Review Wise Men Say - Brighton

A very good cafe, produced quite well, I really like to come.

Wow just wow!!! Awesome little Cafe.. Food is phenomenal... Services standards are on point... there needs to be more of these places in the area!! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🍲 ☕ 🎉

My partner and I had breakfast here on a Sunday and I loved every part of my meal! The fritters were amazing and full of flavour. Also, having axil coffee is a plus as it has a pleasant finish on your pallet. Staff seemed a bit rigid though and if they were more bubbly and outgoing this place would tick all the boxes for me. We'll be back though, just laugh a little guys!

An great cafe worth the time. The coffee is not just another Melbourne ‘good’, it’s consistently excellent. The menu is well curated, reasonably priced and good portions. The staff are super friendly and helpful. One happy customer here!

Love this place. Great food menu, great staff and delicious coffee - we come back at least twice a month for brunch! Never dissapoints; even the counter snacks/cakes and salads are yummy for on the run! Highly recommended.

We come here every time we do our Yoga teacher training courses nearby, and we keep coming back for good reason. Amazing food that is slightly different every day is one of the main draws, but the friendly staff and lovely setting make it even better. Well worth a visit, and a repeat...

My partner and I had an absolutely beautiful breakfast here, such a gem that we just happened to stumble upon travelling through. I had the buttermilk pancakes which were cooked fresh, light and fluffy with crispy edges. My partner had the brisket benedict and raved about it, so flavourful and a great original take on eggs bene. If we are ever in the melbourne area again we would come back here for sure. A huge thanks to the friendly staff as well, keep up the good work!

Without doubt the best spot in Gardenvale for breakfast or lunch. Delicious food, always fresh and not too expensive. Highly recommend it!

I’d have to say that it’s a real hidden gem.The food is just fantastic, you can tell each dish is made from scratch with fresh ingredients. The service is great. It’s hard to discover as it’s not on the corner of a street but ever since I’ve accidentally stumbled upon it, I’ve been back almost every week.

It’s located on a busy street full of other cafes and brunch spots.<br/>My bf had burger was nice. I probably shouldn’t order Laksa from here - was pretty average. <br/><br/>

As others have said, really friendly staff. One of the more tempting display items I’ve seen. I tried the toasted carrot slice with pepitas - delicious with just a hint of sweetness - very satisfying. Coffee was good too. Down to earth atmosphere - great place if you are alone or meeting friends. Had a « Cheers » feel, where they knew everyone’s name and regulars hung out. Will definitely return.

An example of the Melbourne coffee and brunch scene, Wise Men Say is a nice neighborly cafe thats perfect for your Sunday downtime.<br/><br/>The cafe is decorated in a more homely manner than your average minimalist coffee place in the eastern suburbs. Spacious and adorned with attractive greenery, it has a welcoming feel and comfortable seating. Clean and quiet, it's a nice place to catch up with friends or family without the need to shout over the top of loud music and noises.<br/><br/>The wait staff are also very friendly and nice, though there aren't many so it can be slightly difficult to get their attention. That being said, the service was top notch and when they did come they were extremely helpful and patient.<br/><br/>We ordered some coffee, the salmon stack, and the baked eggs. Their coffee is great and quickly served, so if you order a coffee to go I'm sure you'll be in and out in a flash. The salmon stack and baked eggs are taste good but aren't that special, which makes them seem like your typical brunch food found at any cafe. Still, these stable brunch dishes are well presented and delicious so I have nothing to complain about.<br/><br/>Overall, the prices are quite reasonable and the dishes are filling. The service and atmosphere are also exceptional. If you're in this area and looking for a nice place to enjoy your coffee and food, or for a spacious and quiet place to catch up with friends, I'd definitely recommend this place.<br/>

Came hear for a quiet breakfast and to get some work done. I love their menu! I love the uniqueness. I had one of the specials, a Japanese omelette in nori with miso soup. Very different to anything I have ever seen. Was nice! Coffee was great to. Got my work done down in the back corner. Lovely little place with a great menu! 👌🏼

Pretty cozy place and the food was not bad. We ordered salmon croquet and it was pretty good. There were barely enough salmon though. Another dish we ordered, shaksoukha was quiet sour and nothing in it. But I quite enjoyed it. Especially because they served plenty of bread. Their tea and coffee was also not bad. The only little disappointment I had was they slapped a rather hefty public holiday surcharge in the end. It could've been informed better.

