St James Richmond — Restaurant in Melbourne

Taking advantage of the beautiful sunny Thursday this week, I attended St. James in Richmond. A large cafe with a industrial interior, filled in with exposed brick walls and stylish furniture. It’s large window front allowed the natural light to really liven up the entire space.

From the minute I walked in, the staff were extremely accommodating and lovely to chat to. I started the brunch off with an almond milk latte, which was lovely and creamy. The coffee was smooth and rich. While my brunch partner went for the refreshing iced tea beverage.

Looking through the menu, there was a large variety of choice. I also noticed that most of the dishes can be adapted to be Paleo, Gluten free or any other dietary need, if they weren’t already. I think this is a unique and poignant selling point for this cafe. It made it extremely easy to eat any dish on their delicious menu.

My brunch partner and I decided to go for three dishes. I, personally, went for the Terracotta Eggs, which were baked in Napoli sauce, chorizo, garden vegetables and organic goats feta. I got this with Gluten free toast on the side instead of the sourdough. It was one of the best egg dishes I have ever tasted. The vegetables were extremely fresh, packed with flavour and not too heavy on the stomach. These were balanced out perfectly with the cheese and chorizo. I also loved the fresh parsley and dill that was placed on top, as it really elevated the freshness of the dish.

My partner decided on the Blue swimmer crab omelette. This came with asian herbs, caramelised onion, aged parmesan and a stunning house made chilli jam. She could not stop taking about how good it was. It was a refreshing change from the usual omelette and was presented with perfect execution.

Together we shared the Pancakes. I am still stunned that these were paleo and gluten free. They tasted too good. The banana pancakes were served with coconut yogurt, banana ice - cream, compote berries, roasted almonds, fresh strawberries and a organic maple syrup. They had the perfect balance of sweet and fresh elements. The freshness of the strawberries complemented the sweet berry compote to create a dish full of flavour notes and depth. I would highly recommend these. They are not your average pancakes, I promise.

Overall, I was presented with amazing customer service from all staff and had a wonderful experience in this beautifully decorated cafe on the busy bridge road in Richmond. Do check it out if you have the chance. I for sure, will be...

I can’t say enough good things about St James in Richmond! From the moment we stepped in, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality by the absolutely amazing staff. Their kindness and friendliness truly enhanced our dining experience.

The cafe itself has such a vibrant and inviting atmosphere, with a fantastic mural on the wall that adds a unique charm to the space. We especially appreciated the outdoor seating area, which was perfect for enjoying the beautiful weather on a hot day.

Now, onto the food – it was an absolute delight! The Melbourne Sunrise smoothie ($11) was a refreshing burst of flavors, with the perfect balance of mango, raspberries, and orange juice. And let’s talk about the Hot Cakes ($25) – not only were they delicious and flavorful, but they were also a feast for the eyes with their beautifully presented apple-shaped ice cream topping.

But the true star of the show was the Corn Fritters ($25). These fritters were a flavor explosion, with the perfect combination of corn and Manchego cheese. The accompaniments, including the beetroot hummus, whipped ricotta, and seasoned avocado, elevated the dish to another level. My husband was so enamored with his plate that he was reluctant to share – and I (almost) don’t blame him!

What we’ve had: ☕️ Almond Latte 🥤 Melbourne Sunrise smoothie ($11) – Mango, Raspberries, Orange Juice 🥞 Hot Cakes ($25) – Fluffy Buttermilk Hotcakes, Poached Pear, Rose & Saffron Syrup, Crumble, Seasonal Fruits, Macerated Berries, Mango Gelato 🌽 Corn Fritters ($25) – Corn & Manchego Fritters, Beetroot Hummus, Whipped Ricotta, Seasoned Avocado, Green Leaves, Rice & Grain Salad, Whipped Goat’s Cheese, Jalapenos, Dukkah, Sumac, Poached Egg

Overall, our experience at St James was nothing short of exceptional. The food was divine, the coffee was great, the atmosphere was inviting, and the service was top-notch. We can’t wait to return for another culinary adventure and indulge in more of their...

There was skill and dedication present from the Barista, I enjoyed my coffee very much. It was tasty, of perfect temperature and as an added bonus delivered with a pour resulting in a delicate tulip, difficult to perfect when making a strong soy latte (I’ll take that always; I’m the problem here).

The encounter was ‘service with a smile’- perhaps if the smile had been genuine a follow up would of occurred and an issue may have been addressed, sadly in a near empty venue, a check in was not considered, so I sat waiting and hoping for someone to observe my discontent for what I consider too long and too simple a fix…

I ordered scrambled eggs on toast with hollandaise… usually I ask for hot sauce but decided my hangover would enjoy a more refined list of ingredients and settled on lesser condiments… What I received, I’m still not sure of. It wasn’t quite butter, but I finger tasted and tried with all of my might to arrive at any conclusion suggesting hollandaise. I’ll never know that the lard I consumed was on this occasion… It was ultimately gross and incorrect.

I did not enjoy my time spent. I did not enjoy my meal. I did not enjoy waiting patiently for some form of acknowledgment, in a near empty venue. I did not enjoy waiting to have happily resolved the issue or improve the problem so I could feel content in my purchase and outing of the morning to be ignored…

Instead of someone who served me my meal observing the hollandaise looked wrong and intercepting, it was served, then it wasn’t checked on, I literally saved it for someone to take back to the kitchen when I was acknowledged next but I was ignored once the plate was delivered to my table.

This wasn’t an issue of preference, it was straight up not edible. I waited long and hard with patience to be cared for, a time that didn’t occur. Not at the table, nor the till… So I walked away, with a painful feeling in my tummy and an desperate need for...