Review Babka Cafe

Veronica Phua

We were in the mood for a fresh bake, so off to @babkafitzroy we trooped. This cosy and rather homely looking bakery-cafe is an institution in Fitzroy, and has a menu with some Eastern European influence. It also looked to us like it’s run by a family but don’t quote me on that. We got a wedge each of the bestselling Lemon Tart and the Pecan & Honey Tart ($9 per slice). Like the rest of their cakes and tarts, these came with whipped cream on the side. I honestly feel, that afternoon, we had stumbled upon the most scrumptious Lemon Tart ever 😭 It’s not the fine and delicate style but substantial with a solid crust that has bits of chopped almonds for fragrance and texture. Love how the whipped cream rounded off the zingy lemon curd oh-so-beautifully. The Pecan & Honey had a potent aroma of honey which differentiated it from other pecan pies / tarts I’ve had. And it also benefited from the voluptuous mouthfeel of the whipped cream too. To pair with them, I picked the Smoky Samovar, a Russian Black Tea - it certainly lived up to its name and exerted a strong presence.

Chen Yingxuan

Lovely, unassuming place. Lemon pie and oat latte were great! Wanted to try the beef pie but there was limited selection left on a Sunday at 4pm. Suggest to come earlier!

Fitzroy Forager

Hidden gem on Brunswick street! This bakery ticks all the boxes, but for starters, their pies are top class. We ordered the steak & red wine pie along with the chicken & white wine pie. They were both perfect - flaky with tender & flavourful meat. The accompanying sauce was a really tasty spicy chutney that really went well with it. The carrot cake was delicious especially the icing which also had a generous serving of walnuts. The ‘must order’ is the lemon tart which was out of this world and actually the reason we came here in the first place. What pleased me just as much as how delicious it all was, was the the massive portions. They did not skimp on the slices and do not charge near what other places would for the quantity & quality they offer. Amazing value & quality. I will be back here for sure!

Sydney Reviewer

Firstly, we loved the shop front and the apparent eastern European atmosphere. There seemed to be a good albeit small selection of Russian lunch/dinner dishes, but it was morning and we were hoping for something a little different for breakfast and was disappointed. The menu boasted the same same breakfast necessities you could get elsewhere except a Russian scrambled egg dish. We opted for chocolate croissants and coffees instead. The service was lukewarm, croissants tasted miserable and cold. The coffee was also nothing to rave about. I decided to give it a teaspoon of sugar when I spotted the teaspoon was laden with towel particles. Instantly I thought about what other surfaces the said towel has been on, or how many unwashed hands have handled it. Ew.

Elston Prat

I can't say I know too many Eastern European cafes but this place is definitely a hidden gem on the streets of Fitzroy. Delicious dumplings, we got a mixture of the two options available. Would definitely recommend the mushroom one, bursted with flavour and freshness and served with a generous dollop of sour cream. I don't know how I have lived a life without ricotta pancakes, but I'm sure glad that they've entered my life now. Had a great texture, soft centre yet crispy outer edges. Homemade berry syrup drizzled on top cut through the richness of the pancakes. Wasn't too sweet at all which pleased my tastebuds. The only complaint I would raise was my stomach which didn't agree with the cheese (might be the lack toes intol the rants). The mind was willing, but the body was too feeble and weak. Despite what previous reviews have stated, I was surprised to find the service to be welcoming and friendly the day I visited. I'll definitely be back to try their borscht and lemon tart that others have been raving about. Note: this review is based on my visit a month ago.

Maria T

I love their vanilla slice with fresh strawberries. Loaded with a heavy layer of icing sugar. My sister showed me this cafe years ago and I’ve always stopped to get this take away when I’m around Brunswick st. Other items can be a bit too sweet but great with coffee or tea.

fatima ali

The baked goods here are so good! Especially love the pecan tart

Faisal Sohail

Their meat pies are excellent!! I am partial to the lamb pie.

Erin

Hands down one of the best bakeries in Melbourne. This Russian inspired little bakery cafe has a number of specialities which I love - top of the list being the dumplings. These are European-style, savoury dumplings; you can choose between mushroom, potato, or a mixture of both (my personal favourite), topped off with the all important sour cream. These dumplings need to be tasted to be believed, but not for the faint hearted if you prefer light meals. One thing I can't pass over is the complementary bread before the main meal. While often this might be heavy, rye-style bread, it is outstanding. Served simply with some butter, the danger is that you'll eat it all and fill up before your main! I also need to give a shout out to the cake selection. There are usually several cakes of rotating flavours which, when accompanied by high quality Melbourne coffee and fresh whipped cream, literally go down a treat. This place is actually tiny - you'll feel like a nineteenth century gold minor scrambling to get your hands the last known mining licenses - so you do feel like you're tripping over one another. That said, it just adds to the atmosphere and the perception of scarcity for the produce.

Willtravelforfood17

We had a very nice brunch here awhile ago. The food was delicious and the service was fast and friendly.

Daleslynn

Such a shame. What a beautiful little cafe with great range of food but packed with rude staff.

Clement Lee

Amazing tarts, really delicious. Their tart's crust is crispy and light, at a perfect thickness. The ratio of filling to pastry is also well-balanced. Absolutely loved it - will definitely come back to try all their different baked goods!

Morgs71

As a lover of all things pastry and cake, Babka bakery in Fitzroy is heaven. The fit out of the cafe itself is fairly standard. It's cosy, and can get a little crowded, but you come here for the food, not the atmosphere. The staff are lovely and more than helpful when it comes to suggestions from the menu. Although they do have menu items, we come for the cake, because they are a sweet tooths dream. The lemon tart is a classic, with all the zinginess and creaminess you would want, in a perfectly short pastry case. The bruleed top adds some toffee like texture, and this really is a winner. The signature chocolate babka is so good. With a brioche base layered with heaps of chocolate, this pretty, swirly pastry really is divine. Crunchy on the outside and smooth, fluffy and buttery on the inside, and really, who can say no to chocolate. We love Babka bakery as the perfect spot for a great cup of coffee with a sweet treat or two, and it's clear by it's popularity that the locals love it too.

Thuy Lu

BEST ALMOND CROISSANTS! Haven’t dined in or had anything else but we will definitely be returning for the almond croissants. It is a very very small cafe so no prams allowed. Best to get take away.

Zomatoaddict

Well I always was curious to try this place and finally I did today! Great service and friendly staff, coffee and fresh fruit loaf were good however I couldn’t find anything particularly special about this place!

Revolver

An oldie but a goodie. Excellent Eastern European bakery. Has that typical cosy feel on a cold day. Tried the lemon tart and it’s one of the best I have had and I’m a big fan of lemon tarts. Very generous serving. Coffee excellent too. Tried the Boorsch soup for the first time. Nice! As well as the cabbage soup. Slightly on the sweet side by nice.

Quince And Cheese

If you weren't looking for Babka, you could miss it. This unassuming cafe and bakery on the north end of Brunswick Street serves my underrepresented (in Melbourne) Eastern European breakfast and lunch date, plus sweets. They serve all my favourite dishes from this cuisine including pierogies, borchst and of course, babka. Prices have risen over the past few years but are still fair, as food is wholesome and serves are large. Basically everything comes with the housemade bread. This is a great spot to healthy-ish comfort food or coffee - especially as temperatures drop.

Fatcat

Love the breads, love the dumplings, love the beef and cabbage rolls we had. Took a while to get the waitstaff’s attention but other than that they were pretty friendly. A chill and homely place that I’d like to come back to.

Rose P

Customer service at this place is appalling. One wait staff plonked (almost chucked) cutlery at us and another blatantly just did not want to serve us. There are so many other places in this area to try and that would welcome your business so do yourself a favour and go elsewhere.

Leila

4.5 stars, solely for their almond croissant. The other pastries I tried were very good too, but man oh man, if you’re going to try anything from babka, it needs to be the almond croissant. Divine!

Foodiee

I have been coming here for years and never written a review. So I thought this time I gotta write one! Came here for a brunch with kids and ordered the usual breakfast. They are always good and simple, nothing fancy and the quality was always assured. After that, we ordered the lemon tart and the chocolate cake. I have been eating these two desserts for the past 15 years and they tasted the same every time. The chocolate cake was rich and tasty and if you really wanted the BEST slice of the lemon tart, you kinda need a bit of luck for the staff to serve a new cut from the kitchen and freshly bruleed! Sadly I had the last piece on this plate BUT I ended up buying the best piece as a takeaway!!! Yum!!

SJFU

Came an hour from closing time for dessert. The staff were reasonably friendly for the time of day. The pear tart with cream was delicious, only wish I'd asked for it warm. This is a peaceful, modest spot.

