Humble Rays Carlton — Restaurant in Melbourne

I think I’ve been to Humble Rays enough to give reviews on pretty much 70% of their food menu so here it is!

In a nutshell, it’s good but overrated in my opinion LOL

FOOD: My personal recommendation would have to be the ‘Belly Dancing’. I thought that dish was AMAZING despite some people finding it strange 😂 I think the salty and sweet aspects go amazingly together and I’m surprised how much I love nutella with bacon (definitely gonna experiment at home 🤪) The pancakes were incredibly fluffy, the bacon is cooked to perfection and the maple syrup is oh so sinful but so delicious. LOVE THIS DISH (and if I could order 2, I would :p) Second in place has to go to their famous, Crab Meat Scramble. To be honest, the winning part of this dish is definitely the srirarcha mayo! I love spicy dishes so this definitely gave me the kick I love! The croissant is really amazing and really flaky while not being sickening. The eggs were cooked really well and the portion was great! What I would NOT recommend, is the Panna Cotta Granola. The granola on it’s own is amazing, don’t get me wrong but I for one don’t think granola and panna cotta goes together 😷 For that amount, you’re better off getting the ‘Belly Dancing’, I promise you. But overall, the food at Humble Rays is AMAZING and consistent! It deserves a 5/5 on it’s own and I absolutely adore the food here

SERVICE: Here’s where it threw me off abit. The service here has always been... meh. Servers are abit throw-offish and don’t give a friendly vibe. They seem to not really be bothered and just don’t deliver the notable ‘cafe-friendly’ service that Melbourne cafes are known for.

AMBIENCE: It’s lovely! The vibes are really nice, lighting is great for photos and it’s comfy enough to have a great catch up session!

Humble Rays is known to be Melbourne’s hottest brunch spots and I think their food alone proves it. The consistently deliver amazing food and I’d...

We’ve been a fan of Humble Ray for years, and it’s always a solid choice whenever we’re in the mood for good food and a great atmosphere. The food is consistently delicious, with two standout dishes that have become firm favourites: the “Egg White & Bacon” (tip: ask for the bacon to be crispy for that extra crunch) and the “Crabmeat Scramble,” which is always flavourful and satisfying. Their soda pop drinks are also worth mentioning - refreshing and perfectly fizzy, and their coffee never disappoints, making it a great spot for a casual drink or a more indulgent treat. One thing to note is that there’s always a queue, and at times, you could be waiting up to 45 minutes to get a table. However, with their recent opening of a flagship branch within walking distance, it’s easier to grab a seat now.

The new location - located on 555 Swanston Street - offers a lot more seating and a similar pleasant experience, making it a welcome addition for fans of the cafe.

While the menu remains largely the same, I’ve found that my sweet tooth prefers the menu options here at this second location. The “Blueberry & Lemon Crepe” was absolutely delicious and left a lasting impression. The “Steak and Eggs” dish was overall better taste-wise thanks to the sauce, but something about the texture of the steak being tough to chew did take away from the dish slightly. (We did ask for the meat to be cooked medium rather than medium rare but it seemed rare still.)

This second branch is more “fancy” and pricier than the original cafe, but if you're looking for a more spacious, European-style vibe, it’s definitely worth checking out. Also, this place is dog-friendly too with an...

My friend and I had one of the worst experiences you could have at this place (7/6/2025). She has an egg allergy and therefore ordered a cheese and tomato croissant, as it was not mentioned anywhere that it contained any egg or egg products. So a supposed safe option.

Lo and behold, her croissant comes out SMOTHERED in a seeded mayo, which was discovered after my friend had already taken a big bite. After getting one of the staffs attention and explaining the situation, we received no apology or concern, but still asked if the kitchen could prepare a version without the mayo. The staff member then comes back and tells us the kitchen are “too busy” and couldn’t possibly prepare it.

As a result of my friend eating part of the croissant pre discovery, she was then unwell. When she came back she was asked if she wanted anything else, which she chose not to after the disaster that happened, and proceeded to witness the staff member go back and laugh with another staff member over the situation at the counter. Glad you think my friend having a bad reaction to a food allergy is funny, are you kidding?

The only compensation they gave was not making her pay for the item she was allergic to. We also suggested they list out all ingredients for food items so they can avoid issues like this in the future, and was met with cold blank states.

Horrible service, wouldn’t recommend coming here if you have an allergy, as the staff don’t...