![Facebook]( "Recensione")
After moving to Melbourne about 2 months ago, I’ve found myself returning to CH James over and over again. At first, I would have liked to say it was the coffee that was bringing me back almost daily. No matter what the circumstance, my large, strong flat white with soy is always poured to perfection (thanks for always remembering guys). The service is always prompt and accurate, even on their busiest mornings, which is usually when I make my way in for my first coffee of the day.
After a couple of weeks and after way to many carrot cake muffins (although they’re probably still one of my favorite things to order on-the-go), I finally convinced myself to be treated to the full menu. CH James has such a unique variety of breakfast/lunch and though at times I was skeptical about reaching outside my ‘Chili Eggs’ order I began to really appreciate how much and how often the menu would change to keep their customers returning for new surprises.
I recently went in to spend the afternoon working on my computer. After my meal had come out and after many, many coffees, my server came out to bring me, “something the chef was trying out for the menu.” He asked if I’d like to try them and to simply let them know what I thought of the sample. They were experimenting with caramelized figs. I’m not a huge fig eater, nor have I ever had them caramelized, but of course they were delicious ☺
Though, I wouldn’t say the experience, or rather, the many great experiences always had to do with their coffee and food. Most of my encounters at CH James have been with the lovely, attentive staff. I’ve literally seen some of them bend-over backwards to make sure everyone was being taken care of. I’ve seen their owner Theo, pause what looked to be very serious business meetings to make sure his staff and costumers were looked after and I’ve seen many, many of the Fairfield locals find a home in the courtyard where most of CHJ’s guest like to eat this time of year.
This place is building a place of community and service and it’s been wonderful to watch it grow in my time here. While there are many café’s on Station Street that I love to wander in and out of, CH James continues to bring me back for more. I don’t often gush over food reviews, but when you find yourself welcomed into a community, you can’t help but share.
Thanks to the CH James team! I’ll see you soon!
Deliciously creative food & full of goodness, friendly staff with endless smiles, pleasant indoor & outdoor environment with the yummiest tasting & perfectly served espresso martinis!! Perfection on Station St! Highly recommended!!
Had a great meal in their lovely courtyard. The waffles & caramelised bananas were delicious!
Fast & friendly service and the food looks & tastes amazing, and is reasonably priced.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Been to Fairfield lately? If not, then you wouldn’t know about this café steeped in the area’s history.
C H James is named after Charles Henry James, a businessman and local member of the Legislative council back in the 1870s. He is said to have been a supporter of the Fairfield community, and went so far as founding the Station Street Horse tramway in the 1880s.
The owner of CH James, Theo Krambias, was so inspired by the great man, that he named his café in honour of him.
Walking into this well designed venue, it’s not hard to notice the attention to detail that’s gone into its layout. A takeaway window serves customers while they wait at the side of the cafe, while inside you’ll find a spacious dining area, and kitchen at the rear. Vintage agricultural implements hang on the wall, reflecting the venues link to the past. A relaxed vibe permeates the venue, and the courtyard along the side that separates CH James from the church next door, has a generous shaded dining area with planter boxes nurture an edible garden; creating a sense of community. You could say, it’s the type of place Charles would have frequented if he was still around. I learnt that Theo’s parents actually tend to the outdoor plants daily, that’s when they are not in Cyprus enjoying a European summer. Speaking of Cyprus, CH James sponsored its Head Chef and Barista to visit Cyprus earlier this year, where they went on a journey of discovery to see where their much loved haloumi is made. It’s featured heavily in the menu, which is simple, yet rich in flavour and substance. Options include Smashed Avo with Panko egg and Dukkah spice; Eggs Benedict with pressed smoked hock on an English muffin with choron hollandaise; and Beetroot and Halloumi Fritters with almond dukkha.
Small Batch supply the coffee, and the Golden Ticket blend was used for my Long black today. My cup was balanced, with nougat and chocolate tones.
My favourite part of this cafe.. is the beautiful outdoor area on sunny days!! Oh- the food was pretty delicious too!
The Buddha bowl was absolutely mouthwatering every bite. If you like healthy bowls you’ll like this one!
The tuna steak was perfectly cooked and very well presented!
Today I had lunch at C.H. James. I chose the spiced maple granola with a yoghurt pannacotta. I really wanted to try this dish because I couldn’t find any proper photos of it on Zomato - I could only find the miniature version. I really like the dish and felt all elements went well together. Normally I’m not a fan of granola dishes - normally restaurants provide too much granola and not enough yoghurt. I was pleased with the servings and felt I had enough yoghurt for all the granola and other elements.
C.H. James also has a lovely courtyard. It’s so nice to eat outside on a warm day and it’s nice and quiet as well. I can definitely recommend.
This is my local cafe that i frequent every week and i still get excited for my soy late and granola bowl. The guys are so lovely!! Great service!!
I'm not vegan. But the vegan bowl is so good that I can back the following weekend for it... and I didn't add a size of chorizo the second time round.
Great coffee, great food, and great service. Everything I’ve tried from the breakfast menu has been great. I would also highly recommend the cheese burger, just yum. The courtyard is very inviting, especially on a sunny day.
