Village Café — Restaurant in Melbourne

Usually busy because of the good food and friendly helpful staff. Food intolerance is catered to, I cannot speak to allergies such as coeliac disease, but gluten, lactose, soy, maltose and fructose all are somewhat problematic and I have no issues eating here. Usual cafe fare with all day breakfast, selection of teas, coffees, smoothies and dessert drinks, cookies, slices, pastries, fruit salad, yoghurt, made to order and heated to order savoury meals. Prices are about average for a Melbourne cafe, serving sizes are generous (oldies sometimes can't finish a main meal if they have a milk based drink). Can be a little loud at peak times such as Sunday lunch when the local churches finish services (all the hard interior surfaces reflect sound). Light filled interior, selection of pavement tables for nicer weather. There is an accessible toilet which looks okay to me but I'm merely a pedestrian. Certainly the tables are a bit crowded together so you might have an issue navigating inside, however I have seen a mobility scooter user awaiting and served by staff just outside the front door with a takeaway coffee, so please call and ask staff regarding accommodations. I don't recall any steps or level changes inside, though the pavement is somewhat sloped around the outside where they do tables, chairs, dog water bowls and umbrellas. I'm not aware of any dog treats being sold or served but you can sit outside with your furry friend, provided they're not going after passers-by. No courtyard, it's part of a larger apartment building. There's various public parking lots around these shops, read signage carefully. I'm not too sure about...

During our recent visit to this café in Balwyn, we encountered a rather unsettling experience that I feel compelled to share. While I understand that the hospitality industry can be fast-paced and demanding, the service we received fell short of the courteous and safe environment one would expect.

Upon our arrival, we were greeted by a staff member who, instead of offering a warm welcome, displayed a demeanor that was both rude and abrupt. This was not only disheartening but also set a tense atmosphere right from the start.

The situation escalated when, without prior warning or consideration for our personal space, the same staff member proceeded to move our table. The manner in which this was done was not only inconsiderate but also reckless, as it nearly resulted in physical harm to my young son who was sitting at the table. Thankfully, an accident was avoided, but the lack of spatial awareness and disregard for customer safety was alarming.

It's crucial for businesses, especially those in the service industry, to prioritize customer experience and safety. Training staff to handle situations with grace and care can make a significant difference in how customers perceive their visit. Unfortunately, our experience at this café in Balwyn was marred by the unwelcoming attitude of the staff and a concerning disregard for safety.

In sharing this review, my hope is that it will be taken as constructive criticism. There's always room for improvement, and addressing these issues could greatly enhance the dining experience for...

Worst cafe experience in Melbourne. No idea why this place has such good reviews!!? We ordered 3 meals and they were all terrible. The bagel came with a smear of cream cheese on one side and a tiny bit of salmon in the centre and 3 capers. Terrible! We sent it back. The bruschetta was similarly bad. The person who ordered it absolutely loves raw onion, but there was so much onion on it she had to pick it all out, which ended up in a pile on her plate. The smoked salmon open sandwich I ordered was served as one piece of bread that someone had thrown a lettuce mix at, then some salmon and a glob of cream cheese on the top, so I had to decontruct the whole thing to remake it, and also request more cream cheese. The wait staff were lovely however when I tried to bring the issues up with the manager and the owner, both had the attitude of 'that's how I like to eat it so you're wrong'. They looked at me with contempt. The owner actually said 'some people might not want cream cheese on one side of their bagel', and was completely unapologetic about everything. The owner is a complete tosser!!!! Avoid this place if you like good food and fair...