Cafe Classico
July 25th 2007 08:33
Café Classico
260 Collins St, Level 1
CBD, Melbourne.
Attendants: The Hatter (Writer) The Dormouse
Overview:
For this most recent review Dormouse and I decided to venture away from our own neighborhood into central Melbourne itself. Being a bit of a dreary day we were more avid then ever for a hot coffee and a bite to eat. After our planned trip to the book store we found Collins street plaza, and after a bit of searching, Found a nice classy looking café at the very back on the floor above the food court. After wandering in and not really seeing any indication as to whether we seat ourselves or wait to be seated, we weren’t left hanging for very long as somebody came out and showed us to a seat and offered drinks when menus were brought. So we ordered two cokes while we chose what to eat.
Points of interest
Licensed (Including a favorite of mine rarely seen in cafés, port)
Range of T2 brand teas
Functions, and catering available
Full several course meals offered as pay per head.
Large range of coffee
Allergy warning (tell wait staff if you are allergic to anything so they may void it from your meal.)
Service
The pleasant service seemed to end the moment we sat down. Almost the whole café was practically deserted, yet we were shown to the most out of the way table, right next to a staff room door, both drafty and mildly irritating when a lot of the comfy looking booth seats were taken up by what looked plaza staff on there breaks. When it came time to order our pasta, after several responses of “Huh?” and “uuhh…” from out waitress, we had to eventually just point at the menu before she understood. Likewise with our drink orders. Not to sound to harsh on the staff, the pasta was brought reasonably quickly though; we noted that as a plus, until of course we sampled the food
Food and Beverage
The Dormouse decided on the Fettuccine Carbonara, a favorite of us both, regardless of the slightly steep price. I myself just ordered a coffee, and was to share with Dormouse, not feeling particularly hungry. Our first surprise came at the size of the portion, for what had been charged it was a trifle smaller than expected. Second was that the waiter walked away without brining any cutlery, coming back a minuet or two later with a fork and spoon. Now I have worked as a waiter before, carrying two or three plates as well as cutlery is not as difficult as it may look, so I was surprised that the manager looking member of staff chose not too. The worst, I am sorry to say, was left to last. The pasta was in the lack of a better term, foul. I don’t mean to sound so harsh, and those who have read my previous reviews would agree I am generally very complimentary, but I could find nothing to praise in this meal. The pasta was dry and chewy, the bacon was barely cooked, Carbonara is usually a cream sauce, we were given a bowel of oil with bits of cooked (looked like scrambled) egg, yes, Egg. If I am wrong and am missing a more traditional version of carbonara, by all means correct me. But I have to say, when there is so much oil that it’s all you can taste over the rest of the pasta something is not right. Whether the cook was having an off day or this was just their personal method I don’t know, all I know that neither myself or the Dormouse could summon the stomach to finish more than half of what is usually our favorite pasta. As for the coffee, what can I say? The man behind the espresso machine simply did not seem to care. As he steamed the milk instead of looking at what he was doing, his attention wandered everywhere but what he was doing and the screech of what almost sounded like pain from the jug made me wince, and feel apprehensive of the cappuccino to come. My fear was well placed; it was undrinkable by both our standards. Coffee and milk burnt alike. We had to toss it on the way out.
Pricing and Overall
Fettuccine Carbonara: $18
Take away Cappuccino: $2.90
Two glasses of Coke: $5.80
Pricing was higher than most places in the general CBD of Melbourne that I have been to in the past, going as high as almost eighteen dollars for a simple chicken parmigiana and chips, and with the quality of the pasta we sampled, we were doubtful such a price would be worth it. I don’t like giving bad reviews, I really don’t, but here it could not be avoided. As we were paying the bill, a couple were at the front of the café seemingly debating to enter or not, If I were been a more forthright person I would of gone up and told them to not bother, but they moved on while we were being giving change. After all this, the man behind the counter made a subtle hint at the tip jar, which after such terrible service I thought was a joke. I can safely say, indeed both I and Dormouse can, That the coffee we had at one of the larger chain coffee shop a few hours earlier had been far better and cheaper than the whole sorry mess, and we should of called it a day then.
