Review Brunswick Foodstore - Brunswick

I had such a lovely experience here and chose this place on a whim as I was passing through the area. The manager (?) is ridiculously personable, you almost feel like you're interacting with a close friend! Extremely warm greeting and it was a very smooth checkout/payment. Food and drinks were very good though it was a struggle for me to finish! There is also ample amount of space plus outdoor seating for those who want some sunshine. Great ambience and a relaxed vibe. Would totally recommend!

A hidden gem perfect for brunch. Spacious seating and friendly staff. We ordered a caramel latte which was well made. The sweetness of the coffee beans and caramel complimented each other. Chilli scrambled eggs were well infused with the house made chilli and came with crisp bread. I loved the portion of the zucchini and corn fritter and the variety of flavours that is tasted in the dish. The fritters were soft inside with a crisp outside, and on the sides, the saltiness of the salmon and halloumi. The sauce is creamy and matches well with the spiced dukka.

Warehouse size room, laid back atmosphere - great for catching up with friends as heaps of space between tables. Menu not too large but enough options. Eggs how you like, fritters, salmon, were some of our choices, all tasty and reasonable prices. Generous bowl of chips. Good coffee. The staff are fun, welcoming and seem genuinely happy and that is one of the reasons we keep going back.

Friendly, spacious, and delicious! Highly underrated and will definitely come back!

Great food, friendly staff, really nice vibe. Definitely be back

Crushed up tortilla chips are not dukkah.

Great coffee and food - has been through a number of transformations and menus - the latest commination is rediscovering the freshness of the early years. Gluten free and vegan options.

Nice place for brunch. Love how happy the staff is and they have a good menu, for all tastes.

This place is a great space with lovely waitresses. The food and drinks are tasteless, cheap ingredients that lacks flavour and substance. The food was made with pre-made supermarket items -dips and pesto. <br/><br/>

Food is always good with high quality. I’m not a brunch person but this is the place I would go for brunch. Service is nice and great coffee

Nice service. Ordered the falafel wrap, hot chips, peanut butter chocolate muffin, and asian omelette. Hot chips were real good. Falafel tasted nice however the wrap overall was lacking flavour. Asian omelette had abit too much going on. Peanut butter muffin was amazing!

3.5<br/>Mid week lunch.<br/>Very efficiently greeted as soon as we walked through the door.<br/>Nothing too complicated on the menu with a bias towards Middle Eastern inspired dishes. A specials board displayed additional offerings.<br/>We decided on The Protein Bowl with Grilled Chicken and the Thyme Mushrooms.<br/>Both dishes were excellent.<br/>Good value.<br/>

First impressions alway count, walking into this beautiful space and then opening the menu with so much on here i want but went for the trusted Avo Smash and glad i did. Beautifully balanced with salty creamy fetta, chargrilled broccolini and sweet pickled beetroot and the toasted macadamia was a nice touch. I have noticed a trend recently of one big piece and one little piece of bread, and because the bread was so awesome, i felt cheated!! My friend enjoyed the house made sweet potato waffle with smoked salmon. Last impression are critical, no splitting of the bill on weekends, come on are you serious! We are becoming a cashless society, some places always split but others resist, this is not good customer service and extremely inconvenient.

Awful service. Took 60 mins for 4 simple meals. No one informed us how long the wait would be, and with 2 small children in tow it was pretty disgraceful. Meals came at different times too. Not sure if the cafe has been sold recently but it is sure different now. <br/>

We had a Sunday brunch and left extremely dissatisfied. We had terrible service and a long wait for our food. We then waited 20 minutes for the bill which was not ours !

The coffee was really really great! Beautiful. <br/>The menu however was pretty drab...so we didn’t bother ordering. Having said that It could be amazing...it just seemed average/boring...if I’m wrong..perhaps re wording the menu might be a good idea?

Great variety and a lovely selection of things to eat, which made it difficult to choose one thing! The servings are quite large and the service is friendly and approachable. Lovely, vibrant food that is picture perfect. The mushrooms, olives and hummus were the clear favourites on the mezze platter. The meatballs had good flavour but just needed a touch more seasoning. The sauce however was lovely!

Bustling cafe that appears to have been converted from a warehouse, giving it lots of open area. Enjoyed the poached eggs which came with a generous serving of bacon and avocado, and we left feeling full and satisfied

One of my locals and go to cafes for many years. Food is consistently good as is the coffee. It’s a large space so you’ll always find a seat even when it’s busy. My go dish for breakfast is their babaganoush with poached eggs and avocado salsa. For lunch it’s a toss between the crispy calamari or the vegetarian mezze plate.

The food was lovely here but I feel like the service was a little slow. It is a massive warehouse cafe so there was heaps of room for our prams.

neighbourhood cafe away from the busy footpaths of syd road. big fan of the spacious warehouse layout. lovely and welcoming staff - found out from them it used to be the original roastery for toby's estate (which is coincidentally the beans used at my work, customers always comment on the rarity of TE used in perth lol). only minor complaint would have to be the eggs; bf's scrambled eggs were overcooked and my poached egg was undercooked and still clear around the yolk. food was still great with generous servings, especially my fritters which came with a nice, hefty load of avo and cucumber salsa. coffee is fantastic. was given a sample of cold brew to try and highly recommend - smooth and refreshing with distinct flavours. solid 4.5, keen to chill here again when i come visit melb

Large open area with plenty of tables. Service was a bit slow considering not many tables were occupied. The Berry Smoothie was a better choice than the Green Juice which was a little watery. The Salmon Spring Onion Fritters from the specials menu were tasty but unable to finish as the serving was quite large. Not sure I would orders the Grilled Kofta again as it was lacking in flavour.

