Review The Owl & The Baker - Bentleigh

This local cafe is also a bakery offering unique tarts and many goodies. Great choices for vegetarians. Good vibes and ambience with wonderful people!

Great food by great people. Try the Vegetarian Moussaka, it's delicious. Always a great place to have a tea with some of the amazing desserts they prepare every day. Fantastic place!

Was very surprised to find a Gluten and Vegan cafe in Bentleigh. Staff were super friendly in a nice simple setting. We ordered Vegan filo, salad, moussaka and tart to go. Food was lovely

Cafe has improved significantly since it first opened! Allpress coffee, an amazing barista and very friendly staff. Good selection of food and seating and close to train station :)

Favourite local cafe. All the beautiful, delicious pastries and cakes are made in house. You can see it happening in the back of the cafe! The staff are extremely friendly and proud of their work. Lovely to have a chat with. The food is delicious. The atmosphere is very relaxed and enjoyable. Good for doing a bit of work, study, reading the paper or a book etc

Simply one of the best cafes/restaurants in Bentleigh. They have an amazing selection of healthy salads, with vegetarian/vegan friendly options. They also do catering, and the owners provided really helpful recommendations for menu and catered to specific needs. Highly recommended!

Have been there a few times. Are greeted with a welcome and smile . Served promptly. Great selection of light foods . New barista ..she is outstanding..sorry didnt c a tch your name.. the cake was outstanding as was my bacon and egg pie . Coffee was excellent second time round. Found that Owl and the Baker are better coffee makers than most in centre road which is sometimes hit n miss

Best breakfast I have had in a long time. Kale, avo and Eggs dish. Good portions, value for money and very fresh👌Service could be better/more friendly , but otherwise can't fault it

I haven't had a brekky that nice in ages. This place was recommended to us by the lovely lady working at Bentleigh Health Foods a few doors down. I had the Chia pudding bowl with banana, strawberries, goji, mint, honey - must say its the best chia bowl I've ever eaten. There's another 3 items on the menu I want to try. Myself and family will definitely be back for more. My new 'go to' cafe. Thank you to The Owl and the Baker - 5plus stars �

Highly recommend this cafe for catering, eating in or takeaway. We had some delish catering for Mothers Day! Everything was fresh and healthy at a reasonable price! Thank you for making Mum’s day so special! �

Superb service and friendly staff. The food is full of flavour; decadent and scrumptious. Could not fault the coffee either. Highly recommend this cafe. �

My favourite café who provide me with delicious fresh, healthy lunches and perfect coffee every single day. Their cakes are also i n c r e d i b l e and their staff are so attentive and bring a smile to my tired face in the mornings! Thank you Andrea and the gang :)

Great coffee and equally tasty food. We had the poached eggs on toast with bacon and relish which was very generous in size (2 poached eggs & 2 pieces of toast) and the Veggie wrap which was also very tasty (with a kick of spice) and extremely filling. Will definately be back!

This shop is a lovely find with delicious foods cooked on site. Syrian Chicken with giant couscous is my favourite though the breakfast bake good are also very good. The main drawback is a lack of internal table seating.

Friendly enough but when you're charging top dollar for a sausage roll including a dine-in component then it shouldn't be served fridge cold in the centre. Not to mention the dirty tables.

Recently used Owl and Baker for catering at a corporate function and couldn't have been happier! Great food. Communicated really well and were so easy to deal with. Very accommodating to our needs! Thank you!

What a great find the food was fantastic we wanted to eat everything that was on display the most delicious slow roasted lamb wraps have to go back to try it all the staff were lovely so was the wine i had with lunch

Loved The Owl & The Baker. Excellent food and coffee. Would definitely attend regularly if lactose free milk was available to have in my coffee.

Great coffee. Brownies are addictive, too my cakes that look yummy. Stay away if you are on a diet

Most innovative & delicious food, especially home made sausage rolls & wonderful flavoured cakes & slices + sensational coffee.

Oh the kale and lamb soup...it was super. Fantastic staff, friendly and warm. Great ingredients and made and served with care. Love the caffe latte and cake selection and take home Middle Eastern bread.

