Review The Unexpected Duck - Camberwell

Mark is always such a friendly and easy to talk to small business owner! I get my daily coffees here which are deliciously made with a smile and the big breakfast is very filling. Bacon, eggs, mushrooms, spinach, tomato, sausage, bread and I’m sure there was even more there. The Unexpected Duck theme is well done with a yellow duck out front and artwork to match on the inside. I highly recommend walking up the side street to give it a try!

The owner/operator/barista/chef has done a fantastic job with this local cafe. Makes your coffee just to your liking and is always happy to chat about the latest baseball or soccer updates - a big thumbs up for any sport fanatic. 150% good job Marc.

It is unexpected. The cafe is tucked around the corner off the Hartwell shopping centre. You just don’t expect it to be there. Cute name. Cute little space as well. Friendly owner/server here. Clearly loved by the locals going by the interactions I saw! The cafe has a great local following. There are coffee loyalty cards posted everywhere at the counter. I took the amazing deal, a toastie and coffee for $10. It was lovely coffee and a large one too. And, it was a super super bacon and egg toastie as well. Great value. Beautifully cooked. They’d used great seeded bread as well. Nice place. Lovely service. Well worth a visit.

The staff here were very friendly & helpful. The latte was the best that I've had and the bacon & eggs toastie that I also ordered was cooked to perfection I highly recommend this place to anyone

Easily my favourite cafe in the Hartwell/Camberwell area. The owner, Mark, is extremely personable and welcoming. His coffees are great and very affordable; no surcharge for alternate milk. Mark will also make any accommodation necessary e.g make a coffee with your own milk! His food is of the same standard and he does burger nights in the summer time on Fri and sat nights. I go to mark 3-5 times a week and many of his customera would consider him a friend; a real contributor to the community. Update: mark is the best

Marc makes the best chai latte! Great little cafe. Live in the area and it’s my local go to. Also makes great burgers on Friday and Saturday nights. Try the brownies and banana bread too. Delicious!

Great cafe! Delicious coffee and super friendly staff. Highly recommend.

Really loved coming here a few days ago. The Eggs Benedict was so tasty and cooked perfectly. Super reasonable price and they even reserved a table for my boyfriend and I when we were just about to drop by. The male server that was waiting our table had a contagious positive attitude. Will definitely be coming back again.

Rate: 4.5/5<br/><br/>☆彡 Instant seating for 2 people in small, quiet and cute cafe for 2pm late lunch (Wednesday). We ordered the Quinoa salad and Blueberry pancakes<br/><br/>☆ The good: <br/>- Really friendly service - the chef is the nicest and talks to you and he made our visit so lovely and memorable. Food he served was super delicious (blueberry pancakes and generous quinoa salad). Once again, the service was so nice he made our food feel special, personalised and tasty :D would return!!!! 100% recommend and i believe this cafe to be so underrated! <br/>- very nice extensive affordable brunch-type menu!!!<br/><br/>☆ Not so good:<br/>- ingredients/menu items can run out nearer the end of the day (e.g. 2pm)<br/><br/>Overall: would return for impeccable service, homely setting/food and affordable brunch/lunch!

No wonder this cafe is so popular. Absolutely delicious honest food. Best coffee in the area, and the friendliest atmosphere. I get coffee and lunch here whenever I’m in the area. YUM!

This is a cosy little cafe tucked back from the hustle and bustle madness of the main street with on street parking close by.<br/>We had yummy comfort food - gourmet toasted sandwiches and hot drinks, pretty delicious, and were very pleased with the prices.<br/>Barista/owner was very welcoming, friendly, and made us feel like we were all old friends.<br/>Would love to visit again when in the area.

It is unexpected. The cafe is tucked around the corner off the Hartwell shopping centre. You just don’t expect it to be there. Cute name. Cute little space as well. Friendly owner/server here. Clearly loved by the locals going by the interactions I saw! The cafe has a great local following. There are coffee loyalty cards posted everywhere at the counter. I took the amazing deal, a toastie and coffee for $10. It was lovely coffee and a large one too. And, it was a super super bacon and egg toastie as well. Great value. Beautifully cooked. They’d used great seeded bread as well. Nice place. Lovely service. Well worth a visit.

Hi!<br/><br/>Like some other reviewers we were in Camberwell and saw this little sign "The unexpected duck cafe" in George St.<br/><br/>We headed in and grabbed a table, there were already a few in and seated.<br/><br/>We had the Green smoothie bowl and mushrooms on toast (pictured). The smoothie bowl was delicious, the smoothie itself was tasty and well mixed, no lumps which I really enjoyed. The mushrooms on toast had a awesome twist, they put a hint of chili on the tomatoes which gives it real boost from the usual diced tomato on the plate, we also had a side of bacon that topped it off perfectly, everything's better with bacon, right?<br/><br/>Coffee was great, service for one staff member was spot on and super friendly, happy to have a quick chat while doing things which was nice.<br/><br/>Congratulations to The unexpected duck as it is their one year anniversary of being open.<br/><br/>Would highly recommend and plan on visiting again when in Camberwell.