Always love coming here - there's something for everyone on the menu even though I have my go-to most of the time, the high open ceilings give an inviting and uncluttered atmosphere that feels breezy, and the staff are always attentive and friendly.

Been coming here on and off for a few years. Today was by far the worst time. They didn't get the order correct and then when it was to be corrected I over heard the kitchen make it out to be our fault. Forgot one of our drinks however were very obliging and offered one on the house as a t/away. Over all the food is delicious if they get it correct. Only one suggestion please don't put chocolate powder on the ice-coffee it's not needed and spoils the entire drink for a non chocolate eating person.<br/>

Sorry guys but lately your coffee has been pretty average and the take away service is super slow! Step up your game, we're in Brunswick and competition is fierce!

Service - Amazing<br/>Coffee- Amazing <br/>Food - Amazing <br/>Space - Amazing <br/><br/>I found Brunswick Foodstore randomly while looking for a place to do some souls searching. The space is beautiful and open, you automatically feel welcomed.<br/>Staff are friendly, attentive while respecting your space. There are heaps of variety on the menu without being excessive and complicated - check the specials, that is where I got the Quinoa Salad (pictured)<br/><br/>Highly recommended!

Finding the always awesome Green Refectory closed for the public holiday, despite the website saying it was open, we were left wandering the streets of Brunswick desperately searching for sustinence. Walked past Code Black Coffee (and its ridiculous prices for food) and found this place almost next door. We decided to give it a try for brunch due to the reasonable prices, the friendly, welcoming staff and the interesting choice of breakfast items on the menu.<br/><br/>The coffee was really tasty, the poached eggs with babaganoush was divine and the ricotta and blueberry hotcakes took the prize for best thing ever in the history of the world according to my wife. I don't usually like that kind of thing but I tried it and have to agree that it was outstanding, although not quite as good as the internet, bicycles or sunsets in my opinion. But 4th best thing ever in the history of the world is still pretty amazing. Highly recommended.

Nice big area, good service and amazing eggs! I had the poached eggs with hummus, bacon, tomato and roquette and it was delicious! My most favourite breakfast place.

Not my favorite place, food pretty average. Probably could do with a menu re vamp. Middle eastern options are good but just need a little more creativity and flavour.

A cafe just off Barkly Square, that's surprisingly spacious, kid friendly and not filled with the usual Sunday brunch crowd. Wait time for food was a little long (~30 min) but it's well worth it. Grilled chicken breast with Middle Eastern rice is a winner, flavoursome and tender. Open steak sandwich a little less so. Will visit again to try other dishes out, this might be a go to spot moving forward.

This cafe in a side street is absolutely A1 ,the staff were polite ,friendly and happy to serve very hard to find these positive behaviours at one location. The Food ı ordered was a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sucuk , spinach ,mushrooms and sourdough bread.<br/>The sucuk iş a type of turkish salami,,,very very delicious meal ,I would definatly eat here again.And most importantly for me it is very clean .my partner who is hard to please with food also agreed this place is awsome.👌<br/>

Nestled in the heart of Brunswick this little cafe has a great indoor and outdoor seating area down a quiet side street adjacent to the Barkly Square shopping centre.<br/>The food's always been tasty and fresh. The staff are great and will always attend to your table. The venue is child friendly so it can be a bit loud indoors sometimes if you have a child yelling which can be a bit of a bummer.<br/>I'd recommend this place to anyone who asks- it's become my go-to in Brunswick.

Dropped in for brunch on Sunday after deciding against a 20 minute wait at Code Black and Wide Open Road. Staff are friendly, this place has a great set up with lots of natural light, we were seated quickly and coffee's were ordered, great coffee the venue was reasonably busy so we were not too worried about the 20 minute wait till we could order, however 40 minutes after ordering a veggie burger and the veggie flat bread seemed a long time. Food was good, will revisit as I think the good was nice and staff may have been under pressure