Always a surprising eclectic collection of healthy and tasty savouries and sweets. We have been about 5 times and go each time we have a flying visit to see our daughter in Bentleigh. These visits have given me some ideas for my own cafe in Southport Queensland.

Welcoming. Amazing 5 senses coffee. Cakes you could die for. Something interesting and new everyday

My favourite local coffee � always fresh, great variety and both healthy options as well as treats!!

The food is Amazing - love It. Great friendly service with great coffee. My new favourite cafe!! Thankyou for the amazing real food .

I absolutely love this place and it is now my favourite spot on Centre Road. The coffee is excellent and the food all tasted super fresh and yummy. There is this cheesecake with berries that has been sitting there tempting me every time I walk in but I’m yet to try it! Looking forward to doing so very soon.

Slightly below average for both, the food and the coffee, and also overpriced by a fair bit. Service was a bit cold, the place looked unclean. That perhaps explains why it was empty except for us for Friday brunch time. There's a cafe at every 5 shops in this strip, so hopefully the owners will find this useful.

the barista girl is awesome!!!!!! I think she can remember all customers' coffee and food. the second time I came in she knew what I wanted!!! the coffee is realllllllllllllly great! best coffee in bentleigh! she's so cute, brighten my day

All I can say is wow! Bentleigh is home to many cafes and places to have brunch and this place hit the spot. It’s more of a bakery with baked goods sold inside so doesn’t have a huge brunch menu. Nonetheless the dishes that we ordered were presented well and had great flavours paired together. Also cute latte art on the coffee !

The juices are very unique in flavours and ingredients! The karate chop juice is my favourite, perfect for recovering from a cold. The vegan sausage roll is very filling and nutritious 💜

4.5<br/><br/>I was merrily walking along Centre Road, minding my own business when I was suddenly struck by the most beautiful smell in the world - freshly baked cookies or cakes, or whatever that was made up of the magical combination of butter, flour, sugar and eggs. I made a beeline straight into where I deduced the smell was coming from and jackpot!<br/><br/>The Owl & The Baker, deals in the legal drug known as desserts, and unfortunately not owls too as otherwise this would make for a very interesting experience. There are however cute little owls figurines dotted along the shop, keeping a watchful eye over you while you eat.<br/><br/>Part cafe, part bakery, The Owl & The Baker will appeal to any taste buds. My partner and I shared a beef and onion pie with a side of beetroot salad, and a droolworthy apple spiced cake.<br/><br/>The pie crust was the most gorgeous golden brown, and it flaked beautiful when sliced into. Buttery and soft, it was a perfect crust. The beef and onion filling were very moreish and juicy, but I think a bit more piquancy would increase the flavour tenfold. The refreshing and delicate flavours of the beetroot salad were a match made in heaven with the pie.<br/><br/>The apple spiced cake was a slice of heaven. It was a very moist cake, one that held itself well yet crumbled very slightly when you dig in with a fork. The flavours were the epitome of autumn - spiced, warming and bold. Generous thin slivers of stewed apples added to taste, and texture.<br/><br/>Accompanying this wonderful meal was a great cup of skinny latte. Smooth, balanced and beautiful mouth feel.<br/><br/>Impeccable service all-around, and with such delicious food, I was reluctant to leave without getting more sweets. I just have to keep telling myself that I shall be back.<br/>

Having had a slice of bread from this bakery, I came to buy a loaf and stayed for a quick breakfast. Great space. Lots of share tables - if you like that sort of thing. Food is tasty and fresh. Salads look great. Coffee was worth the wait. I’ll be back.

Attention all Vegans Vegetarians and coffee lovers.<br/>I have found the most wonderful cafe in Bentleigh. What a discovery. The Owl and the Baker exceeds all my expectations. You won't be disappointed. Promise.

What a fabulous cafe, amazing salads, fresh and creative combinations, excellent coffee and the service was A1. I would recommend this cafe to anyone wanting hand crafted desserts and cakes too, divine!!

The idea is great. The sustenance was standard, no wow factor to pull in clients. The seating is really customary. Just stools and not happy so you get an inclination that the foundation needs you out at the earliest opportunity.

