Monarch Cakes — Restaurant in Melbourne

Good food but APPALLING service.

I was really excited to bring cousins to one of my favourite cake shops in their first visit to Australia.

Typically I’d order takeaway, but today I wanted to let my guests have the experience of dining in. As I was making the order, my cousin’s girlfriend grabbed a small table with three seats, and pulled an extra seat from the next table for my partner who was joining us later. The staff member taking my order, after clarifying that there were 4 of us, ushered us to the larger table for 4, which was labelled as reserved. I asked if she was sure about it - we didn’t make a reservation - she said “yes, we usually reserve it for larger groups”. We happily obliged.

I proceeded to make an order of two slices of cakes to be shared amongst the 4 of us, as we’d had lunch and even at the best of times I can’t finish a whole slice myself. Upon hearing my order, she looked at me incredulously and said “two cakes, that’s it?”, to which I said yes. She went on and explained that the table is usually reserved for larger groups. Now, at this stage there were a number of things that could have been done, such as offering us to move back to the smaller table, or change the order to takeaway. That didn’t happen. She took my payment of $19 (for two slices of cake!) and we sat down.

Our orders arrived quickly, but in a passive-aggressive manner. Our plates and forks were hastily dropped on the table.

We got the message that we weren’t welcomed, finished our dessert in a haste and left the shop within 10 mins of being served.

Shame. The food were delightful but the treatment has got to be the absolute worst I’d experienced in all of Australia....

EDIT 3: updated my review as this does seem to be a freak accident that they are addressing (though it happened to me twice) and I don't want to bring down this places good reputation.

EDIT 2: they seem to be investigating the seed issue and taking it seriously.

EDIT: Unfortunately I've had to change my review. Chipped my tooth on a seed in the plum cake. Have to go to dentist. The first time I mentioned the seeds, staff seemed unphased. But for it to happen again is unacceptable. I will no longer eat here and there needs to be a warning of this risk. Also the fly issue in the store is a health and safety hazard. Nothing is protected from flies. The final issue is the inconsistency in freshness.

It's nice to live in the past, but when it's at the sacrifice of safety, it's not worth it.

OLD REVIEW:

There's the rest of the cake shops on Acland, then there's the best. Seriously, the others are tourist traps that use cheap ingredients and fake cream. Monarch is a thing of beauty, I hope it's captured in a time capsule and never dies. There not flashy, new or gimmicky, they are tried and tested classic pastries, recipes over 80 years old. And I'm unable to find anything particularly bad there. The cherry crumble wasn't entirely satisfying, I desired more bite to the cherries, I really wanted more chunks of cherries. But that's personal taste. Outside of that it's as good as these kinds of pastries get.

Chocolate Koohlhoupf and Vanilla Custard are some of my favourites, The plum slice is also moist and nice.

The chocolate cake was too alcoholic for me. So everything isn't...

Monarch Cakes

The pastries at Monarch Cakes are truly exceptional.

The salted egg tart, in particular, is a standout and has become a personal favorite.

Despite knowing that I have lunch shortly, I can’t resist the temptation to stop by for a cup of hot chocolate paired with one of these delectable tarts.

The combination is simply irresistible and leaves a lasting impression.

Adjacent to the shop, there is a beautifully decorated graffiti wall that provides an excellent backdrop for taking stunning photographs, making it an ideal spot for a relaxing break.

This visit to Melbourne has been greatly enhanced by the delightful experience at Monarch Cakes, making me eager to return to this vibrant city.

The dedication and craftsmanship that go into their pastries are evident in every bite, and the fact that everything is handmade adds a special touch.

The service here is also noteworthy for its warmth and friendliness, making every visit feel welcoming and memorable.

I highly recommend everyone to visit Monarch Cakes.

Take advantage of the photo opportunities, savor the exquisite handmade pastries, and enjoy a steaming cup of coffee.

Immerse yourself in the quintessential Melbourne experience and discover why this place is...