This place has the best smashed avo for breakfast
Coffee is also good
Muffins and sweets are good
I like the outdoor sitting area
Parking can be an issue but definitely worth it.
Absolutely delicious food! Staff are lovely and coffee tasted great. Suitable courtyard for dogs too with water bowls ☺️🐶.
Highly recommend the hummus bowl!!
Mother’s Day is usually chaotic for most cafes... but our impromptu visit to CH James was met with lovely service and backed up with a special Mother’s Day menu. Food was delicious. Prices were a bit more than usual, but the serving were verrry generous. Looking forward to our next visit.
The chocolate brownie was luxurious and large, wow it was really good. The coffee decent but not quite in the same league. The service was a bit ordinary to be honest except from the barista, he showed enthusiasm. Pick an outside table if you can because it looks attractive, playful and super inviting. Pass on the inside - cereal boxes have more ambience than this modern white space with tokenist farming equipment.
Have done this place quite a few times now. Excellent service and quality food. Breakfast is their specialty however this is not to take away from their lunch. Food is well prepared with quality ingredients and beautifully presented. Coffee is very good although I’d like it a little stronger (that’s me not them).
Smashed avocado with feta cheese and chili oil is great. Brekky Burger a standout and even better I suspect if you have a hangover. Fruit toast is best going around. Quality and service are consistent and the decor is great. Staff are courteous and friendly. Not overstated or a loud atmosphere that can be off-putting. If you want to sit and read the paper and enjoy your coffee, you can. External area great to sit at on the morning of a hot day ahead.
Winter brunch menus in Melbourne are either filled with hearty comfort or colourful dishes to make up for A. the cold and B. the gloominess. Case and point: C.H. James' menu, which we previewed one cold wintery morning.
CH James cafe has been opened since 2014, and the name pays homage to Charles Henry James who was a businessman active around the 1870s and 1880s. He helped shape the community in the northside to what it is today. More of his story can be read here. The cafe is located very close to Fairfield station so there’s plenty of parking. The outdoor seating is just as spacious as the indoors, if not more appealing to dine at especially if the weather is good.
CH James is a cosy neighbourhood that cafe that dishes up some brilliant dishes, not only in presentation but most importantly, in taste as well. The comprehensive menu are loaded with items that’d make you salivate, from breakfast to lunch items, and the end result was an undeniably satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable meal.
Characterised by bold yet well-balanced flavours, it’s no surprise that with this calibre of chefs at the helm, the superb execution made way for an amazing sensory experience, from the savoury to the sweets.
Loved this place!! Lots of flavor in my smashed avo and my friend (who got the pancakes) said they were delicious - but not the best she has ever tried! Coffee was fab - got 2 they were that good ;). Service was amazing - owner is SUPER friendly!!! Really beautiful set up with a lovely outdoor area perfect for a function.. they also have an area for pets :)
Laura Simionato
Visited C.H James mid morning on a Sunday. We sat indoors rather than out as it was a bit on the cooler side.
We ordered both our food and drinks at the same time. Latte was great but almond hot chocolate was quite rich and powder like.
For food we ordered the buttermilk hot cakes and the 'Only if you're hungry' with scrambled eggs.
The hotcakes were so light and fluffy, they melted in your mouth! All the little citrus elements were fabulous and everything worked really well together. The only suggestion would be to offer maple syrup as a side.
The only if you're hungry is your big breakfast. The thick cut bacon was great as was everything else.
The one thing that let us down was the service. There were two baristas making coffees and they were awfully slow! There were also only two waitresses who were lovely but couldn't keep up. Our drinks came out 1 minute before our food did and this seemed to be happening to others as well.
The kitchen on the other hand were very efficient.
The menu features Modern Australian items that please with fresh, innovative and great quality products courtesy of Head chef Tallon who has an impressive background in fine dining establishments in Melbourne. As expected of any great café, CH James delivers quality coffee (Small Batch) poured by adept baristas.
Eat And Be Merry Crew
+3.5
We ordered smashed avocado with panko egg and a side of cured salmon. This was a hit. The panko egg (poached egg coated in breadcrumbs and fried) was done just right, and was a kind of centrepiece. The house-cured salmon was a nice piece of fish, and had a more delicate taste than the smoked salmon you find in shops.
Another hit was the corn and haloumi fritters with poached egg. Corn and haloumi is a slightly unusual combination, but the people who ate it on our table were full of praise.
CH James is a beautiful and elegant café right along the busy shopping street of Fairfield. The eatery is super cosy inside with a spacious and picturesque outdoor seating area (perfect for food photos). The chefs are in a league of their own, coming from top restaurants such as Estelle and Rockpool, these guys know how to dish it out. Brunch menu is extensive and coffees are delicious.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
C. H James is a very modern coffee / wine bar located on Station Street Fairfield that serves excellent coffee in a refined setting. The contemporary furnishings and slick atmosphere inside the cafe crafts for a lovely relaxed feel, perfect for lunch for two.