Brunswick Foodstore is a very large open spaced cafe that would utterly suit a large function, delivery exceptional food, coffee and service to all customers. I popped into this cafe on a sunny Friday afternoon to do some quiet study and was greeted by a lovely waitress who told me to sit anywhere I pleased.<br/>After analysing the huge array of seating options I chose to sit along the back wall of the cafe on comfortable seating overlooking the broad vicinity.  <br/>After hooking up to there speedy wifi and glancing at there Middle Eastern inspired menu I ordered a long black and a light yet extremely satisfying late lunch of the muesli. <br/>The high rise roof and large panels of glass allows vast amounts of natural lighting to fill the cafe creating a very relaxing comforting ambiance. <br/>As my coffee arrived a large wedding party appeared to occupy the entire back area of the cafe. The event looked we’ll catered for yet again demonstrating Brunswick Footsore to be a great spot for venue higher.<br/>The long black arrived steaming hot and was brewed to perfection. Full dark acidic textures excited my palate crafting a smooth aromatic blend that was by far one of the best brews I’ve consumed in Brunswick.<br/><br/>Whilst the wedding party event seemed to occupy most of the floor staff despite this my Muesli arrived in a timely fashion. <br/>Presented with pure love, care and nurture the Muesli with mixed berries, apple and orange blossom honey yoghurt served with my option of almond milk was fabulous. <br/>The large dollop of yoghurt was creamy and tangy ensuring the overall dish was not too sweet. The presence of orange blossom was certainly evident radiating throughout the tasting experience making this hearty fresh bowl of goodness not your average muesli and yoghurt. The tartness of the berries paired well with the sweet honey and the fresh grated apple dashed in cinnamon added a crisp texture to the dish. The muesli itself was nice and chewy with oats and dried fruits and the presence of nuts and seeds added a great crunch aspect to the dish. <br/>Whilst indulging in this beautiful dish I was greeted by a friend who popped in for a cheeky Friday treat ordering a vanilla milkshake. The milk shake was everything a great cafe style milkshake should be, not too thick yet frothy and full of malty vanilla bliss. <br/><br/>Brunswick Footsore is a great cafe that serves a unique Middle Eastern inspired menu accompanied by perfect coffee. The attractive open area and pleasant staff ensures one receives a pleasant experience whilst at this excellent cafe.

Just finished breakfast here and was very happy. Large bright open space, wasn't overly busy for a Monday morning. My cappuccino was beautiful and exactly what I needed. A very well made coffee. I ordered the poached eggs with the chickpea purée and sujuk on the side. The eggs were cooked perfect, and the sourdough was nice and fluffy. Tasty sujuk too! The portions were very generous. Finished off with an espresso to taste the coffee 'naked' and was still impressed. Will definitely return. Thanks

Delicious food, great service, amazing value<br/>Good coffee<br/>Spacious inside <br/><br/>Can't fault anything<br/><br/>A pleasant find walking down a side street from local tram

This is a good place for Sunday brunch. Large open space, a little noisy but pleasant service and a nice atmosphere. The portion sizes are generous and the food fresh. My poached eggs were perfect. The clientele is the typical Brunswick mix. Even though it was very busy on a Sunday, they seemed happy for us to sit on for a while over coffee. It is somewhere to go to eat casually, chat with friends and have a slow start to the day.

I've got a new philosophy. I will no longer line up for brunch. I'm over the 20 minute wait at the door, the 30 minute wait for my food and then the rushed feeling of being out of there as soon as you're done eating.<br/><br/>And that was why on this Saturday morning I went to Brunswick Foodstore instead of Code Black (who's eggs have been letting me down lately). And I'm very happy with the decision. <br/><br/>My brother and I got the poached eggs on toast with sucuk and grilled pork sausage. Also - what's with getting these weird toppings on my poached eggs all the time now? I've had some sort of cinnamon at one place and then a nutty mix at another. Just give me my eggs without anything if that's how I've asked for them...<br/><br/>The eggs we're ever so slighly overdone but the sucuk and sausage was amazing. The sourdough is nice and fluffy so you don't need a steak knife to get through it and there wasn't an obnoxious amount of oil or butter poured on. No weird addition to my eggs was such a welcome relief too.<br/><br/>Staff were amazing, it's a nice light filled cafe so overall I will be back, and will probably begin to knock off a few old favourites for this instead.

I ordered the smashed avo and poached eggs dish but was horrified when I found a screw in my food. We complained to the staff who barely made an apology and left straight away as we felt unsafe eating there anymore. Would not recommend this place to anyone!

Always good food and fast service. Highly recommend the lunch burger, pretty tasty! The coffee is also good. Considering there are several other cafes in the area, the fact that this place is always busy is a good indication of how good it is.

Came here for breakfast this morning, seated quickly and coffee orders taken. Coffee was delicious, nice and strong, and very quick to arrive. Didn't take long for the food to arrive either once we had ordered, and everything looked great. K had the Mezze plate and loved it, although the ratio of egg to bread was a bit off. I had the smashed Avo with sausage and while the sausage was delicious the meal itself was quite small for the price tag compared to others in the area that do a similar dish. The smashed avo itself was tasty although tasted like it may have been mixed with hummus or something to stretch the avocado a bit. Nevertheless the food was yum and the service excellent, so we will probably return.

This place is amazing. My partner and I went there for breakfast. Great service and amazing food would definitely go there again. Really cute set out too.

I've been coming here regularly for more than five years, and I couldn't be happier with my local. The service, staff and menu are all wonderful, and my coffee aficionado friends tell me the coffee is great here too. They brew a great chai (it's Calmer Sutra) and the breakfast and lunch menus have options to suit a lot of budgets. They don't have a wide cake selection but I can never fit much more in after one of their brilliant BLTs or a crumbed chicken and halloumi sandwich on turkish bread. That said, the lamingtons are really good! If you're hungrier I recommend the smashed avocados with poached eggs and sausages, or for lunch the beef burger, but honestly I've enjoyed everything I've tried on the menu. Definitely worth checking the specials as well.<br/><br/>They have a lot of big tables, plenty of room for prams, and a great vibe. Of course like any good cafe in Brunswick they will be packed at peak times - no mean feat considering the amount of space! - but I've always found the staff friendly and efficient. Definitely one of my favourite places in Brunswick, and the one I go to most often.