I LOVE this place. I work in close vicinity and these guys are my go to!<br/><br/>Their food is all made fresh on site (nothing is bought in), it tastes homemade, and the price for the ingredients and work put into the food is incredibly fair.<br/><br/>No, this isn't your local bakery with your run of the meal pies and tacky tasteless sugary treats but a place where you can still taste the love and care they put into each of their dishes, cakes and pastries. Oh and they have great coffee and tea!<br/><br/>They also seem to cook seasonally (which is awesome for several reasons) and change their salads, tarts, cakes and soups frequently so theres always something new to try. You never know what they're going to have but it's always exciting to see (If you can get your hands on the beef cheek they are to die for).<br/><br/>The staff are all friendly as, and you'll be greeted with a smile and warm welcome everytime!<br/><br/>It's a treat for the tastebuds without being (too) bad for the waistline!<br/>

All I can say about this place is it’s under rated. Food and presentation is sensational. The fresh produce used and drinks are at a level of a trendy hip place. The place is casual and quant, but although modestly designed it packs a hit with food and service. If you’re looking for a casual place, good food and peace without the wait in lines this place is for you!

Great coffee, fresh salads and specials and delicious baked cakes and treats. They also have plenty of healthy options. I’ve tried a few of the rotating salads such as the roast vegetable and cauliflower and tahini one and they were both to die for. Pricing can be a little steep but your definitely paying for quality.<br/>

Great variety of delicious choices.  Menu always being refreshed and updated.  Not your usual same old-same old cafe food. I eat the savoury dishes and my friends eat the cakes... heaven.  And GREAT coffee.  I've whipped a few things home for dinner from time to time.  Really loving the middle eastern influence in some of the dishes and I CAN'T go past the sausage rolls. Perennial favourites.

What a hidden treasure ... firstly a lovely coffe with a smile ... cabinet looked amazing and the rustic cakes looked orsum ... i choose the chia pudding something different is definitely there style .. it was delicious and presented beautifully .. not too hard on the hip pocket ... staff were friendly and genuinely happy to serve us ... thanks for a lovely breakky ☺

Reminded myself today how good this place is - quineoa musli delicious as it's fresh and tasty . Presentation gorgeous . Coffee fab , service amazing love it . Best kept secret .

Lovely little place with home baked rustic food. Unpretentious and cozy, staff are lovely, coffee good. Great local cafe. Also have breads. Good meeting place.

Such a nice place to eat, best bacon in Melbourne and lovely coffee. We have been dropping in for ages and the selection is always fresh and interesting. <br/>Takeaway cakes and salads available with original tastes and flavours at standard prices. <br/>Service with a smile and well worth the visit.

Great for breakfast. The food was amazing. Good coffee too. Maybe a bit noisy at times. Will definitely go there again. Friendly staff. The salads and cakes look great too.

This cafe is fabulous for breakfast, lunch, a sweet treat or a takeaway dinner meal! I have tried many things on the menu & have never been disappointed! Lovely & friendly staff and the sweet treats are always delish!

I've been following their IG for a while and the food always tempts. I have dropped in just to get a cake but today came for brunch. <br/><br/>First observation: on a cold day please don't have door chocked open. There is nothing worse on a cold day to try and get warm when door is open. <br/><br/>Service a little too slow once order went in. Not too busy and coffee took about 10 mins or more. <br/><br/>The 3 cheese & spinach gozleme was delicious. Mocha with almond milk was just ok. <br/><br/>I'll definitely be back but once the warmth is there & service is a little more attentive I'll be happier.

Love anything middle eastern having lived in Dubai for many years and loved the fusion of middle eastern cuisine into my brunch! Had the salt and pepper mushrooms with labneh, and the Turkish bread was delicious. Great staff too!

Mum & I absolutely adore The Owl & The Baker. She had the spicy beef gozleme. I had the chicken and pea salad. Both were yum and beautifully presented. I wish I took photos! <br/><br/>Service is warm and attentive. We didn't feel rushed at all. It was a slow outdoor lunch while enjoying the sights and sounds of the Bentleigh shops. Will be back especially after spying all the sugary goodness!

Great variety of food which is all very tasty , the deserts are delicious , the staff are friendly and great service too, what more can I say you must go there .