I entered C.H James on a Wednesday afternoon on my work break just for a quick takeaway coffee. I was greeted by a lovely chatty barista who took my order of a long black as I pottered around the vicinity and glancing at there delicious sounding menu. My coffee was placed in my hot little hands before I could finish reading the lengthy wine list and I was on my way before I knew it. The long black was brewed to perfection with very pungent tart tasting notes. A fruity texture lingered on the palate, resembling soaked cranberries with a subtle hint of nutty flavours.
C.H James delivers wonderful coffee in modernistic setting, providing customers with various options off the appealing menu. The staff are up beat and kind hearted and I will certainly be returning for a bite to eat in the near future.
2nd visit.
After my previous visit just for coffee I knew I had to return to try C.H James’s food, so for my friends birthday I chose this location to celebrate and sit in the glorious courtyard on a perfect sunny day. We arrived just after 1.30 on a Tuesday afternoon for lunch and grabbed a seat in the courtyard on tasteful outdoor patio seating with shade provide by umbrellas. We where greeted by an outstanding waitress who gave us menus and left us to it. The menu is magnificent featuring a great assortment of savoury and sweet options that can be adapted to dietary requirements.
We started with drinks of a long black along with an iced mocha whilst still discussing what to order. The drinks arrived looking superb and as my friend went to the bathroom I took my chances and asked the waitress if she could place a candle on the dish I knew my friend would order (pancakes) when it came out for her birthday and the waitress was more than helpful and agreed to do so. The drinks where outstanding and the long black was equally as good as I remember it to be. The brew was light and palatable with acidic smooth fruity textures and was utterly flawless. The iced mocha with ice-cream was delicious. It had a good coffee kick and wasn’t to sweet which is perfect as usually a mocha taste just like an iced chocolate.
We finally ordered opting for the drool worthing buttermilk hotcakes along with the house-made bircher muesli. We relaxed and enjoy our drinks in the sun taking in the easy flow of customers in the tranquil calm environment. The meals arrived in exceptional fashion. The buttermilk hotcakes where graced in all its glory, shimmering the flame of the lonesome candle. The hotcakes featured mascarpone foam, citrus, pepita and black sesame praline was more than a birthday girl could ask for. Looking pretty as a picture the hotcakes where most and fluffy. The fresh fruit and citrus sauces where a tad to tart but the creamy mascarpone foam helped to balance the dish. The sesame praline added crunch ensuring for tasty dish.
The house-made bircher muesli with poached autumn fruits, grains, berried yoghurt and chai crisp was plated with care and respect to the freshly sourced ingredients from the kitchen garden. The bircher itself was very filling littered with chewy oats, dried fruits and coconut. The fresh fruits added crunch and the tart berried yoghurt was good as it wasn’t to sweet. The large chai crisp that sat on the top of the dish was a great addition to the meal. The crisp was thin and crunchy with a kick of aromatic flavours of cinnamon, chai and cardamon giving the dish another dimensions.
C.H James delivers on all notes. The food is amazing and the coffee is sensational. The staff are highly attentive and will go to the next level to please customers. The venue isn’t large to any extent but is a perfect hidden spot for a family lunch or quick coffee catch up in the sun.
This place caught my eye because of the setting of the cafe. It had pretty glass doors with an outdoor area which had a very modern feel. Customer service was very friendly and coffee was great. Food was averagely good.
Amazing breakfast excellent coffee & dog friendly courtyard and amazing staff the menu has been recently changed worth trying the burgers as well, award winning great job sir James
Love it!!!!
Been there a few times and never got disappointed! Great coffee, friendly and approachable staff, beautiful outdoor area full of 🌿! Menu could improve however it's good enough but nothing spectacular !
I had a very enjoyable brunch with a friend at CH James. We sat outside in the courtyard area (beautiful when the weather is nice!) Our waitress was lovely and very accommodating - we came a few minutes before the lunch menu opened and she was able to put the order through for us!
I ate the smashed avo with panko egg, dukkah, chili oil and garlic yoghurt - the egg was very crispy and the flavours all worked really well together. We also had the beer battered chips with malt vinegar, which were very good!
Brillant service and fantastic quality. The staff are friendly from the momemt I walk in the door. I struggled to find a local coffee shop i liked until I discovered CH James
CH James or Charles Henry James was a budding philanthropist of the Northern suburbs. Well known in the north for his business flair, legend says that the laneway culture of Melbourne, was a legacy of CH James. Hurray, laneways where you don’t get mugged! CH James in Fairfield pays ode to the Victorian gentlemen. Owner Theo Krambias, inspired by the concept of a local hero, converts the old Alfio’s Caffe, into the CJ James of today. The outdoor courtyard is a popular hang amongst the locals. The cafe decorated with yester-year knick knacks – a pitcher fork here, a wagon wheel there. You will commonly find Theo greeting diners with an enthusiastic ‘Hello’. Despite, the inspiration from older years,
The smashed avo and panko egg breakfast is delicious! This place has a courtyard, if the weather is nice it is great to sit in the sun. We will be back.