I. D.

Breakfast at Babka has been on my list for a while, but having dogs and no sun on the terrace meant it took a while to go. We went without the doggies so we could sit inside. Service was friendly. Coffee was so so, but not bad. We had a scrambled egg special and the baked beans. We left with our bellies very full. The food was simple, but good. Prices mid-range. Would definitely go again, but maybe take my coffee elsewhere. I think they added a percentage for paying by card, but they didn’t tell me. Would be good to mention this to customers so they can choose consciously. Personally I prefer a credit card fee to be in the cost of the food and not pay separately.

LouLou Loves Food

I agree that the service can be a little hit or miss but the product is really good. I’ve been coming here for years. Their breads are amazing. The casa linga and sunflower seed loaf are soooo good. They still make my favorite danish in melb. Haven’t found better. Also their French toast made with their house challah is fantastic. Highly recommend their sandwiches. The poached chicken and cheese with salad are my faves and great when you wanna grab and go.

Bear Noms

Homely and welcoming place that serves traditional Russian food. Has the approval of my boyfriend from Russia and we both enjoy the food each time we’ve been there. Unique cafe that’s a must try!

This Diner Is Anonymous

The best sourdough on the north side! For $5, you'll get the freshest, softest bread that is an absolute dream. The service is a bit sketchy at times, but the quality of the pastries and breads is so high that you learn to live with it.

M Crown

The food is pretty good. The service is pretty rude. They practice discrimination against mothers/fathers. I would like to support them and go for the shoo fly buns but have decided to make a stand against their discriminatory policy against women/men with prams.

Avinash Rajah

Cosy little bakery with an extensive range on offer. Freshly baked bread. I had a sandwich which was extremely tasty and filling. Coffee was fantastic too. Highly recommended. Reasonably priced and worth the stop.

Hungry Little Dinosaur

I love the food here. I hate the fact that I live in Carnegie now and have to make a weekly trip to get that beautiful Casalinga bread. The sandwiches are fantastic, the LEMON TART. That tart is quite possibly the best in the country and it would explain my occasional weight gain. Staff seem disinterested though.

Christy Kang

Visited at a busy morning, still welcomed with friendly staff! Amazing food and service. No more to comment on food, it was perfect. The only thing that bothered me was that I paid on card and have been overcharged. Not sure what the overcharge was for, as I wasn't provided with a receipt or an explanation.

Uncle Rico

We just love this place. Sure, the service leaves a lot to be desired, but you have to overlook that because the food is amazing. Best croissants in town, best bread, best pastries.... Please ensure you have the french toast and drown it in maple syrup. The only thing that it can improve on is the coffee, it is a bit hit and miss.

Hungryjack001

having just had a bad meal at Sir Charles, was looking for coffee and happened upon this place. Fell in love instantly with the whole dark timber, white tablecloth European feel. Made more mysterious because we had to wait in a queue with cabinets blocking our view into the busy cafe. The smell of the baking bread, the coffee, the people leaving with little treasures just added to the whole nostalgic air, reminiscent of some aged eastern European capital city. Finally reached the register where the bread and cakes were on display. Bought a wonderful sourdough loaf and the best baked cheesecake I've had in a long, long while. Would have sat down but no tables left. Lovely friendly service. Plan on returning soon

J0yy173

Who says you have to stick to breakfast food at breakfast time?! Came to a bakery thinking I'll have bread or pastry until I discovered that the Russian-inspired menu is available all day. Defied convention and ordered the Siberian lamb dumplings in a soy broth with chilli and silverbeet. On a cold morning, this hearty and comforting dish warmed the insides from the first mouthful. The salty broth was balanced by a little kick from the chilli, lamb filling and vegetable. They also served two slices of just baked bread and butter before the dumplings arrived. Soft and fresh as you would imagine from a bakery, they made my mouth happy. Take a seat to enjoy the friendly and helpful service or grab an artisan loaf and some accompanying jams/marmalade to enjoy at home. So glad I came to visit.

World Eats Food

My boyfriend and I absolutely love coming here for the butter crossaints and the almond croissants! They are baked to perfect. We always make a stop to pop by if we are driving past and hope they don't sell out! One of the best butter crossaints you can get in Melbourne. Crispy and buttery goodness.

Tez

I went here a while back but I totally forgot to review this beautiful little bakery/cafe. My brother and I ordered a crossaint each with ham and cheese, French toast and egg omelette. The crossaint was such a delight to eat, ever bite was just enjoyable. The French toast gave such a sensational flavour and the texture of it was sublime especially the cinnamon sugar on top. The egg omelette had a great consistency of egg and spice and the added bread was so fresh it was a great accompaniment to the dish. The coffee was standard nothing to flash, I wouldn't rave about it. All in all a very enjoyable brunch.

ZZTop

This place is great. A Fitzroy institution, and lives up to its reputation. The food and coffee is delicious, and it's a great space. The only problems I found were the $20 minimum for card payments (a little high for a minimum?), and the waitresses are seriously moody. No smiles at all, and very cold body language. Considering Lune & Attaboy Roy's are thriving, you would think the waitresses at Babka would put in a little more effort. Croissants on the other hand, are to die for. Pastry as delicate as clouds.

Laino

Food is good, service is spotty. Ranges from good to being ignored. Arrogant, workforce needs more diversity. Walked in this morning, person behind the counter promptly turned around and went into the kitchen. Went across the road to the Fitz, got a 'good morning' and some service. Novel.

Byron's Vanilla Slice Blog

I walked past this little goldmine with no background information on what they sold. Clearly popular from their reviews on Zomato, I walked out with a heavy mille-feuille with fresh strawberries for a rather sizable $6.70. I really don't mind paying for quality, and clearly these guys take time and effort to make quality products with fresh ingredients. My only major gripe was my inability to pick this thing up freestyle; instead I had to dig around my glove box for a spare bit of disposable cutlery to tackle this thing.

Mildred

Picked up some Danish to go, absolutely delicious, mouthwatering, buttery& light scroll & rhubarb Danish. My only gripe was that they were cool. Be nice if they could be kept. A wee bit warm as I are immediately.

Food Obsessed

As a customer of Babka's for as long as they have been open, I have to say I'm more disappointed of late than delighted. The bread has become very hit and miss, I bought it regularly in the past then had too many ordinary loaves so stopped. A couple of weeks ago scored a perfect loaf so was tempted yesterday but back to soft disappointing crust, doughy bread and lacking in deliciousness. Also I had lusted for such a long time to try their corn, coriander and coconut fritters expecting a delicious offering. They were stodgy, rustic and nothing like I expected, Thank goodness their lemon tart is still sublime but not a destination anymore for breakfast or lunch

JZY

很不起眼的小店，东西便宜到爆炸，两个人一顿满意的早餐大概也就15刀，而且味道棒棒哒，有种早晨和家人一起吃早餐，简单又满足的感觉。面包很棒，果酱很棒！

Paradise

Love Babka for their hot chocolate and warm croissants in the morning. Have been going here for years but of late have been a touch disappointed by the service and decor. When quieter the girls chat amongst themselves and sometimes mix up orders. It can seem like I'm interrupting their conversation. So many times I have been polite and smiled and was looked at with no emotion. In these moments I feel like I'm in the East. When busy, the staff are more focused and bee-like. I've noticed that there are rarely fresh flowers anymore and the till features a range of dusty plastic toys and knick knacks. I loved seeing the huge tulips and peonies hanging over the tables. Babka used to feel Russian-inspired or at the very least, Soviet-inspired. This is probably due to the menu featuring Soviet staples and the homely mood. But for me, Babka has grown into an Australian diner-type establishment. It's still a lovely place with delicious food, but it's no longer where I want to go to get a feeling of home/Eastern Europe. If it were, it would sell piroshki (just an idea...).

W1R3D

This place SUCKS. Seriously, every time I go there I leave unhappy. And today is the last time I go. Never again Babka! For these reasons: 1: They have a $20 minimum for eftpos, they say just get cash out from the ATM next door, which has a $3 surcharge to get cash out. So I have to spend $3 that is wasted to pay for my already overpriced food. Why do you need a $20 minimum, who does that! Is it just to piss off your customers... 2: The food is way over priced. $9 for a ham and cheese croissant.. When Lune is around the corner and they have 50x better versions of what Babka does. 3: Sauce condiments are up to $4 extra 4: You have to pay a hefty surcharge ontop of your pie/croissant/pastry item just to eat in the store and have a plate and table. $5 extra just to eat there.... This bakery is absolute bull shit. They should be abolished from the Melbourne community.

Michelle Leong

My fondest memories come from the aroma of baked goodies that have pop out of the oven. Strangely enough, the scent intoxicates me and often stirs up hunger in me even when I don't have the appetite for it. Which subsequently, led me here after a pastry enthusiast friend of mine posted drool-worthy pictures on instagram. Breakfast menu includes the usual omelette, toastie, poached egg, ham and bacon dishes but what really drew me in was the sight of trays after trays of bread lined up behind the counter.

