Review True North - Coburg

Dined at Osteria tonight and was blown away. Amazing and well priced vegan eats served by friendly and passionate staff in a homely atmosphere. The chef shows a true passion for the produce which ensures an unforgettable dining experience.

I hate myself for forgetting this place exists! It is delicious! The staff is super friendly and the ambiance is nice. Lots of vegan options too! The homemade ginger beer and macadamia pesto are a must!

Genuinely the best vegan food I’ve had in as long as I can remember. Loved the BLT & Loved the place, Really awesome cafe set-up. Will definitely be coming back here when I’m on this side of town again. Disappointed I didn’t have more time to sit & try more of the menu but the food was unreal.

Dined at the Osteria on a Friday evening. The food was fresh and delicious and incredibly well priced. Staff were passionate about the food and drinks. It would be remiss not to mention the decor and vibe of the joint - it is unique and fun. I’m going back to eat all of the vegan ceviche and drink more beers served in skulls. Unreal.

Pretty looking and fabulous tasting food. Good range for those after gluten or dairy free. Love the eclectic decorations on the walls.

True North was easily one of the best nights out I’ve had anywhere in Melbourne. The food is amazing in both taste and portions, the staff are so friendly and helpful, no hipster snobbery here! Great vibe, great people, great food! Will be back! (Take the train so you can test the bar on their cocktail skills!)

The best coffee in Coburg and the bags of coffee beans are also great quality. I’ve had take away food several times which was really good. True North also has a heavy metal and cats vibe which is good fun.

You can only trust True North and the first six Black Sabbath albums. Seriously, the food is so good it'd turn down being inducted into the Rock & Roll hall of fame. It doesn't matter if you turn up dusty as all hell on a Sunday morning or ravenous on a Friday night, the food will always hit the spot and its ALWAYS served up by a bunch of legends 🤘

Great Coffee and super friendly staff :)

Food and service were good. Noise from the coffee is a little noisy, but otherwise nice ambience.<br/><br/>Food was tasty and with good portions, tho the tacos were filled just too much to easily pick them up to eat.

One of the best places for breakfast in Melbourne. Unpretentious and whole vegan menu. Friendly staff and great coffee.I have been three times and will be back!

This cafe has a funky fit out and a cool vibe, and is actually quite spacious with comfortable seating. I've been here several times, and love the friendly vibe. Service has always been really good, even on busy days.<br/><br/>True North have fab coffee, and I will often stop in for a takeaway. They have a diverse menu, but I enjoy the baked treats which are always so tempting. I enjoy popping into this cool cafe whenever I'm in this part of town.

Quite simply the most pathetic excuse for a Reubens I have ever had the pleasure of seeing and tasting. Thinnest possible dmear of fillings that you barely could taste. After someone's recommendations, took the hour drive to True North.....never again. As Manu says, where the sauce. The other dish of corn bread was pointless. Corn bread dry, Jalapeno non existent except for the top garnish, coleslaw that you thought what for (season and dress it please. Don't setve it out of the packet). The only redeemable feature was the fried okra. No sauce meant dish was dry as and boring as....had to use the egg yolk for a bit of lubricant.

Very nice customer serviced greeted at door by a fantastic worker<br/>Food and coffee was outstanding<br/>They actually season there food 😍<br/><br/>Highly recommend for vegan and non vegans truly amazing<br/>Ps try the hush brown potato won't be dispapointed

This is my favourite north-side (or Melbourne-wide) cafe. I&#039;ve been there many times over the years and i&#039;ve never had a disappointing meal, coffee, or service experience. I&#039;m always greeted with friendly word and smile. It also has great atmosphere - cool and modern without being pretentious or unwelcoming in any way.<br/><br/>They cater for vegans and vegetarians, and they have many genuinely good gluten free options. My favourite items are their tacos and reuben sandwich, but really everything on their menu is great. I love their coffee, too.<br/><br/>Basically, I genuinely prefer it to any other cafe in Melbourne - and i&#039;ve tried many of the cafes that have top ratings on zomato, from Coburg to Brunswick and beyond.