The Owl & The Baker is one of the few cafes that I like to revisit. From a good range of breakfast menu to the friendly service, I just can not fault anything here. Oh! They're serving great coffee too. Only downside here is the limited seats inside and outside. Sometimes I like to sit and eat but it's all occupied. Anyway, good place, good people....highly recommended.

Such a pleasure to see a local cafe going to the effort to bake their bread. It's a long lost art form these days. Cute fitout, really inviting, all the goodies in the counter look great. Only eaten here once, and it didn't dissapoint, but I usually grab a coffee here, and a nice pastry for an afternoon pick me up! Coffee is close to the best on the strip, and I've tried them all!

I have went to this cafe twice and was seriously let down both times. The first time I ordered two cappuccinos to take out, they tasted like hot milk with foam on top. How hard is it to make a good cappuccino? So I decided to go back a second time, maybe they just had a bad day. I ordered a beef pastry for take out, when I got home to eat it I noticed the pastry was mostly undercooked and raw. I even felt farely sick for a few hours after eating it. I should have brought it back and asked for my money back but it would have been closed by the time I returned. Safe to say I won't be returning here.

Fantastic coffee here- the best in Bentleigh and McKinnon IMO. Their gozleme (spinach and cheese) are well worth a try, too. They do some really interesting and delicious cakes,slices etc that always look beautiful. Friendly staff. Well worth a visit for a sit in experience or take away.

Amazing food, generous servings, coffee strong and delicious. Will be coming back oh and good value too. Friendly staff and food came out quickly.

Ok place<br/>Just a hint - when you ask for tomatoes, do they really have to come out with pesto all over them?<br/>Not a fan of pesto & really think this wasn't necessary as it can really ruin a meal

Was in the area and wanted a coffee, was attracted by all the cakes in the shop. Got a coffee, paid $0.80 extra for soy, only to have burnt soy in my coffee.

Best coffee in Bentleigh & surrounds! Working and living locally means I have had plenty of opportunity to scour almost every coffee shop in the area. I say almost because once I found The Owl & The Baker I haven't been anywhere since. Quite possibly the nicest barista ever & the coffee is consistently delicious! The take away food (namely the big fat home made sausage rolls) and flavorsome salads changing daily, are 10/10! Decor that extends beyond Melbourne's generic cafe layout, swapping Moroccan inspired tiles over white subway tiles - this place will not disappoint!

Ordered: smokey eggplant and yoghurt salsa dish, and burcher style muesli. <br/>Verdict: good food, interesting flavours, well-presented, and lovely staff. <br/><br/>Now I'm a sucker for anything with avocado, and I love eggplant, so I went for this dish. It was delicious and filling, but had an odd taste - I personally was not used to this flavour, so I can't hold that against them. I tried something new, and they did that something very well. The snow pea tendrils were well-flavoured and I loved them, and the eggs were poached perfectly. My friend ordered the muesli and loved it. While I didn't try it, I must say that the colors in the bowl really made it look appetizing. A good mixture of colors. <br/>Staff were lovely, and soy latte was great. I will return to try other things.

Potentially the best restaurant I have ever been into. The customer service is great, always greated with a smile. The coffee is fantastic, and their hot chocolate is to die for.  The bread is always fresh and tastes like it is made with love. The cakes are always moist and full of unique flavours. The menu has something for everyone, showcasing their fantastic skills. Only complain is that the stools are not comfortable for a long meal. Otherwise, everything fantastic and will be coming back for my weekly fix!

Mixed feelings....<br/>Coffee & food was good, service was friendly. <br/>The staff are very eager to clear your plates & keep coming around to ask if we need anything else. <br/>They do ask in a friendly way but we felt pressured to leave. Sometimes you just want to hang around longer after your meal to chat & catch up with your company. Also, they do not have a toilet for patrons so you really can't stay too long & drink too much....

I frequent this café several times a week and many of my work colleagues do as well.  The salads are changing every few days and I love some of the unusual and different combinations with great taste to boot.    The baker has skills and her freshly baked Caramel Cream Cheese cake is amazing as is the Lemon Curd cake and the Mookie (salted caramel and chocolate biscuit muffin thing).   The Chicken pies are amazing and I know a good pie !!    So glad they opened in Bentleigh.  Great staff and amazing food will always be a success !