Hotshot

No doubt food was great but the attitude and service of waiting staff was very poor. Food n service is equally important, which the girl (with two arrow tattoo on her elbow)failed to provide.

Sweet Chilli

Haven't been here for a while and the Mille feuille never disappoints nor does their brioche. A beef burgundy pie is a must. Service is consistently good and so is their coffee.

AdLee

Has always been good with their pastries. Today, I had the Siberian Lamb Pelmeni with chilli spiced soy and silverbeet. Dumplings with a lamb filling, very sharp taste of salty and sour, delicious. Comes with bread and butter so definitely a hearty lunch. Will be back for the other specials.

Boxitrepeat

Surprised by the standards of this bakery! Though it was dodgy looking from the outside, the pastries lining the viewing refrigerator looked spectacular. Decided on a plain croissant for just $3 (takeaway), and was surprised at the first bite by how fluffy and buttery it was! With that being said, it was purely fluffy and soft but not crisp on the outside. No complaints though, it was still really good and buttery, especially for $3.

Jli324

Ohhh babka. My old favourite,, almost dont want to write this review to add to the long queues already Babka has the best bakery items, even if you are here for brunch not for the bread take away, order something a bakery would excel, your brunch would be excellent. How good the bread is would surprise you! & yes. Service is always a hit or miss, but the food stands out

Livilivilivil

Found ourselves outside Babka on a shitty Melbourne winters day, I told my partner I felt like a quality pie and low and behold there we were, right outside (destiny). We were lucky enough to snag a spot in the window and I found it to be the cosiest and most comfortable cafe I've been to in many years as I'm *so* over the modern cafe hipster formula. I had a beef pie and my partner the curried veg pastie. Both were delicious and very generous, coming served with salad, hot kasundi, salad and extra fresh bread with butter 😍. My only criticism - we have been back several times and with each experience have been disappointed in the service. With a few standout waitresses who were lovely, a majority of them seem bored or were rude. If you're having a bad day, fake it. Don't take it out on customers and try to pretend to look like you want to be there. If you can't, find another job. All in all the service has been outdone by the overall awesomeness of Babka. Oh and the lemon tart is out of this world!

Thrice As Nice

I had gone in search of the best fruit loaf in the West and inner melbourne city and somehow ended back where I initiated my search. Bread variety and quality here is amazingly good and indeed the best fruit loaf in Melbourne. The proof..... is when a 4 year old actually eats the whole bread slice and doesn't request (*cough*...demands) for the crusts to be cut off. Babka is where I now trek to stock my weekly stash of weekly white and fruit loaves.

Ai

Everything is so fresh here! My friend ordered croissants, I ordered a meat pie. Yes croissants! I thought they would be just standard breakfast dishes (sorry), I was wrong! You can tell its freshly baked you can taste it in the pastry. I loved how friendly the waitress was

Coffee And Food

I always come here for one thing. This bakery cafe always full of crowds. People queuing for the fresh breads and the cakes in the display fridge. I very highly recommend their lemon tart. You will keep thinking of it once you try it.

Jodie

The best lemon tart EVER! The pastry is perfect, and the curd is a delicious mix of sweet and tart. If it was allowed, and socially acceptable, we'd lick the plate!

Salil Acharya

Best Pecan pie ever.. Its a Lovely restaurant but a little crowded. Mains are pretty good but the desserts are amazing like the lemon tart or the pecan pie. Worth trying out !

Fredrik Persen Fostvedt

These are the best sandwiches I've had in Melbourne. They all feature a few simple well composed ingredients matched with the right home baked bread. It's a delight to eat them every single time. Also the service is quick. Would highly recommend the gypsy ham, roast beef and corned beef sandwiches in no particular order. The chicken avocado is also very good, especially if adding olive paste. Don't miss this place if you like a good sandwich.

Gemma

My favourite at Babka is the delicious vegetable bread, which is perfect in winter with soup. They have lovely sausage rolls and other pastries, too!

AP23

Being around the corner, this is our breakfast regular. Best french toast I've had apart from the epic Ladurée in Paris!! Great coffee also.

THE_G_MAN

Big fan of this place! Been a regular for a few years and will keep going back. Normally it's a brunch stop and BLT with crispy bacon mmmm makes me hungry just thinking about it! The bread & pastries are amazing, great coffee too! If around Brunswick st make sure to stop by here!

Carly

We popped in to get a quick bite ordering a pie each, advertised at $7. We briefly sat down to eat them (no more than 10 mins) and as a result were charged $13.40 per pie when we went up to pay. If you're going to double the price for customers who eat in you need to make this clear before they order. I will not be returning.

Crispymelbreview

Another Melbourne institution. It opened around 1994 and has been going strong for over 20 years oblivious to changing trends and tastes. Its sour dough, casalinga, brioche breads are outstanding as is the Russian-Jewish edge on the menu...my favourite being the blintzes. Moreover, there is no better lemon tart in Melbourne. The service can be hit or miss and their coffee is nothing to brag about, but for all the rest, Babka still excels.

Meg

Bread is amazing but service today was not great as the staff seemed on edge and we were the recipients of their nerves and apparent confusion - they appear intimidated by the "boss" and on hearing how she barks at them I can see why. We asked for large coffees but were told they didn't do larges but could have in a takeaway cup. We told them at time of ordering we were sitting outside. When given the takeaway cup outside, we were pretty much told to leave. We were happy to pay more to sit outside as we'd planned but were reluctantly granted permission to stay there as the boss was upstairs and hopefully she wouldn't see. Crazy! We had a tea (not in a takeaway cup!) and hot choc (ditto) to follow; ironically hot choc on a tall glass. Why coffee can't be served like this I don't know. Reminiscent of the Soup Nazi. Soy is ugh - vitasoy I think. Next time we will know the Babka rules! And hope the boss lady starts to treat her hardworking employees better.

Hungry-Caterpillar

Plum jam in season & fresh croissants. Delicious and hard to beat. Bread worth the drive to fetch. Will definitely return - perfect thank you!!!

Devil In The Detail

Babka is one of those places... you know the one you randomly walk into and never want to leave.. yeah that would round up babku for us. We had babku this time last week and probably spoke about our experience there, one to many times throughout the week. We considered ourselves their self proclaimed babku ambassadors haha. We were that impressed with the quality of food, coffee and environment - we thought (heck! we know) this will be our "usual" spot - we go to from now on. Now your probably thinking - what did we have, right? It was simple. Scrambled eggs with herbs & toast and eggs on toast. Latte and warm crossaint. Thats it... They made such simple dishes so damn well, we were blown away. It was soo busy and the blonde waitress serviced us like we were her only priority. Food came out in a timely matter and croissant was soooo deliciouuuuussss! We will continue to wave the babku flag to our family and friends. We look forward to going back. Heck! I might just go there now. :) i suggest you do too.

Sair29

Delicious flaky pastry on freshly made pies, beautiful soft sour dough bread and the most enticing array of cakes in Brunswick st. Fast and friendly service, seating is limited and quite cosy but the food makes up for this slight downfall. Looking forward to retuning. Great vegetarian options too. Thanks Babka

Chantel Charchalis

As we walked into this bakery the smell of fresh baked croissants made our mouths water. Had a lovely breakie here of poached eggs with avocado on rye. Delicious! And I asked for a large Soy Dirty Chai so the waitress had this made in a huge milk jug! I was happy :) and it was made with real chai tea leaves - perfect!

Iris Myandowski

This cafe is everything good about Melbourne (despite its unfortunate location on the tourist strip of Brunswick St, blah). Never had anything but an excellent experience with excellent food.

Sweetandyummie

This tiny little bakery looks unassuming on the outside but when entering - the place is packed to the brim filled with lots of families and customers devouring their cakes and bread. We had the tarte tatin and it was absolutely devine. The apple was soft and slow cooked covered in a smooth rich caramel coating that would make you wanna cry. I highly recommend a visit.

Amys_food_adventures

Popped in for something a little bit sweet. They didn't have any babka so we Got a slice of Tarte tatin with cream on the side. $7.50. Yum! Amazing the syrup was nice and sweet but not overdone. The puff pastry was nice and soaked in all that sweet goodness!

North Fitzroy Food Addict

I'd have to say that this would the be one of my favourite coffee stops ever. Love grabbing a takeaway on my way to work but if I have the time I'll stop for one of their almond croissants. If I'm feeling a little savoury a serve of their house baked sourdough with vegemite never disappoints. Great lunch destination too, try their mushroom dumplings or BLT both scrumptious.

Latitudes

The best lemon tart ever. I am sure other things are also delicious but can never go past this. Can also be ordered to take home. Brûlée or not to brûlée that is the question.