Brunswick Foodstore is a solid option for a weekend brunch. With so many cafes in the area commanding wait times of 20+ minutes, it's nice to be able to walk straight in and grab a seat - in fact, the small gourmet supermarket they used to run out of the back room has been dismantled in favour of MORE TABLES.<br/><br/>Service can be quite slow, and it's not unusual for your coffees to come out 15 minutes apart. The Middle-Eastern inspired menu is a real rollercoaster. The porridge is a standout and a bargain: delicately scented with rosewater and topped with stewed rhubarb. The poached eggs with chickpea puree and zaatar is disappointingly bland, and not worth it at $17.90.<br/><br/>I used to be a big fan of the Breakfast Mezze plate, but can't for the life of me understand why they have replaced the fried eggs with scrambled (no substitutions, I was primly told.) There was great joy to be had in dipping fresh pita into the gooey yolks, so the change is disappointing.<br/><br/>Decor-wise, Brunswick Food Store is large and bright with plenty of space; prams definitely don't get in the way. It's a good place to have up your sleeve when you CBF with the angsty crowds at Wide Open Road.

Love this cafe! The food here is always mouthwatering! You can tell it's made from the heart. We regularly come here, at least every fortnight. Thank you Brunswick Foodstore for your great service and amazing menu.

Slow to be seated.<br/>Two different waiters said they would take my order.<br/>After 10 minutes and two tables beside me had their order taken who arrived later, I left.<br/>At least I had a average tasting coffee.<br/>Took another 5 minutes to pay for my coffee.<br/>Not a good experience.

Enter the premises of Brunswick Food Store and you really will think you’ve missed the door to the cafe – towering grocery-laden shelves line each side of the room, packed with enough fare to satisfy both nonnas and health nuts; endless variants of Italian produce, quinoa, relish, milk, spices, cook books and finally, a deli fridge filled to the brim with locally produced salami and cheese.

Breakfast mezze YUM!!! Loved everything on this plate and my first sujuk. Please give me more! Loved the salad dressing! Would come back for this.<br/>Smashed avocado we had bacon instead of the pork sausage. We had 3 meals with poached eggs and all of them were over done, you could basically call them boiled eggs. Which is why I didn't give a 5! Overall the meals were nice.

Best breakfast and service in Brunswick!!<br/>Great coffee and fresh orange juice!! Thank you!!!<br/>Friendly staff, the menu is simple but every well presented and cooked!! <br/>Worth every dollar!!<br/>

Good simple food with middle eastern accents. Menu gives your basics with good use of middle eastern ingredients. Nice to have a cafe doing something a little different.

I come here every week for my coffee an when visitors come to Melbourne, I Always bring them here. Yummy Breakfast, Great coffee, but I think the thing that lets them down is their Service, I've been a regular for over a year now and no-one can remember me or my coffee.. there is also no loyalty program. Thankfully the coffee is worth every penny

boring interiors, boring menu, boring food. there should be a law mandating refunds on bad, boring food. did I say everything here is boring? well it's boring..so boring.

One of our family favourites. Great food (middle eastern inspired) and coffee, friendly service, and very family and dog friendly. We enjoy sitting outside if the weather is good. There is also a good range of foodie supplies for purchase.

I had an unfortunately ordinary meal and when I was asked at the counter how my food was I quietly and politely told the woman that I found it hard to eat. The pizza base was thick enough that I couldn't really eat it without breaking a tooth, and all the toppings came off as soon as I picked the zataar pizza up. The woman behind the counter launched into me about being wrong and that I didn't know how the food should be made etc etc. When I asked if I could please just pay so that I could go I was treated to an arched brow and an asinine "have a good day" while having my card tossed back at me. Never ever going again I don't go to places to be humiliated

This large and beautiful cafe has great service, delicious food and fast wifi.  The menu has a real middle eastern twist and I'm glad they pull it off.  There are amazing minestrone, manoushe, the usual scrambled eggs, and possibly the best baked eggs in Melbourne. The little foodstore has good quality middle eastern staples for a decent price too. Love this place!

Booked a table for a Sunday brunch as I was told it gets very busy. Perfect location, lovely staff, delicious food. However we waited 45 minutes for meals. Luckily we had heaps to talk about while we waited. Highly recommend their coffee!

Uncaring chaos. Went this morning. Was seated at the bar. Nobody took coffee order for 10 mins and then we waited for a further 30. The man seated next to us - who arrived later- was served first. We ordered brekky but abandoned this after a 40 min wait in total. This place is nicely set out but portly managed and not equipped for the numbers of people. What a shame. Looked like it had potential but won't be visiting again.

Favorite breakfast place in Melbourne!. The best coffee, awesome food and good service! I would highly recommend the mezze, avocado and poached eggs and the salmon salad. <br/>I love this place!!

First up was the sumptuous ricotta hot cakes. The ugly but delicious, or ‘picnic’ of the breakfast world, the photo really doesn’t do these hotcakes justice! They were well cooked and full of juicy berries, with a sweetness to it. The vanilla ice cream, cinnamon and pistachio were welcome additions. Next up, stuffed french toast! This one was exciting, banana and walnut stuffed french toast, served on a bed of strawberry and roast walnut and topped with bacon. Unfortunately the toast was a little eggy and probably needed something creamy or more liquid to go with it. The sweetness of the strawberry and toast was mellowed by the banana and complented by the salty and smokey bacon. This was an interesting dish, it tasted good but perhaps more refinement would really nail the flavours and elements! It’s fantastic to see cafes offering stuffed french toast more on their menus, it’s such a unique and delicious breakfast option!

