Reviews El Mirage

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Emma-Eve H-k
+5
Coffee is unlike anything I’ve tasted before.. I’ve taken my parents here and they are tough critiques and agree with me! Their middle eastern inspired menu is both visually pleasing and delicious! Love coming to this place.. service is also wonderful, definitely would recommend.
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Fadi Hage
+5
Highly recommend place, staff were great with their services, the food was cooked to perfection, was very very satisfying 😋
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David Scodella
+5
Great place with an inviting ambiance! The Slim Jim breakfast never disappoints and the coffee is always on point.
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Loulou Grace
+5
This is one of my favorite cafes, great atmosphere with friendly efficient service, the food looks so appetizing but tastes even better than it looks. I would highly recommend you check it out if u haven't yet
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Sonia El
+5
My fave place to be on a Sunday! Great food and great service �
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Tom Ashcroft
+5
Came here for breakfast the other day and it totally blew me away by how good it was. My friends loved it too!
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Mo Mazen Zeini
+5
Awesome vibe, great coffee, very creative menu, highly recommend
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Cheryl Hughes
+5
Found this lovely Cafe by accident, three of us enjoyed a great lunch, corn fritters to die for and the calamari very yum. Staff lovely.
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Merv Collins
+5
Excellent, unpretentious lunch spot. Have tried numerous things off the menu at various tines and never been disappointed. Specials are reliably good. Chockers yesterday but service still fast enough and, as always, friendly and efficient.
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Abby Borg
+5
Great food but even more amazing staff & service! One of my fav places to have breakfast/lunch in Melbourne!
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Kudret Bayram
+5
Beautiful food, lovely staff and chilled atmosphere. What else can you ask for? Thank you guys!
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Sapate Patu
+5
Friendly staff and amazing food, compliments to the chef!! Definitely recommend to anyone visiting the area or local
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Audra Grace
+5
Excellent coffee and the staff always remember our coffee order. It can get super busy on weekends but they still manage to churn out the coffee in a reasonable time. Accidentally put 4 stars instead of 5 so have changed my rating.
Jul 03, 2019
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Krysma
+4
This was the special. Super tasty. Filling but light, actually kept me going all day. An nice selection of fruits and textures. There's something I really love about chewy goji berries.
May 31, 2019
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Chris Anders
+4
To the Chef:

Using green food coloring in your wasabi mayonnaise is cheating, and putting shaved watermelon radishes on everything is a great way of lifting the visual appeal of a dish, unless, of course, they are as wilted and gnarled as the ones that you served me.

Otherwise, your food was very nice and I have recommended your cafe to several of my friends.
Mar 26, 2019
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Platecreative
+4
Have you ever tried Wasabi Sorbet? In a póke bowl? 😳 If not you gotta try this beetroot cured salmon poke bowl from El Mirage!🥗 I really love the Japanese inspired flavors and black rice, which tasted real damn good with the nori crisps and wasabi sorbet on top ❤️
Feb 24, 2019
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Casey Falwasser
+5
Loved this cafe when visiting from NZ. Great portion sizes, delicious food, good atmosphere and the staff were super friendly and accommodating. Thanks guys!
Jan 09, 2019
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LouLou Loves Food
+4
Visited recently on a sunny weekend. The front deck is a great spot to sit and enjoy the sunshine. We ordered the whipped feta and corn fritters. Food was presented well and tasted good. My partner enjoyed the spice on the fritters and I really liked the combination of flavors with feta, avo and beetroot. Great that the OJ wasn’t served in a tiny glass like so many other places. Food did take some time to come out when it wasn’t super busy but was worth the wait.
Nov 07, 2018
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Win - FSC
+4
We had always wanted to visit El Mirage and it was such a wonderful experience!

Whipped feta - this was a pretty interesting dish as I rarely see feta being used with avocado! It was such a great combo together with the beetroot relish as it all melted into my mouth!

Okonomiyaki - I was skeptical at first when I ordered this as I was not sure how this was going to work! It turns out this ended up being my favorite dish of the day with the savory pancakes being complemented with the wasabi mayo, smoked salmon and pickled radish! Salty but not overly salty, this savory pancakes hit all the right spots! The poached egg on the top of it was a clever addition to the dish!

Breakfast panna cotta - A two flavored panna cotta (raspberry and yoghurt) served with granola, poached rhubarb and fresh fruits, this was the epitome of yummy and healthy! The choice of adding almond milk (which we did - see picture) was a clever idea which we indulged on! This was closely matched with the okonomiyaki making it my second favorite dish of the day!