Einas

Babka is one of those establishments that is something of a stalwart in Brunswick Street, we're talking a 20+ year institution. One of the features that rates them so highly on my list is the food availability. While other cafes close their kitchens at 3pm, you can still order breakfast up til 6pm. (A godsend for those who delight in overindulgence.) We've probably worked our way through a good part of their menu from the Menemen, dumplings, hotcakes, muesli, sausage roll, slices of cake (yes, the tart!), and various baked breads (so hungry now, writing this). There is also a delicious vegetable loaf... Coffee is okay. Staff are good more often than not (occasionally ambivalent), and we did have the odd run with inconsistent Menemen serving sizes a while back. That said, I've never had a poor or bad meal in five or so years, so it was difficult not to rate Babka 5.0. For delicious consistency, you can probably consider 4.5 = 4.9. Avoid peak times if possible. Babka also do sell out of baked goods, so if you're after something in particular, end of the day might not be the best time.

Isabel Loveband

Ordered the ricotta hot cakes with compote , mascarpone praline and pistachios . It was delicious ! They have many house made breads and pastries which is great as its made on site . Well worth the money . Fantastic for brunch .

Ms.rhino

Can't go past Fitzroy without buying something from Babka Bakery. You have to be in quick or place an order the day before if you want something like the rhubarb danish. Best pastries around. Well worth a visit.

Suishavingfun

Have been coming to this place for almost 10 years and it remains to be my favourite. Love the cosy feel and the delicious house-made bread and dessert! Service could be a bit slow at times but definitely worth the wait!

Jimmy Bowman

So much yum going on at Babka Bakery, grab a in house baked pie or pastry or sit down and grab a menu or have a lot it the extensive specials menu. My lunch was an absolutely delicious smoked ham hock and pea soup with a large side serve of a different breads from the bakery- 12$ - it was big, hot and so tasty.

Daniel Nguyen

The famous Lemon Tart seduced me in to this cute little cafe along Brunswick St in the eclectic suburb of Fitzroy. And yes, it was delicious. Generous in size and the flavors were vibrant. I also had the Pulled Pork Roll with Crispy Pork Crackling, Chipotle Mayo, Coleslaw and Peach and Bourbon Sauce. It was very good, but the tart was definitely a winner. Staff are friendly and energetic, looks like an all girl team! Definitely recommended.

Filled With Food

My sister and I wanted to go to Hammer and Tong for a late brunch but the kitchen was closed so we ventured down the street of Brunswick and stopped at Babka Bakery. The cafe was on the smaller side but the rustic, warm, European feel will make you fall in love with it. If the decor does not, the food sure will!

CSingh

Tiny cafe but the more you look the more variety you see. You can come here for a coffee and a nice cake or even a light lunch. But do yourself a favor and buy some bread on the way out. The bread is spectacular!

Shlomi

Wow! Best place for savoury pastry lovers in Melbourne! Breads were great, so were the tarts and the pies. Ricotta hotcakes were also very tasty.

Mel Loudo

Went at a really busy time with a group of six so unsurprisingly our group had to be split. It was quite crammed in terms of sitting and very noisy, pushing it from a gentle noise of a busy cafe to nuisance territory. However, it was acceptable. Ordered a special but was told chilli couldn't be removed as it was pre-made, a little concerning but I moved on to another special from the chalkboard mounted on the wall. Ricotta hotcakes, with pistachio praline, mascarpone and blackberries, absolutely delightful. All flavours came together really well with just the right amount of each of the components. I was able to see the ricotta in the cakes and the praline provided crunch, the tart berries cut through the sweetness and creamy mascarpone all providing a well rounded flavour experience. I would go back just for these hotcakes. Its a fairly good serving size and i would stick to just water with this one, anything heavier might be too much with the dish.

Chelbelt

My fav place for breakfast and lunch! love the fresh wholesome ingredients they use. Real butter and their own jam.. Always satisfied after eating here. Their bakery is always full of yummy stuff.

Dina Kerr

This small inviting and warm place. Hands down the best value for money and great freshly made breakfast. As not to forget Melbourne's best pastries YUMMMM. Worth a visit from anywhere.

Mimifama

It was a tiny cafe. We had the Borscht soup, lamb dumplings and beef pie. CoMplimentary bread was served. It was so satisfying for a winters day.

Mommyinmelbourne

Sucha lovely warm cafe. Very unique character to this place especially their seating in that lil cut out of a large door is my favorite. We stopped here for a quick bite few months ago. The mango and chicken salad was on special board and it was amazing. We loved the freshly made iced teas. I brought some bakery and jams for home which turned out to be great. I wish to go back here for a proper brunch soon. Check it out blokes!

Spanna3

Best bread ever! I mean ever... BUT.... Their loaves are slowly getting smaller and smaller. I'd happily pay a dollar more for a bigger loaf rather than paying the same for a smaller loaf... Just saying!

Rhys

Been here twice and had great meals both times! Coffee was also good and unlike the others reviews I haven't experienced bad service - yet. Maybe they're going for Eastern European in the 90s hospitality?

David Jackmanson

I don't know if people complaining about bad service are just a bit entitled or if they hit a bad day, but I found the service friendly and the food delicious. A little slow but we were there at 12.30 Saturday and it was busy busy busy so that's to be expected. We each had a coffee (a double shot latte for me and a skinny mocha for my friend), she had the hot cakes and I had the blitntzes. Delicious! The blintzes came wrapped around creamy cheese (mascarpone I assume) and with a tart lemon sauce. I was still hungry after a bit so I also had a kransky which came on a toasted bun with sauerkraut and tomato relish. $42.50 all up for (in effect) two coffees and three meals in the heart of the hipster world. Most impressed, and I'll definitely go back to try more.

Ravifromes

Please smile even if you are not happy inside. Never seen such delicious food served by most arrogant and rude staff. I heard the owner travels to India stays in Varanasi for weeks to experience the hospitality, I wonder if she has wisdom to teach some of it to her staff.

Dianne

Such great product...such bad service. A colleague of mine and I went to get hot cross buns and take aways coffees the day before Good Friday. It was a quiet time of the day so we sat down at a table (in the corner) to wait for our coffee. i then witnessed the five staff behind the counter talking about us sitting down and how it should just be for customers eating in and how they would make signs etc. no one approached us to move but they were NOT subtle and it was really uncomfortable (especially given the fact that there were 7 tables free at the time). we then left and as I approached the car i said to my colleague, "It is a shame as they make such good products, but such bad service" and a stranger walking down the path looked up and said - "I know, how bad is the service at Babka" sorry guys, you have lost me as a customer and i will definitely be sharing this experience with friends - cause bad service CANNOT be made okay by good product.

Kevin Yong

At Stagger Lee's, you get rustic charm, great coffee, a hipster crowd and a lively evening out. Fitzroy, the name evokes Melbourne, an alternative lifestyle and so Melbourne itself. Also hosting a football club significant in the tribal sports culture of this city, it is only a few blocks away (really two kilometres) from the Victorian Parliament House. It has heritage sites, a long road to walk in quiet hours and even boasts the birth place of Saint Mary MacKillop, the nation's first Catholic to be bestowed with such honours. Its very location attracts twenty somethings and so there are the inevitable unique cafes, ethnic food outlets and old frontages of terrace shops. I am captivated by the Perseverance Hotel, for it does look like in dire need of a restorative make over. And I want to go back to the Fitzroy Town Hall! And Fitzroy hosts the popular Fringe Festival for Melbourne. The Fitzroy Baseball Club, the Lions, has existed since 1889 and Fitzroy City, mostly formed by Serbian Australians in 1953, is part of the Victorian State League Football. Almond croissant from the Babka Cafe. Dining out, partying near a weekend or just having a trendy breakfast can be centred around the bars, cafes and pubs. Caffeine top ups, chatting with baristas and being served fancy toppings over sour dough slices are the order of brunch time as well - with names like Stagger Lee's, Slowpoke and the Grub Food Van. Music gigs closer to moonlight hours can be found in places like Yah Yahs, Collingwood World and Panama. The Euro tradition and heritage is evident here, a precursor to the arrival of other immigrant groups. Johnson Street oozes with Spanish themes. The Black Cat has transformed into a bar. Sydney's Messina Gelato has a branch in Fitzroy along Smith Street. And there is the Supercool Fitzroy Emporium and the French delight at Gertrude Street, De Clieu, inspired by a former naval officer Gabriel De Clieu who famously saved precious water rations for his c

Sgraley

Always good. Had breakfast here last week after returning home from overseas and It never fails. Others come and go but Babka is always doing great food innovative specials with an Eastern European twist that nobody does as well and in the search for a good pancake or a Danish the ones at Babka are wonderful The girls are friendly and it is a busy place so enjoy the smell of the food coming out of the oven tuck into your delicious food and take some goodies home. I took home a pie with some of their relish and watched the footy don't you just love Melbourne !