The staff are super helpful and efficient but it's all about the food. homestyle cooking, large portions and that taste only your mum or grandma can do. a gem in the Brighton desert.

Really nice Bircher Muesli with heaps of coconut. Nothing to fantastic but does the job. Would have loved some big chunks of fresh seasonal fruit on top. Also a dollop of coconut yogurt instead of the pink yogurt would have made it much tastier :) All in all it was nice, but I wouldn’t be rushing back to get it again.

This is a great local cafe, serving great coffee, has friendly staff and generous and tasty food. It is my 'go-to' when friends drop by for coffee and has a nice atmosphere. The food is hearty and home made and I have enjoyed many a breakfast or brunch here on my own or with friends. It is a very comfortable place to just sit and read the paper with a coffee (and maybe a cheeky cake or house made scone or doughnut). Highly recommended for consistency of coffee, food and service which is a very good thing indeed.

Really cute and homely cafe in the strip near Gardenvale station. Like many shops nearby it is a converted house so is quite long and narrow with bigger tables available at the back.<br/><br/>I had the almond milk matcha latte and “I can’t decide” breakfast board with mini versions of the coconut bircher, smashed avo, vege shakshuka & bread. Everything was soooo delicious and I was absolutely stuffed when I left! The smashed avo was especially good, with an excellent blend of feta & avo (not too salty), with beetroot coulis and pomegranates adding unexpectedly sweet notes. Definitely recommend and wish we were more local to try the other amazing looking menu options!<br/><br/>

This place is sensational! Coffee delicious, staff so friendly, and the food amazing! I love the salads, ricotta and pear muffins, and breakfasts. Never had a coffee or meal that I didn’t love!

Food is yum coffee is good staff are amaziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig

Wise Men Say is located in a small shopping strip near Gardenvale station. I brought my puppy along for this cafe visit this time (he was too young to be left home alone). The cafe provides a small bench for toy size dogs and pet bowl outside. I was impressed by the detail in the latte art, it was consistent with my second cup of hot chocolate too!

Tucked along Martin Street, Brighton we walked through the cafe's sliding door and were greeted by the friendly waitress who firstly grabbed our coffee order. <br/><br/>Our coffees arrived and we were impressed with the coffee art. The coffee photos speak for themselves. The coffees were also of a very high standard. <br/><br/>I ordered the ricotta hotcakes as I saw a photo of them on a review and they looked so good. When it arrived I was certainly impressed with how beautifully presented it looked and the photo I had seen did not do it justice! The dish was served with light ricotta hotcakes topped with Forest berry curd and surrounded with halva, a mixture of berries and strawberries with ice cream. The combination of the halva, berries and hotcakes were to die for. I didn't even share any with my friend! <br/><br/>My friend ordered the Rueben Benedict which looked appetising. It was layered beautifully starting with bread then Swiss cheese, sweet red cabbage, slices of corned beef and topped with poached eggs and Russian Hollandaise sauce. The combination of the sweet cabbage juice mixed in with the bread, Swiss cheese and corned beef really was mouth watering. <br/><br/>The portion sizes are very generous here so make sure you come with an empty stomach and an appetite. Both the service and food quality are excellent. The only issue was that we ate everything on our plate cos it was so good so it was a double bootcamp session for us the next day! <br/><br/>Thank you for the invitation guys!