Hale, hearty and soulful. Enter the premises and you really will think you’ve missed the door to the cafe - towering grocery-laden shelves line each side of the room, packed with enough fare to satisfy both nonnas and health nuts; endless variants of Italian produce, quinoa, relish, milk, spices, cook books and finally, a deli fridge filled to the brim with locally produced salami and cheese. <br/><br/><br/>All day breakfast is on the cards here, to be dined on from large cafeteria style tables. <br/><br/>Towards the rear, a wall is sketched with illustrations of ancient machinery, paying homage to the building’s former life as Toby's Estate coffee roasting factory. <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>A small selection of pre-made drinks are available in addition to the usual barista concoctions.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>VEAL SCHNITZEL<br/>The veal schnitzel holds a slight pepperiness of seasoning which has been crumbed and fried to a resounding crunch, leading to a juicy, supple interior. <br/><br/>The accompanying potato salad has all the trimmings of chives, garlic, lemon and rocket, with just the right amount of mayonnaise so as not to bestow upon the diner an extra 3 kilos immediately after consumption.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>SOUTHERN FRIED MARYLAND CHICKEN<br/>The southern fried Maryland chicken has a modestly battered exterior with a hint of chilli which gives it a distinct Mexican vibe. <br/><br/>The addition of native South American vegetables - roasted corn, red and green peppers, spanish onion - adds credence to the genre of the dish. <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>PULLED PORK BRIOCHE BUN<br/>The pulled pork brioche comes off as slightly bland after the pronounced flavours of the veal and chicken. <br/><br/>The inclusion of two of my most despised childhood vegetables - cabbage and pickled cucumber - do little to add to its allure.<br/><br/>Brioche is considered a pastry rather than bread, as it consists of refined yeast dough with egg and butter. The method of preparation is labour-intensive, requiring overnight resting in a cool room and being raised and let down at least three times. <br/><br/>The brioche at Brunswick Food Store comes off as more of a hamburger bun, lacking the required cake-like consistency. <br/><br/>Peeping inside the bun however reveals air holes, which do indicate the professionalism of the baking.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>STEAK SANDWICH<br/>The steak sandwich is a big old slab which has been stacked with the works - a Porterhouse steak, lettuce, tomato, caramelised onion, bacon, egg and cheese.<br/><br/>Usually I shy away from steak sandwiches due to the tradition of using lower quality cuts of meat (usually Hanger or Strip steak) which results in flesh that is often all too tough and chewy. <br/><br/>This Porterhouse is quite good - very light use of salt and pepper showcases the beauty of the meat and keeps it just tender enough, even though it has been trimmed of all fat.<br/><br/>The carb quotient has been halved thanks the absence of a top piece of bread, what I like to call a “convertible sandwich”. <br/><br/>The chips have been doused with the ever addictive seasoning of herb and chicken salt and roughly cut into a thick shape which belies a rustic charm.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>HAMBURGER<br/>The hamburger has the usual perfect trimmings - cheese, spanish onion, pickled cucumber, bacon, tomato and lettuce - with a unique inclusion of spicy tomato relish which adds a zing to the flavour. <br/><br/>Call me greedy, but I wouldn’t have minded inviting avocado to the party.<br/><br/>The seasoning of the meat is perfectly measured so as to abolish the need for salt and pepper.<br/><br/><br/><br/>CONCLUSION<br/>The dessert selection is limited and consists of items which appear to have been made on premises: baklava, turkish delight, banana bread, muffins - none of which I have room for, having consumed my own weight’s worth in farm animals.<br/><br/>Service 9, Food 8.5.

The cafe, when I visited, was quieter, only because it was a weekday morning. Compared to some of the other cafes around the area, Brunswick Foodstore exudes a cosy and familiar ambience in its interior and service. Compared to green refectory, this cafe is one that you won't miss too easily. Look out for the beautiful yellow bicycle mounted on the brick wall and there it'll be! It's yellow-framed menus and yellow-painted floors will also be sure to grab your attention their way.

Wow!! These pancakes look the real deal. Talk about generosity of serve - it was phenomenal! These pancakes were classic, fluffy, buttermilk pancakes - very light, aerated, and tender. Alas - I am not a fan of buttermilk pancakes, preferring the moistness of a ricotta or semolina pancake (which are notoriously difficult to find). For the traditional pancake lover, though, these would really hit the mark.

I'll rate my 3/4 latte an 8/10... Hit the spot, full body, perfect temperature. My breakfast was pretty salty although to be fair they ran out of gluten free bread so instead I was given a side of mushrooms with my avo smash (which already had garlic, salty shanklish and what-not). Definitely over-seasoned though but I appreciate them trying to accomodate a celiac. I'll give it another go some time. Dark but quirky atmosphere, I like it.

What a relief!. Went there late on a Thurs arvo and no, it wasn't too late too order; no, it wasn't too much to make a meat dish vegetarian, no it wasn't too much trouble to make my poached eggs hard (b/c of preggy requirements) AND YES, we can provide GOOD gluten free bread and NO we won't charge you extra for it. THANK YOU BFS for taking my complicated order effortlessly with a smile and actually getting it right the first time. I like you ALOT.