Jcdaffy

Delicious, scrumptious & quaint!. We visited Babka for the first time as a family with 2 young children & LOVED IT! Despite it being Easter Sunday & VERY popular / busy the staff were friendly, calm & didn't rush us at all. Superb eggs & bacon on their specialty breads & yummy French toast served with maple syrup for the children. Definitely a 10/10 from us so do yourself a favour & go! :)

Olrdz

Nice, but needs improvement. Went there for lunch. Loved the bread and pie with salad but didn't like customer service much. Ordered coffee but it took ages to get it. Waitresses asked few times if we want anything else but no one bothered about our coffee. Tables outside doesn't fit 3 plates on them, so if you order 3-4 plates don't even think sitting outside. Inside place very loud and packed. Food is good, prices ok.

Jennifer.wurtzel

The first free morning we had after the conference, I dragged Boyfriend to Babka Bakery Cafe on Brunswick St in Fitzroy. We had passed the inviting eastern European Cafe almost every day on our way to either dinner or the conference, and I was really excited to try the blintzes that I had seen in the window. I wouldn’t call the blintzes traditional, but they were still excellent. The filling was a very sweet cottage cheese with big juicy sultanas, but the twist on tradition was the tangy citrus sauce that it was served with. Boyfriend got the french toast, which had nice thick slice of bread.

Apple3green

Taste-wise, we did find the lemon curd a little too acidic but the burnt sugar helped to sweeten it up. Between the 2 tarts, we much preferred the lemon tart.

Andrew Leung

...arriving at Babka, I found that the Israeli bubka that I was looking forward to was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the café was small and cluttered with too many tables and chairs... We were actually there for the lemon pie. April said she’d read that Babka had really good lemon pies. So we sat down and ordered a slice of lemon pie and honey and pecan pie. Though each slice was $7.50, I must say they were very generous with their slices. My only complaint...

Joanna Chan

The sweet offerings at Babka are legendary, so swing on down if you are in need of a sweet satisfaction.

Miss Muesli

The wait staff were for the most part friendly and attentive, but not over-bearing – there are certainly no waitress-mothers around these parts (thank goodness as who needs one more?). I should also add that being a bakery, Babka smells very nice so if you visit with a cold, or are unfortunate enough to be anosmic, you’re missing out on an important part of the experience.

Lisa Holmen

A Melbourne institution, Babka’s menu is influenced by Eastern European cuisine, so expect hearty classics like borscht, Russian blintzes and dumplings.

Ballareat

Good food, good coffee, friendly service, and a funky area to browse around afterwards. Definitely goes on the list as a place to revisit, and try out more of their menu.

Danielle

Just as I made the first cut through the centre and the sweetened cheese oozed out and mixed with the honey/cinnamon/citrus I almost started to cry. This couldn’t taste more like my dream breakfast if I tried. It was a combination of my favourite Russian dessert/breakfast treats (cottage cheese pancakes called syrniki are a favourite, as are the crepes, blini) and fond memories of making sugar and lemon crepes on long Sunday sleepovers with our friends when we were kids.

Popcornandtoast

I’ve been spending a lot of time at Babka. It seems that every other day I’m indulging in one of their pastries - be it the chocolate croissant, almond croissant, sticky shoo fly buns (!) and a coffee. And their breakfasts are, just gorgeous. The kransky, with this brioche-like eggloaf lightly sweet bun

Brian Cheung

that alone lived up to some of the hyperbole.. and i think that id go back just for another slice.

MoMo And Coco ~ Dessert Correspondents

MoMo & Coco Dessert Correspondents' Guide to Melbourne's Best Lemon Tarts -- the cafe-bakery all rounder from Babka.

Jess

A cosy little cafe, it is absolutely packed with people. Some are eating eggs on toast, some are eating lunch, and others, like us, are enjoying something sweet with a tea or coffee. From the moment we walked in until the moment we left, there was a line from the counter to the front door, people wandering in and out to either have a sit down feed, or to grab some bread to take with them on their way. I wanted to try everything, but Sous-Jeff and I decide to be good and share, so I'm sent to the counter with his wallet to order. Mistake. We decided on a small piece of Chocolate Mudcake. I may have gotten a slightly bigger piece. And a cookie. Oops.

Natarsha

It’s a tight squeeze and yes, you will be lining up. But it is well worth the wait. Try not to stare at the woman taking up a 4 person table, eating her borscht one small spoonful at a time. She is not going to finish any faster and she is rejoicing in the fact that you’re starving and wanting her seat. She’ll probably order a raspberry infused vodka just to piss you off.

Dave

I have been to Babka so many times. So so many times. Sometimes, just to eat their lemon tart. Their famous lemon tart, with a creme brulee top is something you'd push people onto the road for. Ok, that was a bit harsh and unnecessary, but it's that good. But Babka is more than a tart producer. They have great breads and do a pretty good breakfast if you're into that stuff. Like an omlette with mushrooms and avocado. I don't know what they do with their mushrooms but it's so good. Maybe it's the oil, the fat, the herbs. WHO knows, and WHO cares? Sydney has the Bourke Street Bakery, Melbourne has Babka. And yes, you need to eat their lemon tart, a whole one too.

PiCi And BC

After lunch at De Clieu, we decided to head down the road to Babka for dessert. Babka, part café and part bakery, churns out fantastic bread and house-made pies. But, it is their lemon tart that I keep coming back for.

Al' The Picky EAter

ever so satisfying French Toast. A little bit crispy, a light dust of sugar, soft pillowy insides and a whole of a lot of butter, and oh my gluttony…

Cloudcontrol

Perennially popular, Babka's one of those places it's better to turn up to early-ish in the morning or later in the afternoon.

Eat And Be Merry Crew

Babka is a good place for a tasty breakfast with excellent cakes and danishes, but the food also often comes with a large unordered serving of attitude on the side. This is one of those places that I really want to like and sometimes cross town for, remem

Food Lover

Babka is an institution in Fitzroy, serving all sorts of Russian style savoury and sweet pastries and breads. It is always packed for weekend brunch. Today, we were just looking for some yummy bread to take home. Hubby bought some focaccia for our brunch

Adrian

Mains: I found out about much hyped Babka from fellow food (and furry feline) obsessed colleague Ms J* when we were on the topic of the beloved Pear Tarte Tatin. However, upon ordering, I found out that they didn’t have any in pear.

Jillian.roy.69

I'd rather stay at home. Friendly service but who cares about that if your hungry and want a good meal? Terrible poached eggs that were sliding off the plate when arrived to my table! I could honestly poach better eggs myself with half the amount of water on the plate.

Debbie Ryan

Dredful service!. Walked past here Sun morning after reading such great things thought Id stop for bfast. Walked in waited 5 kins5 for someone to acknowledge Im waiting to be seated I then decide to find a seat myself then a very aloof waitress moves to another table throws a menu down & walks away I then waited a further 10 mins to at least have someone take my coffee order to.which no one was interested so I then walked out - service that bad is deplorable I wont go back which is a shame as the breads smelt amazing!

Food

Food and coffee is always exceptional. Staff are aloof, sometimes quite sassy and service can be slow. But aloof staff are a blessing when you have a hangover. The owner is just gorgeous. My only gripe is that they aren't open every day.

Janice.luck

Customer Service training needed. The food is great, especially the bread. But the attitude of one staff member in particular was appalling. One male and one female, toilet for staff and public with no handwash or soap; they are handling food!

Mandy Mo

Best coffee made by best barista Kasey! Awesome cakes too, love the lemon tart

Mandy Mo

Best Coffee. Has the best coffee made by the sweetest barista KC. Awesome cakes too. Lemon Tart is amazing

Newtoniantheory

Take away only. Firstly, I'll agree with a previous review, there is a lot of attitude from one particular staff member. A couple of the others were friendly, but having your coffee delivered by someone so rude was a little off putting.. I was left thinking.. am I not 'cool' enough to spend my money here? I visited yesterday at about 3pm, ordered a coffee and hot breakfast. The mushrooms were perfect (bursting with moisture and flavour, not over cooked- and the bacon was cooked to perfection, five stars. The bread was also delicious! but the meal fell down a little with the poached eggs. They were a little sloppy, flat and poorly placed on the very edge the plate. Even though they still tasted good, I probably will order fried if I do return. The coffee was good 3/5, it was prompt and the milk was frothed well. Temperature was also great. The highest compliment must be paid to the amazing range of pastries they have on offer (the real deal in pastry chefs here) and their menu flexibility (DIY breakfast menu and the option to have whatever you like served on their fresh breads, rolls and croissants) Overall I enjoyed the meal and am intrigued with the pastries. If I don't return, it will mostly be due to the attitude. The odd egg fail is easily redeemable, it happens to the best of chefs and nobody likes waste. But being glared at by a hipster with a huge chip on her shoulder isn't quite the experience I was looking for. It's a shame. Some of the other staff were really nice.