Chose to have brunch here on a Saturday as we wanted to make the most of the beautiful sunny day.Sat out in the courtyard on a table half in shade and half in sun...beautiful spot.
I had the pea and polenta fritters and my partner the chili and fetta scrambled eggs.
My fritters were great..came out on a beautiful piece of crockery and beautifully presented.Was nice to have fritters not in the traditional 'pattie' cake type and in (fried?) a ball instead.Was delicious and the betroot hummus something different.
Apparently the chili eggs were nice..quite basic but was told packed quite a punch!!
Coffee was really nice on this occasion,however I got a takeaway when we left and it certainly wasn't as good.Perhaps there was a change in barista?
Would definetly go back again,especially for their lovely outdoor area.
This spot has really grown on me. Have popped in a number of times since it started and although to begin with it was ok it wasn't really as good as it should have been in such a lovely spot. Recently however they have jumped forward in both service and quality of the plates. Really great little place now with an enviable location. Linguini this weekend was a stand out dish for me and they sell Cypriot beer!! Takes me back to my teenage trips to Cyprus very nostalgic thx for that almost brought on a tear. One small problem, please open in the evenings Fairfield could really do with a venue like yours open later :)
New place to go to in Northcote / Fairfield ex chef from Estelle Bistro and he is doing an amazing job , I have had a lot of Breakfasts and lunches throughout Melbourne and I rated it as one of my favourite eats !!! Keep up the good work and Station Street Fairfiled will hopefully follow suit .
I've eaten here a few times when visiting Melbourne. Last time was about 2 months ago, so I'm sure some menu items have changed. The porridge was a surprising standout - very tasty with the spices, flowers, berries, etc. Poached eggs were just perfect. The salmon was a nice change from the usual smoked variety - very juicy, tender and tasty. The staff are helpful with customers' food allergies.
I'm not a coffee drinker so can't comment, but I do like my tea. The different varieties are delightful, and it is nice to have the timer so you know when its perfectly infused.
I'm looking forward to sitting in the lovely courtyard now that the weather is warmer.
The wait staff are all friendly. I love being able to see the talented chefs at work with the open kitchen.
Come here regularly with friends for brunch and love the service and atmosphere. Really enjoyed the pea fritters which are new on the menu. Delicious vegetarian options. My partner tucked into the CH James burger and he has a big appetite. The burger was a substantial serve and had special touches served on brioche and great relish as well as beer battered chips on the side. I loved the way the tea was served with a little timer for just the right amount of brewing. Staff are friendly and attentive. Looking forward to my next CH visit.
I really want to love this place, and want to have it as my regular go to, but it doesn't tick all the boxes just yet.
We stopped in for brunch on a Sunday, and the first thing to note is the fit out is really nice - kind of industrial farmhouse, and the outdoor area would be excellent for functions. The staff were lovely and service was great! The food... my my, so delicious - a brilliant take on the standard smashed avo, and by far the best baked eggs I've ever had. Ever.
The only sore spot (and it's a big ugly one) is that the coffee was terrible. Not just burnt, or bitter or a minor niggle, this was undrinkable dishwater. I want to love CH James but with coffee like this I can't come back - it's Melbourne, come on!! Seems I'm not the only one that thinks this either given the reviews.
Great food, great service. Everything ordered was made exactly as requested. Wait staff were chirpy & attentive. The coffee & meals were delivered to our table pretty quickly & although the place wasn't overly busy in pretty sure they could easily handle a packed house
A friend recommended we come tonight for the Burgers & Beer at C H James. We didn't book but were promptly seated outside by the open fire they have in the centre of the courtyard. Only a few minutes until we were ready to order and the waitress was really friendly and attentive. Only 15 mins until our burgers and fries hit the table and they were so delicious our table was silent. Staff kept walking by just to quietly check on us so our empty plates were cleared almost instantly after we'd finished. All in all was a good early evening meal in a good environment with good people!
Great coffee, service and a menu filled with so many tempting choices. One of the best smashed avocado dishes I have had. Will definitely be back!!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Is it OK to do a second review for a place? Well I'm sure it is if it's relevant.
I found myself back at CH James' for the new lunch menu last Sunday and after reviewing this wonderful cafe about a month ago (I think I gave it a 4.5 then) I was interested to see how it rated for me now and it was just about as good as I could expect which is why this time it got my 5.
Smashed Avo seems to be boringly generic in cafes nowadays, so I wasn't sure if it was worth a shot or not, but it sure was and was absolutely unlike any smashed avo I've had before with it's crusted egg, duckka & chilli oil. Superb.
And who said that Ragu had to have meat in it? The CH James chefs managed to create a beautiful Mushroom Ragu full of texture and surprisingly subtle flavours.
So I'm just not sure who these people are that label themselves "I'm a foodie so I should know" but seeing their extreme negative reviews are in such a minority, I can only imagine that someone is a little jealous of this place.
And with good reason. It's bloody great and I can't wait to try other things on the menu.
Gorgeous cafe with a great atmosphere. Ordered the spiced rice porridge and it was amazing - beautifully presented and tasted so good. Very light but serving size was perfect. Service was fantastic and friendly. Timers are provided for tea to tell you when to pour which was cute but also useful. Small Batch Roasters coffee was really good too and I was told that they make their own chai.