The best in Brunswick - Friendly, spacious, great coffee and food realistically priced!. Of all the cafes in and around Brunswick this is my favourite. Their coffee is consistently good, the staff are friendly and the decor is comfortable and reminiscent of an old country store. The heritage building is light, airy and attractively furnished. It is without doubt the most comfortable, and relaxing cafe around - not a dark dungeon or cramped space like a few of the others. The food is exceptionally good and (thankfully) realistically priced. Good food at a good price is getting rare in Brunswick! The Foodstore is the perfect place for a quite sumptuous breakfast, a quick coffee on the way to work or a delicious lunch with a group of friends. They have ample room for large groups and women with prams. They are one of the few cafes in Brunswick that take bookings - so you can also avoid the "pot luck" of not knowing whether or not you will get in (as is a common problem with some other cafes). They also are one of the few cafes in the area who have large quantities of newspapers to read, particularly the Age.

A mixed bag. The coffee quality seems to depend on the weather, but lately it's been good; a new barista apparently? The food is okay but nothing special. The muffins are always smaller than average, and fancy combinations. That is fine for some, but a bigger, plain one without all the chocolate chips, coconut and various weird ingredients would be good for variety perhaps?<br/>The service is normally pretty good, but can depend on who is on.<br/>They obviously encourage families with youngs kids who seem to run amuck a fair bit, and make a lot of noise.<br/>I go back because the staff is friendly, prices are okay, and they have Wi-Fi that works.

Don't bother. I've been to this cafe a couple of times because of its convenient location but from now on I vow not to go back.<br/><br/>The coffee is always good but the food is so hit and miss, I've enjoyed my large, tasty breakfast one week and been severely disappointed with the pathetic over-cooked eggs and small cold burnt toast the next.<br/><br/>This is a cafe where it's apparently socially acceptable to allow small children to run around screaming while slobbering on pepper grinders. Gross.<br/><br/>And finally what is up with the muffins? I got a great raspberry white chocolate muffin one week but the next time all they had were dry orange-poppyseed-milk-chocolate cups of disappointment.<br/><br/>If there was a text system in place notifying me of which days the chef's were on game that would be great, but until then I'm going to go to a cafe that's consistently good and unfortunately that's not this place.

Nice menu and ambience BUT, please please add more sweets to it !!

Great cafe in the heart of Brunswick. Have been visiting Brunswick Foodstore before it was even Brunswick Foodstore but I'm pleased to say that in its current incarnation it's superb. While so many establishments around the area are focussing on the hipster vote of confidence, Brunswick Foodstore continue to serve great food and coffee at reasonable prices.<br/><br/>We're always made to feel welcome, the coffee is always good and each week I look forward to the specials. <br/><br/>Do it!

Poor service. We had breakfast here. Two other tables were occupied in this very large barn of a place. Because my husband's porridge was thick and dry, we asked the waitress for another jug of warmed milk. It didn't appear before the porridge was cold and inedible. I ordered a second coffee, walking up to the waitress at the counter to do so, because I couldn't catch her eye. No second coffee appeared. Won't be going back, which is a pity, as it's convenient to Barkly Square.

I've had lunch there with a large group a few times. Food is cheap and cheerful. Nothing overly groundbreaking but quite nice. They could offer drinks a bit more as we always only get a coffee to start with and no follow up offer for another. Pork roll on brioche is delicious and I love the pickle in the red cabbage slaw.

Poor food but good coffee. The egg yolk in the bake eggs was over cooked.

Just awesome.. I am so glad someone told me this place existed! It's got everything I love about a good breakfast/lunch spot: <br/>great friendly atmosphere, staff who are accommodating to dietary requirements, reasonable prices and interesting combinations on the menu. Plus you can buy produce from another section which is the "foodstore".

5 STAR. I had organised a reunion of colleagues from many years ago. I changed the table location 3 times and it was dealt with without fuss 3 times! A pleasure dealing with professional waiting staff who genuinely want to make your event a success. Table laid out perfectly, great food/service. I do appreciate how this establishment allow you to make a booking for a very busy service time. Always tops and so unpretentious!

Food very slow to come out on a packed Sunday brunch time, but was delicious. I had baked eggs which were a touch overcooked but the flavour with the spicy sucuk was great. The waitstaff are very pleasant but I think that perhaps the kitchen is not big enough to keep up the pace for the size of the place. Would come again

Below average. It was like having a high school crush on someone and then finding out that they are below average and have just wasted your time. We waited way too long (50 minutes) for breakfast, no one came out to check on us or at least explain that there is a bit if a wait. Had we known this, we would have went to code black down the road. When the food arrived, we already had a bad taste in our mouth from being outside in the rain that it didn't warrant a 50 minute wait. They softened the blow by not charging us our coffees but I've probably developed piles from sitting on a cold stool for near an hour. Other punters said that they waited an hour for poached eggs. Not the best Sunday breakfast and poorly managed.

My friend and I turned up near closing time today and were welcomed and served by the loveliest staff member! The coffee was nice, we were offered some delicious treats and we were never made to feel like we had to leave, even though we were the last two visitors there. I haven't had customer service this good in a long time. Loved the produce and vibe, looking forward to going back there.

