Dilly Dally Coffee Cafe — Restaurant in Halifax

Let me begin with, there's a reason for the 4/5 and not 5/5. In the past I would have very easily given Dilly Dally a 5/5. It has some of the best cafe food in the city, customer service is always excellent, the environment is clean and stylish.

The 'but' you are anticipating comes from the fact they now have a rule where you are not allowed to use your laptop from 9-3. On paper, limiting, or banning in this case, laptop use makes sense. The perception is laptop users might spend $3 on a coffee and then stay there all day. Those kind of users are irritating to me, and I'm a writer. However in reality, many retirees and locals that live in the area, always spend the same amount of time chatting away. In fact it can be worse. They come in as large groups of say five, each buying a coffee and spending several hours taking up what valuable space exists. But there's no ban or warning on that.

Other cafe's, instead of banning laptops, simply create a system where, after an hour of laptop use, the person needs to purchase another drink or more food to get a new password for the internet that's on their receipt. System's like that should have occurred before banning customers.

When Yelp first started, I was a paid reviewer for them, reviewing hundreds of coffee shops and businesses. This trend of starting to ban laptops, regardless of the size of the coffee shop, always leads to a lack of customers. You're not just banning a person's use for a laptop, you're banning the person 'cause they'll just go somewhere else to work, recommend to their friends to go to the other coffee shop and so on. I remember a coffee shop on Argyle street that started banning laptops just at lunch time. No problem. That makes sense. But then the owner banned it in sections of the rather large coffee shop to the point where there was one bench that had laptops. Suddenly they weren't making enough money so they had to change their business to evening dining. The place is now closed.

I spend $20 every time I'm at a coffee shop for 1-2 hours. And I'm not the exception. And like I said, have you seen other customers who will go there without a laptop and stay for hours? They exist in droves. This banning takes away from the communal, loving of your local patrons that coffee shops need to cultivate. Dilly Dally isn't alone. Cabin Coffee has started to limit seating to one hour regardless of a laptop. I'm not a fan of that either, but at least it's not laptop dependent. I think so long as you're spending money hourly, we should be good. The longest running coffee shops have done that. Otherwise you're relying on the quality of your food and drink and in Halifax, where the options are plenty, that's not a strong bet.

Regardless of them losing me and anyone with a laptop as a customer, if you're the type who want to get in and get out or spend less than an hour, or spend five hours without a laptop, hanging with your friends, this is the place for you. There's a reason this place almost got a 5/5. Their food is excellent, drinks as well, options are unique and vast and customer service is great. I always tipped 20% and I suggest you do as well because you won't find better staff...

‘Hospitality chose me’.

Every so often I have the pleasure of meeting café owners who do it for love. It’s something that runs deep. As deep as the oceans crossed by those migrants who made Melbourne their home post world war two. Melissa Glentis is the granddaughter of Greek natives who set sail many decade ago, in hope of a better life. They paved the way for the generations to come, and raised the bar for what being hospitable actually is. I can always tell when a person is speaking from the heart, when tears well in their eyes upon questioning their heritage. It comes as no surprise though. Walking into Dilly Daly in South Yarra, I was immediately stuck by the warmth created by staff members who didn’t hesitate to ask me how my day was. It’s rather ironic that a venue with such a playful name has richness in meaning and significance. Melissa was raised in a family of hospitality veterans; and though she tried her hand at Law and Commerce; she had a calling that could not be denied. From the age of 10, she learnt the value of showing love by feeding the mouths of those around her, and her home was always full of people. It was this environment in which she learnt the art of being hospitable. A dying art, may I add. So today, as the owner of Dilly Daly, Melissa treats every single person who walks through her door, as though they are walking into her living room. It’s a feeling I hold in high regard, and crave daily.

While Dilly Daly may be a play on words, considering the venue is located on Daly Street, it’s also a reflection of Melissa’s prowess in being the Queen of Procrastination. Thankfully, she didn’t stall in her efforts to take the reins at this South Yarra café, and has nurtured what today is a true representation of Melbourne’s café culture. With its clean Scandi design, and fresh brunch menu, Dilly Daly offers a sanctuary for both locals and visitors from afar. Not only are they licensed (with a list of cocktails that include the espresso martini, mimosa, and breakfast martini), but they also do dinner sessions with Chef Petros Dellidis, who offers a 5 course menu featuring seasonal produce sourced from local farmers, and inspired by his Greek heritage.

All day breakfast favourites include the DD choc chip Hotcakes topped with berry syrup , poached pear, and Nutella injection’; and the ‘Stacks on, Rosti’ which are potato Rosti sandwiches filled with smashed avocado and bacon, and topped with poached egg and pico de gallo.

Coffee is sourced from Vertue Coffee Roasters, with the Sabretooth blend for milk based espresso, and rotating singles for black coffee. I was treated to a filter brew using the Peruvian Bosques Verdes, from San Ignacio. This washed lot had sweet plum tones, with green apple acidity. The perfect accompaniment to the Healthy Bowl with a vegan twist, loaded with Edamame, Bok Choy, Cauli Rice, and a tamarind...

While it may be a bit slow when you get food, it’s absolutely always worth the wait. They make everything fresh to order, and can even make things still taste great when you have food sensitivities or allergies! Today I was starving and stopped by for lunch. I’m so glad I did! As I waited for my order, I enjoyed looking around at the funky decor of dinousaurs, mini pumpkins, and watching the sat work so well together in such a small space! They all seemed genuinely happy to be there and equally happy to serve customers! I watched as they greeted customers -and one another- with big smiles, jokes, and open arms as if we were all part of an ongoing kitchen party where they do ask your name, and treat you like the kind of neighbours who eventually become great friends :) I smiled as I watched a green and black feathered bird picking up food scraps by the open door to the back deck. I smiled again at the lady who came in with a baby on her front, and a dog by her side- I can’t tell if I imagined it or not; but it seemed like this customer was served with warmth and extra efficiency so she could get in and out in a timely manner. To tip it all off, the food was amazing! The lactose free London fog was so smooth and perfect drinking temperature after a few gentle sips. My crispy Mac and cheese was to die for! I was floored by the beautiful plating - even though it got it to go! The roasted tomatoes were so fresh and juicy - the whole dish was perfectly executed from the flavours to the textures and beyond! The quinoa salad bowl was such a nice filling and hearty veggie packed surprise too! I found braised Brussels sprouts, carrots, turnip, broccoli, and these amazing candied pecans that gave it a nice sweet/salty crunchy balance to the the rest of the ingredients :) The food was so good that I almost didn’t want to write this review because, what if they run out and I can’t have it again? But something like this was literally too good not to share! This place deserves all the credit :) go eat there and #supportlocal. You won’t be...