Noticed the soup sign at the window and came in. Tried the Borscht and the Chicken so far and they were both Delish! Tomorrow i will be trying the lentil guys.

Being a local in the neighbourhood I was looking for a cafe that was different and served interesting breakfast. My prayers were answered when Wisemen came to town. Instead of serving the same ol poached eggs and bacon they offer breakfast with a twist. I had the Reuben Eggs Benedict and oh my god that was a match made in heaven! The atmosphere is always chilled despite the busy lunch hour service and the service is super friendly and welcoming. It's going to sound funny but whenever I go to this cafe I feel like I'm getting a hug from a warm Russian mother. This cafe is great for lazy breakfasts and long lunches or just a good cup of Axil coffee over discussions about music with the barista.

Love this place for a great takeaway option on the way to work but also love the menu options with a Russian twist, especially the salmon stack. The coffee is one of my favourites and the friendly staff can really brighten up your day!

Loved the corned beef sandwich and the smoked salmon egg roll with drill. I keep going back for these two of my favourite dishes!!! The staff was friendly and service is very professional!!!

Came across this lovely cafe today. The coffee was fantastic and check out the coffee art! Service is fantastic and blueberry muffins are amazing.

Thoroughly enjoyed the borscht as recommended by the waitress. My husband loved the ricotta hotcakes. We'll be back for more :) perfect grub for the coming winter cold!!

A friend of mine recommended this Russian style cafe today. The coffee was excellent and the service was really friendly. <br/><br/>I had a piccolo latte and my friend had a soy latte. We really enjoyed them and if it wasn't mid afternoon I would have had another one but I can't as I won't sleep haha<br/><br/>I'm saying that now, as I write this at a late hour lol<br/><br/>For brunch I had a Rueben w eggs benny. OMGosh yummm this was amazingly delicious except the bread which wasn't toasted. For some reason I thought that the bread would be toasted and I was going to ask the waitress... but alas. It was still very good. <br/><br/>My friend had a soft shell crab tart w salad. The feedback was great. <br/><br/>This is a great cafe w a Russian twist.

I have eaten here numerous times and am always 100% happy with my experiences. Their menu is interesting, the food always flavoursome and fresh, and the staff really helpful and friendly!<br/>This place is a gem ❤

Have eaten here 6 times now...... delish! <br/>All home cooked food huge selection from the deli or the menu always fresh. Gluten free dishes too. Great choice of coffee, golden latte's and teas.... caring service.

Perfect place for a hungover brunch as the potions are massive. I had the bruschetta whilst my friends had the porridge and avo smash. My bruschetta was really simple but super tasty and the gluten free bread was actually nice (unlike some which often taste like cardboard). The porridge also looked and smelt amazing and I had a try of the avo smash which was honestly the best I've ever tasted. Prices are super reasonable and they use Axil coffee which is a bonus. Being a local in this area, I only wish I had discovered this cafe earlier. Will definitely be back to order the avo smash next time. This place is my new favourite local.

This cafe hAs the most delicious food. I love love eating here, like home cooking but gourmet to look at and taste. My favourite is soft shell crab. The prices are not over the top and the staff are friendly. Not your fancy pay to much yuppie cafe but not their prices either. Good coffee and good food makes a great cafe

I stop at this cafe most mornings to get my coffee when I am passing through Gardenvale and it's always quite an inviting place. Today I had extra time on my hands so I decided to try some breakfast. The friendly and attentive waitress let me know that they had only just started their new winter menu and pointed out all the new dishes for me. She was knowledgable, able to answer most questions I had (as I have a few intolerances), and when she didn't know an answer she kindly asked the kitchen and didn't make me feel like it was a burden at all. The cafe was quite busy at the time so I really appreciated her willingness to help. <br/><br/>I decided on the spiced gingerbread porridge and wow was that a good choice! It arrived beautifully presented with wholesome fruits, caramelised apple, and to top it off there was a cute gingerbread man bathing in my hot porridge. Overall it was a great wintery dish which left me satisfied. <br/><br/>Having been in hospitality myself, I really appreciate genuine service, and I feel that is what this place offers. The staff are personable but not overbearing, and both the food and coffee are impressive. It may not look like your typical Melbourne cafe but the offerings are definitely up to scratch. All the dishes coming from the kitchen looked amazing. Keep it up guys!