Delicious breakfast, the waitress managed to sell the special to all 3 of us dining. No regrets. Amazing service and very friendly staff. Good coffees as well.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
What a great place. My wife and I were encouraged to try CH James by a friend who works in the area and was a regular there. She told us it had "always been okay", but the food quality had jumped "way up" just in the last month. I can't comment on what it used to be like, but it's certainly fine dining in a cafe now. My only complaint, like a review further down, is that the menu both here and on their own website, is out of date and misleading.
The "look" of this place is nice, light bright and roomy, but it's nothing special. There is a lovely courtyard area (but we were there in mid-winter and didn't venture outside) which would be great to spend an afternoon in, maybe listening to some good music. The coffee was very good, but then again this is Melbourne and you've got to try pretty hard to find a bad coffee. The service was friendly and the prices were reasonable. So all up while CH James ticks enough boxes for a positive review, so do LOTS of other cafes.
So it's the food that really makes this place stand out. The menu (the one you see in there, not the ones on the internet) isn't huge, but focuses on the quality of dishes rather than bombarding you with four dozen different ways you can have your eggs. We obviously didn't eat everything off the menu, but what impressed us both was the fact that dishes sounded interesting and "high-class" without being a wank.
And the food we did eat, the ox cheek pappadelle, the house cured salmon and the cos salad, was fantastic. Absolutely on a par with any fine dining restaurant I've been in.
I think Zomato should ask every reviewer one simple question - "Would you go back there?" My (our) answer is YES. We live over an hour away and only went there on a friend's recommendation. We're going back there again next week because of what we found there.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
YUM! The menu displayed above is out of date and I hear there's a new chef in town! The new menu has a wide variety of options for both breakfast, lunch, vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Some friends and I went for breakfast/lunch last Sunday and were not disappointed.
I started with one of my breaky favourites; a bloody mary which was fantastic, perfect amount of spice and zing! One friend was in the mood for a sparkling however there was no sparkling available by the glass and the sparkling available by the bottle was over $100. Would be great for C.H. James to consider putting a reasonably priced bottle on the menu that is also available by the glass. Everyone else ordered coffees with no complaints!
As a person who cannot eat eggs, I immediately perused the menu for breakfast options without egg, several were available which made me very happy! I will be back to try breakfast, but considering the time of day and that I had already eaten breakfast I decided to choose something from the lunch menu. I decided on the braised ox cheek pappadelle, the others chose the burger, the mac and cheese and the big breaky.
Even though I didn’t order it, I tasted it (quite a lot of it) and I would have to say that the mac and cheese was out of this world!! It was amazingly cheesy, saucy and topped with a crunchy garlicky crumb. This is the first mac and cheese I have eaten out that had not solidified in the dish or ramekin. The others remarked that the burger and big breakies were great too, poached eggs were delightfully runny, served with a tasty hash brown, thick cut bacon and the usual big breaky suspects. The braised ox cheek pappadelle was deliciously al dente, the sauce was rich, flavoursome and completely reaped the benefits of being cooked low and slow. Topped with finely grated parmesan and some more of that garlicky crumb, I was in pasta heaven!
If you have visited C.H. James in the past and have not been completely satisfied, I urge you to try again! I cannot wait to return, I believe with so many cafés around these days delivering sub-par food and service, places like this are a rare find! Do it! You won’t regret it!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Well there's been a few negative reviews for this place and I admit I've only been there infrequently over the last two years and really wasn't moved one way or the other. Certainly not to the point where I'd bother signing up to a review site just to have a say.
But no one has reviewed CH James since the place scored a new head chef and a new menu only a month ago and after tasting their fare on 3 occasions now, I thought it really deserves a shout-out. So here goes. Good stuff, guys!
And a few reasons why right here. The pressed shoulder of lamb is just spectacular, the CH James "Cheeseburger" is without a doubt the best burger I can remember ever eating and the chips were special enough for me to ask the chef what the secret was as he passed by. He told me it was the Balsamic vinegar; but hang on, doesn't vinegar just make chips soggy? Because these were just great and very crisp/crunchy (what the hell is the correct word for "chips done right"?)
Seems to me that this place has added a pretty important ingredient by getting a chef in who actually cares about food. Too many don't, or at least they manage to give that impression. The food here was special enough for my partner and I to start discussing "so what exactly IS the difference between a 'cafe' and a restaurant" and all we can really come up with is the hours and the fact that restaurants don't tend to feature a coffee machine and barista, or welcome you if you only want a coffee or snack etc. The bottom-line is that the food here is absolutely what you'd expect in a top restaurant, but it's still a cafe... I think.
And the reason for not going all out with a 5-star rating? Well someone needs to get off their bum and update the website and make sure the new menu and the new chef are featured, because lots of people (myself included), look at that sort of thing when deciding where to go.
Visited twice for coffee and light meal. Service is excellent and the flavour of coffee has beautiful texture and mild to strong. I will come back to try breakfast next time.
