Mae. — Restaurant in Melbourne

In all my brunch experiences over more than a decade, I happen to step into this place based on Instagram reviews and old reviews from Google. We ordered the Steak and Eggs, Truffle Mushrooms with a rosti, and a cup of "chai latte" and strawberry milkshake. The hopes were flying high, the ambience was good, a bit chilly but we were lucky to find a space heater nearby that we could turn on. Boy were we surprised by the Steak and Eggs at the start, unseasoned not a pinch of salt or pepper to save the bloody cow that died to feed us. Well I reached out on the table searching for some, to find that they play hide and seek with the condiments and you have to ask the gentleman at the counter with the secret password to get them. After the toughest of tough steak, the eggs were heavenly and the rosti was falling apart, not because it was cooked to perfection. But it did not have enough binder to keep it in shape, but kudos for trying. The pan fried streaky bacon was easier to cut than the shoe of a steak we had, it was very very well done. The chilli jam on the other hand, felt like out of the jar Harrisa Jam. But it went well with the rosti.

The hollandaise sauce we ordered was the runniest, mustard overload ever, but since there was nothing to lighten the bland earthy unseasoned Truffle Mushrooms it went well to make it palatable. Oh we did not forget to play Cluedo in trying to find the confit garlic that was mentioned in the menu, but was murdered off before the plate reached our table.

The "Chai latte" was an absolute disaster of a tea powdery, milky mess. The milk and the powder did not have enough energy in them to mix well with each other. The milkshake on the other hand was a standard affair strawberry syrup and milk beaten to an inch of its existence to stay together and enough sugar to enjoy it.

It is a good place to take pictures: Yes Is it a good place to eat: probably not Is it a good place to test if you still have a working tongue: Definitely yes.

So conclusions, you can change the business type to medical testing centre. The old chef during the opening days might have done a good job bringing American brunch to Australia, but the people who are currently there have dropped the ball, and don't care if they serve pathetic food for customers.

I will come back in around 6 months to test if they have improved, I want them to succeed especially in this market. But only if they want...

Catching up with friends and enjoying a good time at @maemalverneast. The cafe exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere with lots natural light. The brunch menu offers a diverse range of dishes, with extensive selection of drinks from coffee to vibrant smoothies.

What We Ordered:

STEAK & EGG 🍳🥩 Served with a sunny-side-up egg, bacon, potato rosti, and chili jam. The steak was incredibly tender and juicy, and the sambal was very authentic and tasty! It paired perfectly with the crispy potato rosti. Highly recommended!😍

WAFFLE🧇🍓🫐 Topped with fresh berries, passionfruit curd, and meringue, the balance between the tanginess of the passionfruit and the sweetness of the meringue is refreshing and addictive.

CHILI SCRAMBLE 🍳🌭 Served on roti bread with pork and fennel sausage, topped with a touch of chili jam and fried onions. A fusion creation that blends classic elements with a hint of Asian flavor. The fennel sausage adds an extra note of flavor.

DRINKS☕️🍵 Matcha Latte Almond Latte Classic Latte (🤩Eyeing the vibrant color of the acai smoothies💜NEXT TIME!!)

Kudos to the chef and the chili jam (sambal)! The in-house chili jam was really good! It has the right umami, along with a nice kick of spiciness and sweetness!

Thanks for inviting😊

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Mae Cafe is truly a hidden gem! We recently had the pleasure of visiting this delightful spot in Malvern East, and it surpassed our expectations in every way. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by a bright, airy space adorned with tasteful decor. Warm hospitality and attentive service from Michaela and Jake made us feel completely at home. The brunch menu was fantastic, featuring a range of mouthwatering dishes to satisfy every palate. We opted for the chilli scrambled eggs and smashed avocado, both of which were incredibly tasty. The coffee here is outstanding -beautifully presented and bursting with flavour. Their selection of fresh juices and smoothies is equally impressive, offering vibrant blends that are refreshing and delicious. We sampled the green juice, which was delightful, along with matcha and a flat white coffee. All in all, Mae Cafe is a must-visit for anyone in search of a wonderful dining experience paired with a welcoming atmosphere. We can’t wait to visit this place again in the...