Duckduckgooose

Good food terrible environment. I've always taken food away from Babka, and love their sweeties. Took friends there for breakfast recently and say in, and was disappointed. The music at 9am in the morning was so loud - electronica - that we couldn't hear each other. The tables were too small for our food and drink, and they've squished so many tables in you can't sit comfortably. Won't eat in again.

Bonny LunnLunn BostonBun

Crack a smile for god's sake!. I love the bread, I love the coffee and I love the cakes and pies. But some of the staff have attitude that I haven't witnessed in Brunswick Street since the late 80's when a scowl from wait staff was de rigueur. Enough with the nonchalant schtick and just serve with respect and a smile, it's retail! It really puts me off and I have to gird my loins before buying bread incase I get the 'butter wouldn't melt and I really don't like you' person. Up you game, employ friendly people!!!

Adammmarks

What is service. Nice cake crap service. we came for a late lunch and pretty much had to take someone hostage to get the attention of the disinterested and indifferent staff. sat us at a table dumped some menus and water then pretty much left us to our own devices. we waited for about 10min for someone to take our order. this is where the hostages came in handy. we wanted to order desert but the staff was either wiping empty tables or eating behind the coffee machine. pity the service is so crap otherwise it would be a good place to come on a regular basis.

Wendy Yi-Chia Wu

BEST ALMOND CROISSANT EVER.. Title says it all. Best almond croissant ever!

Jayman75

Best croissants this side of France.

Jane

Love the bread, pastries and food. Have always ordered a slice of lemon tart no matter how full I was. Because it was a must. The brûlée top used to be crisp, and the shortbread crust used to be fresh with a bit of crunch to it. However those are long gone. Thought I would give it a chance after being served a soggy piece, but have had two disappointing pieces already. Service has gone down hill, way down hill. The girls there seem to be way too comfortable. Always talking amongst themselves behind the coffee counter. Have to wave them down a few times to get some sort of service.

Peacepal

Service and Food becoming Poorer. I have been coming to Babkas for years as have always seen it as a reliably delicious cafe. However the last two times I ate there I could not infact eat the dishes because they were very unpleasant. The first inedible item were the veg dumplings which used to be delicious but on this occasion were dry and stodgy. I told the waitress who admitted they are sometimes not cooked properly but i got no apology and still had to pay for them. I went back this week as I wasn't going to right them off for one poorly prepared dish. This time I ordered a chickpea and eggplant hotpot with herb and pomegranate salad. Thats what the menu said anyway. What came was 99% chickpeas with two tiny pieces of eggplant and a mint and fennel garnish with a few mandarine segments. If they didnt have some of the ingredients then they should have told me before serving me that ridiculous muck. I wouldnt have written this review except for the fact that the owner noticed I hadn't eaten it and when I told her that it had basically no eggplant or salad and mandarine instead of pomegranate, she said she would speak to the kitchen but never came to apologize and still charged us for the inedible slop! Really, the menu should only display dishes that the kitchen has the ingredients to make and customers should not be served or charged for poor quality food. Stick to the dishes you make really well and treat customers with respect and not just as revenue.

Stephen

Is Customer Service Dead? Or is it just that serving customers is not cool for Gen Y, even if it is your job.. Yes the food is good and yes the bread is outstanding and yes some people are prepared to queue on weekends. That really isn't an excuse for arrogance and for NOT making customers feel welcome. Another reviewers reference to Seinfeld's "Soup Nazi" sums it up I think.

RedVespa

Local who loves the food, doesn't always love the service. I've lived nearby to babka for 11 years. I always go here to get my bread and often go here for lunch - love their borsch. However, I've found that at least 50% of the time, the staff don't make you feel welcome and at times even make you feel unwelcome! I'm always as pleasant as I can be - so it's interesting to see what i get in return in terms of friendliness / service. So many times I've walked out and said - if their bread wasn't the cheapest and best in the area I would never come back. The reason I think that the service doesn't improve, is because the woman who owns the place just doesn't care. She has seen me standing and waiting to be served plenty of times, but just walks past and looks the other way. Goes to show, if your product is awesome and reasonably priced, people will keep coming back despite poor customer service. Sometimes I feel like I'm in an episode of Seinfeld ordering from the soup nazi!! Some of the girls have been really lovely over the years though and given how busy it is in there and in the warmer months how HOT it is... I'd probably get a bit grumpy too.

Alana M

LOVE. This is my favourite place to eat in Melbourne. I went here almost every day for a week. Ricotta hotcakes are ridiculous.

Angie

To bad.. The food is great at Babka, theres no question about this at all. The bread is amazing the pastries and pies to die for, but its the service thats a problem, I like to be treated with courtesy by friendly staff, for me this adds to the experience! I don't enjoy my visits to Babka and after many tries, have decided to eat else where.

Peter Evans

Babka A Standout... Love this place either to up pick some freshly baked bread or yummy pastries have tried Dench and baker D.Chirico but to me babka is a stand out. Interesting menu with the tastiest lamb and rosemary sausage rolls , along with some standard fare there is cabbage rolls which melt in your mouth, great coffee all the time and lemon tart to die for. Along with that the lady that is obviously the owner is like a silent captain looking over friendly well drilled staff. Always a pleasure eating here .

Martine Alpins

Yes the food may be considered good at this restaurant. I have enjoyed it before. Which is why I'm very disappointed with my experience here today. I came here with my mother and 1 year old for a late lunch. There was only one other table being used. There was a sign out the front of the restaurant advising no prams allowed. But given there was no one in the restaurant I went in to ask if we could bring in a pram as my baby was sleeping. The staff member I asked simply said no. She did not use her discretion. I can see how this policy might stand up in peak times, but when the restaurant is empty it was an ignorant and inexperienced decision. And might I add, highly discriminatory. I would like an explanation from management about why this decision was made.

Leebag

Usually a sure thing for a decent cake and pie but this time the service was so terrible that it soured the delicious taste of the pastries. We were seating outside as there was a 'no pram' policy indoors. The staff knew we were seated outdoors and we ordered with that intent. Three quarters into a meal, a staff member came out and told us to leave for eating takeaway at the tables! Don't go here, it's not worth it.

Rosely

Popped by with a friend for a late lunch and although I just a single chai latte, it was delicious. Real chai spices in light frothy milk for me to strain & enjoy at my own pace. The baked beans my friend had tasted lovely. I'll be back to try the all day breakfast - can't wait!

Pasty.robinson

Flourless orange cake. The best flour-less orange cake ever. The staff are helpful but the cafe is small.

KensingtonPalace

Fortunately the food is good here, as the service is poor and the staff maybe the grumpiest in Melbourne.

Supercallafraga

Beautiful ricotta hotcakes. The hotcakes are amazing, as are their croissants and pavlova. I imagine most things from this bakery won't disappoint.

Cafe Talk

Had a half hour to spend before an appointment and so Babka was the choice. Coffee ordered and almond croissant to take away, in hand; sat at table waiting for my inhouse coffee and then still waited....finally had to get the attention of lady with curly grey hair/manager?, politely said that I am waiting for coffee and where the heck is it silently said in my mind...ahhh, will go and check. Yep it hadn't been made ...i might add it was delicious! when I finally got it with 15 minutes to go.....a reputation is only as good on the day you are serving your customers. Came back a few hours later with friend to have coffee and cake and the service was a tad better...but shop is dark and may I suggest a change in the lighting situation.....

Nelly Samson

The staff are byatches!. These girls (there are no guys that serve here) are the biggest byatches I've come across in hospitality. What is going on with them? Change job if you hate customer service, we don't want to see your sour puss faces. The food is great but I'm concerned that some girls use their hands to handle food and money so it's scary and has been seen many times by other people I know so definitely happening regularly. The manager needs to sack the majority of them and start again as they are horrid and dirty or maybe they are like that because of management. Who knows! Never going there again as don't need cooties on my food!!

Jack Lime

Great cafe to go to if you are new to Melbourne and want to experience some good coffee and food in a funky part of the city. Love the croissants, coffee and breakfast menu.

LF

I agree. Good food but rude staff. Slow service and they just don't pay attention to customers.

Liz

The best place on earth. I absolutely love Babka and everything about it. Poached eggs are perfect, BLT delicious, kransky was wonderful, the breads are amazing and the lemon tart is to die for. I'd eat here every single day if I could!

Simonhrj

World Class Beef Sandwich. Called in here for a pit stop and quite franky has the most amazing beef sandwich, the bread was to die for and the filling was rare tasty beef. Australia is hard to beat for food and this was quite franky one of the best meals I had - simple good food and spot on coffee - cakes top of the range too . If you could get a Michelin Star at a Cafe this place would have 2!!