I went here yesterday for lunch with my friend and we were both disappointed in the service that was provided to us. The waitress was quite rude and looked as if she didn’t want to be there. We first ordered our coffees which was made perfectly and then ordered one of their fresh muffins which are made daily but she took our menus away without even asking if we wanted to order anything else which we did and we had to get another waitress’ attention to get back our menus. Poor experience but atleast the food and coffee were really good

What friendly staff who are genuinely happy to be chatting with their customers <br/><br/>I live not too far away so have stopped in for coffee a few times so haven’t eaten there as yet but the coffee is great.<br/><br/>Always seems to be something fun happening there.<br/><br/>My only recommendation is that they get some almond milk in (pretty please) <br/>

I love the atmosphere, coffee, and vegan sweets at True North.<br/>I have only eaten the more substantial food off the vegan menu, but it's all been very nice so far.<br/>The food can sometimes take a while to come out, but I put that down to the business of the times I have ordered. It is also on the pricier side, but for the quality and the fact that the menu is all totally vegan (if you choose that option), I am more than happy to pay as an every now and then treat.<br/>The coffee really is standout, easily the best in the surrounding area.

This hip Mexican inspired bar/cafe intrigued me so I decided to check it out😎<br/>Coffee was great! A perfectly brewed soy magic.<br/>I decided to give the blueberry bagel special. It came with crispy bacon and lemon sorbet drizzled with maple syrup.<br/>I like to give things a go at least once. The problem was not with the combination of elements but rather the toughness of the bagel which couldn’t be cut with my knife and the bacon which, personally, I felt was over cooked. <br/>I enjoyed the lemon sorbet. <br/>I tried chewing down the tough bagel but couldn’t stomach it.<br/>Perhaps stick with the coffee.<br/>In fairness, the service was great and friendly staff. But no one question the leftover food.

It's unusual but great that a cafe can give you an almost identical menu that is entirely vegetarian from the standard menu, yes they have two menus here, one titled Meaty Menu and the other Leafy Menu. I chose from the veggie menu and went for the tacos with a side of black beans. My latte arrived first and it was ok but served in a cup instead of a glass which i much prefer. The tacos were delicious with roasted cauliflower, a really crispy slaw which i think also had fennel and a really good beetroot and hazelnut hummus, so good i wanted more sauce. I'm so glad i ordered the braised black beans as they are the best I've had anywhere (and I've eaten them in the USA many times.) My friend had the Pancakes and loved them. What seemed really popular which we could see on the pass and we were told were deep fried burritos, seriously looked amazing though could not see them on the menu nor the specials board and will be a must eat on my next visit. The negative about this place is the choice of music and it's way too loud. Service is friendly!

Friendly place and it's nice that there's a whole vegetarian/vegan menu but I didn't really like the taco bowl I ate. The music was too loud

I’ve been here a number of times, and have always left feeling satisfied and not too overly out-of-pocket. The pancakes are generally my ‘go to’ option, with whatever meaty egg dish of happiness coming in at a very close second.<br/><br/>Definitely worth a try if you’re in the area :)

Love everything about this place! The decor, the food, the coffee, the quiz night - the everything! Vegan options are extensive and oh man those pieeeees! I’ve had a couple of bad experiences service-wise with past waitresses but nothing to stop me going back! Vegan Reubens for the win!

Ordered a take away flat white and gotta say I loved it! Milk was so nice and creamy. Coffee was perfect, strong and smooth.<br/><br/>I actually bought some beans and have been making espressos with it. The aroma is beautiful and the flava is amaze.

$13.50 for this bagel wasn't the best value for money, but the ambiance here is nice and service is pretty friendly. If I lived locally, I might frequent this place more, but wouldn't go out of my way to visit.

Currently sitting in a powered booth with my laptop studying (procrastinating right now), with a cup of filtered coffee that keeps being refilled by the friendly true north staff. Had some vegemite grain toast which hit the spot very well. Cool, quirky place to study on the free wifi.

The owner was friendly, beer selection good. Hot sauce selection even better. Not bad Ruebens , the brekky is also ok. The quesadillas didn't cut it for me though. An ok local cafe.

Ordered the vegan Reuben which was mediocre.<br/>The blueberry pancakes were unfortunately very bad. I think it was due to the (vegan) yoghurt? type topping and there was no sweetness detected. I couldn't finish them.

True North opened in Coburg in 2013, but somehow we only recently caught wind of its existence. A travesty given that the cafe/bar is now one of our favourite spots for a feed and a drink in this part of town.

Their food is worth a 3.5 and the coffee around the same, but I love the vibe and atmosphere so much that I've had to give it a 4. Hands down best music choices of any cafe ever (hard rock/sludge/punk) - with awesome booths, Twin Peaks memorabilia, and mortal kombat game. What's not to love?