YOU WILL WANT TO NOM EVERYTHING. Home made baked goods, including traditional pide and other Mediterranean style breads. These homemade breads are perfect with eggs and bacon (OMG THE BACON). The coffee is fantastic- ended up ordering two!Very impressed with this menu. Can highly recommend the quinoa porridge.The homemade desserts behind the counter are an exotic delight.I have been back twice already, and intend to indulge again.

Just walked to The Owl and The Baker where they had just run out of gozlemes. So they just baked me, fresh out of the oven, the most oozy and delicious spinach and cheese gozleme. Well worth the walk.<br/>Now you see it and now you don't!!

Not a blogger at all, but when we visited over a week ago, I was so happy with the coffee, food and service I thought this new style cafe/bakery/produce store was worthy of a well deserved plug ! <br/><br/>This place has set a very high benchmark for surrounding cafes. The greeting when you walk in here makes you feel like you've been here 100 times before. So nice to see these days.<br/><br/>Thanks for the beautiful experience

The Bentleigh area desperately needed some new eating options and The Owl and Baker landed. Absolutely love this new gem that's popped up in the area. Friendly staff, nice fit out with an interesting Middle Eastern themed menu. Great to see a different menu from your average bacon and eggs type meals. Breakfasts are well priced too and there are lots of take home salad/meal/bakery options as well.

Very modern and more of a health food store. I was not a fan as I am into a traditional menu with healthy alternatives however this menu was a bit out of my comfort zone however I got scrambled eggs with avo. Their salads and baked goods look great and would probably just grab a snack rather than a main meal

Had an amazing breakfast at the owl and the baker this morning :). Avocado and pistachio salsa with preserved lemon, yoghurt, thick hand sliced leg ham with a delicious salad atop house baked Turkish bread. Being the big eater I am and also just wanting a bit of everything on the menu I added 2 perfectly poached eggs. I accompanied it with a five senses strong flat white, which came served in my favourite tulip cups. Mm mm delicious. The cafe is light and spacious with a huge high ceiling flowing into the bakery at the back. The bar which is hugged by beautiful blue and white tiles is laiden with cakes and fresh baked goods and a display fridge full of delicious middle eastern fair. I couldn't help myself but had to take an ancient grain salad and chicken pilaf pie with me for a late lunch at work (even though I work at a restaurant! Lol) Service was prompt and friendly, will definitely be heading back there soon. Will make sure to come early as there isn't many seats. Good to see they are licensed too:)<br/>Ps. The pie was to die for with fresh pastry that melted in my mouth☺️

Was wandering around and my eye caught this lil food hub. Healthy food and good hospitality. Don't miss this place if u a foodie. Had Syrian chicken and grape mint drink.

The Owl and the Baker serve Amazing food! Fabulous coffee and this is served by great friendly staff. It is a must try in the Bentleigh area!

The food and produce here is so delicious. I ate in and had the poached eggs with smokey eggplant and it was so fresh and tasty. My children had a vegetable filo pastry dish which was also really delicious and a good option for fussy children. On a separate occasion I simply bought some Turkish bread which they make in house and some cheeses and both were amazing. I hope they are here to say! My new local favourite!

We had heard about a new place in Bentleigh, and found ourselves down there yesterday.<br/>I had a sausage roll, my friend had a preserved lemon lemon and spiced avocado salsa.<br/>This place is special, great service and amazing food. I'd hurry in, it's only been open a few weeks, once word gets beyond the locals, you won't be able to get near the place.<br/>One of the best sausage rolls ever...

BEST BACON, TURKISH BREAD AND COFFEE - EVER !!<br/>The rest of its really nice too - huge cool space, great staff, amazing hummus and white-taramasalata dips (you will need more of that luscious bread !), takeaway food looks great but I haven't tried it yet . . . . but, but, but, . . . <br/> . . . . BEST BACON, TURKISH BREAD AND COFFEE - EVER !! :]

What's open for brekkie on Christmas Day? Not much. However, my friend and I stumbled upon this new eatery which is open for business just 11 days since it opened its doors. The breakfast egg & bacon pide caught my eye, as did the baker expertly working the dough to make fresh bread to be baked in a wall of ginormous ovens. My friend had scrambled eggs on toast while I had the pide and coffee. All lovely and nice. Will be back to check out the tagines and other foods. Definitely want to buy freshly baked bread from them next time!