Great customer service, every time. Happy, attentive and genuine staff. Good quality food and fantastic coffee. Love the outdoor court yard, perfect on a nice day for you and your fur babies!
Good quality cafe in the heart of station street shops. Probably the best outdoor eating area in station street. The coffee is good and food generally above average.
Was taken to c.h by a friend and was really impressed by the fast service and cute outdoor area. The coffee was delicious and the chocolate pancakes were particularly memorable (i.e amazing).
We went here for a Sunday brunch recently and a lovely experience. The atmosphere was relaxed, the food wonderful, and the staff friendly. I had the 'only if you're hungry' big breakfast which delicious and filling. My partner had the French toast which was excellent. We then shared some panna cotta and cocktails which was a perfect end to the morning.
Went to a function here in the upstairs area. The area itself is long and large but strangely soulless with no flow through ventilation. The balcony view, however, is a treat mainly because I've never seen an above street view of station street despite living in the area for years. The function was generally well managed. The wines were quite acceptable and the finger food generally very good. There was enough food which surprised me. However, it came out about an hour after we arrived which was a bit too long and a number of us were quite hungry. It was a nice night though. The real stars of the event were the two young waitresses who worked seriously hard all night and maintained a pleasingly cheerful demeanour throughout. Memo to the owner: reward and retain these terrific staff. A good night indeed overall. We must try the restaurant proper very soon.
Dined on a Sunday morning about 11:00 am. Sat in the lovely courtyard, the service was prompt and I ordered the vegie breakfast as well as our cuppas. The breakfast was the nicest breakfast I've tasted in ages. The scrambled eggs had a great taste. Overall very happy, perhaps just make your teapot water slightly hotter. Having said that if I lived in the area I'd definitely return..
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Well well, I was walking down Station Street in Fairfield the other day to find my local coffee stop C.H James has changed there menu for this summer. I had a read where most dishes intrigued me but one dish stood out the most. It was Chorizo garnished with Rocket, Fried Kipflers and Charred Corn with a Balsamic Dressing. I had to go in and ask the kitchen myself, the Head Chef Rodney said "this is a sexy new edition for our Summer Menu" so I had to take him up on it. Now I first though this could be a hit or a miss HOWEVER! My first bight to the last was a hit, this dish I thought was a BLOODY RIPPER!!! The chorizo was well cooked, so juicy and delicious with the garish and Balsamic dressing it just wanted me to eat more and order seconds if I had the time to stay. The Garnish just work to well especially the Charred Corn and on top of that the dish was well presented like a great painting on a canvas. So I take Rodney's word for it and the rest of the kitchen and floor staff this is a great dish for anyone to enjoy even if you are Gluten Free. So I can say it is safe to say this Dish is a very sexy new Number for C.H. James Summer menu, Thanks to Rodney and rest of the Kitchen Staff and floor for the great service, I'll be back again soon to try something new on the Summer Edition, cheers again.
I came in this morning for some breakfast and coffee. The service was great and they were quick to make a great coffee. I had the Only if your hungry for breakfast, which was a big meal but delicious. I'll definatley be coming back again in the future to try out the other dishes on the menu.
Fantastic service, everyone is welcoming and friendly. They used to have this potato leek tart with roast potatoes and salad which was out of this world, and my heart was broken when the new seasonal menu came out and it was not there. This is my vote to bring it back. But the new menu is amazing with an incredible kitchen crew who are always willing to try cater to my fussy needs. Great atmosphere and a great place to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Great atmosphere to catch up with friends for a coffee or two in the courtyard, tasty meals and wonderful service. Will definitely be coming back!
CH James is lovely cafe with a great vibe. The courtyard is fantastic and all the staff very friendly. The coffee was top notch as well, all in all a wonderful cafe experience
Miserable weather but nice lunch and great coffee! Very open space with great decor and loved the music playing. Too bad we didn't get a chance to check out the courtyard, thanks Melbourne weather.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
It was my first time to C H James a few weeks ago and defiantly wont be my last! From the moment you step into this stylish and sleek café there is a sense of warmth and family. The staff were lovely and greeted us like an old friend. The dining space inside is cosy and with an open kitchen, which if you are a single diner you can happily sit and watch it all go by. On a sunny day the out door area is a great spot to soak up some rays and enjoy a delicious coffee or one of their many Victorian beers. Trying to decide what to eat was the hardest part of my experience, with the exciting smells coming from the kitchen it was not making it any easier. Instead we decided to order a few things for the table and share. With the likes of an ex Rockpool chef, I hoped our food would match our experience thus far and he did not disappoint. Our chilli scrambled eggs came out steaming with slowly melting fetta mixed through and perfectly seasoned. Then the French toast with maple syrup and thick cut bacon.... absolute heaven and third plate to hit the table, baked buffalo ricotta cake with herb salad completed our culinary journey. The vibe is relaxed but efficient. Whether your there for a quick bite or a lazy Sunday breaky, C H James is sure to impress.
Had the delicious French Toast today and it was perfectly balanced between sweet and savoury along with thick cut bacon that was crispy ...can't wait to get back there for breakfast tomorrow to try another menu item!