Pretty good. <br/><br/>I ordered the quesadilla, and my wife ordered a sandwich of some sort. Both meals were really good, and the portion sizes were pretty good. Service was OK. We went on a Monday, so it wasn't busy. <br/><br/>If I recall, the menu largely consisted of sandwiches and the quesadilla I ordered. There were also some standard breakfast foods, but we were there for lunch, so we didn't try it. Overall, there wasn't a great deal of variety in the menu, but the food tasted really good, which is the most important thing!!<br/><br/>We ordered 2 long blacks, and they were just average. Next time I'll order a milk- asked coffee, since that's what most people want to know about anyway. <br/><br/>I'd go back there.

I really want to love this place but it's just so average. I've been a few times and meh. The interior is rad but it's missing the little things that make a place great. Like warm plates. Even though food is delivered to the table quickly, the food has already started to cool down because the plates are cold. Gah! On top of that, the flavours are a bit lacking. I think you can judge a place well by how they do basics. Like poached eggs on toast. If you want amazing poached eggs on sourdough, hit up Wide Open Road. They must use quality eggs as the flavours are amazing!

True North located just off Sydney road in Coburg is a pretty cool establishment serving breakfast and lunch as well as operating as a lively cocktail bar with pop up burger and chilli hotdog nights. The interior is very old American diner reminiscent with booth seating and the walls sprawled with cool paintings and hipster antiques. <br/><br/>We entered this awesome establishment on a cold windy Sunday afternoon and where greeted by kind enthusiastic staff who allowed us to sit anywhere we pleased. The place was pretty quite and we sat behind the bar taking in the interesting artwork and funky vibe whilst viewing the specials menu that was scribble beside us. We where given menus along with the extensive cocktail menu and where left to determine what our palate was craving. The menu certainly is unique with plenty of options mostly on the savoury side with vegan and vegetarian friendly options. <br/><br/>We where finally ready to order and chose the wise choice of the house-made granola along with the irresistible classic True North Reuben sandwich and a long black. We made ourselves very comfortable with the paper as the long black arrived promptly. The brew was utterly perfect, with a tasteful fruity acidic undertone with a velvet texture, delivered simmering hot just how I like it.<br/><br/>Our meals arrived shortly after and we couldn't wait to dig in. The Rueben sandwich made up of Pastrami, dijon mustard, house made mayo, sauerkraut & swiss cheese on toasted white sourdough was a sizzling, mouthwatering, cheesy indulgence. The gooey swiss cheese was oozing out of the thickly buttered crusty bread. The pastrami itself was very tasty and moist and paired well with the tart mustard and sauerkraut. The mayo added a great creamy texture and the pickle on top sealed the deal making the sandwich an absolute stunner. The house made granola served with season fruit, yoghurt, honey and my choice of soy milk was equally as good. The generous serving of roasted almonds, sticky oat clusters and chewy tart cranberries was the perfect combination of salty and sweet flavour, crafting for a very filling dish. The tart, thick greek yoghurt paired well with the sweet honey balancing each other nicely. The hefty serve of soy milk tired the dish together ensuring each mouthful was as good as the first. The true hero was the perfectly poached pear that remained its texture and shape not turning into an overcooked mushy mess. <br/><br/>True North is a relaxing unique eatery that serves delicious food and coffee in a trendy laid back environment at a very appealing price. The staff are super friendly creating a really welcoming culture, ensuring one will leave pleased and with a full belly.

Sweet place with nice fitout, a fun feel and friendly staff. Unfortunately the food wasn't too impressive. My breakfast quesadilla had a nice filling but the tortilla seemed quite stale and proved difficult to cut. My friends poached eggs were way over cooked and her Smoked Hash dish was a little small for the $18 price tag. <br/>And although the staff are welcoming, they tend to be unattentive.<br/>I've been here once before and kept having to grab someone to top up my coffee refills. (If you're gonna offer filter re-fills, you've gotta do frequent top ups!)<br/><br/>Pity :(

Disappointing cafe. Ok coffee, very poor food. The poached eggs were all cooked hard, & the corn bread was stodgy in the benedict. <br/>Sticky tables, average service, cool interior. <br/>

A quirky and cute little cafe hidden in coburg. The decorations in here fill the cafe with an abundance of character, tattoo-style artwork, old school pinball, cats, cats and more cats! <br/>The food is quite nice, and although I've not yet tried it, the sweet pie of the day looks very yummy indeed.