The Owl & The Baker (O & B) opened near Bentleigh train station in December 2015 with plans to trade as both a café and food store. Owner Andrea Brook foresees the increase in apartment living within the neighbourhood will mean greater demand for her prepared/ready to eat meal items which will augment the dine-in menu.

My wife and I visited this cafe last week and very disappointed and dissatisfied with our experience. <br/><br/>We were greeted initially by a young girl who was making coffee. She radiated positiveness and was very welcoming to us and other customers who entered the cafe. <br/><br/>We ordered two lattes, an egg and bacon pide, a salad and some cakes/biscuits from the cabinet. Unfortunately, there is only one cup size for the coffees - small. Additionally, the menu lacks any traditional meal options. There is no 'eggs your way' with bacon, it's all fancy options which doesn't really suit our tastes. By limiting their menu with ONLY unique options, they're limiting their customer base straight away. <br/><br/>The coffee was by far the best part of The Owl & The Baker - the coffee is easily the best coffee I've had in recent months, and definitely the best coffee in Bentleigh. It's just a shame about the small cup size. <br/><br/>In regards to our food, the turkish bread was VERY doughy and lacked any real flavour. The taste of the doughy bread took over the taste of the egg and spread, and the bread was almost flat in appearance. The salad was okay, however it didn't taste as fresh as we would've hoped.<br/>The cakes and biscuits were dry and crumbled as we attempted to bite into them. It would appear that they had been sitting there for days and were basically inedible due to how bland and dry they were. <br/><br/>After almost an hour, our backs were killing us from the stools. The benchtops are very close to the seats so you have to bend down to lean on the table, and the stools are far too high off the ground. <br/><br/>We were left with the impression that this cafe thrives on their customer service and their incredible coffee, however their food leaves much to be desired. The cakes and biscuits were dry and had been in the cabinet for too long, the bread was doughy and bland, and the seats were uncomfortable. Hopefully they add more traditional menu options, but for now, we'll only be coming back for the coffee.

Delicious everything ! We stayed for quite a while as we were wanting to try most things. Couldn't fault it at all. We'll be back tomorrow again....

A new café on the Centre Rd strip near the station. I have tried their freshly made juices 3 times (all different flavours) which have been very refreshing, great flavours and reasonably priced.I have also bought their Turkish bread and dips and they have been delicious. Their cakes are superbly presented and their miniature pavalovas with licorice are to die for.The staff are friendly, and although it has only been open a week, I am looking forward to in the future buying some of their ready made meals for home.This café offers a different slant compared to other cafes in the area, and is a welcome addition.

Fabulous new addition to Bentleigh & a much needed high quality cafe & providore in that area. Friendly staff & excellent coffee. We ordered both from the all day menu & the counter that has a huge selection of fresh cooked middle eastern inspired dishes you can also take home. Great light atmosphere & definitely worth trying their house baked middle eastern breads. Will be back! for sure!

READ THE MENU AND BE AMAZED !!!<br/><br/>Spoilt for choice I ordered the chicken salad with giant couscous. What a taste sensation. Such a generous serve of succulent spiced chicken on a bed of giant couscous, a big dollop of yoghurt and a side of snow pea tendrils ..mouth watering.<br/>So impressed was I with the chicken that I bought a takeaway meal of beef tagine. Another hit for the tastebuds.<br/>The coffee was dreamy.<br/>The atmosphere is modern/contemporary. Turkish bread etc is made in house. The bread ovens are huge and impressive. Everything is open and on display.<br/>I was delighted to discover that this establishment is owned by the incredibly talented Andrea Brooks who owned the hugely popular Wild restaurant in Ormond Rd Elwood a few years back. It had quite a cult following. Those in the know will be thrilled to know Andrea is back with a Bang !!<br/>Although I live in Elwood, The Owl and the Baker will be my "local". What's a few miles drive when the end result is food to die for !?<br/>To all my friends : you simply MUST go asap. I can't think of another place like it.<br/>10/10