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Omg, the things you find in Melbourne when you go looking. I’ve been keen to try The Bell Jar for a while. Every time I’ve looked at the reviews it’s sounded interesting and well worth checking out. In my mind I was going out for a Melbourne style brunch which we’re all familiar with. Instead, I got an unexpectedly wonderful taste of French cuisine.
My head’s still spinning from this experience. After we sat down the server/manager recommended the beef bourguignon, one of the listed specials for the day. I’ve had this dish a number of times including in France and most recently at France Soir in Toorak Road. It’s a favourite of mine. I love a nicely constructed beef stew, basically. The server basically asked me to trust him while also informing me that the chef was French as he appeared to be himself too.
To cut to the chase, the dish was absolutely superb. Easily the best beef bourguignon I have had anywhere. The meat was in roughly cut chunks and so beautifully tender but without any danger of being over cooked. The red wine sauce was luscious as well and with some equally well cooked carrot and potato, the dish was utterly wonderful. The perfect dish for a cool Melbourne day. Just so delicious and so hearty and that I carefully mopped up all the sauce with the bread provided.
We were very kindly given a complimentary taste of the stewed fruit they serve here. That was superb as well. And, our coffees to finish were fantastic too.
This is one of my highlights of the year coming to The Bell Jar. You don’t come here for the decor which is impressively lowbrow inside. You come here for the food, and what I was lucky enough to have here today was completely superb.
Good food, good coffee and most important the service is great! Coffee flavour is beyond better than what I had on ordinary franchise coffee shop.
Very, very cute cafe tucked away off Alexander Parade that I love! Popped in on a sunny day so sat out the back. Not very busy mid week for lunch so we had the outdoor area to ourselves. Ordered a soy chai and the smashed avocado. Firstly, the soy chai was really good. It was real chai tea served in a teapot with hot soy milk. It tasted great! The smashed avocado was pretty run of the mill though. Small feta chunks were blotted over the avocado so you had to mix it in. Good flavours but nothing special. Menu looks good and staff were absolutely lovely so will definitely be back sometime soon!
So fortunate to have this gem around the corner as my daily go-to. Fantastic meals, great service and awesome, consistant coffee. Superb on every level
A very tiny cafe with a hard to see name that you barely recognise as a cafe!
It had popped up on broadsheet or somewhere so we gave it a try. Unfortunately I have two negatives, we were at the communal table which was no problem at all but the fixed seats were just so uncomfortable. And service was really slow. We got given water glasses straight away but it took half hour, even after asking before we got a water jug. But that's all. The coffee and hot chocolate came in JARS, (lose my mind over this stuff!) and breakfast was really yummy!
I dig this joint big time.
Obviously.
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My first visit! Fantastic! The smoked ocean trout croissant with scrambled eggs was so fresh, so tasty and so well priced. My wife had the granola in a jar and I was jealous about that as well. Service was great! Was busy on a Sunday morning with most tables inside and in the courtyard all taken. Worth waiting if you have to!
The Bell Jar is one of those cafe’s that known to those in the know… Other than that it’s not very well known… Sounds cryptic? Sure! The front is non descriptive, it’s at the opposite end of Smith Street to all the brunch action and it’s kinda tucked away…
The Bell Jar appears aptly named... One can't help but feel cocooned and safe once between it's walls. No matter the outside weather, the cafe exists in a comfortable bubble which extends even to the back courtyard.
The staff remember my coffee order each time without fail, though sometimes I don't come in for months and probably have never been in more than twice in any one week.
Coffee is reliable, well made and quick; food and table service less so (I believe this lies mainly in the fact that the place is so tiny you could never justify having more than three staff members on), but any shortcomings are overwhelmingly made up for in consistency and atmosphere.
You can attempt a crossword over a solo lunch undisturbed just as easily as you can smoke a few cigarettes and engage in a genuinely nice conversation with a stranger, or seldom seen friend.
It feels like everyone at that cafe is connected by a web of loveliness and I LOVE IT.
I'm not sure if the name of this place is a Sylvia Plath reference or not. I'm pretty sure there's not a dead woman in their oven because the pancake thingies I had were bloomin' divine. Doesn't get a lot of sunlight so come here for a post bust-up melancholy hug. Staff were great. BLOODY $1 BISCUITS! couldn't make em for that.
Cosy little cafe with super friendly staff and heaps more room than i realised! Consistently good coffee and the food here is pretty seriously excellent too. Definitely a local worth trying out
Cute little place with a small courtyard.
Coffee's nice and the service was quick.
Menu's simple and it all looked pretty good.
Food was fresh and delicious.
cool environment. friendly staff and great food. you can sit outside and watch the world go by you or inside . but you will enjoy the food regardless
Simon Pender (SiTheDogBlogger)
+4
A pleasant spot for breakfast for me and my doggies. Very good coffee. Nice muffins. Very laid back. Lovely courtyard out the back. Two tables out the front for dog people. I go for the toasted cheese, ham and mustard sandwich.
Lovely little place with an interesting menu and lots of creative and tasty brunch options. I found the service to be fantastic, and although the fitout is basic, the friendly staff and artwork on the walls transform it into a warm and inviting space. Love it!
Delightful little local with cute decor, good coffee and friendly humans.
Sameer Cooshna (zigiprimo)
+5
Lovely place, good coffee: the key thing that makes this place a gem, the coffee standard keeps the same flow! The menu is simple, yet delicious ☺ friendly staff and a great location on the 86 tram line.
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