If I lived closer (And had days off) I would spend a lot more time up in here.  The coffees great, the beer list next level and the music just the right amount of F$%@ you.   Now to all those who walk in to a cafe or restaurant and try decide they hate it yet sit down and try and push your slightly vanilla life outlook on the people inside, you need to understand this is not a public space!! it is someones private space and you are guests if you don't like it leave...easy.  Everyone wins, yay!!

Coffee wasnt to write home about but really..thats the only thing could falter here. The place was amazing, staff were friendly and the food was to die for. Hubby had the pancakes which were polished off in 2 seconds flat, so fluffy and delicious. I had the texas brekkie which was the perfect blend of flavour and hint of spice. Definitely worth the visit

I'm disgusted how this place treats new mothers. Not only were we told to keep prams out of the way like we were aliens but we were told there were no highchairs as if it was against their policy to have children in the cafe. We were treated like aliens from the moment (three mums) entered until we left without ordering because it was so awkward. I would not recommend this place to anyone with children as clearly we are not welcome. I liked and supported you true north, until I had a baby. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves.

I really enjoyed True North. On the recommendation of other bloggers I ventured up the top end of Sydney Road, well past my regular Brunswick favourites. True North is in a growing pocket of cool bars and cafes up North. The building is almost a American style diner in that you can sit in booths with your friends or by yourself and have some space - a welcome change from Melbourne's usual shared huge tables. <br/><br/>The staff are well known for being lovely and I have to say, also very cool. The venue is filled with art work, cool novelty items and drawings. It feels homely without being over cluttered. <br/><br/>Most things on the menu can be made vegetarian or vegan and the chef makes their own vegan chorizo which tastes really nice. Gluten free, vegan and vegetarians will be just as happy as the meat eaters. The menu is Mexican leaning but has everything you would want for a brunch or quick take away sandwich lunch. Tasty coffee from supreme and cakes are plentiful and delicious. I'll definitely be back again.

Only stopped in to grab a coffee. Was going to have it there but they use compostable takeaway cups, which is great to see. Coffee was good, service friendly...

I like this place. A great local with consistently good coffee and a no frills menu. Had the herb chicken sandwich today, simple and tasty. Will be back often.

Went here for lunch with a friend on Saturday 1 Oct. I had high hopes, but was sorely disappointed. <br/>Firstly, the wait staff are too cool to be enthusiastic. I wanted a large coffee but was told they only had one size. In fact, they were serving filter coffee in mugs, but for some reason it wasn't possible to serve a flat white in the mug? Hipster pretentiousness perhaps? <br/>The filter coffee was horrid anyway.<br/>The food was not cheap and not big either. The butter was not enough to cover one slice of the large toast never mind two. The poached eggs were hard and the flavour - bland.<br/><br/>But, by far the worst part of this disappointing experience was the death metal music that was blaring through the joint. Seriously! There isn't any circumstance I can think of when loud death metal is conducive with a relaxing lunch at a premium price. These mob must be raking it in if they can afford to disregard the consideration of the paying clientelle. <br/><br/>My suggestion, try being less pretentious and more flexible to the needs of your customers.

Love how they cater to all dietary requirements. Felt really comfortable being able to adjust my meal. <br/>The pancakes are a personal favourite, however I feel like the serving size has gotten smaller (whilst the price has remained) which is just a little sad. <br/><br/>Overall, good environment with great pancakes!

Please only come here if your a legend. <br/><br/>If your looking for an excellent adventure filled with beautiful bottomless filter coffee, perfectly portioned meals, epic tunes and the most fantastic staff look no further.<br/><br/>True North your my hero.

We went to the $10 curry and beer night a few times - the "curry" was consistently bland and tasteless, watered down, and had three sad, tiny pieces of meat or veg included in servings that were the size of a child's hand. I get it's $10 but food should be both tasty and filling. Here it's not. And any place that waters down its food has zero respect for its customers. Never going back.

True North in Coburg is a place I return to often– good food, friendly staff and right near where I do most of my shopping. I’ve blogged about True North before, but as I’ve gone back so many more times, I thought it was time for an update. Annoyingly there were a few times I forgot to take my camera.

Yep its pretty hipster, but it has substance. The staff are lovely, the menu is small but tasty, the decor is comfy and the the coffee is the best in Coburg.