260 Collins St, Level 1
CBD, Melbourne.
Attendants: The Hatter (Writer) The Dormouse
Overview:
For this most recent review Dormouse and I decided to venture away from our own neighborhood into central Melbourne itself. Being a bit of a dreary day we were more avid then ever for a hot coffee and a bite to eat. After our planned trip to the book store we found Collins street plaza, and after a bit of searching, Found a nice classy looking café at the very back on the floor above the food court. After wandering in and not really seeing any indication as to whether we seat ourselves or wait to be seated, we weren’t left hanging for very long as somebody came out and showed us to a seat and offered drinks when menus were brought. So we ordered two cokes while we chose what to eat.
Points of interest
Licensed (Including a favorite of mine rarely seen in cafés, port)
Range of T2 brand teas
Functions, and catering available
Full several course meals offered as pay per head.
Large range of coffee
Allergy warning (tell wait staff if you are allergic to anything so they may void it from your meal.)
Service
The pleasant service seemed to end the moment we sat down. Almost the whole café was practically deserted, yet we were shown to the most out of the way table, right next to a staff room door, both drafty and mildly irritating when a lot of the comfy looking booth seats were taken up by what looked plaza staff on there breaks. When it came time to order our pasta, after several responses of “Huh?” and “uuhh…” from out waitress, we had to eventually just point at the menu before she understood. Likewise with our drink orders. Not to sound to harsh on the staff, the pasta was brought reasonably quickly though; we noted that as a plus, until of course we sampled the food
Food and Beverage
The Dormouse decided on the Fettuccine Carbonara, a favorite of us both, regardless of the slightly steep price. I myself just ordered a coffee, and was to share with Dormouse, not feeling particularly hungry. Our first surprise came at the size of the portion, for what had been charged it was a trifle smaller than expected. Second was that the waiter walked away without brining any cutlery, coming back a minuet or two later with a fork and spoon. Now I have worked as a waiter before, carrying two or three plates as well as cutlery is not as difficult as it may look, so I was surprised that the manager looking member of staff chose not too. The worst, I am sorry to say, was left to last. The pasta was in the lack of a better term, foul. I don’t mean to sound so harsh, and those who have read my previous reviews would agree I am generally very complimentary, but I could find nothing to praise in this meal. The pasta was dry and chewy, the bacon was barely cooked, Carbonara is usually a cream sauce, we were given a bowel of oil with bits of cooked (looked like scrambled) egg, yes, Egg. If I am wrong and am missing a more traditional version of carbonara, by all means correct me. But I have to say, when there is so much oil that it’s all you can taste over the rest of the pasta something is not right. Whether the cook was having an off day or this was just their personal method I don’t know, all I know that neither myself or the Dormouse could summon the stomach to finish more than half of what is usually our favorite pasta. As for the coffee, what can I say? The man behind the espresso machine simply did not seem to care. As he steamed the milk instead of looking at what he was doing, his attention wandered everywhere but what he was doing and the screech of what almost sounded like pain from the jug made me wince, and feel apprehensive of the cappuccino to come. My fear was well placed; it was undrinkable by both our standards. Coffee and milk burnt alike. We had to toss it on the way out.
Pricing and Overall
Fettuccine Carbonara: $18
Take away Cappuccino: $2.90
Two glasses of Coke: $5.80
Pricing was higher than most places in the general CBD of Melbourne that I have been to in the past, going as high as almost eighteen dollars for a simple chicken parmigiana and chips, and with the quality of the pasta we sampled, we were doubtful such a price would be worth it. I don’t like giving bad reviews, I really don’t, but here it could not be avoided. As we were paying the bill, a couple were at the front of the café seemingly debating to enter or not, If I were been a more forthright person I would of gone up and told them to not bother, but they moved on while we were being giving change. After all this, the man behind the counter made a subtle hint at the tip jar, which after such terrible service I thought was a joke. I can safely say, indeed both I and Dormouse can, That the coffee we had at one of the larger chain coffee shop a few hours earlier had been far better and cheaper than the whole sorry mess, and we should of called it a day then.
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