The Turtle Bean Cafe
July 23rd 2007 08:24
The Turtle Bean Café
97 Poath Road
Murrumbeena, Melbourne.
Attendants: The Hatter (Writer) The Dormouse
Overview:
The Turtle Bean Café lies not far from Hughesdale station, yet again right near where I currently live. The luck of finding a decent café already in that area had already been used up, could lightning strike in the same place? Being so close to our last reviewed café we could not resist testing them out. As soon as we entered we were greeting with a smile and a welcome, it was comfortable and warm surroundings. Music from local and abroad alternate bands and artists plays through the café, giving it a pleasant background ambiance. They are Fully licensed with various beers on tap, as well as wine and spirits on request, there was even Baileys Irish Cream (yummers). For those of us who like to sleep in a bit, which I know I do! Breakfast is served right up to 3pm! No problem paying either with eftpos and credit card facilities. A lovely open-air courtyard out the back, for you outdoorsy or smoker types, I’m a sucker for a courtyard, so this is where we sat. Turtle themed decor goes throughout the indoor area, with walls also covered in posters for various artists and live musical events, both local and worldwide. Overall, a very pleasant place.
Service
The service at the Turtle Bean was fast and friendly, We were greeted and seated the second we set foot in the door, and they were busy at the time but still able to have no waiting time. After being shown to our courtyard table we we’re given our menus and ordered our coffee, which came back quickly but giving us enough time to order. Out waitress stayed and had a brief chat with us, commenting about Dormouse’s new haircut then left. After talking amongst ourselves and drinking our complementary chilled water and taking notes, out meals arrived. Again the waiter stopped to chat with us when Dormouse mentioned that this certain waiters mum had been talking about him at the hairdressers that morning. Sure it was just quick pleasant banter but I think things like that really elevate the mood and overall quality of a café. So many times do I get the simple and overly used “Thank you enjoy our meal” with the bland smile and false cheerfulness, making that little extra effort is always an awesome touch.
Food and Beverage
When we were given our menu’s we ordered out usual drinks. A Latte for The Dormouse and an extra strong Cappuccino for The Hatter. We were not disappointed. It took almost no time at all, and I thought with such a quick service I was skeptical about their quality. By oh boy did I eat my words! Dormouse’s Latte arrived with a perfect swirl of white and brown foam, not one bubble to be seen with a naked eye, and my cappuccino, when I poured a stick of sugar in, as I usually do and wait for it to sink through, the grains merely sat there. So it was obvious whoever was making the milk new what they were doing! As for the coffee itself, I wish I had ordered another one. Now with an alias like The Hatter, It obvious I’m a little picky about my caffeine, having worked as a barista (for the lack of a better term) most of my working life it’s a force of habit, but even a picky nuisance like me could find no fault with there coffee, I’ve been told a “critic” should never overly praise something but to hell with that, it was perfect coffee!
As for what we ate, well, The Dormouse summed it up in two words for me “exceptionally great” and I’m inclined to agree! We both could not resist the “Turtle bean special breakfast” although the rather extensive menu had a lot of great sounding breakfast and lunch meals. In our meal we got: Sourdough toast, wild mushrooms (fried) fried tomatoes, free range poached eggs, sausage, turtle beans in a fresh tomato melange, spinach, a hash brown, flame grilled bacon and a little glass dish of tomato sauce. I had to make Dormouse take a photo of it before I tucked in! After looking up Turtle beans online (as I was curious as to what a turtle bean actually was) I found they are simple known commonly as “Black Beans” I member of the pea and lentil family, very tasty in my opinion and extremely high in protein. I have to say it; this breakfast could easily be the only meal you would have to eat in a day. Myself and the Dormouse are well known for being bottomless pits when it comes to food, but Neither of us could manage to finish it, I left a piece of toast and egg, Dormouse leaving almost a whole rasher of bacon, we couldn’t believe ourselves! I recommend it to anybody and everybody; you will not regret even one delicious bite. I give high praise to their chef.
Pricing and Overall
Cappuccino and Latte – 2.90 each
Two Turtle bean special breakfast - $15 each
Overall, This has to be one of my favorite cafés. I know I’m supposed to be unbiased but hey, I cant help it, there just that good! Some of you may say the price of the breakfast is too much, but look at the photo again and see just how much you get! I think it was well worth it, not something you have everyday, but good way to treat yourself! The only real downsides I could see was that as nice as courtyards are, This one was a little haphazard. Was more like they had a little extra room out back so just plonked some tables and chair out there. No decoration and overgrown weeds everywhere, but this aside, a brilliant place to sit and have an fantastic meal. I highly recommend it to you all!