I ordered the avocado bagel with chilli. I actually expected fresh chilli, but there were only a few scattered chilli flakes, not at all spicy, not even a hint of spice. The meal itself was not great, left a bad taste in my mouth. <br/><br/>The service was below average too. The waitress made absolutely no attempt at being helpful.<br/><br/>I will not be returning. Pity as I'm a local, but there are many other great places in the area.

Slightly mixed feelings about True North. The coffee is great, I'm a big fan of the filter @ $5 with unlimited refills. Their espresso based coffees are also really great.<br/><br/>The food is fantastic, really lovely flavours and healthy sized servings.<br/><br/>Where it loses out on full marks is the very limited menu and reasonably slow service, which is a shame because I love coming here.

Given the benefit of the doubt too many times. Generally upwards of 20min for a takeaway coffee and/or toast. Today I waited 35 minutes for this work of art. 4 chances to get it right was too many, I will not bother again.<br/><br/>Side note, probably fine to eat in, assuming no rush. Coffee decent.

A great spot for breakfast/brunch if you are looking for something more than the stock standard bacon, eggs and toast. The atmosphere has a great vibe to it and the fit out is welcoming and eclectic. The breakfast menu was varied with interesting combinations and choices. The coffee was exceptional. The service was friendly. The food was very good. Our table had the Spanish baked eggs which was cooked perfectly and full of flavour, the blueberry pancakes were fluffy, light and full of flavour with delicious candied nuts. The watermelon Fresca was fresh and very morish. Prices are reasonable. Coburg finally has a groovy establishment.

Cafe with a 70s vibe and mexican food. This place could have delivered on a HUGE scale, but was 'whelmed' with everything. Had the Huevos rancheros with eggs that were very rubbery and the cornbread which hubby didn't finish. It's a shame because it's a great set up and staff were really friendly. I would be keen to pop back and try their curry and beer for $10 on a Thursday for dinner.

I have lived in coburg since the opening of true north. I finally decided to give it a try. First I will start with the positives. The seating was comfortable, coffee decent and the staff were friendly. On the negative note the food took ages to come out. I had to ask if they had forgotten. I also noticed a table across from me do the same thing, but they decided to get up and leave. It was not a busy day. All I had ordered was a bagel with avocado. That does not take long! All in all this place is very average and there are much better places on offer.

Was in the area so tried this place. Cool venue and vibe. Menu has a tex-mex insipred feel and felt there was not a lot of variety. Started with lattes that were served in tea cups (old school). Coffee was quite strong but good consistency. We had the breakfast burger roll - it was good - and the cornbread - good, but missing something. <br/>Overall cool 90s vibe about the place.

Billy Gibbons was a breath of fresh air. Something different than your usual sandwiches that are served in most cafes. Staff were always smiling even though it was busy and very patient while we were ordering. Thumbs up.

Staff are extra friendly <br/>Lots of vegan options <br/>I ordered a vegan breakfast roll and was a bit shocked to find it full of eggplant, spinach and avo rather than fake meats which is what I was expecting from the menu - but the staff were happy to remove the eggplant for me and it was tasty tasty :) <br/>Good rolls too!

Best. Just the best. <br/>Became our go-to breakfast, brunch, lunch spot. <br/>American inspired. So damn tasty. Rad staff. <br/>If you don't come here, it's your loss.

We've just moved to Coburg and discovered True North. My first visit was to grab some coffee on the go, I was pleasantly surprised by the awesome interior and many cats. Soy latte brewed to purr-fection. My second visit we sat down for a late breakfast, the staff are super friendly and welcoming. I ordered my fav breakfast - scrambled eggs with tomato and it was delish! We have now been a third time for breakfast and everything was great again. Safe to say this is our new local cafe.

Friendliest staff in Coburg. Excellent coffee, food and most importantly impressive range of hot sauces! Highly recommend! And open New Year Day and Christmas!!

I need to start with a disclaimer, this is my favorite cafe! It is the kind of place where you always feel welcomed, the coffee is always good and everyone of my friends can eat here (across there varied  dietary requirements). Today was another great example great banter from the staff and our drinks came out fast. I ordered the most basic thing on the menu scrambled eggs and I have to say they were the best eggs I have eaten in a cafe. I may be gushing but even the music fits my taste no boring easy listening pap here. This place ain't nothing to F### with.

