Herald Rating:
The menu of this cafe and bakery is an all-day one and features a good range of dishes from mince on toast with a poached egg to crepes, eggs benedict and porridge, along with a good selection of sides to boost your meal. In addition, there are cabinets groaning with homemade pies, salads, savoury goodies and a very impressive
collection of freshly baked sweets and slices.
The look is a bit retro, with an eclectic mix of chairs and tables outside on what used to be the forecourt of this ex-service station and a large communal table inside. There's nothing fancy but it is very welcoming and a place you'd happily relax for an hour or two.
We ordered eggs benedict with bacon ($17.50) from the menu and the superfood salad (haloumi, spinach, pumpkin, seeds) from the cabinet. The eggs benedict was a bit slow to arrive but was worth waiting for with a big helping of bacon and jug of great hollandaise on the side. The salad was light, tasty and a big helping for just $5. For a sweet treat, we had Christmas tree shortbread ($3) and a slice of the best rocky road ($4).
The coffee was spot-on. The long black came with a side jug of hot water to adjust the strength if we liked, while the trim latte was hot, creamy and delicious.
The service was a little bit scattered but kind of suited a laid-back Sunday. The staff are very friendly and didn't mind us taking our time to decide on our order.
Overall, Avondale is well served by Salvation Kitchen with its terrific coffee, relaxed atmosphere and good food. If you're in the neighbourhood, make sure you visit. Time it with a trip to the Sunday Avondale markets just down the road.