Crate Specialty Coffee — Restaurant in Melbourne

A really great little (6 or 7 table) place, in a lovely little spot smack-bang in the middle of suburbia, with practically no other shops nearby.

I can't review the food without instantly commenting on 'The Reuben'. Which was there. Then It was gone. Then It was back. Then It was gone again. But apparently It will return in winter. Never have I looked forward to the colder months more, for This Sandwich is truly food from the heavens I don't believe in, with succulent, perfectly slow cooked corned beef, a generous pile of sauerkraut, oddles of melting cheese and a bang of their variant of Russian sauce. There might be other stuff in there, but It's like the box in Pulp Fiction - you're not really supposed to know what's inside, only that it's important. This Sandwich is awesome from Its beginning to Its last mouthful.

The B&E roll is equally awesome. In fact probaly the best one within a million paces. Even the toasted sandwiches are great, with only 3 filings to choose from.

We're not coffee drinkers, but I'm told it's really quite good. We drink the chai, and it's one of the better looseleaf options around. I like it so much I wish they sold Starbucks-sized gallons of it.

The owners are great people - very friendly, and they play good...

I stopped by before reading through the comments and mixed reviews, so here are my completely unbiased thoughts.

Coffee The coffee is solid and reliable. You get exactly what you expect when you order. It is not groundbreaking but it is definitely not disappointing either. Think of it as your dependable, everyday cup. If I lived within walking distance I would probably come here often for my caffeine fix.

Food The food is slightly above average. It is not a meal that will blow you away but it delivers well enough. The avocado toast with bacon and other breakfast staples taste as good as they would if you prepared them at home. My only suggestion would be to toast the bread for another minute to add a little more crunch. When I visited the café was busy and the kitchen was run by just one person, so it makes sense that the food was being prepared quickly.

Atmosphere The space had a lively energy with people coming and going. The staff were friendly even with the rush and it felt like a place that locals genuinely enjoy. This is the kind of café you keep in mind when you want something consistent, convenient and straightforward without...

After crate has been sold in 2023, the new service and food have gone exponentially down hill. It takes exceptionally long for take away coffees to be made, there is often missed orders and the expectation to come and collect your take away coffee from inside, while you have toddlers sitting down is not a great experience (ie it’s a lot of effort to get the kids and take them inside to get the coffees, but you can’t leave them outside as the seating is next to a busy road).

Food offerings have gone completely down hill. The other day the offering of sweet muffins included chocolate and pea (yes in the same muffin) and other weird flavour combinations have been concocted over the past few weeks. It’s as if they are just throwing in plate scraps from previous customers to the muffin mixture.

Cost has risen dramatically. For a home made cinnamon donut, the cost used to be 3.50. Now they are circa $6.5 (EACH) and it’s clear the size has shrunk also. I understand inflation, but this is ludicrous!

As a local resident, I am so disappointed that my local cafe has been completely changed for the worse. I miss Bea! And...