It is so much fun trying out all the nearby places for brunch, something that I had sorely missed during the recent months of lockdown. Bean Counter Cafe was somewhere we had gone to have our brunch dates a couple of times, and the most recent revisit happened on the very last day we would be kids-free for the next two and a half months. Bean Counter Cafe is a great choice for excellent coffee and delicious food in a cosy atmosphere. Service is always friendly too! The New Age Benedict (slow-cooked pulled lamb shoulder on two rosti's, poached eggs, sumac hollandaise and kale) was delicious - I loved the rosti alternative to the usual English muffin, and the lamb was beautifully tender and flavourful. Another excellent choice was the Pulled Pork Stack (slow-cooked pork belly on a hash tower with poached eggs, spinach and hollandaise) - great presentation, and an excellent brunch choice that was ordered again on a revisit.
This cafe serves lovely food, we went on a weekday and received attentive service, friendly smiles and delicious meals. Highly recommended. A little pricer than other cafes around with most mains around the $19.5 mark so it can be costly if you have >2 people dining. Overall wonderful place and will return often
Friendly helpful service, tasty food, decent kids menu and my toddler loved the toy box in the courtyard. And an incredibly convenient location just meters from the train station entrance! Not much to fault. Menu is good (nothing mind-blowing, but something for everyone, so a winner). It's quite small inside so booking for busy times would be worth it.
For a cafe called bean counter, it definitely wasn’t as cheap as you would expect. But I was very satisfied with the food and coffee at this corner cafe. Plenty of bike parking, and generous portions (yes, the bacon is worth the $5!) - I can see why this is a hot spot for cyclists. Eggs in the garden was a real delight, and the coffee was well prepared too. I’m bookmarking this one to come back to! ☕️
The coffee is Fantastic! always lovely service. Dog friendly outside seating. good range of food and drinks and GF options for ppl who require it. Great setting outside courtyard out the back also. Child friendly! Did I mention the coffee is amazing. They also have a turmeric caffeine free latte for those who don't like coffee..
I love this place. They have a varied and interesting menu. Plenty of vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options (many can be customised if not clearly marked). For example their current special, dukkah eggs with mushrooms, is fantastic. One of the best breakfasts I've ever had. They really work the flavours well in so many dishes. Everything is exciting, balanced and full flavoured. Good coffee and chai, soy and almond milk. For such a central place it is relatively peaceful. One of my local happy places. Fairly low key and relaxed.
I went there on the weekend and I iced it! The staff was amazingly friendly and the atmosphere was good, making the bad weather bearable! I ordered the poached pear porridge and it was delicious and creamy! I tried my dad's pumpkin risotto and it was full of flavour! My other and mum god the steak sandwich which had large portions and a beautiful cut of steak! My brother had the salt and pepper calamari and the only thing he loved more was the chips it came with! His milkshake came with ice cream which was also a plus! As someone recovering from an eating disorder I would recommend this place to every one and I'm coming back next weekend with all my friends for my birthday!
Great little spot in Fairfield with good coffee and a fabulous turmeric latte. Have tried a few different dishes and all have been quality and great portion sizes. The outdoor area allows you to enjoy the Melbourne sunshine.
Truly exceptional food and coffee, they've really stepped up over the last 12 month and it shows.
Keep up the amazing work! Lovely staff and facilities.
Great little cafe in Fairfield. Excellent coffee. Not super cheap, but good quality food and generous serving sizes.
The thing that really stands out for me is that they offer lactose free milk (instead of just soy)!! Will definitely be back for that reason alone :)
This place is great if you have kids. Lots of seating inside and outside. The courtyard out the back is under cover has kid's tables and a huge box of toys. The prices aren't cheap but the serving sizes are generous and very friendly staff.
Dish ordered:
Bean Counter Benedict
It is a nice quiet cafe in the neighborhood. It is much quieter than those in the city, so good for catching up with friends and chatting for while. Absolutely no pressure to finish the dish in a hurry, pay the bill and leave right away.
There is no bread in this dish but we both felt full afterwards. I guess the calories were enough ...
Will I take the train back to try it again? Probably not.
Do I think the presentation of food could be improved? Yeh ... the two sticks to hold the crispy potato cakes together were ... unexpected ... and funny.
Wonderful little local cafe. Very conveniently located right at Fairfield station. Serves beautiful creamy coffee and a good range of food. Nice space and good staff. Conclusion: lots to like here.
Food took a little while to come out and service was standard. Coffee was perfect. I got the zucchini fritters which were nice but would not order again.
