Vanilla Cakes and Lounge, This weekend's adventure took us around the globe to the bustling heart of the Mediterranean--Athens, Greece. Yes, we are serious about our search for a good breakfast and several long haul flights with two young children would not stand in our way. Okay, perhaps we didn't really pack the kids up and drag them all the way to Greece this weekend, instead we visited a little bit of Greece right here in Melbourne.
As you drive into the center of Oakleigh, you travel along wide streets lined with mature leafy trees. It's quite obvious from the style of the homes and mature vegetation that this is one of Melbourne's older neighbourhoods. If you didn't know better, you'd think Oakleigh was just another quiet Melbourne suburb, but in fact it's central shopping district attracts people from all over Melbourne looking for top quality meats, fruits and vegetables as well as any Greek delicacy you can think of. There are an abundance of bakeries, butchers, fruit and veg markets, and dozens of Greek themed cafes all packed neatly around Eaton Mall--the beating heart of this oasis 17km from Melbourne's CBD.
We arrived at Eaton Mall at about 10am on an overcast and muggy Sunday morning. Neither the Handsome Australian or I are very familiar with the cafes and restaurants that line this pedestrian thoroughfare so picking a place to try was our first challenge of the day. As we walked along the mall, we observed dozens upon dozens of older Greek men sitting together at the various cafes having their morning coffees. By the looks of it, this is a ritual they observe every weekend, if not every day. The only language you heard spoken was Greek and the outside tables of most of the cafes were busy as these same men also enjoyed their morning cigarettes.
The Handsome Australian (of Mediterranean background himself) loves a bit of old school tradition. His theory in these cases is go where the locals go. The more Greek a place looked and the less English spoken would certainly be the key to an authentic Greek breakfast in his mind. I was up for the adventure, but when faced with the clouds of cigarette smoke looming outside the first cafe he chose, I had to exercise my right to not smell like an ashtray for the remainder of the day. The Handsome Australian insisted though and we went indoors to look for a table. While we were looking, he spotted the menu on the wall. There really wasn't anything on offer besides your basic eggs and bacon. Disappointed, the Handsome Australian gave in and we marched on down Eaton Mall with the little people in tow hoping to find something just a little bit more exciting.
We finally settled on Vanilla Cakes and Lounge. I think it was the fact that the place looked really busy with nearly all of their outdoor tables filled with diners that initially attracted us. As we got closer, the Handsome Australian remarked, "Wow. Someone has spent a lot of money fitting this place out. It looks good."
The busy outdoor seating area
Since there were no more tables left outside, we decided to head indoors to find one. The place has a very relaxed but slick feel to it. The dining room is a mix of booths, lounge chairs set around lower tables and proper dining tables. The first thing you notice, however, is the large selection of items in the immense display case that surrounds the bar. If the number of pre-made rolls and mounds of fruit salad is any indication, this place must be pumping at lunch times.
It wasn't all savoury fare, there was a selection of cakes, biscuits and sweets that seemed endless. Even though we were there for breakfast, we were nearly seduced by the glitter and glam of all these gorgeous looking desserts. Grabbing a booth directly opposite the cake display probably didn't help matters much either.
The cake display...endless possibilities
Luckily we had the little people to bring our attention back to the table. There was some jockeying over who would get the window seat. Once that was sorted, the waiter arrived at our table to take our drink orders. The Handsome Australian inquired about the famous Greek Frappes that he's heard so much about. The waiter explained that the Frappes they make consist of Nescafe, water, milk and ice all blended together to make a frothy drink. Unimpressed by the inclusion of Nescafe (instant coffee) versus a shot of espresso or authentic Greek coffee, the Handsome Australian decided to stick with a tried and true Cafe Latte instead. I seconded his motion and ordered one for myself and two babychinos for the little people.
Upon studying the menu, we were both quite impressed with the variety of offerings. The prices were quite reasonable too. Princess Pancake and Prince Gobbleguts had already enjoyed a partial breakfast at home and weren't too hungry. Princess Pancake, much to our surprise, suggested that she and her brother share a fruit salad. While she's a clever girl, she is too young to read the menu and only knew about the fruit salad because she saw it in the display case. She knows a good thing when she sees it. According to the menu the fruit salad is served with yogurt over the top. Princess Pancake was gravely concerned about the yogurt and asked that it be put on the side if at all possible. We agreed to this request and asked the waiter to bring an extra plate so the two little people could share.