Honestly below average. Sorry to say. The muffin was obviously NOT made today. Coffee was alright but overall, really disappointed. Given them the benefit of the doubt so many times. I'm not going back again

I got take away lunch from here of a muffin and a lamb wrap and both items were absolutely delicious but the waiting time at 25mins was ridiculous given that the wrap just needed to be heated up. I think they forgot about my take out. There were only two staff members that I could see on this day. They were both really nice but did seem a bit frazzled so I won't hold it against them. Luckily i wasn't in a rush, but if you're planning on going it might be worth taking a seat, dining in, and having a slow lazy lunch.

Love this place! We've had lunch here maybe 10-12 times over the past few months and it's always delicious food and service with a smile. There's a really personal feel to the place, and as well as the set menu there's dishes that change every day. And it's all very reasonable. We ate in 3 other local cafes before finding this one, but since then we've gone nowhere else in the area. Well recommended!

With amazing staff , friendly service , delicious coffee , and tasty food - what else do you need ?! The roti wrap is absolutely to die for !! Definitely one to add to your list of places to try!

Best coffee on martin street hands down!! The enthusiastic crew make the place tick, Liz and Denise alone are the two gems in this beautiful little cafe in Brighton and then the hand roasted specialty coffee brewed to perfection is an explosion to the taste buds every morning. Is there a 6th star ??

Our favourite cafe in Brighton! Wholesome dishes that taste delicious and very generous servings (always pleasing to my husband and his friends!). The staff are always friendly and welcome us with a smile. A must try if you haven't been!

Average service and average food. Told me my steak sandwich was done but didn't serve it to me for like 5 mins and it was cold and luke warm in the middle. Chips were soggy.

I chose the ‘Coconut Eggs in red Thai curry with potato crisps and pumpkin. Served with toasted roti ($16.50)’. The eggs were surrounded in a yummy, spicy sauce that felt so comforting on a cold day. The accompanying roti bread was flaky and plentiful indeed...

Terrific !!! Great menu, friendly, & exactly as patrons would want. Baked eggs were excellent.<br/><br/>Well done<br/><br/>10000 times better service than Sons of Mary !!!

Wise man say is a absolute must try place here in Gardenvale.<br/>The coffee is amazing and the food is truly made with love. <br/>The staff is friendly and caring even at 7am in the morning which is one of the main reasons why I don't go anywhere else here in Gardenvale.

Awesome place! Super generous and delicious servings of food，great ambience and staff and the coffee was excellent. 5 star brekkie experience

Had my breakfast today in this warm inviting cafe. I am a huge foodie person and when my breakfast arrived I was pleasantly surprised at the presentation Stunning!!!! The taste was fantastic just like it looked!!! Great work. Will be back for sure👍🏽👍🏽

I often have walked passed this place on my way to my usual cafe in Gardenvale. Today I decided to walk in and I am glad that I did. To start with the coffee is really good, the best in Gardenvale by far. I had two flat whites that were at perfect temperate and the Axil coffee beans were just perfect. <br/>I had the chicken soup which was like a delicious warm hug. The food pouring out from the kitchen looked healthy and delicious. <br/>The atmosphere was relaxing and the staff were friendly and warm. <br/>This may just be my new hideaway hangout.

Amazing cafe, great service and food. Highly recommend for anyone looking for real quality and atmosphere. Definitely do yourself a favour and go here.

Fresh food, amazing coffee, great vibes and smiling faces - what more could you want? Staff are super friendly and attentive and the food is generous and high quality. Been there many times and we love it!!

