Merchant & Maker — Restaurant in Melbourne

This probably should be the best contemporary cafe in this area. There’s the makings but it’s not there yet on what I experienced today.

Merchant and Maker looks deceptively humble from the street nestled in a small shopping strip. It’s actually a spacious cafe with ample inside and outside seating. And, it’s located directly across from the breach. It’s nicely fitted out in a contemporary way with brightness coming from the predominant white decor. There was lovely music on today. Someone has a really good playlist. Overall there’s a lovely atmosphere at this cafe and it’s a very nice place to sit a spell.

I received a lovely greeting on arrival. Good menu here, but things are a little expensive, $2-3 above city prices in some cases. $6 to add extras to my brekkie eggs seemed a bit OTT to me.

I had a gorgeous long black with cold milk on the side and it was very nicely presented on a board. Very very good coffee. Best coffee in the immediate area on the peninsula.

I chose poached eggs on sourdough with beans and bacon. The toasted sourdough was too dry, the eggs not quite runny enough to offset the dryness. Another earlier reviewer had mentioned the dryness of the bread and they were right. The bread needs to softened in another way as parts of it were tough to eat. The dish was unseasoned too. I had to ask for salt and pepper which wasn’t available on any table. Absolutely beautiful bacon, and superbly cooked. Best bacon I’ve tasted for a while, with gorgeous crisp edges. It was the best part of the dish. The beans were over sweetened. Like seriously too too sweet. It was a shame as they otherwise had good flavour. It was also a tiny serve for $6. So, overall the meal was not quite there for me.

Service was lovely throughout. It has the makings but overall this cafe...

A few friends and I went here for lunch today. It was okay. Once we sat down in the restrictive chairs, we were told that the chef needed to get going, so we were asked to order right then and there. We explained to the waitress that we had never been there before, and we were feeling pretty pressured. I think she realised, maybe she wasn’t giving us the best first impression. We kindly asked her if maybe it was better we go somewhere else, as we wanted to sit, have a few drinks and enjoy each other’s company. (Apparently the chef had an emergency, so we genuinely didn't want to hold her up.) The waitress insisted we stay, and explained that the kitchen needed to close, but otherwise there was no rush.

After we ordered our foods, we questioned the wine on the menu, as it only states the four options, with no description or region. (I believe the options were Prosecco, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir). The staff did not know anything about the wine, stating, “ It’s just a normal Prosecco. That’s the brand.” (Say what?!) Finally after two requests, she eventually went and looked at the wine bottle in the fridge and came back with, “It is Brown Brothers”. (At $13 a glass and $48 a bottle, you would expect maybe something from a local Winery.)

Our meals arrived. They were okay but nothing fancy and they certainly did not match the price.

Soon after our food arrived, the music went off, the chef left, and we were serenaded by the sounds of coins being counted, and glassware being stacked. There was so much potential but with one thing after the next raising concern, we confidently crossed this venue off our list. We were in an out in less than an hour.

Based on today’s experience, this is certainly not a venue I...

From the moment I spotted the big vertical glass windows out front, I had a feeling this place was going to be good. And wow—was it busy! Tables outside were packed, and inside wasn’t far behind. But instead of chaos, there was a warm hum of conversation, like a secret breakfast club where everyone was in on the best-kept foodie secret.

The menu had all the usual coffee suspects—lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites—but then, BAM! Dirty chai, affogato, organic teas, shakes, smoothies, and even beer and wine for those who like to start their mornings with a little extra oomph! (Not judging, just impressed.)

I braced myself for a long wait, but to my delight, the food arrived quickly. My brekky roll? A masterpiece—bacon, cheese, hash brown, fried eggs, tomato relish, and aioli all snuggled in a soft brioche bun. But then I looked over at my friend’s plate—Eggs Benedict with poached eggs, smashed avo, wilted baby spinach, hollandaise, mushrooms, and sourdough. Food envy activated.

The coffee? Good. No complaints from me! Even my tiny breakfast companion (a.k.a. the baby at our table) was happily making his way through scrambled eggs and toast like a mini food critic in the making.

Also, let’s talk about the vibe—kid-friendly, soft background music, and a sleek black-and-white colour scheme that made everything feel fresh and inviting. And just when I thought it couldn’t get better, Maria showed up like a breakfast fairy with a surprise vanilla slice. For brekky! Legends do exist.

All in all, a fantastic spot with great food, lovely service, and an atmosphere that makes you want to linger just a little longer....