Every time I come in here everyone is so happy and friendly! Bean Counter has the best fritters, and always poach the eggs perfectly. I also don't mind that they sell mountain goat, and not expensive either! Highly recommend 🍳🌯☕️
Had a beautiful brekky here. Smashed Avo and zucchini fritters. And the milkshakes are to die for. Lovely staff and great service! Highly recommend if you are in the area :)
Bean Counter is the perfect combination of great food, coffee, service and location. The cafe is family friendly, dog friendly - well actually Bean Counter don't seem to discriminate at all with their friendly approach to hospitality. Whether you just want a quick take away coffee before you jump on the train, or have a bit more time and feel like a relaxing sit-down meal, Bean Counter will in no way disappoint.
This is easily my favorite cafe in the area! The homely feel of the decor is welcoming and calming and the staff are always friendly. (The courtyard is full of plants and even has a relaxing water fountain).
The coffees are consistently good, even the latte art is cute! I can never go past the smashed avocado with feta and asparagus (and a side of bacon!) but my friends and family have enjoyed a number of their meals including the waffles, pancakes and big breaky!
with a convenient corner block located directly across the road from fairfield train station, and a cafe that is both kid, bike and dog friendly… there is no wonder that my first impression of ‘bean counter’ a few weeks was of a vibrant local cafe. there is a large footpath dining area buzzing with cyclists and commuters enjoying their morning coffee; and plenty of mums and bubs socialising in the back courtyard that comes complete with a children’s play area. however, this particular morning we opted for a table in the light-filled interior… showing there is plenty of room for all.
Convenient location right opposite the train station. Service is cheerful and welcoming. I ordered the green tea latte and unfortunately it was way too light and all I could taste was milk and maybe the tiniest trace of green tea powder. I'd probably avoid it and order some other drink next time. The food on the other hand was pretty decent and satisfying - had the veggie feast which was plentiful and fresh. The rosti was my favourite out of all. The omelette was also well-cooked. Generally a laid-back no-fuss place and a good choice if you're looking for a simple meal or catchup with friends.
This was my first visit to Bean Counter with a Groupon deal, and I have to say they had a pretty tasty breakfast menu (although not as tasty as the menu at Sugardough in Brunswick!). Anywho, the customer service was friendly/relaxed for a Sunday morning but the serving of freshly squeezed juice in a child's milk bottle was a little peculiar. All-round, I enjoyed my meal but wouldn't go out of my way to visit again!
This was my second visit to Bean Counter Cafe; my first well over two years ago. The cafe is situated in a quiet, leafy street opposite Fairfield station and away from the hustle and bustle of trendy Station St. It has an eclectic, almost arty vibe with local artwork hanging on the walls and the most fun and witty takeaway coffee cups I have seen.
Good staff and good location. The food is tasty and beautiful. Especially for the waffle:) it is soooo beautifully and just like a spring! The location is just near the Fairfield train station and easy to find.
Great Sunday brunch with friends, we started with a glass of Proseco. Plenty of options on the menu ,Omelette customised to your taste and if your extra hungry try the BC's Big Breakfast. The coffee was very smooth.
That Wednesday lunch was catch-up for me, baby girl and bestie, once again in Fairfield. I had wanted to go there because of the kid-friendly tags associated with the café positioned off the main road, and with mentions of books and toys, (and change table – hey you need to be prepared) I thought it would be a pleasing experience for all.
Really enjoyed breakfast here. Service was quick, fresh orange juice was perfect and loved the corn fritters! Nice seating located inside and out.
Recently discovered this fantastic cafe, service always excellent, french toast by far the best I've had anywhere in Melb, attentive wait staff. The few negative reviews must be disregarded, the owners of this place are clearly making a real effort to produce a fine eatery!
Deserves nothing less than 5* ++
Used to be great - not so much anymore. I used to go to Bean Counter every one to two weeks for a weekend breakfast and it was also the go to spot. Not too busy and the food was consistently amazing.
Over the past 8 weeks though the menu has changed and the food is really not what it used to be. Perhaps it's a new chef or their sourcing products from somewhere else but it's definitely not the same.
Haven't been back in 6 weeks.
I can't decide between liking the place on past performances or disliking it based on the last couple of meals there.
A local favorite. We've been going to Bean Counter for breakfast and lunch since we moved to Fairfield 6 months ago. Every time we dine here the food is delicious, the service super friendly and the drinks yum! I always order a chocolate milkshake and believe it is hands down, the best I've ever had, and not a drop of syrup in sight! The coffee is great, the eggs cooked well, and the servings very generous. The steak sandwich and chicken BLAT are both fabulous. The courtyard is very peaceful and we can always nab a table out here. All the staff are just attentive enough without being annoying, and remember us and greet us with a smile when we return. Highly recommended.
