Top Paddock Cafe — Restaurant in Melbourne

As you will see from my review history, I very rarely write negative ones, but since I have had such great experiences at this place previously, the contrast today really struck me. I’m hoping it was just an anomaly (we all have scattered, chaotic days at work, and maybe this was just one of those!)

I had made a booking for breakfast, and arrived a little early - about six minutes before the booking - and was seated. I was asked straight away if I wanted coffee while I waited for my dining companion, which I gladly accepted. The background noise was incredibly loud, despite the place only being moderately busy. About ten minutes later, my coffee still had not come, and a server came by and asked me if I someone had sat me there. I said yes. She looked confused and asked if I could tell her who it was. I couldn’t recall, but said “I do have a booking though” and she said “oh! Really?” She then said “ok, it was probably me then.” I was a bit thrown, but my friend arrived at that moment and joined me. She ordered a coffee, but we immediately realised that we had to shout to be able to hear each other and she suggested moving outside where it was quieter. It was a bit too cold though, so we flagged down a server and asked if there were heaters and available tables outside. She said she’d ask her manager, disappeared, then came back and said yes. She motioned in a direction outside and we sat ourselves outside, but noticed the heaters weren’t actually on. Another ten minutes went by and our coffees still had not arrived and nobody had come to take our order, so I eventually went back in and found the girl who had re-seated us to check we hadn’t lost our coffees by moving tables, and to ask if the heater could be turned on. She confirmed they were still coming and said she would check with her manager about the heater. A further ten minutes later (30 minutes into our booking), the coffees came (same server) and she proactively reassured us while delivering them that her manager would be out shortly to turn on the heater. We asked if we could get a menu to order and she said “oh, you can just use the QR codes out here (which is different to inside and would have been good to know!). So we ordered, another 15 minutes went by, and when she brought our food, she again said “my manager should be out soon to turn on the heater.” Nobody came to turn on the heater at any point by the time we had finished our meal, so we shivered through our breakfast and although the food was good, we were both quite disappointed by the service. We may have contributed to the delay by moving tables, but I waited 30 minutes for my coffee, my friend waited 20, and we were not told that the only way to order outside was by QR code - we were expecting menus, because we were originally handed some when we were seated inside. The noise inside was truly overwhelming - which of course is not the staff’s fault, but the acoustic design of the place may need some rethinking, because you shouldn’t have to shout at the top of your lungs across a tiny table to have a 1:1 conversation at 10am on a Wednesday with a moderate crowd.

As I said, hoping this was just an anomaly and my next experience is back to the...

Unfortunately my partner and I were both quite disappointed with our experience here today. I believe the Top Paddock Cafe is resting too heavily on its laurels from its previous raving reviews.

We ordered 2 dishes to share; a slow cooked brisket roll and a ricotta hotcake. When the dishes arrived, we were delighted by their presentation, but unfortunately that’s when things go downhill.

The slow cooked brisket roll’s flavour was overwhelmed by a sauce closely akin to what we can only determine as Big Mac sauce. That’s right, from good ol’ Maccas. We both agreed that a restaurant of this calibre should be more innovative and not create dishes with the same flavour profile as an industrial fast food chain, not to mention really overshadowing the reason why this dish is worth its price.

Next up we have the much loved and raved about Ricotta hotcake. This dish came in a presentation that we believe most Melbournians have become accustomed to expecting; Instagram worthy, or eye catching. But upon taking our first bite, I can only describe its taste as a pancake made from typical supermarket bought premix. Whatever it may be, it definitely fell far from our expectations especially since there are numerous past reviews raving about it.

Hopefully this review can be a nudge to the restaurant as a reminder of how it has garnered all those past positive reviews and set them back on the path of innovation and creativity. We hope to have a chance to come back to dishes in line with its overall...

Top Paddock is one of Melbourne’s café icons, and it still delivers every time. It’s stylish, spacious, and buzzing with energy, making it perfect for a weekend brunch or a midweek breakfast catch-up.

The food is consistently excellent. The menu is creative without being pretentious, and everything is beautifully presented. Dishes like the blueberry and ricotta hotcake, the chilli scrambled eggs, and the fresh salads are standouts, but honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything here. Portions are generous, the produce is top quality, and you leave feeling satisfied without being weighed down.

The coffee is just as strong as the food — smooth, rich, and always consistent, whether you’re dining in or grabbing a takeaway. It’s clear the baristas here know their craft, and it makes Top Paddock a reliable choice for coffee lovers.

The space itself is modern and open, with high ceilings, lots of natural light, and a buzz that feels lively but not overwhelming. Even when it’s busy (and it often is), the service is quick, friendly, and professional.

What makes Top Paddock special is the combination of quality and consistency. It’s the kind of café you can take anyone to — friends, family, or colleagues — and know they’ll be impressed.

For anyone in Melbourne looking for one of the best breakfast and brunch spots, Top Paddock is a must. Great food, excellent coffee, and a buzzing atmosphere that captures exactly what a Melbourne...