97 Poath Road
Murrumbeena, Melbourne.
Attendants: The Hatter (Writer) The Dormouse
Overview:
The Turtle Bean Café lies not far from Hughesdale station, yet again right near where I currently live. The luck of finding a decent café already in that area had already been used up, could lightning strike in the same place? Being so close to our last reviewed café we could not resist testing them out. As soon as we entered we were greeting with a smile and a welcome, it was comfortable and warm surroundings. Music from local and abroad alternate bands and artists plays through the café, giving it a pleasant background ambiance. They are Fully licensed with various beers on tap, as well as wine and spirits on request, there was even Baileys Irish Cream (yummers). For those of us who like to sleep in a bit, which I know I do! Breakfast is served right up to 3pm! No problem paying either with eftpos and credit card facilities. A lovely open-air courtyard out the back, for you outdoorsy or smoker types, I’m a sucker for a courtyard, so this is where we sat. Turtle themed decor goes throughout the indoor area, with walls also covered in posters for various artists and live musical events, both local and worldwide. Overall, a very pleasant place.
Service
The service at the Turtle Bean was fast and friendly, We were greeted and seated the second we set foot in the door, and they were busy at the time but still able to have no waiting time. After being shown to our courtyard table we we’re given our menus and ordered our coffee, which came back quickly but giving us enough time to order. Out waitress stayed and had a brief chat with us, commenting about Dormouse’s new haircut then left. After talking amongst ourselves and drinking our complementary chilled water and taking notes, out meals arrived. Again the waiter stopped to chat with us when Dormouse mentioned that this certain waiters mum had been talking about him at the hairdressers that morning. Sure it was just quick pleasant banter but I think things like that really elevate the mood and overall quality of a café. So many times do I get the simple and overly used “Thank you enjoy our meal” with the bland smile and false cheerfulness, making that little extra effort is always an awesome touch.
Food and Beverage
When we were given our menu’s we ordered out usual drinks. A Latte for The Dormouse and an extra strong Cappuccino for The Hatter. We were not disappointed. It took almost no time at all, and I thought with such a quick service I was skeptical about their quality. By oh boy did I eat my words! Dormouse’s Latte arrived with a perfect swirl of white and brown foam, not one bubble to be seen with a naked eye, and my cappuccino, when I poured a stick of sugar in, as I usually do and wait for it to sink through, the grains merely sat there. So it was obvious whoever was making the milk new what they were doing! As for the coffee itself, I wish I had ordered another one. Now with an alias like The Hatter, It obvious I’m a little picky about my caffeine, having worked as a barista (for the lack of a better term) most of my working life it’s a force of habit, but even a picky nuisance like me could find no fault with there coffee, I’ve been told a “critic” should never overly praise something but to hell with that, it was perfect coffee!
As for what we ate, well, The Dormouse summed it up in two words for me “exceptionally great” and I’m inclined to agree! We both could not resist the “Turtle bean special breakfast” although the rather extensive menu had a lot of great sounding breakfast and lunch meals. In our meal we got: Sourdough toast, wild mushrooms (fried) fried tomatoes, free range poached eggs, sausage, turtle beans in a fresh tomato melange, spinach, a hash brown, flame grilled bacon and a little glass dish of tomato sauce. I had to make Dormouse take a photo of it before I tucked in! After looking up Turtle beans online (as I was curious as to what a turtle bean actually was) I found they are simple known commonly as “Black Beans” I member of the pea and lentil family, very tasty in my opinion and extremely high in protein. I have to say it; this breakfast could easily be the only meal you would have to eat in a day. Myself and the Dormouse are well known for being bottomless pits when it comes to food, but Neither of us could manage to finish it, I left a piece of toast and egg, Dormouse leaving almost a whole rasher of bacon, we couldn’t believe ourselves! I recommend it to anybody and everybody; you will not regret even one delicious bite. I give high praise to their chef.
Pricing and Overall
Cappuccino and Latte – 2.90 each
Two Turtle bean special breakfast - $15 each
Overall, This has to be one of my favorite cafés. I know I’m supposed to be unbiased but hey, I cant help it, there just that good! Some of you may say the price of the breakfast is too much, but look at the photo again and see just how much you get! I think it was well worth it, not something you have everyday, but good way to treat yourself! The only real downsides I could see was that as nice as courtyards are, This one was a little haphazard. Was more like they had a little extra room out back so just plonked some tables and chair out there. No decoration and overgrown weeds everywhere, but this aside, a brilliant place to sit and have an fantastic meal. I highly recommend it to you all!
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
You and Doormouse sound delightful. Well done.
katyzzz
Comment by The Hatter
Caffeine Madness