Food ordered: Foul mudammas and the baked eggs. <br/><br/>The Turkish bread that came with the baked eggs was really tasty, and the baked eggs was also delicious. Unfortunately, couldn't say the same about the pita bread that came with the foul mudammas that was supposed to be served "warm", as mine came out cold. However, the bean dip itself was pretty good. <br/><br/>Definitely worth a visit!

Unpretentious menu & attitude. So good to find a place in Brunswick that offers a fantastic menu with great variety of options without being pretentious. This might be my new favourite breakfast/lunch spot, food is awesome and coffee is among the best I've had in the area. A definite place to try, there is something for everyone on the menu.

Excellent service, great coffee and prompt food. I've had a few takeaway coffees here, but tried the breakfast today and loved it. Super fast to bring coffee and food out, and I love the large open air format. Great place to bring a laptop and do and work from, or just read the paper and take in Brunswick.

We have just finished an assortment of Turkish and English/Aussie cuisine. I had smashed avo on sourdough toast with pork sausage, rocket and feta. Lovely flavouring with the lemon, but it wasn't too much. Eddie had a manoush (like a pizza) with sacuc (Turkish sausage) and he didn't even notice the tomatoes (hates tomatoes). The flavours were beautifully blended and the bread was divine. Very reasonably priced.

This is a great neighborhood gem that we never tire of. Love the Middle Eastern inspired dishes and flavours in a converted warehouse setting that suits Sunday brunch.<br/><br/>The waitress came to tell us a big order had just gone in and it would be a 40 minute wait for our food, then offered a croissant on the house for us to nibble on. This doesn't happen at many places so kudos for this level of care. <br/><br/>The Manoushe was fantastic. The zaatar coated flat bread was toasted to perfection - so much flavour and crunch. With labne, olives, tomato, mint and rocket to complete the dish, it was a simple but fulfilling brunch. My friend loved his breakfast burger. The brioche bun harmonised the heavier ingredients, satisfying the craving for comfort food on a cold, wintry day.

Walk past it every day but.... On the day this place opened I got a fantastic coffee and the bloke gave me an extra one to taste and was really nice. I went back a few weeks later and the coffee was the usual milky luke-warm stuff that seems to be everywhere and the staff were so cool I had to run to the hills (thus they should see my dagginess). So, although I walk past the place every day I don't bother.... I have to laugh at their coolness... because of the size of the cafe, it has been infested with women and their massive prams and screaming kids - not so cool now are we!

The chicken salad with cous cous is the bomb! Needless to say the best coffee in the area by far. My 1st time reviewing a place & I'm glad to have had a positive experience.. Yum

Yes, yes, yes.. Not sure how I have missed this little gem. Great setting, nice choice on the menu. Had a B.E.L.T. which was lovely , fresh and clean tasting. Had a beautiful fresh OJ and a lovely coffee. This place rocks my socks. Service was a bit unfriendly but they may have just been under the pump. I will be back for sure, looking forward to working my way down the menu.

Best in Brunswick. I come here probably several times a week, based on the fact the food is always of exceptional quality. I appreciate the consistency. The pork sausage dish is really delicious, or there are a range of wraps available if you want something more simple. I've never had a bad coffee from here, which is truly saying something. Many places in Brunswick are hit and miss. The service is prompt, the dining hall atmosphere pleasant, however the only thing lacking is the personality of many of the staff.

Liking the new menu, and the fresh juices buuuut $4.30 for a small hot chocolate (latte glass size) is ridiculous!

I have been here numerous times for breakfast and think it is wonderful it is very spacious and we normally go about 8 am on weekends and never had a problem with seating the meals are very large and prices are very reasonable I would highly recommend

We came across this cafe while exploring the backstreets of Brunswick and the atmosphere looked great so we thought we would come back for a Sunday breakfast/brunch. I read reviews on urbanspoon before arriving and I would say that they are surprisingly quite accurate. We arrived at 11am and the place was packed, there was a queue for the smaller tables so we chose to sit at a larger shared table instead. The menu had a decent variety to choose from and traditional meals all had a middle-eastern twist - ingredients had to be googled. Their menu really needs a simplified "big breakfast" as you can only order eggs but then you have to buy each additional item (bacon,mushrooms etc) at $3.50 - the lack of hash browns is also a tad unfortunate. We ordered scrambled and poached egg dishes (inc other unknown ingredients) on sourdough bread. The meals took a very long time to prepare (possibly 40+ mins) as it was incredibly busy and our coffees orders were apparently taken to the wrong table. I was a little frustrated by this point and I had already made my mind up that I would not return, but the waitress was apologetic and it was understandable considering the circumstances. Both the food and coffee was incredibly delicious. I'm quite fussy with my coffee so I was delighted when we had the most amazing cup of brewed perfection. The scrambled eggs were incredibly flavoursome and the chunks of feta really made the dish melt in your mouth! By this point, I'm feeling rather satisfied and I could quite happily come back just for the food. We order another set of coffees and this takes another 15+ minutes. When the order arrives my mocha is in a glass and I politely asked whether this could be brought out in a mug, as I had done so for my first coffee. 5 minutes later my coffee is plonked onto my table by the waitress as she rushes on by. The look of my coffee was absolutely disgusting as it was drenched (dusted) with chocolate powder, there was so much powder that the top layer was a thick colour of black. To be honest, I was really disappointed as the service up to this point was rather bad and quite frankly, I wanted to vomit up my delicious meal from looking at this so called coffee! I thought I would give it a go and attempted to drink it but with each scrape of powder and sip of chocolate (was this a mocha or a hot chocolate!!) I felt more and more sick. Not one to complain, I left my coffee on the table and walked out wondering what to think about the whole experience. Would I be back? I don't know. The food was amazing but the service/wait time and loud atmosphere is probably not worth it. I'll probably go back to my Sydney rd joint where the food isn't as good, prices are more reasonable, atmosphere is cosy and the service is better. I guess you have to try everything once eh.