Well, I dunno. This was my second time visiting, once before the extension when they did bagels and one after when I had the breakfast roll. <br/>Both times didnt wow me. Rocked up at 12pm, 2 tables already seated and served. Ordered, got my coffee and then waited and waited and waited... Then I decided that I would just wait some more. The breakfast roll came out on a brioche :( why? Come on chef have a stern word to the owner and tell him that it's 2015 and no one wants a desert bun as the only option all of the time, even McDonald's have revamped and offer alternatives, you also have 5 bakeries a stone throw away that make nice FRESH rolls. The relish left a tang in mouth for a few hours after. <br/>Ditch the Wu-Tang hipster crap and let the chef make you an original (not a tired ass texmex Americana one) and make your coffee hotter.

One thing that I love about True North is the diner vibe and the random assortments of knick-knacks scattered around the shop. I have been here twice and on both occasions, service was wonderful. The staffs are chatty and friendly, nothing like what the other reviews suggested. Food-wise, we noticed that the food can be a tad inconsistent as the breakfast roll my partner had during our first visit had much more bacon when compared to our second visit. Fortunately when it comes to the taste, and also the coffee, we were not left disappointed on both occasions.

Our Coburg local! Lovely atmosphere, friendly staff, best coffee in the area and one heck of a Latin American-flecked menu. Importantly for us, they offer Vegetarian and Vegan options for all their dishes -- the vegie BLT (subbing smoked pumpkin for bacon!) is to DIE FOR. Great cafe for writers, too -- they're happy for you to sit and work on your opus for hours... just keep the coffee coming!

Great Coburg cafe and worth a drive if you are from out of town. The menu is different, interesting and well executed. The only downside would be waiting on meals and one of the male waiters can be a bit of a space cadet with taking orders/giving correct change. There are 2 tables in the back car park if you have a dog.

Great additional to Coburg! Not a broadest menu but have enjoyed each dish tried. Started small and keeps expanding and improving. Sandwiches are particularly good.

I really like the aesthetic of True North, but it is true that the staff are often disinterested and bordering on rude. The menu is quite small, mainly breakfast foods and sandwiches. Good options for vegans are available.

True North has been on my mind for so long. Since April in fact, ever since Johanna from Green Gourmet Giraffe blogged about her Reuben sandwich. I’m often in the area, though never really with the opportunity to sit down somewhere and have a quiet meal. Well folks, let me tell you that after my sandwich today, I’m gonna be going back as often as I can.

True North brings a breath of fresh air to the North. It has a modern simplistic set up with an edge and has a great brekkie and brunch selection including our favourite baked eggs!!! TrueNorth #thosemelbournianfoodies

This is totally going to seem like a fake review since it's after a very horrendous one about the staff, but I assure you that a) it's not and b) the staff are the main reason I'm giving the place five stars! I went in for a take away coffee for the first time and happened to mention how I'd just bought a Hario pour-over coffee contraption and had no idea what beans/coffee to use and the staff went out of the way to ground up some beans simply to show me how course the ground should be and then they even gave me some to take home in a little cup (for free). They were not trying to sell me their coffee and it was not a sales push, it was just them being extremely helpful. Thank you True North staff! Stay nice!<br/>PS they also sell large size take-away coffee now ($4.40 from memory).

I love a sandwich and I really like this Coburg Cafe. Great vegan and vegetarian options. Coffee is top notch. I had the tuna melt which was the best, my friends had vegan chicken sandwiches and they were happy as larry. Staff were rad and down to earth and gave great service.

Been here a bunch of times. Usually have BLT or Reuben for lunch. Coffees have been consistently good. Staff are friendly & music is great and they always have delicious looking pies at the counter

I wanted to like it here badly given I live in the area, but I was disappointed. The staff were cold and apathetic, coffee was over extracted and bitter, and saying the food was lacklustre would be a heinous understatement. My highlight - leaving.

I’ve been a bit sick of my breakfast rut recently and so I decided I’d go out. It also had to be somewhere new. What’s the point of getting out of an “at home” rut and falling into an “eating the same thing at the same café” rut?. So this time I headed to True North in Coburg. I’d heard some good things about it from my finger-on-the-pulse Coburg friends, and Coburg is so hip these days it could not go wrong.

Staff are lovely. The cafe is beautiful and I like their music. The coffee is great from all the baristas . Haven't tried their food but the menu sounds interesting.

Food needs to improve. Baked eggs, dry dish, yolks were not runny. <br/>Scrambled eggs were ok, tasted milky.<br/><br/>Looked at other patrons' dishes. This place should be a bit more generous with the fillings of their bagels.<br/><br/>Service was pleasant. But it was obvious that food and drinks were slow to come out.