Having missed out on the opportunity of having an authentic Greek breakfast with the chain smoking crowd up the road, the Handsome Australian decided to console himself by ordering the Greek Omelet: fetta, capsicum, tomato, red onion and oregano with toast. A creature of habit, I had a hard time going past the Big Breakfast: 2 eggs poached, bacon, tomato, mushrooms, spinach, sausages and toast. I wasn't overly hungry, but with Prince Gobbleguts around I never know how much of my own food I'm actually going to have the chance to consume.
The coffees arrived soon after our food order was taken. These lattes were good, but nothing exceptional. The children greeted their babychinos and marshmallows with the usual glee. It wasn't long before both were wearing the babychino badge of honour--the chocolate mustache that runs upwards along their faces.
Just your average latte
As we waited for our food, we noticed the cakes in the neighbouring display were disappearing at an amazing rate. Who was consuming all these rich cakes this early in the morning? Upon closer inspection we noted that most of these little sweets were leaving the cafe in take away boxes--most likely to be consumed a bit later in the day. Hmm...that was an idea!
Before we could discuss the possibility of cake for afternoon tea, our breakfast arrived. The fruit salad was served in a bowl with the yogurt on the side as requested. We split it out as quickly as we could because little hands were grabbing at fresh bits of kiwi and juicy watermelon at a frenetic pace.
Fruit Salad: It looked better before the little people ripped into it
Once the portions were settled and Princess Pancake and Prince Gobbleguts were secure in their share of the fruit, they slowed down to enjoy it. Princess Pancake, in an act of selfish generosity, handed the way-too-healthy-for-her-tastes yogurt over to Prince Gobbleguts who gladly accepted and used it as a dip for his fruit.
Prince Gobbleguts' share of the fruit salad and yogurt dip
The little people quickly polished off the fruit salad and then expressed their desire for something more to eat. We decided to get an order of scones to fill them up.
As the waiter placed the Handsome Australian's omelet on the table and my Big Breakfast, both of our eyes nearly popped out of our heads. These portions were big. The plates themselves were rectangular in shape and were more like a platter than a plate. The Handsome Australian took one look at his omelet and remarked, "There must be 8 eggs in this thing. It's huge!" It certainly was very large. In the meantime, I was staring at my plate and wondering how on earth I could possibly consume all the food on it. For once, I was actually hoping Prince Gobbleguts was hungry. I was going to need help!
Thus begun the battle to finish our breakfast. The Handsome Australian began with gusto, but at the end he admitted defeat. Although he couldn't finish it, he did enjoy the Greek Omelet and commented on the nice combination of flavours. He was about a quarter of the way through it when he discovered a big slab of feta melted in the middle. The feta and the herbs were the highlight apparently.
The Greek Omelet: Bursting with flavour
The Big Breakfast was certainly true to it's name--big. The poached eggs were still runny (as they should be) and the mushrooms, tomato and spinach were all reasonable. What this Big Breakfast lacked was that little bit of something special. There was nothing to set it apart and make it memorable. I joined the Handsome Australian in putting my fork down in defeat. There was simply too much on the plate. Even with the help I received from Prince Gobbleguts, there were still entire sausages left over.
The Really Big, Big Breakfast
The scones arrived at the table part way through the meal (we did order them later) and they, too, were over sized. There were two large scones on the plate served with cream and prepacked individual serves of jam and butter. Princess Pancake didn't complain because there was enough sugar, cream and butter involved to keep her busy, but I had a taste and decided that scones are probably best not ordered in the heart of Greek Melbourne.
The Scones: Not for a purist
After struggling through our breakfast meals, we couldn't even bare to look at the cakes much less think about taking some home for later. We'll have to leave them for another time.
A few of the cakes we didn't try
Final Verdict on Vanilla Cakes and Lounge:
The atmosphere was busy and bright but the staff were nothing but calm, cool and collected. The service was good. There was always someone nearby when you needed them. The coffees and food came out quickly which is a good thing when dining with the little people. The menu was diverse enough that I think most people could find something to suit their tastes. The food was good but not memorable. The portions were immense and good value for money if you manage to eat it all.
I wouldn't go out of my way to return to Vanilla Cakes and Lounge for breakfast, but I will definitely go back to have a go at the cakes. It seems like the kind of place that would be good for an afternoon coffee and cake or perhaps an after dinner coffee and cake--sitting in the lounge seats of course.
17-21 Eaton Mall, Oakleigh
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