The food here is actually tragic. I have never been more disappointed in a meal. Sad that friends of the owner leave good reviews and people continue to spend money here.

I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to sample the new menu at this really cute cafe . This cafe is hidden in a small street in camberwell so you really need to search for it to locate it . The food was nice and the staff extremely friendly . The menu is simple but simple flavours sometimes is just what you need

Would give this place 0 if I could. Smelly, dirty, not much choice in food and over priced. Eggs undercooked. Toast burnt. Substitutes to my meal because they didn't even have the ingredients advised on their own menu. The chef reeked of cigarettes and kept scratching his groin while preparing food and the barista looked like he was deathly sick and didn't smile at all. Been meaning to write this review for a while and i can't understand where all the good ones came from. I think the owners have got all their friends to write them because I cannot agree with a single one. I would be very interested to know when the last health inspection was for this place. Won't be returning or recommending.

I was lucky enough to sample Camberwell's, The Unexpected Duck, new menu this weekend just gone and was blown away by the generous serving sizes and array of different items on the menu. I went with a big group of foodies and we were able to try a little bit of everything - so yummy!<br/><br/>After starting with coffees and freak shakes (strawberry donut & chocolate with peanut butter), we all ordered a dish each - the french toast, the hotdog, the burger, the mushroom brekky, the quinoa salad, the duck Benedict and the smashed avo. <br/><br/>I had the Club Sandwich and I could not recommend it highly enough! It was absolutely chockas full of fillings - grilled chicken, bacon, egg, tomato, lettuce & mayonnaise. It came served with a side of potato crisps instead of fries, which I initially questioned, but was glad to snack on after eating such a huge sandwich.<br/><br/>The french toast had a great flavour, but lacked presentation. We also ate it after everything else and it had gone a bit soggy. The hotdog received great reviews, but that the bun was very crunchy. The quinoa salads and burgers were all demolished. I tried a bit of the duck Benny, and liked the flavours, but it was very rich and I don't think I could have eaten the whole dish.<br/><br/>The Unexpected Duck is a small cafe with super friendly staff and delicious food and coffee. I would recommend visiting before more people find out about them. If you do visit, take an old book with you, because they have a cute little "read and swap" book nook in the back corner. <br/><br/>Thanks for a wonderful lunch, team :)

Located just off the corner of Toorak and Camberwell Road, this café hasn’t been open for long, but judging by the many coffee loyalty cards, stuck on the side of the coffee machine, the Duck has been embraced by the Camberwell community. The interior is very cute with lots of ducks smattered in very unexpected locations. There are board games to play, and a mini library. Unlike many of the big cafes, these guys want you to stay a while.  <br/><br/>Thanks to Lauren from BrunchingBae, I got to try the new menu. I had the unexpected dog, which is their fancy version of the hot dog served on a baguette, with chorizo, bacon, chilli, onion, mustard and ketchup. It was a great take on the hot dog. The coffee was good.<br/><br/>The other dish that did impress me was their club sandwich, well layered and well filled. Well done on that one.<br/><br/>All in all, this is a very good suburban café, with staff that will make you feel at home. If I lived nearby, this would probably be my local. 7/10.

Such a pleasure launching the new menu with a bunch of lovely food bloggers today at the Unexpected Duck. A cute little local cafe located in Camberwell that does good quality food at extremely reasonable prices which is great for the nearby Deakin uni students. They also do a very impressive looking and decadent tasting freakshake in the form of strawberry topped with a jam donut and torched marshmallows or a peanut butter chocolate flavour complete with a cookie and peanut butter cup. Wow. Extremely indulgent and delicious.<br/>Foodwise I opted for the smashed avo with feta and poached eggs and a side of smoked salmon. This dish along with many others at the cafe are gluten free which is great news for our gf foodie friends. I really enjoyed my meal and the pleasant atmosphere of the space. They even have a little lending library in the corner with a ‘take one leave one’ philosophy with their books which gives a real sense of community. Easy parking, friendly staff and tasty food. All the ingredients for a perfect Sunday

Absolutely love eating at this Cafe. I have been a regular for quite a while now as the food and coffee is amazing and the hospitality by the staff and chef is second to none. You must try the grilled chicken blt burger and the double cheese double bacon burger as they are both scrumptious.<br/><br/>If you are looking for a cosy cafe with great tasting food and coffees in the Camberwell area then I would highly recommend giving this cafe a try.

> Blueberry pancakes with lemon curd, vanilla ice cream and fresh berries <<br/><br/>The unexpected duck is a small homely cafe tucked away in the backstreets of Camberwell. This is a great place for locals to grab a coffee or a big brunch. The owners are so friendly, welcoming, and very accommodating to any of your needs. <br/>The food tastes homemade and not artificial at all. I trailed these pancakes for their new menu and I can definitely give a thumbs up to them! The pancakes were thick and the blueberries were a really nice addition to add some extra sweetness and prevent the pancakes from being bland. The fresh berries and lemon curd are also a great addition to break down the thickness of the pancakes and add a refreshing element. <br/>Overall, this is a really cute cafe that is very welcoming and I can assure you'll have a great experience when you visit 😊<br/>The breakfastpiggy team<br/>Piggies out, Oink oink 🐷🐷<br/>

This place is so small that you can chat with the chef while he cooks your food.<br/>Soy tuneric latte was great.<br/>The kitchen ran out of potatoes for the mushroom dish. It was very kind for the chef to substitute the egg for haloumi but it was also out of stock. Luckily there's a fine food supermarket nearby. <br/>Haliumi was not pan fried long enough.<br/>The mushrooms and spinach were ok.<br/>Both toasts were too burnt to eat. <br/>

The Unexpected Duck features a welcoming atmosphere, delicious food and generous amounts of marshmallows with their hot chocolates. This cafe is conveniently close to Deakin University and makes a great place to eat and chat! Also worthy to note that their notorious Tay-Tay Tuesdays does not disappoint!

Such a brilliant cafe! Can't fault the food, service, anything!! Pretty much everything on their menu can be made gluten free which means I'll be back for sure! Highly recommend!

Honestly amazing staff who are easy to get along with and have great food, especially the hot chocolates and scrambled eggs!! Also great as it's not to far from uni!!!

A humble addition to Camberwell, The Unexpected Duck strays from the norms of "hipster" that litters many of the cafes in the Melbourne CBD. Came by during the week and had a lovely dining experience hosted by owners Marc and Glen. Service a little slow, but with two of them manning the front, I will commend them for their efforts. Both of them struck up warm conversations and plated up some decent food. Was quite impressed with how they remembered all their regulars' names - extra brownie points there! The duck made for a delicious winner, and the sauce somewhat similar to a hoisin flavour. Not much to complain about with the beverages too. If you're looking for a place to kick back and rock those positive vibes, this is the place to visit.<br/>(PS - Love Taylor Swift? Come in on Tuesday for Tay Tay Tuesdays)

Can't rate this place highly enough. They make a great coffee and have delicious food options. The service is fantastic, the guys are so friendly! Great place to have a meeting with a large, sturdy table. Or great to catch up with a friend - the place has a great vibe. 10/10 would recommend!!

Superb new cafe with a refreshing range of dishes. Duck on things can never be a bad idea! <br/><br/>Great coffee, excellent kids menu, friendly service and really good food. Nice desserts. Duck on sourdough was the highlight. Deserves its very positive reviews. <br/><br/>Small amount of seating so don't tell too many others about it!

Went there a few days ago with my wife for a quick stop in for coffee and a chai latte. The best chai latte I have ever had. Will be back!<br/><br/>Thanks

Absolutely fantastic little cafe off of the main street of Camberwell, I was served one of the best milkshakes I've had in the city and some very nice duck on eggs.

Awesome brunch options at really affordable prices, considering the big serving sizes too! Great coffee with soy milk at no extra cost (I loved my soy mocha's). My friends and I can't stop going back!! Cute atmosphere and chatty, friendly owners.

Cute cafe. Finally my 2 loves meet: poached egg and duck. Eggs beneduck was delicious and generous. Coffee was great too. Definitely worth a visit.

Nice spot, just off the main road. Great meals and good variety, inc. GF options. Also a good spot to grab the morning coffee and a ready to go sandwich or something sweet.

This place has excellent coffee and friendly and efficient staff. The ducklings menu is terrific, my kids love it. The book sharing idea is a winner.

Great little cafe, the coffee was amazing with lactose free milk as an option! Menu is fun with heaps of different options and the atmosphere is generally really nice. Also book borrowing library and jenga, can't go wrong.

Awesome coffee, great food and the staff are really nice. I really like what they have done with the place. It is comfortable and friendly, they even catered to my dog! She gets so spoiled :D

Plenty of vege options and gluten free for those in need of a cute cafe to eat with their dietary requirements! <br/>Their Eggs Beneduck is difficult to compete with, and their freak shakes are riduckulous. <br/>It's the perfect place for a family brunch, a group study or private, and plenty of coffee to sustain those in need of a kick to start the day or make it through! They also have littlewilding.co tea for the non-coffee lovers ☕️ <br/>

Just popped in to order a latte....without a doubt the BEST coffee in Hartwell/Camberwell.  So happy  to have this hidden gem around the corner! Yummy fresh food and treats.

The Unexpected Duck is a great little cafe! Very cosy and relaxed atmosphere and the staff are super friendly! The Eggs Beneduck was amazing as was the coffee. Get yourself to The Unexpected Duck ASAP!

Popped into this hidden gem on the way home from Uni. I tried the Eggs Beneduck upon the chefs suggestion and it was amazing. Perfectly cooked eggs with smoked duck. Yum! <br/>I had a latte after my meal and it was really good as well.<br/>It is small cafe with a really laid back feel and friendly staff. <br/>This is 100% my new cafe. <br/>Excellent.