Overall, El Mirage has plenty to offer with its unique flavors! Keep up the good work guys! 👍
Nov 04, 2018
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AnotherAsianAbroad
+4
Came here on a late Sunday afternoon and were seated straight away.

The service was great quick and friendly. We started off with a 3/4 latte which was perfect and a chai latte which was very light in flavour. I personally prefer a strong chai latte.

On to the food. First of all the portions were quite big and filling which is good. I opted for the eggs however didn’t realise one of the words must have meant sausages haha but it was still yum. The beef cheek dish was yum too. Overall solid breakfast
Jul 23, 2018
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Burgers Of Melbourne
+5
A hidden gem in Brunswick that blew my socks off! Usually when I order an eggs Benny burger it comes out plain and simple, but El Mirage really has it down pat! Amazing Benny burger, quality iced chocolate and a venue I will definitely be visiting again soon!
Jul 16, 2018
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Ashie Eats
+4
We rode past here, not knowing it existed and rounded back to try a coffee in the sun, their front area was so inviting!

We had French toast to share, and nice coffee. I love the interior so much! Super chill, inviting and the food looks like art! Will come back and recommend to friends.
Jun 18, 2018
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@foodtom
+5
Healthy, tasty and so much more. This little hip cafe is in the center of Brunswick and right across the road from a car mechanic. I barely even noticed it was there until I saw the bright GREEN wall and I knew it just had to be an awesome place. They exceeded expectations and the food was greatly photogenic and tasted amazing. Seriously an awesome place to visit.
May 30, 2018
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Queen Of Food
+4
A cute little understated cafe on Lygon st in Brunswick East. For breakfast I had the jalapeño and corn fritters and they were lovely. Crispy on the outside and soft and flavoursome on the inside. Serving sizes are generous too and the ingredients and fresh. Look forward to returning again.
May 13, 2018
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Thecheftable
+5
A great place for a coffee, brunch or lunch. Nice ambience and friendly service with a good selection of fresh food available.recomended when you are in the area 😃😁
Mar 15, 2018
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DamoForce Food
+5
A cool place to enjoy brunch. Their staff are nice and coffee well above average. Their signinute dish is a must the chia pudding but you can't go wrong with their version of a big brekkie the gringo. Very much enjoyed.
Mar 06, 2018
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Melb Food Baby
+4
So glad we visited here!

Beautifully plated and the flavours were great too. We ordered the French Toast special, Coconut Chia Pudding, Breakfast Bruschetta & the Okonomiyaki.

Top picks were definitely the Coconut Chia Pudding & Breakfast Bruschetta.
Feb 25, 2018
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Nicole Wamba
+5
After seeing chia pudding on social media I just knew I had to make the trip to Brunswick to give it a try! Well worth the drive, this breakfast dish was insanely good and has had me dreaming about it for days!
Feb 18, 2018
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KnowingMelbourne
+4.5
I visited this cafe this morning and boy was I impressed. Firstly and importantly: YOU CAN BOOK A TABLE FOR BRUNCH! Amazing! Secondly, the coffee is delicious, strong and good flavour. I had a cappuccino and an iced latte. The iced latte was probably one of the best, with a nice creamy foam on top.
We ordered six dishes and they were all enjoyable. The Gringo was nice (the Mexican beans were spicy), the blt was huge and filling. The pancakes were fluffy and topped with a tangy lemon curd and a sweet mascarpone. The Benedict Souffle was so unique. A potato and thyme soufflé with poached eggs, grilled ham, beans, peas and a pumpkin mash. So so good!
The Whipped fetta was another pretty and huge meal.
The food here is to be recommended, big menu and everything was top quality.
Feb 03, 2018
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Passion On A Plate
+4
My go to place for my morning coffee.
Love this place,the staff are friendly, and the food delicious, with a middle eastern influence. A hidden gem for discerning foodies
Jan 02, 2018
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J0yy173
+5
Today's Sunday brunch was in a family run cafe with a diverse menu and attentive service. On entry the barista was clearly busy but greeted us politely and asked us to wait. This is a very small thing but goes a long way to acknowledge our presence and showed simple courtesy - we appreciated that.

The Jalapeno Fritters was a delicious combination of charred corn and dried haloumi, salmon, coriander and lime labne. The different textures in each mouthful were complemented by the harmonious flavours of each ingredient. My friend also enjoyed his Gringo - poached eggs with Mex beans, bacon, mushrooms, hash potato and smashed avocado.

The waitress went to a lot of trouble to check that my dish didn't have uncooked onions (The Thing I don't eat). The Tumeric Latte is really worth checking out - tasty with soy milk and honey and the dehydrated beetroot dusting adds to the presentation.

