Pango — Restaurant in Melbourne

Went in for breakfast yesterday, for my wife's birthday. Had a pretty good time and good food. The atmosphere and music was almost a bit too loud. There was unfortunately one thing that we didn't like. There was 9 of us there. My 10 year old granddaughter ordered 2 crumpets (with butter & vegimite) as she's doesn't go for "fancy food" (her usual wording) 🙂. Anyway she had to wait a little, but when her crumpets arrived, after a few minutes she told her grandmother that she couldn't eat her crumpets because they were too hard and burnt underneath. This turned out to be true. Anyway, we weren't going to complain, but my sister who suggested we go there (as she's been there a few times before), said "It's okay, I'll tell them. I'm sure they'll change it." But my granddaughter was not willing to try the crumpets again, fearing they'd come back the same. So we asked the waiter if instead of crumpets, could she just have the French Toast, and he said, "Okay." Now this is where we felt a bit let down and almost offended. It took approximately 20 minutes for the French Toast to arrive and by this time we'd all finished our meals, so my granddaughter had to quickly eat hers. To us, it seemed like the chef/cook purposefully made us wait for having the "gaul" to complain. It really did feel this way. We're a group of people that are all small business owners and therefore we know how clients/customers should be treated. The chef should have made the French Toast immediately, knowing that the table of customers was already eating their food, but that one of them was now without a plate, and especially because that one person was a child. The chef should have made sure that the French Toast got there within 5 to 10 mind max. Also, there was no apology (for the lengthy wait) from the waiter either when the food/plate finally arrived. It really did seem as though we were being "taught a lesson" by the staff, not to complain, or that wedd made an unreasonable complaint. Otherwise the other food, drinks, coffees and sweets were great. Your chef/cook and waiter/s are letting you down, almost sabotaging your business. Bad staff can do this. And because of this experience, I'm not sure if any of us will...

A few years ago, Pango was one of those places that sat comfortably in the “good, not great” category. Sure, the food was decent, and the service was fine, but it didn’t exactly leave us singing its praises. Fast forward to today, and it’s a whole new story—one with a punchline worth savouring.

Under the current stewardship, Pango has risen to the occasion like a soufflé in a properly preheated oven. These days, smiles and competence in hospitality are about as rare as parking spaces in Melbourne, but here, they’ve got both in spades. The team serves dishes with a warmth that feels like a hug—if hugs were plated with precision.

Let’s talk about the food. Oh, the food! The chilli scramble is the undeniable hero of the menu—a fiery, flavorsome delight that demands a standing ovation. When my partner asked for a menu tweak, the kitchen didn’t just oblige; they delivered with the kind of flair that makes you want to tip your hat and say, “Well played.”

But if you think the food is the star, wait until you meet the coffee. Or more specifically, the “baristas.” Why the quotation marks, you ask? Because in Melbourne, anyone who so much as glances at a coffee machine slaps on the title “barista.” Yet, let’s face it—99% of them are merely milk scalders in disguise.

At Pango, however, coffee nirvana is a standard, no matter who’s behind the machine. The milk is steamed to perfection every single time—smooth, creamy, and free of the lava-like bitterness that plagues lesser cafes. The temperature? Perfect. Consistently. (Yes, we timed it. Okay, we didn’t—but we could’ve, and it would still be flawless.)

In short, Pango has pulled off a delicious 180. We’re already planning our return visit next week. Keep those smiles coming, and to the “baristas,” stay perfect—you’ve officially...

The taste of the food was fine and it would only take a few minor changes to elevate this to a five star review. Unfortunately the toast was hard and very difficult to cut with the cutlery provided. To the point food was sliding around and falling off the plate. The bacon was not freshly cooked and was too dry. The potato rosti was yum. A little overcooked and crispy however I would prefer it like this rather than soggy. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the hollandaise sauce was delicious. The option of drinks small. I was after a coke and the staff recommended a cola which I was more than happy with. Then the food came out and I had to ask for the drink as they had forgotten. Only to be told “I’ll have to see if we have it in stock” why recommend something that’s not in stock. I saw the same staff member drop one of the wooden spoons from the salt dishes on the ground, pick it up, carry it to the little station and put the spoon right back in the salt again. So gross! Particularly considering it was dropped out on the...