs: good
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach
• Dish: clay pot
• Menu alterations (if needed): able to leave out the feta and bread
• Service: Always nice bumping into a previous training buddy!
• Bonus points / comments:  Wheelie friendly. Quite a busy café.

Rosstown Project

Details: 768 Glenhuntley Rd, Caulfield South

• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: very, very sweet – probably because of a tomato kasundi base
• Eggs: good
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: almost a quiche dish
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: Friendly, just need to work on offering coffee/tea if waiting for a friend
• Bonus points / comments:  Almond milk, kombucha, juices!

Café on Warren

Details: 83-85 Warren Rd, Parkdale

• Menu name: Baked eggs w/ cherry tomato, roasted capsicum (plus non-paleo items)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Good but needed a little more spice
• Eggs: Good
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: clay ramekin
• Menu alterations (if needed): well handled
• Service: Friendly

 Bluebird Espresso

Details: 134 Johnston St, Collingwood VIC 3066

• Menu name: Baked eggs, spicy chorizo, tomato sugo & (feta w toasted sourdough)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Lots of chorizo and not enough sugo
• Eggs: Overcooked. However, my two friends who also had baked eggs had perfectly cooked eggs
• Sides: mushrooms but no spinach/greens
• Dish: metal pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): it did cause a few dramas to be able to leave off the feta/bread
• Service: a mixed bag – some staff were lovely and others needed a hug
• Bonus points / comments: Had heard great things about Bluebird from a variety of sources; I think I need to learn from past experience not to get my hopes up too high! Did love the bike paraphernalia scattered around.

Foostcray Milkng Station

Details: 35 Bunbury St,  Footscray, VIC 3011

• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Good
• Eggs: Nice
• Sides: spinach and mushrooms
• Dish:
• Menu alterations (if needed): brilliant!
• Service: Polished

 

Larder

Details: 57A Vincent St, Daylesford Victoria 3460

• Menu name: HUEVOS LA FLAMENCA (df/gf optional) –  Spanish baked eggs, ‘Istra’ chorizo, tomato, (potato and toast)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: too much potato to get a decent amount
• Eggs: rubbery and overcooked
• Sides: mushrooms but no spinach
• Dish: claypot
• Menu alterations (if needed): okay but couldn’t alter baked-eggs given Napoli sauce came standard with potato/chorizo
• Service: ok
• Bonus points / comments:  Coffee supreme and rotating single origins, amazing tea menu, fresh cold-pressed juice

 Strozzi

Details: 333 Collins St, Melbourne

• Menu name: Capri Baked Eggs – Baked eggs with caramelised onion, tomato sugo, (bocconcini), capers with a tomato and basil salad
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: changes throughout the year; the first time I went there was none (I know, very shock and horror).
• Eggs: rubbery and overcooked
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach, loved the caramelised onion J
• Dish: small cast-iron pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: special thanks to the staff for answering all my culinary questions about Middle-Eastern cuisine and the warm welcome received
• Bonus points / comments:  If you have a disability sticker, you can get a park right outside in the 2hr bay, otherwise parking could be interesting given CBD location. Had a bit of a chuckled with confusion over my white tea request and being served some English breakfast with milk.

Hardware Societe

 Details: 120 Hardware Street, Melbourne

• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: okay
• Eggs: slightly overcooked
• Sides: a few mushrooms and capsicum pieces but no sides available
• Dish: French cassolouet dish
• Menu alterations (if needed): not handled or accepted given small kitchen
• Service: Friendly but firm
• Bonus points / comments:  Was expecting great things of this Melbourne institution and my hopes were high. Given the dietary requests (dairy/gluten free), the eggs came with potato/gluten free bread. Thankful for the thought. I did enjoy my tea and coffee experience complete with tea cosy for the tea pot.

Birdman Eating

Details: 238 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065

• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: None – pumpkin/chickpea base
• Eggs: overcooked
• Sides: spinach and mushrooms
• Dish: cast iron pan
• Menu alterations (if needed): not accommodated
• Service: Needs improvement

Oasis Bakery

Details: 9/993 N Rd, Murrumbeena VIC 3163

• Tomato Sugo/Napoli:
• Eggs: hard
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: (plastic?) clay dish
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: A word of warning – this is a bakery/supermarket and not a café per se. So you order and pay at the counter, and expect your buzzer to go off a number of times as coffee/tea/food becomes available. A number of trips were needed up to the counter; interesting in cleats.
• Bonus points / comments:  Had heard wonderful things about the food – very disappointed that the dish was lukewarm and not very enjoyable.

 

Baked eggs no longer on the menu (why?!!!)

Brunswick Food Store

Details: 29 Weston St, Brunswick VIC 3056

• Menu name: Middle-Eastern Baked Eggs w. beef, tomato, baby spinach and eggplant (and cheese/bread)
• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Beautiful blend of spices; mince-meat tomato sugo made for a different experience – not quite enough tomato sugo for me but enjoyed mixing it up
• Eggs: soft but not runny
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: French cassoulet
• Menu alterations (if needed): easy
• Service: special thanks to the staff for answering all my culinary questions about Middle-Eastern cuisine and the warm welcome received
• Bonus points / comments:  Unfortunately I don’t think the baked eggs are on the menu any more (maybe they will come back during winter?!). Enjoyed an espresso made from a Woolloomoloo blend, roasted onsite – was nice and smooth, and packed a beautiful punch.

Bosque Eatery

Details: 114 Ormond Rd Elwood 3184

• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: needed more (greedy I know) and came with chickpeas
• Eggs: Good
• Sides: delicious mushrooms and spinach, enjoyed the watercress too J
• Dish: clay bowl
• Menu alterations (if needed): accommodated
• Service: relaxed
• Comments: Did enjoy the GF pumpkin bread; a sister version from Las Chickas café in Balaclava. There is a slight paleo twist on some menu items too! Cycling and wheelchair friendly.

 Boneshaker Espresso

Details: 90-92 Inkerman Street, St Kilda

 

• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Nice and simple
• Eggs: Good
• Sides: mushrooms and spinach J
• Dish: clay ramekin
• Menu alterations (if needed): amazing (see comments)
• Service: Above and beyond
• Comments: Was absolutely touched by the service at BoneShaker Espresso – when I said I saw the Baked Eggs on their menu (and subsequently found out they were no longer available), the chef made them up especially for me! Could have eaten double the amount (athlete…) but the gesture was extremely touching. Naturally cyclist friendly given its a cafe in a cycling shop.

Urban Provedore

Details: 231 TOORAK RD, STH YARRA, VIC 3141

• Tomato Sugo/Napoli: Unfortunately rather lacking
• Eggs: nice and runny
• Sides: mushrooms, spinach/greens not available
• Dish: cast iron pot
• Menu alterations (if needed): able to remove cheese, beans inbuilt into the dish
• Service: lovely, was able to escape hustle and bustle of Toorak Rd. Unfortunately fresh juices hadn’t arrived yet. Baked eggs are no longer on the menu.