This quaint little cafe is perfect for a late breakfast and coffee when hiding from the grey Melbourne drizzle. Warm and inviting atmosphere, attentive staff, delicious food and beautiful home made cakes for a little treat after. A definite recommendation, a place I will certainly return to!

Wise man says.... Stay away. It was a great day outside and I thought to myself why not put on my favourite pair of target uggs and walk down and get a coffee and maybe a Salmon Stack. So I make my order and wait about 20 minutes until I ask someone how my order is coming, the person making the coffee’s did not seem to interested in my question. The Coffee was not up to what I would have liked either. Place could of used a bit of a tidy up as well. Think I’ll stick with Sons of Mary or the dollar coffee from 7/11. <br/>

Just awful. Irredeemably so. Pretentious atmosphere, overpriced food and coffee likely imported from the bin. Just a horrendous place. Avoid.

This is my definite go to place. Love the menu. The soups are delicious , my favorite being the chicken noodle soup with minced chicken balls. Heartwarming and nourishing. Also love their eggs dishes, whether it's smashed avo with beetroot relish and a poached egg, their baked eggs and beans or just eggs and sides. The smoked salmon stack is awesome too , there is a beetroot hash brown that is finger licking good. Coffee is great too, service friendly and grandma's apple cake is a treat. I've brought many different friends to this cafe and everyone agrees it's a winner. Great job guys. I love having somewhere that is reliably great. It's a no brainer.. Yum!

I really like this place. They've turned what used to be a bit of a drain of a cafe into something really cool. There's a really nice atmosphere and the staff are really friendly and welcoming. The coffee is excellent and I've only eaten here twice but on both occasions the food was excellent. One thing I will suggest though is that the old coffee shop that this one replaced used real chocolate on the coffees instead of powder, which is what really made it for me!

Great little cafe with great food and very friendly staff. We always try finding cafes with creative menu and this is one of them we found and for sure keep returning.

Went today for first time since it was redesigned. Old place was sterile and plain. Now it has character and great food! Probably the best cafe on Martin st now. Great menu, generous portions and friendly staff. Highly rated.

Coffee tasted great, but subjectively clouded by the fact that I had to wait for them to serve the regulars that had ordered long after me to get my order. Doesn't leave a good aftertaste first thing in the morning... Your coffee is great, please bring your service up to scratch!

Really cool new cafe in a nice strip of shops. Nice selection of healthy and beautifully presented food, with an interesting (but not overwhelming) Russian twist. Friendly staff. I ordered the lamb shank with cous cous and the generous portion was too much for me to finish in one sitting...but also too good to let the leftovers go to waste.

Great place for lunch.  The menu was interesting and creative - almost too hard to choose what to eat. Great relaxed décor and staff.  I'll be back so I can work through the rest of the menu.

Beautifully furnished, funky cafe with staff to match! Yummy home cooked meals on display enticed us to come in for coffee which turned into brunch. With such a diverse selection of meals available it was hard to choose but went for the smoked salmon stack and the breakfast bruschetta and some freshly squeezed juices. Both were presented beautifully and absolutely delicious. Will be back again to try out the specials board!

There is nothing better then a good new local opening up! Thank you Wise Men Say! I was so impressed with the menu that I've been back a few times already to try more dishes. It's in a convenient location for brunch on the weekends and I've found it's also been great for quick breakfast, smoothie or coffee stop on the way to work. The staff are welcoming and the vibe is very inviting. Looking forward to my next meal!

Friendly and relaxed cafe with an enticing and interesting menu. Our breakfast was great and we will definitely return. However I must remember to ask for my coffee hot next time. ☕️<br/><br/>Update: we have returned here on many occasions especially for their incredibly delicious and generous breakfast dishes. The breakfast burrito is amazing and their bacon and egg / coffee combo for $10 is the best value in Bayside. Great staff and good solid coffee

A fresh new brunch place located in Brighton. The place has a pretty funky set up decorated with some really cool lights made up of top hats. They also have some really old schools bits and pieces giving the place a really awesome vibe. This is a really great cafe for larger groups as they have quite a few tables of 4 that would comfortably fit at least 5 people. It is also situated just down the road from the beach which makes it the perfect place to eat before going for a stroll along the beach.

What can say, this cafe that I stumbled across a few weeks ago, is now my new a regular place to go to. Vibrant atmosphere inside, staff are so friendly and especially staff that know how to explain the food is brilliant. Interior design I love and it's so comfortable. The guy that makes the coffees, one friendly guy, full of life and always remembers my name. My hat goes off to the chef...the presentation is totally different from any other cafe I have been to for breakfast or lunch, even the use of the plates!!! The food, my favourite is the Coconut soaked porridge, the chicken sanga, the breakfast burger is so delicious. Mission is to sample everything. OMG, the homemade apple cake is to die for...be quick to get a slice, as I heard its so popular and Sells out as quick as its baked. As a local, it's a real change and glad they opened up. I shall be back again tomorrow or on the weekend. Highly recommended and my friends that have been give it 10/10

I came in to try this place today and it had some of the best coffee and some of the best poached eggs I have ever had. Cant recommend this place enough and will be back for more.

So happy to have a new cafe in the area! Especially one that serves speciality coffee! Had the avo smash for breakfast was delish! Definitely coming back to try the rest of the menu!

Just opened, we thought we'd bypass the usual haunt and try Wise Men Say on Martin Street.<br/><br/>Sunday breakfast order of poached eggs on gluten free toast with bacon and spinach.<br/>The produce was beautifully clean and fresh but unfortunately the GF bread was of poor quality and the poached eggs were overdone and not at all poached by someone with experience.<br/><br/>The general ambiance is comfortable and can see it improving once the staff become more relaxed and start having fun. Although the service was friendly, it was a little awkward at times.<br/><br/>The boys at the coffee machine knew what they were doing and produced a decent latte. Thumbs up lads!<br/><br/>

Great to have a new cafe in the area. I had an absolutely delicious smashed avocado- loved the addition of beetroot to the dish to take it to the next level. My friends had the bruschetta & the baked eggs & both dishes were generous & yummy! Coffee was spot on & the staff were definitely eager to please. Keep up the good job!

The first thing the service staff did was apologies that they had just opened and were doing the best they could. Service was a little slow. Our toast was undercooked. The poached eggs were very small and overcooked. We were given free coffees to try. They were too bitter and tasted burnt. I wish them luck but they need to improve soon.

Amazing, fresh produce masterfully arranged into dishes that are not only delicious but appealing to the eye. Perfect atmosphere for a relaxed brunch, a family outing or to cure last night's hang over. Definitely have a go at the Avo Smash and you can't leave without trying Babushka's Russian Custard Slice!

What a fantastic joint. We had heard the hype of this place opening and it certainly lived up to the expectation! So many great sounding brunch foods to order, plus a HUGE cabinet of ready made pies, wraps, foccacias and more... We found out that they use axil coffee and the two baristas who were working certainly brought out the best of the axil house blend. <br/>They offer a few gluten free options so that's great to see for those with various intolerances. <br/>The decor is modern and would be really comfortable to sit in for a long time if you had a few hours to kill. <br/>Overall, I had a fantastic experience here and with great food, coffee and service and I'd highly recommend going to check out this new Cafe in Brighton, it definitely belongs on some sort of top list of Melbourne. <br/>

New cafe alert! Opening its doors this week, this Brighton newbie has a menu full of options from an open breakie burger, to chicken liver w. onion jam, orange fennel salad for the brave, & reliable avo toast w. an added twist of beetroot coulis. Interior is quirky mixed with industrial. Pancakes were AH-mazing & available on the specials board. When Wise Men speak, take note.