Good coffee.... I had a long black, which was very good. Great atmosphere. I think the falafel wrap was a little too salty. However, chips was quite good, especially the sauce.

Great brunny cafe. Great brunswick cafe. coffee is fantastic. and food consistently well-flavored with fusion lebanese flavors. They just need to have a vegetarian soup of the day and I will be happy as a lark..great jam and custard donuts too! spacious for prams and very family friendly.

Very busy Saturday morning for brunch but seemed to slow down around 12pm. Coffee is EXCELLENT 9/10! Juice -orange & apple -average, tasted watery- nothing special! 5/10. Meal - baked eggs with roasted eggplant, capsicum, mushroom and feta cheese served with toasted Turkish bread- very filling and tasty. 8/10. Buttermilk pancakes with raspberries, rose water & maple syrup served with honey yoghurt topped with pistachio nuts- 6/10. The pancake very doughy - not pleasant to eat. <br/>Our Verdict of 'Brunswick food store' - the best part about this place is the COFFEE & the excellent service!!

Friendly efficient service, good coffee, tasty food.

LOVE LOVE LOVE. As you can see I love this place. Have been numerous times and always been great. Food is sensational, staff are lovely and the best coffee I have had anywhere in melbourne which is a massive call. I am the fussiest coffee drinker and I have never ever had a bad coffee here. Richard and his wife are doing an awesome job as always and I have followed these guys around melbourne each time they open a new place. I cant get enough of their food and coffee...

Great food, great service. Very good coffee. Not typical English breakfast. I keep going back!

A Brunswick gem. A varied menu with a Lebanese twist adding some tasty flavours to your expected bacon and egg breakfast menu. Very popular on the weekends and has a loyal customer following due to the friendly nature of Susie & Richard ( the owners) and Jimmy, who makes an awesome coffee. Great building and fit out, utilising the Toby's coffee original building. It has added a vibrancy to the area.

Great if you have the time.... Brilliant pancakes, others on my table loved their mixed grill. The coffee is high standard but we had to wait a long time for our food and remind staff of other coffee orders. Would go back though, just not if in a hurry!

Great coffee Good pancakes .... Great coffee<br/>Good pancakes<br/>I" be back

Excellent coffee. My favourite coffee in Brunswick by a long shot - consistent, strong, slightly creamy. Staff are friendly, menu is slightly different to the usual breakfast, and always some interesting specials. The food is tasty, but overall it is the coffee that sees us returning.

Went here on Saturday for brunch and I took my rather picky dad who likes his usual bacon and eggs so I was a bit nervous when I saw the menu and realised they didn't have standard bacon and eggs. I ordered the poached eggs and my dad ordered (after a little bit of translating the menu) the special of the day with sucuk, eggs , roasted tomatoes and dukkah we both loved our breakfasts and the coffee was great too. Highly recommend this place and if it can please my fuss pot dad then I have def found a hidden gem.

Just Excellent!. Went to Brunswick Foodstore a couple of weeks ago for lunch and had a sensational experience. Upon arrival, we were immediately seated, given menus and water. Place was busy but not overbearing at all, just pleasant. I recently became wheat intolerant and so when ordering asked the waitress about gluten free options. She politely said they could do any dish on their menu with gluten free bread. We ordered from another waitress who said she was also gluten intolerant and recommended extra sauce on the dish I ordered. She asked for this on my behalf and my lunch was outstanding.<br/><br/>The coffee was brilliant too, not burnt, just rich and delicious. We were thanked for our custom upon leaving and the service was consistently friendly - no request seemed too challenging. Upon realising this restaurant was run by Suzie and Richard Pavlov I have to say I was not surprised at all - this couple have developed a track record of opening sensational cafes around Melbourne where quality, middle-eastern inspired dishes and top-notch coffee are served in a truly unpretentious, hospitable manner.

Like Brunswick is supposed to be.. Arty and cool, affordable and great. It's like one giant arty kitchen share house warehouse space. Full of organic feeling items around the place, pastel colours and something infinitely cool about the furniture. This place has atmosphere. It's exactly what Fitzroy was when I was 10 years younger, which is what Brunswick is supposed to be now. <br/><br/>So affordable, great priced menu with excellent items particularly for me as a vegetarian. It's excellent, it's exactly the kind of restaurant I would eat at many times a week if I lived nearby.<br/><br/>Good coffee, nice everything. Well worth a look. Relaxed and great.

Yummy! Great food and good service. So rare these days that the wait staff realise that your drink is empty and ask would you like another. But it actually happened here! Keep it up :)

I love this place! Its that hidden gem where you can always get a table! Coffee food both to die for :-) great great!!