Good coffee and courtyard. This café has great outdoor seating on a quiet curb, and also a homely courtyard. Good coffee, though quite pricey. I was delighted to find that almond milk is available! Staff are friendly. And there's an art gallery that you can check out when you're finished coffeeing! .
Great Service on a busy day. Very busy day at Bean Counter today. Was told by friends to come try it and I was not disappointed. The service was fantastic considering the place was a full house. My meal and coffee was delicious. Great communication between the manager and customers. We were told there was a wait but considering how busy it was we didn't wait all that long. I have gone to other cafes where your not told about it and there is no care factor but at Bean Counter you could see they value their customers. Well done! We will be back for sure!!!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Vegetarian All Day Breakfast. Feb 3, 2015 UPDATE TO PREVIOUS REVIEW: Love the new breakfast menu! The big veggie breakfast is just glorious. Two pieces of bread, eggs, spinach (couldn't spy any mentioned kale though), avocado, mushrooms, vine tomatoes and a lovely rosti!. Enjoyed it immensely and service was excellent as well. Hope it wasn't a fluke - will be back again and again.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I love brunch. And Bean Counter is usually the first thing that pops into my head when brunch is on the boil. I say usually because sometimes it's spectacularly good, and other times disappointing. I guess that makes me an optimist. Meal quality is generally high. But as a vegetarian you get used to seeing the meat eaters with their plates piled high with animal protein. So it's really confusing when your dining experience changes from two pieces of sour dough to one, or half a medium sized tomato instead of whole, or a great wad of spinach overwhelming the plate. You get my drift. In a nutshell some balance and consistency would be nice. The coffee is nice but needs to be hotter. Service is usually excellent.
Solid yes, memorable no. My first visit was a lot better than my last. Recently ordered smashed avacado and feta on sourdough and it may as well have been avacado dip spread on toast. Lacked flavour and quantity. Not the worst breakfast around but there is a lot better
Just lovely. I love this cafe - the coffee is fantastic, the food is delicious and everything feels cosy. It's best to go on a sunny day and sit outside in the leafy streetside. Parking is abundant and there are people of all ages, families, singles, couples and friends.
Beautiful cafe in Fairfield :-). Hi,
I'm not local but I've had lunch here and I must say I totally agree with Chrissy, the staff is always friendly and that makes sure clients spend a lovely time here. Food is tasty, fresh and prices are good too, not overprices at all. I recommend this cafe 100% ... also really good for events as they have a nice backyard.
The tall blonde and the blue haired birds in there do a great coffee and if there not making it I wouldn't bother having one there. Id just go to the 7/11 because for $1 you can 2 shots in a small coffee cup without the bad attitude from a little pocket rocket. Foods ok but its always the same regardless of season.
3 out of 5 stars. Coffee 5 out of 5 stars subject to barista.
Cheers
Staff very friendly and extremely helpful. Poached eggs on sourdough toast was really tasty, they gave us 2 slices, 1 white & 1 multigrain slice. I like my bacon crunchy and when requested, it was no problem for them, they accommodated. Good size servings and we didn't think the prices were any different to other cafés in the area.
Good strong coffee. Will definitely be back
Salami foccacias to die for! Soft inside crunchy outside crisp rocket creamy goats cheese top notch salami - great coffee makes this a brunch for kings!!
Coffee excellent and eggs beggs cooked perfectly. Service was great and a beautiful day to sit outside!
Bit over priced. This place is Ok there is not much to make it stand out. The food is ok the coffee ok and service ok.
The price is not Ok I went for Breakfast and I Had a kids meal at $9.00 and the Adults one from what I can see had 1 more egg tad bigger serving for $10.00 more.
I think I will find somewhere else.
Favourite local. Great coffee, yummy food and friendly staff! The mushroom patty toastie is my fave.
Very nice food and coffee, would go back again.
Great for kids. Bean counter is my regular for baby cinos (in non breakable silicone cups that look ceramic) and toys in the back courtyard with full cover, heater and blankys. Great friendly service. My kids call it "their cafe".
Sensational food and service. I am a huge coffee snob & I love the coffee here. Really family friendly. You really do get what you pay for! I love the variety of meal choices for people with food intolerance.
A gorgeous old fashioned shop front selling great coffee
Awesome coffee. Great team working there and super outside seating & courtyard.
Got down to grab a coffee at fairfield, but couldnt resist to have lunch which was fabulously made and tastier than any of the cafes down the road. :)
BEST FOOD & NICE SMILE ON STAFF :)
Best food & service. Best cafe experience ever. The food is great quality and the staff always friendly and helpful. We love it and go as often as we can. Never had a better coffee anywhere else.
Lovely and local. Great food, great staff, great location!
Breakfast. I live in the area and walk to the cafe whenever I meet up with friends.