My go to cafe. I love True North! <br/>Lucky we have moved only 5 minutes away. <br/>The coffee, the service & especially the vegan sangas...Which to us are very hard to come by, delicious, satisfying & great value

Needs work. Nice atmosphere , friendly staff, good for Coburg but a shame about the average tasting food and coffee

Good coffee and yummy bagels which can be a little scarce to get around however pretty small and not kid friendly. Good service though and some nice homemade desserts on display

Ticking all the boxes. I walked in feeling a bit fragile from a big night before. The friendly staff and cheerful interior made me feel immediately welcome, and I soon had water and a good coffee in front of me. I went for a breakfast roll, which was a perfect combination of eggs, bacon and bubble n squeak. An hour later I was caffeinated, felt much better and excited to have a new local cafe.

Strong Coffees were weak and staff where defensive when we returned it. Baked eggs over cooked. Banging of pots an flans didn't help vibes. I get it busy pre Xmas but still work it...

Today we went to a newish COBURG establishment in TRUE NORTH, where we were welcomed heartily by staff. We were served water on sitting down and the service was conscientiously dutiful throughout our visit.<br/><br/>This is my second visit to True North and both times I've had a chai latte and the huevos rancheros.Whereas my accomplice mack'd out on a tuna melt. The chai is good.The huevos rancheros was 2 fried eggs on corn tortillas, super tasty frijoles negros (literally "black beans" in Spanish), sided with good portions of relish and guacamole. With a huge choice of hot sauces you can add some zing on a level of your choosing. The tuna melt had capers mixed in with the tuna to lift the flavours on sour dough and was good on all accounts. The pricing was very moderate with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. The decor is a mix of reclaimed wood making up some comfortable booths, a sharp polished concrete floor, eclectic wall coverings with large splashes of teal colouring.<br/><br/>It's in MUNRO street you cant miss it north opposite Zaatar. Well worth the visit. https://www.facebook.com/truenorth3058

Went for a quick bite, stayed for two hours.. The food was amazing - I had the veganized Reuben and mum had an Edamame salad sandwich, both delicious, the coffee was fantastic, the staff were the perfect combination of cool and lovely, and it was all very reasonably priced. 10/10, will come again.

Ambiance and burnt coffee. I've been here twice so far. It's a beautiful fit out, I love those pale blue coffee cups, the staff are sweet, and the baked goods I've tried have been delicious. However. Both times my coffee has had a funny burnt taste. Hard to know if i've just been unlucky as all the reviews here seem to be raving about quality of the coffee. Guess I will give them one more chance,

Great sandwiches, amazing coffee. Lots of very good vegan options, good service, coffee is excellent. I wish I lived a little closer, it's very good.

Cover the VEGAN cakes. Had a great vegan coffee from the vegan barrista and a complimentary vegan water served in a vegan bottle....but what is with the vegan cakes uncovered on the counter where everyone can breath, sneeze, sniff, cough, spit, poke and prod at them. You can have your vegan animal byproducts free food...I would rather have mine without the human byproducts. COVER YOUR CAKES.

Great Coffee Small Food!. Great coffee possibly the best in Coburg and the cafe is pretty cool as are the staff.<br/>Ive eaten here twice the food has a great flavour but the portions way too small, we had to go elsewhere for a snack afterwards!<br/>Maybe a good place to go for a coffee & cake unless the portion sizes change for the meals.

Love the improvements, they have doubled their size and added a kitchen, so there are some new additions on the menu which is great. I find the staff to be always friendly and attentive.<br/>Thumbs up for this one!<br/><br/><br/>-----29 Mar, 2015-----<br/><br/>Visited this morning for breakfast, They have just extended and now double the size. Also have a kitchen now so a few new menu items. I'm a big fan of the recent improvements. Recommend checking this place out<br/><br/><br/>-----18 Aug, 2014-----<br/><br/>Great coffee and service average food. I rate the coffee highly and I like the staff but I find the food underwhelming.<br/>The portions are small, there aren't many options and the price is a bit high in my opinion.

When True North opened it's doors earlier this year, I was ecstatic over the quality of the coffee, service and, of course, the food. <br/><br/>While I have found that the coffee and service have remained excellent, sadly I have been thoroughly disappointed by the food on my last two visits.<br/><br/>Most recently, the experience I had of the True North breakfast roll has left me perplexed as to how the quality of this particular menu item has deteriorated so significantly since I first tried it. It has gone from perfectly balanced flavours, warm runny yolk and perfectly cooked bacon to overcooked egg and an overpowering taste of olive oil drowning out all other flavours in the roll. <br/><br/>Needless to say while I will certainly return for the excellent take away coffee and pleasant service, I will not be returning to True North for the food any time soon.