CH James is a cafe and restaurant in Fairfield’s main shopping strip Station Street and it’s aiming to be a neighbourhood hub for Fairfield locals. The fact that it’s named after Charles Henry James, a 19th century parliamentary representative for the local area, is a good start. The cafe spans over two contrasting spaces. The main dining area and kitchen is a light-filled modern structure which also houses the handy coffee window for train commuters. Bifold doors lead out onto the outdoors area, a charming courtyard adjoining a red brick church with zebra-striped umbrellas interspersed with raised garden beds.
I love this place, I generally visit on weekends to study in the sun near the window, the staff are nice and don't mind me sticking around a bit too long, the coffee is delicious and they always seem to predict exactly when I'm starting to feel like my next one. Love been a weekly customer at ch !
Came to CH with the girls for lunch today and pleasantly surprised by the delicious offerings . Feeling healthy so I opted for a grain salad Fresh and delicious and topped with a poached egg . I must admit I had a bit of food envy when my friends French Toast came out ...on the list for next time. Thanks for the friendly service Will definitely be back .
Caught up with friends today at CH James. What a great space.Breakfast was fantastic, catered for all dietary needs in our group. I enjoyed the all you can eat breakfast (which was almost too big)- kept me going all day. The service was right on the money. The staff were attentive without being intrusive.
What a pleasure. Looking forward to coming back.
It's friendly, familiar...We are now booking our second function since opening. The combination of indoor/ outdoor spaces, service and menu choices works for us!
A quick coffee, lunch and a glass of wine - it's an easy choice.
Great atmosphere and coffee. Really good coffee! Only negative is the slow service.
French toast and latte. What a perfect combination. I just enjoyed at CH James and it is a must every saturday morning.
Bravo
Have been going to C.H. James regularly since it opened, and have never left disappointed! Great staff, great food, and great vibe. 10/10 from me! Keep up the good work.
Love this place! Great coffee, great service and love the outdoor area. Definitely going back there again :)
Mobile review. Great little cafe with an awesome atmosphere and friendly staff. Definitely rate the thick cut bacon with poached eggs.
Delicious!. Such good food! My friend got the gnocchi, I got the chicken. It was such good, fast service. All the staff were really friendly. And the food was delicious. CH James is definitely revolutionising food in Fairfield bringing innovative flavours to Station St. Love the outdoor kitchen-garden, and the whole set up. Definitely will return and recommend to others. 5/5.
Sophisticated lunch. I had the 'tartine' of the week -goats curd, fig and prosciutto. Delicious and just the right portion size. Lovely salad and crusty bread. Good coffee. Whole menu looked appetising. Waitress was attentive and enthusiastic. The surroundings were smart and elegant. Good selection of local wines. I will definitely come back.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Lovely ocean trout. Stopped by for the first time today. I generally don't go down to Station Street as I don't find the food options as exciting as elsewhere. However the CH James menu looked good. The courtyard looked lovely but the music was too loud for this old dinosaur looking for a peaceful Sunday am. Even though the waiter kindly offered to turn it down I didn't want to ruin the vibe for music lovers so sat in a sunny spot on the footpath out front.
The reason I stopped at CHJ was because I was looking for a paleoish option. The chilli corn cakes with eggs and salad sounded good. I had imagined a frittery style tasty thing bumpy with corn kernels. What arrived was more like a corn muffin with a fried egg on a half slice of standard white toast and some salad leaves. It did look lovely but I was not expecting wheat and toast. When I said 'oh' the waitress asked if it was okay. I said I hadn't expected the toast or the muffin type thing. She immediately offered to get the menu so I could choose something else and was very warm and pleasant about it.
I do appreciate how kind that was as I should have asked more clearly about the meal before ordering and would have been prepared to wear my mistake (or more accurately to eat parts of it).
I ended up with scrambled eggs, some salad and some divine slices of raw ocean trout. Just lovely and I would go back.
Please Station Street make some more paleo options.
Campbell Warburton-Hughes
+4.5
Great Venue, Excellent Service, Incredible Food and Coffee. Living around the corner from CH James has meant a great new local cafe where you can come in, relax and just have a good time. The guys in the kitchen obviously have a great deal of passion and experience behind them which paired with the great front of house staff makes every time I come in an absolute pleasure. Would highly recommend the House Cured Ocean Trout which is exquisite.
Loved it! Great food, coffee and friendly staff. We attended for Friday night drinks and the food was delicious and atmosphere was very relaxed!!
Great new option in Station Street !! Very good coffee , the menu is still in the early stages of being developed and needs some work. Try it !!
This new addition to the hyper competitive Station St cafe scene has everything ... Great location and ambience topped by good coffee and a menu that goes beyond the normal fare. What would give them a gold star is improving their service. It can be haphazard, other times non existent, sometimes mystifying.
Great lunch spot. Fresh and well priced. The courtyard is fantastic.