Last time I was there I had poached eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and a bagel. It was a fabulous combination. Also one of few places that make a solid soy Chai Latte!!
Definitely recommend it for a casual catch up with friends or a quick chai latte!
I go there very often as I find the food beautiful and a nice big serve!! Coffee is spectacular and staff are very friendly.. Good prices.. What more could you ask for :)
Bean counter is a great cafe with lovely ambiance, great vibe, friendly staff, beautiful coffee and delicious food! Will be back definitely that's for sure!
Kings Breakfast - amazing! Sensational coffee, super friendly but not superficial staff, all round awesome :)
Service varies. The coffee is quite good most of the time although if you have it take-away I've notice 1 out of 2 times the lid will not fit on the cup! However the service is a bit sketchy at times, and there are better places nearby to get a caffeine fix.
Love it. I've been going to Bean Counter for my daily coffee since I moved into the Fairfield area 3 years ago.
Given how many coffees I've had there, I'm amazed by how consistently good they are. Although, there is one barista in particular (brown hair, tattoos) who really knows his stuff.
Breakfasts are fantastic and served all day. The standouts are the Queens Brekkie and the Field Mushrooms breakfast.
The cafe is very pram friendly with a lovely gated courtyard with toys for little ones to safely play with.
My only criticism is that the lunch menu just doesn't compare to the breakfasts.
Great Coffee. Bean (joke) going regularly every Saturday / Sunday now since November 2011. Haven't eaten there yet but found the coffee to be exceptional. I only drink short blacks and from what I've experienced they seem to take this product very seriously. Quality beans and top end equipment combined with an excellent Barista (Chrissy) resulting in the finest Fairfield (and possibly) the area has to offer.
Coffee was very good. Service was warm and attentive. Food was a letdown. Had the big breakfast and satay prawns. Flavors were bland, presentation was limp and thoughtless.
Love the courtyard. Only been once, but friendly staff, lovely courtyard for families, and food was fine (nothing spectacular, but nothing wrong with it either)
Good vibe except for Lycra!. Been going here regularly since it opened a few years back. A great place to sit, and generally a really good coffee.
perfect spot across the road from the station if that's your transport. Fruit toast rocks too - La Madre bread from geelong is the real deal.
Only downer is the flocks of loud lycra clad men that appear on weekend mornings. Don't get me wrong I ride a bike for transport as a regular part of my life, just something about the group mentality when those in Lycra get together that kills the vibe.
Love the space outside for kids. Inside great with no kids or kids in high chairs. Coffee wonderful! Muffins & food divine! (although they need to advertise items with nuts in them better). Love it.
Quaint but distinguished. Going around every week for a decent coffee and always being disappointed and coming across this quaint little establishment on a corner gave me a feeling we might have found something. And we did. The coffee was made perfectly according to my instructions on how i love it. The only set back was music being a tad too loud and also the muffins we had could have done with a bit more sugar to give them that extra sweetness. Overall staff were very welcoming and attentive and gave a really warm feeling beyond the customer/ worker relationship which makes us want to go back.
Awesome weekend breakfast. After living in Fairfield for over a year and a half, I feel I should go to the Bean Counter more often. The service is always friendly and the coffee is delicious. The Big Breakfast is a little overpriced, but it's worth every cent. Right down to the perfectly poached eggs.
Great find. Great, relaxed and friendly service, good food, and the coffee was delicious. The biggest large skinny latte served in a 'alice in wonderland' sized cup and saucer. Will definitely make this my regular 'almost' local cafe.
Amazing coffee, and fast!!!!. I poped into this cute little cafe on my way to the station and was amazed at the speed and quality of the coffee. The upbeat tattooed barista had little trouble keeping up with the commuter rush and produced expertly poured rosetta's time after time. Not only did the coffees look impressive, but had a lovely silky mouth feel with the complex flavors having no trouble comming through the texture of the milk.
After weeks of searching i have found alphingtons best coffee, and my new regular weekend coffee haunt! Having just read on here that new owners have recently taken over, its clear there on the right track to making this a gem of a suburban cafe!
Cute place, great coffee. Service could be more attentive and food more consistent, but have enjoyed quite a few times.
It’s been a while since I was last here , but can honestly say l had a great breakfast. Th Court yard was a good place to be , for those concerned about Covid but still want to dine out and the service excellent .
so... went to the Fairfield park and getting home, feeling thirsty and getting mango smoothie from here, what a lovely place. they were busy on Saturday morning, so we just grab a. coffee and smoothie then home~
Nothing more enjoyable then each time you visit, it's as good as the last visit. Coffee is always on point and the BLT is just perfect. Thanks 😊
I just called in for a cappuccino, while keeping an eye on the train situation at Fairfield Station.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes