Saint Helen Cafe — Restaurant in Melbourne

They had one of the most innovative menus I’ve seen in a long time when delicious sounding dishes utilising so many interesting ingredients and purports they cook from heart and soul and I truly believe you can taste that. You can also taste the freshness and quality of ingredients. With so many delicious things to chose from in made perfect sense to opt for the sharing board which is very good value considering the generous quantities (three people probably could have eaten it). There were perfectly poached eggs on thick buttered toast, smashed avo on toast topped with feta and tomatoes, light fluffy deliciously seasoned scrambled eggs on toast and a whole heap of yummy sides including goats cheese, potato hash, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, Turkish sausage, beautiful labneh and these amazing middle eastern flavoured cooked beans that were so flavoursome you’ll probably never eat regular baked beans again. It was such a good choice to be able to sample a bit of everything. The granola was a lovely sweet way to end to meal. Not only is the food sensational the atmosphere is so friendly (family run) and homely with the personal family photos part of the decor. The side of the cafe is branded ‘food coffee and people’ and that’s exactly what it’s all about here. Special little touches like the gorgeous design on the takeaway coffee cups keeping with the middle eastern theme to the pretty cushion covers and killer cake cabinet are just the...

We enjoyed a lovely brunch at St Helen’s after taking care of some errands in Hawthorn. Staff were friendly and helpful and the environment is welcoming, clean and comfortable. My husband commented that he liked the different S&P shakers on each table and I agree. I enjoyed a juice of watermelon, apple, and strawberry along with the ‘Good morning Beirut’ - a real stand-out! Delicious flatbread topped with scrambled eggs, sliced sausage and a slice of sesame doused fried halloumi. On the side was zaatar and a delightful salad of labne, tomatoes, olives, cucumber and fresh herbs - a wonderfully tasty and surprising meal. My husband very much enjoyed his less adventurous, but no less delicious eggs, bacon and mushrooms on toast. Topped off with an excellent takeaway strong, almond cappuccino and a yummy Monte Carlo biscuit. My only slight criticism was I did struggle to cut the flatbread with the blunt table knife, which I often find is the case in cafes. All in all a lovely long weekend treat and I feel jealous of their many, clearly...

I just moved to this area so I decided today was the day to have a look at saint Helen. The cafe looks beautiful from the outside and also the inside is rather lovely. However, when I ordered my tea and was asked to pay $5.60 for an English breakfast tea with a little soy milk, I do have to admit, I was surprised. When I noticed the tea was made with twinnings tea bags and delivered in a non compostable, ordinary landfill paper cup (i didn't bring my keep-cup so this was entirely my fault), I was peeved. Fair enough if you want to milk the wealthy soccer mamas and pappis of the area, i understand, the rent yiu have to pay would be rather high but don't forget, there are also a whole lot of students and families of lower income living here, and even the wealthy don't deserve twinnings tea bags in their Sunday...