Rosie

Worth waiting for. I've had everything here, from haloumi salads to borscht, lamb pie to pelmeni and Georgian beans. It's never let me down. Some dishes are absolute standouts - the ricotta hotcakes are fluffy as clouds, topped with berries and delicious crumbled praline, and the lemon tart with crunchy brulee on top is the benchmark which no other lemon tart has ever lived up to. The service is what you would expect from such a popular joint. The staff do a decent job of balancing the needs of seated customers and take-aways at the counter, working in a pretty tiny space. People have been queuing at Babka for at least 15 years. It's not the same as the queue outside the latest "name" restaurant, where a team of wait-staff drilled to military precision squeezes through maximum bums on seats before the gloss of celebrity fades. The Babka vibe is more relaxed. Its queue is patient and chilled out, and the wait is worth it.

Kadots

Amazing pear tart. I love the pear tart - the custard in it is just perfect! Whenever I go to Brunswick St I make babka my special stop

Thefunklub

You know what, it has taken me time to warm to babka. Maybe cause its cluttered. But now I really like it. The food is all great. The girls that work there are all so accommodating and efficient and friendly and humble which is nice for the area. Cake is excellent. So I go a few times a week now.

Poppieeats

Babka Obsessed. I've been here quite a few times and cannot explain how much I love it. The cakes are all delicious and so are the pastries. The waitresses are always laughing and look like they absolutely adore each other. I would apply to work there for the free food but I don't think my looks would make it there - THEY ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL. Food always comes out super quick unless it's super busy. Staff are efficient, owner seems a bit mad though. Love the french toast. A lot.

Bean Fiend

Hubba Babka. I understand now why people get so large that they need to be lifted out of bed with a tiny crane. I would do this to myself if I could stomach 29 of their almond croissants a day. I would seriously give up all human interaction and emotional meaning graced upon us via living a normal existence if it meant that I could bunker down in their cupboard and be fed like that food disposal monster from The Flinstones.

Giuls

Big yes from me...love coming to this place when I get a chance..

Isnice

Delicious but pricey. This place does have great food. I recommend the breads/pies/cakes/danishes. Keep it for a special occasion though if price is a consideration - it is about double for an equivalent elsewhere.

Anney

Oh Dear Babka!. I feel a great love for Babka ... it has been in my life for so long ... and while many a time I have read a niggle here and there about 'tude with the food at Babka I had never experienced it myself until early last week. We took our friends from the country for their first visit for a mid week breakfast and the rudeness from 2 Babka 'young ladies' was so embarrassing - we left rather than sit there in the muddy atmosphere that had been created. Additionally, for 3 of 4 of us our initial menu choices from the blackboard specials were not yet available and it was well after 10am.

Jonathan Ong

Best lemon tart!! other tarts are superb too. Chai latte is good too. French toast is good too. we always buy the whole lemon tart for birthdays :)

Angel

User reviews. I loved thr ambience of this place for brunch was so fresh and indie. the hot chocolate was beautiful. i reccomend the riccota hotcakes one of the specials they are amazing some of the best pancakes the sauce and berry topping is beautiful would definantly visit again !

John Mazzarollo

Nice Lunch at Babka. After many enjoyable meals at Babka and having run the gauntlet of their 'service' over the years, things seem to have improved of late. Yes, the croissants are fabulous and the pastries divine, but the chaotic and distracted service was almost at the intolerable level for me. And then, on my last visit recently, I got reasonably attentive service and helpful advice on specials and on bread selection on the way out.. I don't go to Babka to get pampered, I go for the pastries mainly and they never disappoint, so I'm glad the management has finally listened to the advice given by hordes of dissatisfied locals. After 20 or so years of dropping in, I was about to become a take-away guy only, but Babka just got better and let's face it, where else could you go on Brunswick Street these days for a well made lemon tart or croissant?

TildaM.M

Really great!. Loooove the Raspeberry and Apple jam from this place! Have gone in for brekkie and lunch a couple of times and really enjoy my meal. Beautiful cakes and coffee, as well as fresh bread! The only recommendation I have is that the Burcher Muesli was a bit solid and not runny enough. Other then that, I thought that the coconut in it really complemented the dish and the yoghurt was really nice.

Malst

Ahh Babka!. I often pop in for a fail-safe great coffee on the way to work and despite my growing waist sometimes walk out with something for morning tea. Doesn't matter what - everything is quite special. Always get a smile and great service from all the staff. When I can manage to find time for a sit-down breakfast the food and service is just as good. I wonder reading some reviews if 'personality reflects attitude'? With food now elevated to religious status and every second person with no other interests a food blogger, maybe the simple process of sitting down and having a relaxing meal is beyond some people? I have witnessed a couple of regulars who behave very badly. The waitress' patiently deal with these two day after day and don't lose it - don't know how they do it - I would be serving their breakfast with a knife in their backs. So give them a break they are waitresses not personal handmaids. A great cafe! -----13 Aug, 2013----- Are there two Babkas?. Whoah, after reading some of these reviews I must be going to the other Babka! While the staff wouldn't know me even if had an A4 name tag on; I have been popping in for coffee and breakfast here for over 15 years. I have never once seen the girls ignore or be rude to any customers. Sure, they don't hover sprinkling fairy dust, fake a smile and pretend that you are special just because you happen to be sitting at a table eating and drinking but that's great. Too few places allow staff to chat and be human and enjoy being at work. The coffee is great and the food tasty. Hope this place stays just as it is despite the creeping apartment crowd trying to bland it out.

Zgonja

Nice bread and even better coffee. Had some nice coffee there, and took home bread that was even better! Thx Babka! Staff is helpful and kind and service is lightning fast. The only drawback is that the place is really tiny so had to wait for a place to sit when ever I went there.

LG

Delicious. My favourite place to buy pastries!

Rose

Great food, consistently poor service. I live locally and buy from Babka regularly. Their menu, breads, pastries and cakes are delicious but I find the service consistently below average. The staff can be very rude and more often than not they don't make much effort at all. It is very disappointing as good service could make this place almost flawless! I often find myself buying coffees and bread from other places on principle as I don't like supporting the bad attitudes. At other Brunswick cafes, if you order a takeaway coffee they will call your name out and pass it to you with a smile. At Babka it can sit on the counter and nobody cares if you don't realise. I once observed a lady order a take-away coffee and tell the staff she'd wait outside to free up space. Her coffee sat on the counter for a good 5 mins and when she came inside to enquire about the wait, they just pointed to it and didn't offer to make a fresh one. No doubt it was half cold. When eating-in recently, My friend had finished her meal and as the waitress cleared her plate, my friend jumped as the waitress put her hand around the side of her and slipped her plate away. As she jumped, the waitress said sarcasticly "do you want to finish/lick the plate?". How rude. Despite all this, we keep returning as the food is so good! The Manager just needs to sharpen up the staff!

Julia

Went on Friday afternoon, loved it so much so went again on Saturday morning with some friends. Great food, great smiles! Busy busy busy!

"JT" Jeffrie Trika

Another Melbourne's institution .... don't bring your baby pram okay. There's something in the air. Must be those freshly baked breads .... Not the cheapest bakery/cafe but it's always FULL and FRESH .... should make an effort coming in early ... Can I ever get enough of Babka, this Melbourne's own institution.

Jason And Marie

Babka Review. I thoroughly enjoyed my Sunday afternoon at Babka and so did my wife. We had excellent food and loved the hustle and bustle of the place. We had phenomenal food and great service. Waitresses were nice and have been every time I go. I cant say I agree with the previous reviews. Thanks Babka. I'll be back.

Momota

Rude nasty service. I didn't understand why all the waiting staff, including the bogan barrister with black-hair with lots of tatoos, had to be so rude and horrible to customers. I thought they must be having an incredibly bad day, but having read so many people commenting about their rudeness, I think they are a bunch of miserable people. Good food but a very unhappy place. I won't go back!

Foodfinder

Best croissants in Melbourne

Connie

Had breakfast this morning have not been there for a long time then I remembered that staff have no personality and barely speak to you nothing has changed

Laura Chen

RUDE RUDE RUDE !!!!!. I have been to Babka Bakery Cafe numerous times, and each time I am left with an even more sour taste than the previous. The food although good, does not make up for the lack of decent, bare minimum standard of service that you would expect in the reputable city of Melbourne. The last and final time I will ever enter your cafe again was when I had family visiting from overseas. They felt like having brunch and we were in the Brunswick area so I thought I'd take them to your cafe. Big Mistake. We waited 20 minutes for a table, even though a few tables had been empty of patrons, and only had to be cleared. After we finally got a seat with menus and were ready to order, all the waitresses seemed to turn a blind eye. It was only until my Aunty put her hand up to catch a waitresses' attention did she walk over and had the audacity to say "Put your hand down, I will come back and serve you." How RUDE!!! My Aunty was so taken aback but didn't want to seem too offended as she knew we would then all have to leave and find another place to eat. All I can say is, good luck in the future Babka, because with service like that you will need it. Brunch places are opening up all around Melbourne, the food you serve is now available in multiple places across Melbourne with far better service and quality coffee.