Good food, great service, a place worth repeat visits.
Dec 24, 2017
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Anna Phan
+4.5
I work really close to El Mirage every Friday and this is my frequent lunch spot. Love the atmosphere and the people here, they are all really lovely and friendly ♥️ this time i tried their special: coconut chia pudding with mango, whipped coconut, fresh berry and tuile biscuit. IT IS SO GOOD 😭😭😭 especially the tuile with some whipped coconut cream on top T_____T the chia pudding is creamy, paired really nice with the fresh mango, berry adds some acidic flavor and the nuts add some crunchy texture. Please come and try this dish while it's still on the menu.
Nov 17, 2017
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Habib
+4
great little cafe tucked away in brunswick. coffee lines are longer than rupanzels hair, however i am not a coffee drinker so it didn’t phase me. Though when walking in can be confusing as we didn’t know the line for the take away coffee had nothing to do with wanting to sit in and eat. staff are friendly. food was delicious. great place for brunch.
Nov 11, 2017
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Jolene Lim
+3.5
I remembered El Mirage when it first opened at the northern end of Lygon st at Brunswick East over 10 years ago. The menu of this cafe has evolved over time and I was really looking forward to return to this cafe after so many years after reading the rave reviews on Zomato. We came to El Mirage for Saturday brunch and were seated right away. The cafe has a wooden and olive green colour theme which was nice and welcoming. Whilst skimming through the menu, I couldn't find the breakfast platter for 2 which I read from a review posted 2 months ago on Zomato. When I enquired the staff I was told that it has been removed from the menu. So we decided to order the corn fritter with salmon and the Brie bagel with coffee. Nice to know they have almond milk option for the coffee. The coffee looked a bit strong when it arrived at the table but taste alright. There are not many cakes on display. When the food arrived on the table, my corn fritters were served with bacons instead of salmon. The staff was apologetic and offered to change it but I told them don't worry about it. I'm not a fan of haloumi in the salsa and find the corn fitters batter a bit too thick and lacking the charred corn flavours. It's a nice local cafe but nothing spectacular.
Sep 03, 2017
Zomato
TheyCallHimX
+4.5
Really enjoyed it here. Whether you sat inside or outside, it's gonna be a cool vibe.

Staff were very friendly and welcoming. Very attentive too and helpful with menu choices.
Coffee was great which is always a plus.

Missus loved her granola and the serving size. I had the beef burger, which was very different to most burgers I've eaten lately. Very interesting flavour. But I enjoyed it a lot. Just wish it was a little bigger. Or more beef and less bun. Either way, well worth a try.
Chips were very crispy on the outside. Some were slightly under cooked on the inside.

Overall it was a very good experience and we will be back.
Jul 23, 2017
Zomato
The Pet Roo
+5
What do you do when you walk into a cafe and you don't know what to choose because everything on the menu looks good? Easy, order a bit of everything! We noticed the Breakfast Board for two and at $41 we though it seemed great value. When it came out our jaws literally dropped, a massive wow for presentation and colour. Where do I start. Everything on the plate worked. The Bacon toast when combined with the smashed peas, yum and a big tick. The goats cheese croquettes, smooth on the inside and crispy on the out, the Benedict shot which was the white of a boiled egg with bacon and hollandaise sauce, extremely moorish, the amazing Avocado whip, the crispy corn fritters served with a lightly tangy cream and a corn and avocado salsa and then there was the smoked salmon, again delicious and served with an apple and fennel salad. The vine tomatoes were devine and pop with sweetness in your mouth when eaten whole. I could go on and on, the scrambled eggs, the sujuk ( although it should be cut into thin slices) and the freshly squeezed orange juice and just when one was satisfied with what one has been served there's more.....
The dessert which was inclusive in the price was not only a bonus but again top notch for flavour combinations. The buttermilk waffle fingers combined with the honey, the lemon curd and very smooth mascarpone cream was a taste sensation and the Nutella panacotta with the coconut, almonds and the spun sugar was a delight. I would have to say this is an amazing concept, great to share and super value for the quality of produce you receive. When the word gets out, this place will be run off its feet preparing this delightful offering, just the best!
Jun 25, 2017
Zomato
A Chronicle Of Gastronomy
+3.5
No, you’re not imaging things. There is a cafe here. El Mirage is a little hidden away, being set back a far distance from the street. After walking past the small outdoor seating area, you’re greeted by a quaint interior with a curved wooden ceiling, school chairs and a banquette that spans the length of the cafe.
Jun 22, 2017
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LindaDee
+4.5
Visited today for brunch and had a delicious breakfast. Such a nice casual vibe, read the paper and enjoyed my coffee while waiting for breakfast. Ordered the special which was a spiced pumpkin mash on seeded bread with poached eggs, roast asparagus, pumpkin and crispy kale with feta and a sprinkle of toasted nuts. So yummy! The coffee was nice but would prefer it stronger so asked for an extra shot which the staff were happy to provide.
Jun 16, 2017
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Joyce Wu
+4.5
The fresh juice and special pumpkin smash were both super tasty. I would like to highlight smash Pumpkin, all elements in the plate were just so yummy. staffs are very friendly and work efficiently.
Jun 08, 2017
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Fritter Lover
+4.5
It seems this cafe doesn't spend for advertisement and always next door cafe is on the media. As a local I like this one more.
As I have had various fritters (corn, zucchini, beatroot etc) wherever I found, I believe their Corn fritters dish is the best in Melbourne. Fritters are often made in flat like pancakes, but theirs are three dimensional with fresh crunchy corns and bacons or salmon slices are thick, and poached eggs are perfect.

Services depends on the staff and the decor is simple. Coffee is nice.

We locals actually want to keep this place secret but I can't help telling I believe their Corn fritters is the best fritters in Melbourne.
May 28, 2017
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Izzy Hewage
+5
Has to rate 10/10 for the customer service. Didn't had what I'm after because they ran out of some stuff. But they decided to make something personalised for me instead of saying No. and that was the best waffles with maple soaked banana I had in a long time! Great cafe. Love the people.
May 21, 2017
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Brian
+4
Great coffee and I'm super hard to please with my long machiatto ocd😎. Great breakfast options with interesting zesty relishes on toasted 9 grain with avo and poached eggs, breakfast bruschetta and the corn fritters if you want something more substantial. I also had the loaded sweet potato fries with the coriander and Chipotle mayo. Great value at $8.00 and on specials board the day I called in.
Mar 23, 2017
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Rania Tannous Seoud
+4.5
So impressed with this little gem of a cafe we found in Brunswick. The whole family was impressed with the food, it was delicious. Will definitely be back for more
Feb 26, 2017
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Phuong Phan
+4
Visited this place on a hungry brunch morning. There's another cafe next to it so not to get confused like I did. Staff was super friendly upon arrival. Decided to go with the corn fritters as recommend by others. It didn't disappoint at all. Very flavoursome on the side and filling. Definitely a place to try if you're around.
Feb 03, 2017
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Liz
+4.5
El mirage is so lovely. Whether you're going for brunch with some friends or want to have a quiet coffee and read of the paper solo, this is the place to go. The staff are super friendly so the service is attentive and polite. The coffee is always good and the food is DELICIOUS. Great generous servings always cooked to perfection.
Nov 27, 2016
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Elle
+5
This place just keeps getting better and better. It is my go to brunch spot, my favourite coffee haunt and the best place to sit in the sun and read a book. The food is amazing. I have eaten the fritters a few too many times as I crave them at nearly every opportunity. Today I tried the special - fritters (obviously), a whole grain waffle with avo whip and hot smoked salmon, and a delightful little dessert cup of passionfruit chia pudding. The breakfast board is the best idea - I don't have to get food envy as I get to try everything! The chef here clearly has insight and is always trying new things. The presentation is beautiful, the potion sizes perfect and most importantly, the taste is delicious. No matter what you order. Do yourself a favour and get down to El Mirage. You won't regret it!
Nov 19, 2016
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George Forgan-Smith
+4.5
Great coffee in an industrial feel.
I enjoyed the ambience as well as a great Chai Latte.
Service was good and there was a nice selection of cakes and snacks.
A recommended stop if you're at this end of Lygon St.
Nov 04, 2016
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Sonia
+4.5
The staff couldn't have been friendlier. I ordered a new menu item, tuna tacos. The 4 small hard tacos were beautifully presented. The many ingredients were super fresh and diced up small so you got a great mix of tastes in every bite. There was the right combo of flavours and texture. The wasabi mayo even gave that heat sensation you only get from wasabi. While I was expecting soft tacos, the crunch was welcome.
Oct 29, 2016
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Zac Robertson
+4.5
Loved the vibe and variety on the menu at El Mirage. Liked whats been done with the space too, the counterless look gives off a spacious relaxed feel. The menu has something for everyone and the coffee was top!
Oct 05, 2016
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Charlotte Clements
+5
El Mirage is our local and we love everything about it: the food, the coffee, the wait staff, the sound track - it hums in the weekends and is a great weekday nook for free wifi gobbling! I hanker for variety so I am surprised to find I just can't think of a better place to have breakfast, brunch, lunch and coffee in almost any given situation. The food is consistently good - better than average cafe food and just a little cheaper than most comparable places in the neighbourhood. Servings are ample and the ingredients fresh and funky. I love the middle eastern influences and the owner puts a lot of energy into creating new and wondrous dishes to keep it interesting. I have ridiculous restrictions on my dietary intake but am able to enjoy dithering over a few favourites and a special. Pop in and enjoy a relaxed yet vibey eating experience.
Sep 25, 2016
Zomato
Elderblood
+4
I can't help but blame myself why I didn't come here earlier coz I've probably driven past it a hundred times already. It is not typically usual to find something like gnocchi with lamb shoulder in lamb jus on the menu at a local cafe, which tastes absolutely divine. The smoke salmon was great as well. Love the interior design and music! We'll be back soon for sure.
Sep 10, 2016
Zomato
Spirited Stardust
+3.5
I had the grain salad (veganised) which was really delicious.
Hubby had the burger but said it was average.
Nice staff and the food came out pretty quick.
Sep 08, 2016
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Elle Jaybee
+4.5
My favourite local cafe! Fairly priced delicious food, good coffee and nice fresh cakes etc. topped off with a really lovely, comfortable, friendly vibe :) Sometimes staff can be a little off with the fairies but the manager is lovely.
Aug 22, 2016
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Brew Hunter
+4
El mirage’s inviting outdoor elevated seating area situated off busy Lygon street next to well known cafe neighbour East Elevation, serves exception food and coffee in a non-traditional cafe environment. 

El Mirage makes an impression immediately as the aesthetically pleasing decking out the front of the cafe next to a beautifully painted mural wall immediately grabs ones attention for a closer look. Upon entering this well established cafe on a late Sunday afternoon the interior delivers more of a surprise with the whole side wall lined with seating whilst the other wall shows the true uniqueness of this cafe, as the long bench that meets the kitchen at the back is used as an open counter displaying an assortment of baked goods and the baristas station. The narrow yet deep cafe housing the kitchen down the back is reminiscent of an old diner truely creating a relaxed atmosphere that can comfortably seat serval occupants. 
The cafe was rather quite when we arrived and we opted to sit out on the decking in the sun whilst we where greeted by a lovely waitress who delivered our menus and took out drink orders of a long mac and a chai latte. Our drinks arrived in a timely fashion and where enjoyed whilst we viewed El mirage’s large array of dishes featured on there menu. 

The Long mac was nice and strong with more of a fruity acidic texture than ones palate is used to with its only fall being its overall temperature which could have benefited from being hotter. The Chai latte was lovely and creaming with a well frothed top and generous dash of cinnamon crafting for a well balanced not to sweet beverage.
After paying attention to our rumbling stomachs we ordered the Gringo 2.0 that the lovely waitress let me alter for no additional cost and the Grain Salad.  

Our meals arrived looking divine showcasing the fresh produce that has clearly been handled with care and nurtured onto the plate. The Gringo 2.0 traditionally comes with poached eggs on toast with mex beans, vine tomatoes, bacon, filed mushroom, potato hash and avocado smash yet I altered the meal removing the potato hash and bacon whilst adding smoked salmon. The eggs where cooked to utter perfection oozing yolk that dripped down the enormously thick slice of crusty vienna bread combing with the perfectly smashed well seasoned avocado. The smoked salmon was not too salty and the vine ripened tomatoes bursted there juices, scattering the plate with acidic, sweet flavours. The true highlight of the dish would have to be the whole roasted mushroom the was sauted generously in herbs and the amazing mex beans that where full of flavour and not too spicy due to the addition of caramelised onion that featured in the lovely pot they where presented in. This defiantly was a filling and satisfying meal as each component had its own unique texture and flavour crafting for an exciting tasting experience.  
The Grain Salad being made up of a selection of grains and seeds with spinach, corn, coriander, avocado, pickled shallots, poached eggs, lime and a south american dressing was too a tasty dish yet a little to spicy for my palate. The seeds added a good crunch aspect to the dish and the creamy avocado paired well with the harsh bite of acidity the lime and shallots brought to the dish. The corn refreshed the palate offering sweetness and the eggs where too cooked to perfection. Overall the salad was enjoyable yet not as exiting in overall flavour as it sounded on the menu. 

El Mirage is a great cafe showcasing beautiful food and coffee in a personal cosy environment. The more than helpful staff that create such a relaxing environment certainly makes this cafe worth a visit and I can proudly say El Mirage will certainly see me again some time in the future.
Aug 14, 2016
Zomato
Fussy Eater
+3.5
The staff are really kind and the coffee is good. The food is very subtle and mildly spiced. Not quite the zing I was hoping for but for those that love subtleness it'd be the place to go.
Aug 06, 2016
Zomato
Louisa Bishop
+4
I really like it here. Nice staff who always acknowledge & say hi to my pooches. Wish they would bring back those potato rosti's though - broke my little heart when you dropped those off the menu.
Jul 26, 2016
Zomato
Renata Musolino
+4.5
For a change my husband visited El Mirage for lunch and was so impressed with what he and a friend had, he took me back the next day so we could eat the same thing again. The meals were not only delicious, but really well-priced too! We shared the beef cheeks with mash and the house made gnocchi with slow cooked lamb, peas and spinach. Yum and yum. The beef cheeks were melt in the mouth and I've rarely had such good gnocchi in a restaurant. My only small criticism is that some of the lamb pieces were a bit too fatty. We're so lucky we are just around the corner! I think El Mirage's lunches are much better than their breakfasts.
Jul 04, 2016
Zomato
Crispymelbreview
+5
Well, well...was I pleasantly surprised.
Was welcomed by friendly, genuinely warm staff who explained everything from the menu to the fit-out. (Previously a mechanics workshop who obviously had great taste in interior design).
The breakfast I ordered seems to be their online favourite: the Beetroot Rosti, and it was remarkable. A fusion of Middle Eastern and Melbourne Breakfast with its beetroot patty, harissa labne and other flavours. It wasn't perfect: one of the eggs could have been runnier, and next time I would like to try it with bacon rather than salmon; nevertheless it is one of Melbourne's more original and interesting breakfast dishes.
The coffee was good, but not a standout. Perhaps my discerning coffee taste buds had not woken up yet.

All in all, a truly remarkable place if the other dishes are anything like the Beetroot Rosti.
Apr 16, 2016
Zomato
FoodingAroundMelbourne
+3.5
Cool cafe. Cheap eats and good coffee and off street parking is easy to find. Menu items are tasty without being too adventurous.
Seating outside is good for people watching and a sunny day.
Apr 10, 2016
Zomato
Ed
+5
What can I say. This place knows how to do a great coffee with a smile. The owner is a top bloke, always checking up on things, looking to add to the experience. Staff are amazing, and the food to die for. When in doubt head here, long running established joint, with guaranteed set standards. Never hit and miss. Thanks guys.
Mar 09, 2016
Zomato
Frenchtoastandindiepop
+4
It’s hard not to be intrigued driving past El Mirage, a popular little spot towards the North end of the Brunswick East, Lygon street retail district. There’s always a few people sitting out the front, but you can never quite see inside. El Mirage sits quite far back from the road and next to another local favourite, East Elevation.    As you walk inside you can simply seat yourself where you choose. The service was rather lacking, with staff not noticing us arrive and taking a very long time to get their attention for a menu. When we finally got to place our order the special listed wasn’t avaiable. This was surprising given it was just after 9am on a Saturday morning and no attempt was made to remove until after we ordered.
Feb 25, 2016
Zomato
Jacqueline
+5
El Mirage is tricky to spot when first discovered as it's set back from Lygon st. There is a large indoor area and also a big outdoor seating space out the front. Puppy friendly and also has a bike rack.

I took my mum to El Mirage and she has many dietary requirements but the staff were all so friendly, helpful and understanding when helping her find something delicious to eat.
Feb 21, 2016
Zomato
Brungiel
+4.5
Fantastic place. Great food, great coffee, great ambience! We had the Caesar and ancient bean salads... Delicious! Owner was very pleasant to chat after our meal :)
Feb 04, 2016
Zomato
Out And About
+4.5
Recessed between East Elevation and "Authentic Italian Cuisine", this little cafe comes with bicycle stands and a wall painted with a jungle motif. We enjoyed the "Shanklish" (sumac & Shanklish scrambled eggs on olive bread with sujuk (a type of Turkish sausage) and salad) and the Beetroot Rosti (soft boiled egg, smoked salmon, harissa labne (like a chilly conserve) all served on the beetroot rosti)
Devine...
Beautifully presented, courteous and prompt staff, great seating arrangements (in the sun under shade) fantastic coffee.
Absolutely will be back and a must visit!
Jan 16, 2016
Zomato
Paul Chamberlain
+5
I don't eat out for breakfast much but when I do l always come here. I simply love this place. They do some amazing egg dishes and I like the specials. Quite often pop in for just a coffee and a milkshake with my son. He loves this place too!
The coffee is always great, staff a super friendly and there's a great happy vibe. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!
Jan 07, 2016
Zomato
Waleedelbaz74
+4.5
A beautiful cafe with great customers servies, an Awsome Morden Australian food with middle eastern touch. Lovely atmosphere. It's a nice place to have brekky or brunch . Keep up the good work👌👏
Dec 28, 2015
Zomato
Suan
+4.5
If you after simple, delicious food at a decent price this is the place to go. Great coffee and excellent portion size. Service not half bad in the weekend .
Dec 19, 2015
Zomato
Socrates Terrence Farrugia
+5
Can't rate this place high enough!! Food is great and not pretentious!! Well priced, and they use coffee supreme, great for my psychopath orders of long blacks and ristretto on ice. Wait staff are always happy and friendly, and always up for a chat.
Nov 05, 2015
Zomato
Sk
+4.5
The quality of food is excellent! The 'Gringo 2' aka big breakfast was so fresh, not oily and perfectly balanced with sweet tomatoes. Best quality big breakfast I've had in Melbourne for long time. Bircher Muesli great too! Unpretentious friendly service.
Sep 19, 2015
Zomato
Gillian Fulton
+4.5
I couldn't decide what I felt like for breakie so I ordered the Bircher muesli and the fruit toast. The toast was really good, and came with zesty orange ricotta and honey, but the muesli was absolutely amazing! It looked stunning and tasted delicious! It came with really fresh blueberries and some a heap of edible flowers and mint.
Staff were lovely as well.
Sep 06, 2015
Zomato
Michy
+3.5
Fantastic spot for a solo brunch or catch up with the girls. Tends to be pretty quite whenever I have been in which is good. Service is good and eggs benedict are delicious.
Aug 19, 2015
Zomato
Steak Me Out
+3.5
Nothing amazing but nothing bad. Standard breakfast and lunch fare, the bagels were okay but lacked a great filing and the lamington had no jam, they lied to me. Overall it's somewhere to go when everywhere is full.
Jul 11, 2015
Zomato
Cat
+4.5
The menu is almost too extensive: I struggled choosing my dishes (choice paralysis!) but GF Gal and N enjoyed the myriad of gluten free and vegetarian options. In the end we had an order of two Slim Jims (they came with fig chutney and ricotta); one Eggs Florentine w. smoked salmon (mine, smoked salmon ticks all my boxes); and two poached egg dishes that came with potato rosti – four little ones in a row!
Mar 02, 2012
Zomato
Mo0ks
+4.5
You know, this place used to give me the irates, despite being a haven with aircon on a hot day (a rarity in the area), with a great Lox bagel. However, the change of owners a while back seems to have improved the vibe of the place, and there's plenty of good café food on the menu. There's still some poseur w@nk going on, but overall this is a much improved place.
Jan 14, 2015
Zomato
Wai Au
+4.5
A great find. We stumbled into El Mirage on a sunday walk and were immediately attracted to the subtle decor and friendly wait staff. We had the burger and the zucchini cake. The burger hit the spot (although the onion rings lacked crunch) and the zucchini cake was delicious-light and tasty. Great local spot for a lazy sunday arvo.
Aug 24, 2014
Zomato
Shaz LovesFood
+4.5
Pancakes are amazing! Staff weren't too helpful though acted like they didn't want to be there. Maybe they were having an off day?
Jul 24, 2014
Zomato
Phillip
+4.5
The staff are always super friendly and attentive and the coffee is amazing. Am never disappointed.
Jul 02, 2014
Zomato
Foodlover
+4.5
Great coffee, fantastic service. The staff here are extremely friendly and make great coffee.
They use Supreme beans and perfect it every time. If only they had larger take away cups...
Jun 12, 2014
Zomato
DMoney
+4.5
Extremely consistent. The .... Extremely consistent.
The Slim Jim is hands down the best combination of all the notes!
I have had this breakfast 3 days in a row unashamedly.

Great coffee. Only half a point deduction for how noisey it is in here.
Yum friendly and fun music
Mar 03, 2014
Zomato
F4891
+4.5
Good espresso and good sweets. Not much to choose from but I actually consider this a good thing. The shop has very plain furniture but it is clean and tidy. I'll be back!
Feb 03, 2014
Zomato
Eden
+4.5
Always Great!. The food, service and coffee at El Mirage are always fantastic! The pancakes, any of the eggs/toast/extras dishes and the mexican beans are stand out items from the menu which go well with their 'Supreme' coffee or a sparkling juice. Every time I go here the staff are always friendly, attentive and helpful and the food is immaculately presented and delicious. El Mirage is a great breakfast/brunch choice and is one of the best places in the area for a meal. It's a great alternative to the lack luster and unwelcoming East Elevation next door.
Jan 01, 2014
Zomato
Angiemontana13
+4.5
Best breakfast in Brunswick. I love this place. I'm a regular here and every time I come here it's always consistently good.