Loved the breakfast great service
LOVED IT. Great little cafe' in Fairfield. They have a great out door setting which is perfect to enjoy a coffee in good weather. Staff were very friendly and prompt. Had a delicious brunch which was also very afforfable, amazing atmosphere will definitely be coming back soon :)
Went back for a coffee today
It was perfect- the girl with the dreadlocks makes a fantastic coffee
Awesome all round. Fabulous coffee, awesome atmosphere and very friendly and helpful wait staff. The Ricotta & Smoked Trout with scrambled eggs, pesto & rocket is a standout dish. This will be the new regular for sure.
Latest brunch sensation in fairfield. Visited this buzzing café for brunch last weekend. The waiter who served us was friendly and knowledgeable. We had the Ricotta & Trout Scrambled Eggs and Hungry Vego and both meals were a real treat. Coffee was excellent All in all a very pleasant experience. I'll be sure to visit this place again
Delicious. Stopped by on the weekend with a craving for bacon and eggs. If like me you're in the mood for this classic breakfast, CH James do it really well. Top quality ingredients, like thick cut bacon and the bread they use, make for a breakfast that really hits the spot.
Amazing food and atmosphere. Loved the spiced sausage must try
will be back again and again
January 22, 2015 It’s no secret that the Thornbury/Fairfield/Preston area is becoming more like Fitzroy/Northcote/Brunswick – in terms of its access to amazing cafes, bars, and restaurants. CH James is further evidence that this is occurring. Brunch, ahoy! The Plus Ones were lucky enough to attend a brunch event there with two scions of the Melbourne food scene, Brunch Addicts and The World Loves Melbourne. Fairfield: This was Charles Henry James ‘ home and is the iconic location for Theo Krambias’ ode to the man. Mr James was somewhat of a Melbourne socialite, spruiking the potential and vision for the northern suburbs during Melbourne’s halcyon gold rush years. Now some 150 years later, I think his vision is coming to pass.
We all needed some girl time and a delicious feed, so the ladies and I decided to lunch at CH James in Fairfield – it’s a still relatively newish spot, and a welcome addition to suburbia, headed by a super star team hailing formerly from Pope Joan, Taxi Kitchen and Auction Rooms – solid start. The menu is simple but delicious, using heaps of local suppliers to provide fresh, quality ingredients for the dishes they serve up to the hungry masses, of which there were plenty!
CH James Fairfield is a cafe that’s recently opened up in this not quite inner not quite full-on suburban part of Melbourne. As property prices continue to increase in Melbourne and people who want an inner city lifestyle get pushed further out of the centre, suburbs like Fairfield in Melbourne’s north are starting to see some really interesting new places open up.
The menu is designed by French born Frank Verschaeve (ex Pope Joan) who brings his fine dinning experience to the cafe domain. Verschaeve provides strong attention to detail to the entire process with a particular eye for plating; from home made jams and relishes, house-made cured salmon and producing fresh pasta for his dishes. Expect fresh and wholesome dishes.
The World Loves Melbourne
+4.5
CH James, a trio of festive spaces, has launched in Station Street Fairfield. Locals are keen to experience the modern menu and character of the venue, which includes a stunning outdoor courtyard. The World Loves Melbourne was invited to experience CH James and some of its signature dishes. The ambience here is a standout, with large welcoming windows and bright spaces, giving a feel of light and airy. Fascinating farm implements adorn the wall, a reference to the period of CH James and heritage. The fit out is such that the indoors and outdoors meets seamlessly, with the windows opening up to accommodate the coffee bars, and its an easy stroll to the courtyard.
Fresh food, great service and buzzing atmosphere.
This café misses out on the ‘wow’ factor and with competition what it is these days, it falls just short of the mark regarding this element (hence, 4/5 stars). However, if you’re not up for anything innovative and enjoy a great range of ‘all day’ menu options, go to this cafe. Would recommend and will be returning. *Love the complimentary sparkling water - it’s a lovely addition!
Super friendly staff that are always smiling. The owner treats everyone like a local and the menu has some great items, classics as well as dishes that are a little more obscure for the gourmet in us. Very generous portions and reasonably priced for Fairfield and inner Melbourne. Coffee is great too! Family friendly
Well run cafe.
Ok for a coffee or orange juice and the food is good.
They have an interesting pulled pork sausage eggs Benedict. It comes with cucumber kimchi and some spring onion.
They have free refreshing sparkling water that they give you in a bottle.
Bacon and egg take away sandwich is awesome, should be 11 or 12 dollars though I think.
OMG fantastic food (chili jam eggs with Goats Curd and fresh herbs in a beautiful little church courtyard. Gotta love Melbourne!
Hamish Brettingham-Moore
+5
Best Smashed Avocado I've had the pleasure of eating in Melbourne. Beautiful indoor/outdoor setting with good level of service, friendly staff and a nice range of drink and food options.
Corporate dinner for about 40 people upstairs, brilliant dishes and perfect service. Theo the boss/ manager was so helpful and staff members were all friendly and professional. A true local gem that everyone should think about doing their corporate activities here!
After searching every cafe in my 5km radius I finally found the one with the best coffee! And they are taking KeepCups. Win - Win. Life is good again 😊
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes