TL;DR: We have a real treat right here. From the sheer beauty of the food, which is not an exaggeration, to the design of the entire experience including the decor, and the manner of service, this is a place where they make sure people know they are being taken care of. And with all the little gestures and characteristics at hand for that, it adds up to that unique environment that is hard to replicate as it is easy to know.
It was Sunday again, and that means the general routine. Breakfast and groceries. My house mate is the one on the ball these days with finding new places, and he has a pretty good run under his belt. Melidrop might be one of his biggest scores yet. From what he was telling me, the reception about it was glowing, and that a Greek influence ran through its veins. Plus, it was back to Kangaroo Point where everything is high quality and somewhat experimental in nature – only this area of town would have a place like this.
Whether it is inside or outside to sit outside, or want to sit inside, both options have their charms and are aesthetically pleasing. If we are talking about right outside the shop front, it does retain a bit of charm. Consider what comes to mind when you hear "European-style " and that almost fits the image. The tables and chairs are a simple design, clients sit in the shade from both the trees and the umbrellas provided, and it is a good spot for observing the world go by. Additionally, there is the window for walk-up, take-out orders. That ain't bad, but inside is where it really gets lovely.
This must have been an old-style house beforehand, and you can tell by the walls and everything. Several small rooms about, which in close to every nook and cranny are asking for their photo to be taken. They have many styles of furniture, each one having a vintage aura. Upon the walls are a range of artworks, particularly with Greek influence. The cafe has provided plenty of board games to play in passing the time while having coffee, and all this makes a cool, and calming atmosphere certainly assists the relaxed vibe.
The service they got has set a good standard, starting with a chipper demeanour from the waitstaff. However, when walking in the door and settling down, it all gets better from there. This place, it is not only that they really care for you during the customer service experience, but that you are made to feel special. To merely describe it would actually be an injustice, and with how much I cannot stress with recommending this place, you will want to see what the fuss is about. Often quick service is the preference, but if they get the elements right a more relaxed, and methodical approach garners a real appreciation. What I particularly liked was the tray used to carry the items around. It was held by a handle up above, think the structure of a lamp, which kept the surface steady. That might have been the touch that pushed it from being really good service, to something else in my book.
From the sounds of the breakfast menu, it might not imply it so much, but from the lunch menu it is made apparent that you are eating in a Greek restaurant. But then, in defence knowing the history around here Greeks started making their mark with cooking anything and adapting well - so it evens out. Influences here and there come to play with breakfast, where they keep it relatively simple. In the all day section, those with a sweet tooth have something to salivate over - especially on the weekend, and boy hang in there for that. Some of their Greek treats are also there throughout the day, mainly having feta as a leading ingredient.
Lunch is even better. We were here for breakfast, and there was something akin to order envy right there upon reading the menu. They forgo a lot of the standard fare in many Greek restaurants, and showcase some of the more overlooked dishes. It is a modest selection, one that kind of favours the carnivore more than otherwise.
Drinks are sort of the standard fare here; they are definitely aiming for the health scene and regardless they have a standard fare of their own - after all the coffees and teas, fruit and acai smoothies, bottled juices, kombucha (whatever that is), and all sorts of water are up for grabs.
Plus it would not be a breakfast/brunch place if they did not have a cabinet with several types of sweets to savour alongside the coffee. It does adhere to the formula somewhat, while managing to carve a speciality in their food. If all of this is sounding so good, it is all made that much better by being relatively easy on the wallet.
Coffee comes from Bear Bones, which is a rarer kind to find and when you do find it, it is a real treat to behold. This is the kind of coffee that rewards coffee lovers, especially those who like theirs a little more on the bold side. While it is not always one of the stronger ones regarding giving out that characteristic buzz, what it does well over make up for is giving out a distinct sort of flavour. For the most part, I could comment - but it was a slight detour this time.
With it being a Greek place, I made a shot in the dark to see if they the Greek style coffee. This time, it was a big success - so Greek coffee it was. As a testament to just how good the service was, the Greek coffee came with a small glass of sparkling water, and some sort of sticky, vanilla-flavoured sweet. Whether that is something that is done in Greece with their style of coffee, or just an idiosyncrasy of this place, it was a nice gesture and just adds to the place.
Drinking a Greek coffee is an experience you won't soon forget, and they were playing it that much beyond with the little additions. The cups they use are around the same size as a doll's tea party cup, maybe even a little bit smaller. However, the contents they put inside the cup will blow even the strongest of the espressos right out of the water. That was the case right here; on that note, the Greek coffee was doing its job well. It starts out with that sharp bit of strength which some might call bitter, which after a while manages to calm down. The quantity is only small by sight, and with that aforementioned strength, one can last a long time. Whatever that vanilla thing on the side was, it had a toffee-like texture. What a reward for trying something new!
Getting onto the breakfast at hand, my choice was the kayianna, or in other words, some scrambled eggs. These were infused with tomatoes, and a bunch of fresh herbs, on top of a thick piece of toasted sour-dough, and finished off with feta cheese. Grated feta cheese that is, which may well be a first for me. As additions, there was haloumi and crispy bacon. With all the breakfast places being visited, it is ones like this that give me the motivation to always seek them out and find the ones daring to be different. When that occurs, you get great inventions like this. The eggs were cloud soft, and the tomatoes infused themselves akin to a red paint and exuded their sweetness among the folds. All those herbs allowed the flavours to interact more, plus getting the feta grated allowed it to melt more. As per usual, the haloumi was delicious - perhaps a bit mild for my tastes, I fell in love with it years ago due to the sharp flavour. Plus, crispy bacon - and I mean crispy - always does well on the side.
My house mate went for the smoked salmon bagel, which was pretty much the standard recipe. Think having thick pieces of fish, cream cheese, plus spinach and cucumber. Nothing really wrong with that, and only so much that can be said about it. When several of the prime ingredients are a good level of quality, it makes for a nice bite - that was the case here. Both the bagel bread, and the salmon were thick and plentiful, everything else merely fell into line to compliment it.
With it being the weekend treat, my house mate could not say no to it. Greek sweets are always amazing, and this is one that does just that. The Bougasta! They take pride here with it. Stuffed within filo pastry, a thick vanilla custard is stuffed, then sprinkled with cinnamon. Many sweets can be eaten on the run, but that is not recommend with bougasta. It is made for sitting down, and taking your time. This morsel is a real slice of heaven, do yourself a favour and try it out.
That is just breakfast, and as good as it was, by the mere sounds of their lunch menu, the breakfast has practically nothing on it. If that is the case, meaning the lunch is as every bit as good as what the two of us had then, and it exceed the expectations going that much beyond.
I won't deny anything if this has become an overused expression on my part, but at Melidrop I do believe that they really are onto something. Location, location, location is well over half of the key to a places success, and in this nape of the woods the location doesn't get any better than this. Practically everything is given its due, right from the moment that you notice it from the sidewalk, to when you saunter in intrigued, and after that having a good meal.
With practically every aspect being something unique and characteristic, all of this is pulled off in a way that comes across as natural and honest. That is the big distinction that Melidrop has, after it is all said and done. You don't get something like that very often, which all the more gives bigger props to it. Anyone within this area should well be aware of a treat that has fallen into their laps. Even if it is not living nearby, however far abroad you are, Melidrop is worth travelling further into town just for something special.
Final rating: 4.5 - perfection is in reach.
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