Rudimentary — Restaurant in Melbourne

Rudimentary is such a great example of how to combine architecture, interior design, sustainability and the Aussie café culture.

On my way from Melbourne to Geelong, I stopped at Rudimentary for a coffee. Their team has created a beautiful space - simple, yet amazingly stylish.

They started with an idea to transform an unused lot of land into something of significance for the area. The building is constructed from three 40ft shipping containers and one 20ft and was designed to be relocated if the need arises.

Sustainability was a key focus on the build and business from the very beginning. The use of sustainable materials, rainwater capture, passive cooling and heating, double-glazing, insulation, building relocation, are some of the features.

The spacious garden forms a critical role in tying the whole business together and creates a place of relaxation and wonder. The brief was to create a place that would form as a reprieve from the chaos of the surrounding area as well as create a space that would challenge your mind and provide sustenance for the restaurant.

In a nutshell, this was the perfect space to enjoy a coffee in a relaxed environment before hitting the highway. I first went for an elegant batch brew from Colombia roasted by Small Batch: Anibal Sanchez, Pink Bourbon from La Argentina, Huila in Colombia. In the cup I enjoyed a high sweetness of golden raisin with a refreshing acidity, flavors of dried fruits and cantaloupe. The body was bold, the mouthfeel syrupy, and I especially loved the long-lasting sweet and clean finish.

Before leaving, I went for a second coffee, a typical Australian flat white: it was just super sweet, smooth, and deliciously creamy. Again and again, I am thrilled about the Australian dairy quality. I believe the dairy quality is part of the success story of espresso-based milk beverages...

I was hesitant to come here as I’d had an average experience in the past, but decided I’d give it another go. Came for brunch on a Saturday morning with three friends. Service was prompt and most of the staff were friendly and attentive, but one staff member was preoccupied with chatting to her friend and mucked up a couple of our coffee orders. It was no big deal as they apologised and fixed this quickly. My friends ordered various savoury dishes (mushrooms, eggs on toast, extras) and thoroughly enjoyed their meals. These dishes were reasonably priced ($20-$25) for the amount of food received. I ordered the sago for $18. Given the cost and the fact that it was listed amongst the large breakfast dishes on the menu, I was expecting it to be a bowl of sago. Unfortunately, when it arrived, it was served in a small cup (so small that we all sat there stunned for a few seconds when the waitress brought it to the table). So while my friends ate their large, filling meals, I had a few spoons of sago pudding (for $18!!). Giving credit where credit’s due, the sago was absolutely delicious (which was almost more annoying because it really made me wish it was bigger!), but it was just such a tiny, ridiculous serving in comparison to the other meals. You’d think there’d be some consistency in serving size for similar priced items on a menu. After I’d paid the bill and left, I realised they’d also charged us for an extra coffee (the order they’d mucked up at the start). So not only was I charged $5.50 extra for a coffee I didn’t get, but when I got home, I made myself a piece of toast because I was...

As a young family with a 5-month-old baby and a friend who is 27 weeks pregnant, we thought Rudimentary would be a nice spot to catch up with friends, especially since two of us had travelled over 90 minutes to get there. Unfortunately, it turned into a disappointing (and slightly absurd) experience.

When we arrived, we politely asked staff if they could join a couple of tables together inside to fit five people and a baby. The forecast said rain was on the way, so sitting outside wasn’t really going to work. The response? A vague “maybe later” and that we’d have to wait about 30 minutes. Fair enough, we gave it time.

But as the rain actually arrived, and tables inside became available, we asked again. The answer? Still no. We were told it would be “inconvenient” for them to push a couple of tables together. Meanwhile, we stood inside looking at multiple empty tables that could have easily worked. At this point, it felt less like hospitality and more like a Napoleon Dynamite-themed dress rehearsal where customer service wasn’t in the script.

We weren’t asking for much, just the chance to sit inside, out of the rain, share a meal, and catch up with friends we hadn’t seen in ages. Instead, we got a strong reminder that hospitality isn’t about Instagram-ready lattes or “looking cool”, it’s about people. Without customers, there is no business.

Sadly, this café missed that completely. Hopefully the owners read this and remember: good service is timeless, and no amount of quirky décor makes up for making paying customers...