Coffee Basics Das Kaffeehaus — Restaurant in Victoria

Revised review: Second time here in 2 days. For breakfast this time on a weekday, it was quite busy with a nice buzz. Wait staff were attentive without being pushy and food arrived promptly. Breakfast Bagel was excellent and the Cheese Kransky one of the best we've had, delicious! Also liked the Quark strudel which was a decent size, enough for two to share. We'll definitely make a point of coming again next time we are in Castlemaine!

First time here: Loved this place! A must see in Castlemaine in the Mill precinct which is full of artists, wineries, Coffee Roasters, Cheese, smoked and preserved meats, a brewery etc etc. The Kaffehaus has a lovely atmosphere with lots of interesting Austrian memorabilia in the room and beautiful pleated sofa nooks all along one wall. Reminiscent of the over the top lush opulence of the Sacher Hotels restaurant in Innsbruck with a good dose of humour and decay! Waiters dress in the very common style you would see in Vienna or Innsbruck. Food is typical Austro-Hungarian with Goulashes, Sausages and Schnitzels, chicken and the most authentic, succulent deliciousness of actual veal Shnitzel! The Terrine was delicious although it would have been nice to see fermented rather than pickled cucumbers with it. The Debreciner Sausage and the Weiner Schnitzel (Veal) were excellent and my son loved his chicken schnitzel sandwich. The Debreceny was well spiced and the Veal was beautifully tender and tasty. Portion sizes were a bit small for a main, but the prices were reasonable for a lunch. A good choice of imported and local (next door!) Beers and some interesting soft drinks. The sides you had with the sausages, especially the horseradish were not authentic. In Austria only a freshly grated horseradish would be served with any wurst and this has an intense fiery burn, similar to fresh wasabi. Bottled horseradish would not be served as it's much too bland. Loved our coffees from the Roaster in the adjacent building and both our Apple Strudel and Sacher Torte were great. The Strudel was excellent, better than I've had in most places in Austria and Hungary. Deliciously Appeley, with just the right amount of spice, not too sweet, and a slightly crispy pastry, rather than soggy, which is very hard to do! The Sacher Torte was Ok. We've had the original Sacher Torte (from the Sacher Hotel in Innsbruck where it originates from), only a few months ago. Your version is too sweet, the Apricot Jam doesn't have the intense, reduced Apricot flavour and the chocolate icing consistency is too thin and watery. Still tasty though! Wait staff were excellent without being intrusive. Will definitely be back as the retro decayed ambiance and delicious foods are well worth...

I've really tried to like this place. So much so that I've been there on four or five occasions over the last couple of years. I've never had the best experience but my recent experiences have made it almost impossible for me to recommend. The establishment is lovely but can get really noisy when busy. The younger staff members have also been very kind and accommodating, but some of the older staff who've been there for a while can be quite prickly and seemingly arrogant - dare not complain as you may well be met with contempt! The food is 'different' but flavours not very interesting. If you like bland meat, potato and bread then by all means... if not, opt for the goulash, but if you do ask for it to come out without a thick layer or oil/fat floating on top. Stay well clear of smoked salmon bagel - its taste and consistency is like that of a memory foam pillow. I would speak about the schnitzel, sausage, sauerkraut and potato salad... but in all honestly I have very little memory of these passing my lips... Austrian breakfast is decent, as are the Kaiser rolls. Make sure to ask for your coffee hot (as it's not) and for sugar, salt and pepper to be brought to your table before your drink/meal arrives - trust me... Oh and butter! If you're ordering bread ask for butter as it may come without and you'll need to wait to eat your meal as try to get someone's attention to ask for it. I would put the omission of these things down to 'a busy day' but the repetition has me realise that it's the way they do things and it's the customers job to keep asking for these provisions... quite annoying when you're there to catch up with your dining companions and are instead focused on having these basic things brought to the table. I can imagine constantly being asked for butter etc would also be annoying to the staff who already seem run off their feet! I haven't tried the desserts as I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but they do look nice... perhaps I'll have afternoon tea there one day and have my faith redeemed? As a local I would really like to like this place. Sixth time's a...

The coffee and decor are on point at this Austrian themed cafe, and great care has gone into crafting an ‘authentic’ coffee experience. Customer service is good also as we are greeted at the door on arrival, and farewelled when leaving too. The menu is confusing, however, with most of the offerings in German, and many a bit dated.

For a coffee roaster cafe the place could do with more of a focus on specialty coffee offerings, and preparation methods. The coffee menu reads like something from a bygone era, with a heavy focus on whipped cream and sweeteners of one kind or another, added to the beverage. My wife’s hot chocolate was overly sweet and the marzipan flavour overwhelmed the beverage.

My espresso with a side of cream was better, as the espresso was delicious and expertly made. The coffee had hints of Amaretti and desiccated coconut, with a perfect balance between sweetness and acidity.

My chocolate cake however was dry, and the layer of marzipan overpowering.

Still, this is a place to come back to, and one visit probably does not do justice to the depth and breadth of the menu. And no review would be complete without mentioning the atmosphere and the ambiance which are both outstanding, and the attention to detail in the fixtures and fittings is impressive, with the overall aesthetic cohesive and easy on the eye.

Recommended despite the menu being dated and in need...