$40 for half a breakfast? <br/>Decor and theme of the whole place is great, it's really quite a shame because the place has potential but the menu isn't great at all and the portions are tiny! Lucky there's plenty of cafes close by to get a second breakfast cos in still starving. Didn't even have an option for eggs and toast, instead I got 1 small egg baked into a tiny dish with sprinkle or rocket, not wroth the wait or the price Unfortunatly. Coffee was really nice though, maybe just get a takeaway.

$3 warm fresh bagel with cream cheese and a great coffee!! Prefect way to start the day. And it's got a nice little vibe about it and friendly staff. Definitely coming back

Never again. First of all descale and clean your coffee machine. <br/><br/>Second paying $15 for "baked eggs" with only two eggs and a tiny bit of chorizo. Are you serious? bland as anything.<br/><br/>I suggest cooking for yourself at home guys

Great coffee, thanks for coming to Coburg!

Nice but over priced for what you get. <br/>There's excellent and consistent coffee (and food) in Coburg mall 50 metres up the road and the prices are almost half.<br/>I guess this place is more about aesthetic for johnny/jane-come-latelies moving up from Brunswick and Fitzroy than good food for a buck.<br/>I've found the staff to be really nice, but I just can't visit without being bitter about the sting.

Coburg rejoices. Coburg has been in dire need of a True North for a while now and this cosy cafe delivers in spades. Great coffee, lovely staff, vegan and vego options galore and warm respite from the cold Coburg streets. LOVE YOU TRUE NORTH!

Our newest Coburg local. We were pretty wrapped when this place opened up around the corner. Great coffee. Great food. The menu is short but delicious and the staff are super friendly. They have made really clever use of such a small space and are very accommodating to children. This is a welcomed addition to Coburg that is still trying to catch up to the rest of the north as far as cafés go.

Great if you enjoy small portions! One small slice of toast accompanied the baked eggs and the huevos rancheros was a very compact serve. We left feeling a tad hungry, even though neither of us are big eaters.

Exceptionally great coffee, served with a smile by friendly staff.

Good honest cafe. They smile, they're quick, they don't allow menus changes (which is great - I hate sitting with people who pull that "can I just...") and there's a good amount of trendy punk/metal kids buzzing around without making it feel like unwittingly stumbling into an invite-only circle jerk. <br/>Food is made there in front of you and if you have a coffee dream, it can become a reality.

The hipsters are coming. A trifle pokey, much better on a rainy day than a sunny day. Great coffee served by beards. Bikes abound out front and the hood it is a changing.

There is lots of more interesting food to try. If I get there again in the next week or two, I might sample a hot cross bun. E wants to try a gingerbread cat. I quite liked the look of the salad sandwich (with feta as optional), the bagels look lovely and I really would love a version of the huevos rancheros without the eggs. Along with Eastern Bloc and Little Deer Tracks, it does seem that the hipsters are moving into Coburg.

True North is a cosy little cafe in Coburg churning out vegan sandwiches and excellent coffee. All but one of True North's six sandwiches are available as vegan, including a 'BLT' ($12.50), 'Chicken' sandwich ($12), 'Chorizo' sandwich ($12.50) and a 'Summer Salad Sandwich' ($10). I recently tried the 'True North Reuben' ($12) with vegan pastrami, dijon mustard, vegan mayo, sauerkraut and vegan cheese on toasted white sourdough w/ dill pickles and crisps on the side. It was an indulgent delight, and with smotherings of vegan margarine on top, would probably fit in into the category of a 'sometimes' food. The veganised 'True North Breakfast Roll' ($13) is a popular breakfast choice w/ vegan bacon, bubble n' squeak, avocado, rocket and house made spicy relish on a toasted Rustica roll. For something sweet, a Crumbs Bakery organic vegan mu

True North is a welcome addition to a slightly moribund strip in Coburg. On a sunny Sunday lunchtime, there was just enough room for us to sit in a beautiful wooden booth; staff were friendly and welcoming...The coffee was superlative and the food arrived quickly. My herby omelette in sourdough was tasty and D's Reuben tasted pretty damn delicious to me: cheesy, melty, and mouthwatering (and I don't even like Reubens).