The service is friendly, the food is always great and good quality. Best of all the servings are very generous.

I recommend the Gringo.
Dec 28, 2013
Zomato
Urbanspooner101
+4.5
Excellent. Favorite cafe in melbourne!! great coffee, great food and great staff who are always friendly.

been here 30+ times, never had an issue with anything
Oct 17, 2013
Zomato
Billie-Rose
+4.5
Best service in Brunswick! Not up suck up like a lot of others in the area. Have always had yummy brekkie here, next beans are sooo good :)
Sep 30, 2013
Zomato
Local
+4.5
Great food! Breakfast peach cobbler is particular yummy BUT be warned it is not cheap. A bacon and egg roll cost $10.50!!!!! I expected it to be fed to me for that! I only go every few weeks as cheaper alternatives in the area and only go here for a special treat!
Sep 23, 2013
Zomato
KM
+4.5
Pancakes, omlette and hot chocolate were nice. 'Fresh' juice came out of a bottle. Way over priced for breakfast!!
Aug 16, 2013
Zomato
EDC_1984
+4.5
10/10 Ripping breakfast :). 10/10
Ripping breakfast :)
Aug 05, 2013
Zomato
Jarrad
+4.5
For the love of coffee. Delicious creamy coffee and my potato rosti's with tomato relish were fantastic.
Jul 15, 2013
Zomato
Turbo
+4.5
European Delight. Great Food, Good Price, Healthy and definitely will return ...
Customer service fantastic and fun!!!! 100% winner for me!!!!! :)
Jul 05, 2013
Zomato
Jessb
+4.5
Good, reasonably priced breakfast. The room is nice to sit in and staff very attentive. Not the most amazing breakfast in this area, but i would return.
Jun 26, 2013
Zomato
Josephine McKay
+4.5
Consistently great. Extensive menu, great food, cooked fast. Coffee's great (a bit on slow side sometimes, but always delish). And the service is always fantastic, friendly & efficient.
Jun 19, 2013
4
Pav Kalinowski
+4
The staff here are lovely and very accommodating. And the vibe is friendly. We ordered coffee, the brunch burger, and The potato fritter stack thing. My burger was delicious. The potato stack was not so nice. We couldn't put our finger on it but the salmon potato salad combo with a creamy sauce didn't work for us. Coffees we're great. We'll definitely be back and when we do come back I'll update the review.
5
katrina lui
+5
I never post reviews but this place has been consistently such high quality food I have to make it known! Each time we go we try something different and each dish is so well curated. Prices are very fair considering the beautiful ingredients and detail taken with each dish.
5
Danie Wang
+5
I can’t think of any reason for not giving a five star. Chicken bao buns was just what I want, a little spicy, crispy fried chicken, healthy vegs and enough portion.
5
Sajad Bahram
+5
The avocado and hummus dish was hands down the best Avo dish i've had anywhere for brekky or brunch. Service was top-notch, staff were super friendly and the owner took great care of us. Will definitely visit again when back in Melbourne.
5
Lisa D
+5
The staff were all friendly when I visited on a busy Sunday afternoon and didn’t mind waiting for a table. The food was delicious, coffee made perfectly and I HAD to try the red velvet lamington (in glass cabinet next to coffee machine). It was better than I expected! Will definitely come here next time I go to Lygon St.
5
Joanne Lung
+5
Today's Sunday brunch was in a family run cafe with a diverse menu and attentive service. On entry the barista was clearly busy but greeted us politely and asked us to wait. This is a very small thing but goes a long way to acknowledge our presence and showed simple courtesy - we appreciated that. The Jalapeno Fritters was a delicious combination of charred corn and dried haloumi, salmon, coriander and lime labne. The different textures in each mouthful were complemented by the harmonious flavours of each ingredient. My friend also enjoyed his Gringo - poached eggs with Mex beans, bacon, mushrooms, hash potato and smashed avocado. The waitress went to a lot of trouble to check that my dish didn't have uncooked onions (The Thing I don't eat). The Tumeric Latte is really worth checking out - tasty with soy milk and honey and the dehydrated beetroot dusting adds to the presentation. Good food, great service, a place worth repeat visits.
4
Ai W T
+4
Coffee was not very special but okay and I liked their scrambled egg. Actually almost always I order scrambled eggs and flat white in every cafe. This cafe's was very creamy, buttery and really loved that green on top.
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