Tania

Awful service. I didn't even get to ordering. I had the menu and kept looking trying to get someone's attention. It was early in the morning and not very busy. Worse part was one waiter saw me and continued to ignore me. I walked out.

MissA

Terrible service. Pity, because it really overshadowed a lovely meal. The staff made me feel like it was a real hassle for them to take my order and bring me my food. I guess I was disrupting their conversation..

Yee Sang

Brilliant bread. Love the sourdough and the lime marmalade is simply perfect on it... Better to grab bits for breaky at home though than eat in...

Eric

Everything is beautiful. Literally. I was blown away by this place. The atmosphere is so calming and homely. I ordered a beef pie and a flat white. The pie was delicious and the pile of bread that came with it was enough to fill me up good and proper. The exotic looking kiwi barista makes a perfect coffee which is pretty standard for the area. My friend had the blintzes which were recommended by our friendly waitress and did not disappoint. Was well worth the trip across the river and will be returning to try the borsch and lemon tart that people seem to rave about. What better way to enjoy lunch then being surrounded by beautiful ladies.

Skaway2010

Delicious food. This is one of my favourite bakery cafes. Everything is delicious here except the coffee. Pity they always seem to overboil the milk and the coffee loses its flavour. The food is consistantly good and that compensates for the attitude of the staff being aloof.

Ralph M

Amazing escargot, good coffee but the too cool for school attitude of the barista and waitstaff is deplorable. 0/10 for service and rudeness and not the first time either.

Marc Ferron

No offence Babka but i really didnt enjoy your breakfast. Firstly, I ordered an espresso, not a ristretto. My kranski hotdog type thing was just too dry even with the strange looking poached eggs as an extra (they were over cooked as well). Last of all i ordered an iced chocolate (which i was assured did not come with ice only icecream...not the case...arrgghh) which came out after we had finished everything...only after i asked again for it. My wife enjoyed her russian crepe thingos...but hey, she doesnt have an urbanspoon account. Lastly, i must admit though we didnt try any of their bakery items which all looked great and had people lining up for a taste. But this review is purely based on the quality of the food eaten and service.

Jennpf

After a long absence I returned to Babka and it was just as good as I remember. The BLT so tasty.....crispy bacon, herby mayonnaise and the bread - so moist with a crispy crust. .The burger with Bulgarian fetta was so tasty. The beetroot and gherkins in the soft egg bun just raised the burger to a higher level. Perhaps Melbourne's best burger? Cudos for tea in a tea pot and extra hot water and a generous milk jug. Service was relaxed and polite. Cannot wait to go back.

Xoraelis

Enjoyed the visit to the cafe. We ordered blackberry danish and chicken sandwich. The bread and pastry texture was both crunchy and soft and just love that it was freshly made. Plus the herb mayonnaise is a treat.

Ness Morozoff

Had a very nice baked bean dish for breakfast here last week, coffee was good too

Sultrytemptress

RUDE. The food here is quite lovely and the French toast is usually to die for but the very sour waitresses leave a bitter taste in your mouth... They are so rude and never smile and tend to just completely ignore you.. There is a line of ppl waiting to sit down and many empty tables but the waitresses pretend to be busy and chat amongst themselves without making eye contact with you... This wont change because ive noticed the owner on several occasions be just as rude to customers... Pity it could be a glorious cafe

Jen Dorjee

Not again. Popped in for coffee and a hot cross bun to take away. Waited 15 minutes whilst the girls chatted. Terrible service and coffee average. -----23 Nov, 2012----- Love the food but not worth the attitude from the staff. two words ladies 'customer service!'

Maewest

Scowls a plenty. Nice cakes, shame about the service... One particular waitress is sooooo rude, contemptuous and full of disdain! She really needs to quit the hospitality industry and become a tram inspector!

Debbie Tait

Nana review. The best cabbage rolls, the best pear tatin, the best borscht and my absolute favourite spot for a small meal in Brunswick street. I've never had a snarly waitress, but then I've always avoided peak times.

Roly

You will not be disappointed!

Nat

Babka. We bought a couple of pies and some bread there yesterday and have been there four or five times. I love it as my grandparents were Lithuanian and my bubble, as we called her used to make us blintz when we stayed with her. But unfortunately some of the staff are so unfriendly and cold it ruins the whole experience. I thought it was just me maybe i was not Fitzroy cool enough but it seems not after reading some reviews. At least now i won't be so paranoid next time i go in and maybe i won't be so friendly either.

RNR

Babka have jumped the shark. OK, so it's always had poor service, but I can handle that as I'm from NZ where arrogant service is the norm. It was once worth the wait, pressed up against the wall, not really being sure if you're in line for a table or takeaway... but those days have gone. The fish cakes were dreadful. A yucky flavour! The horseradish sauce bit spitefully, and the coleslaw was dull and tasteless. The portion was also undersized! Partner had a kranski roll which he said was no better than you'd find at a footy match. Our overseas guest also unimpressed. We'll be taking our hard earned cash elsewhere. Go to hell.

Aloevera

Was excited to try Babka because I heard of their great sweet treats. When we attempted to order at the counter was told abruptly to just go sit down. The same girl took our order without asking us if we wanted any food. When we finally ordered and she brought out the food, she just threw down the cutlery on the table with a scowl. Lady, get a data entry job if you can't even fake a smile or be mildly pleasant. Even the delicious almond croissant wasn't worth the terrible service received. Rude.

Jugkapong Wongchaaum

Great food and generous servings

Mali

Tarte tatin at Babka is the best. The best sweet in Melbourne. Baked cheese cake was rack of sugar (and maybe lemon). Dissapointed to have not sweet cake.

Caspian

Frankly. The bakery goods here are truly great. But sadly the service is by far some of the worst in the city. Every time I approach the counter. It's like I'm wasting the servers time. And somehow a burden. Most of my friends refuse to buy here. Based on the appalling service. Seriously guys. You have a high quality product. It'd be nice if the front of house attitude reflected the quality of food

Coffee Lover

Great food terrific location ,service terrible. Have been to BAbkas a number of times over the years ,each time swear we will never go back because of the service.Went this morning , cooked breakfast arrived and finished before coffee came. When ased about coffee told rudely it was coming ,place only had 3 tables filled . No more visits for us!

Lilu

Ive been going to Babka for the last 2 years. previously when every time I flew to Melbourne, had to make a pit stop at Babka. These days I'm there the least once a week if not twice as I buy my bread from there. I love the food. It's great! Borscht, the dumplings, the cabbage rolls are all delicious although not always consistent. The pastries are equally good. Overall great food but I agree with all the other reviews. Service sucks. I would recommend take away always. Long wait and the staff are not friendly AT ALL. In fact sometimes if you go in and order the coffee, the barista is so unhappy to make you one, you end up feeling like you're disturbing her.I also once Waited 45 mins for 2 takeaway sandwiches. Turns out my order got lost and the staff had gone home. The other staff were irritated when I said I'd been waiting for my sandwich. Best to always ask for receipt when ordering. Great food terrible service

For All Mankind

Lunched here today. We ordered from the specials board, myself having the sweetcorn, coriander and coconut patties with avocado and chili jam. P went for the pan-fried dumplings with potato filling served with sour cream. Both dishes were very good indeed. Coffee was great and, importantly, service was super-friendly. Top notch!

Andy C

Best Danishes in the city

Heather Lynn

Great food, terrible service everytime. Such a shame, if the service was even remotely good I would go here a whole lot more

Danielle Wilson

Great breakfast. Walking past saw tr food and had to go in. Awesome window seat. fabulous meals. Good coffee. Had the ham sandwich which was super yummy. Bread was just delicious. Will go back for sure

Hummus

Great food, but wont go near this place again. Wait staff are plain rude.

Rain

Love! Amazing treats and unique service! Delicious bread, breakfast and hands down the best lemon tart in Melbourne! Quality takes time. If you want fast service and peace and quiet - go to a rubbish cafe...

Ordermeseconds

Great food let down by terrible service. Food is amazing, will not even try to deny it. But I've never had such bad experience with wait staff before. Really such a disappointment as I will not be going back. Look out for 'super-cool' indies who think that their job working at a cafe that makes good coffee makes them better than the rest of the world.

Mia

Delicious Banana Jam, hard to find anywhere else. Love the sausage rolls, the shoofly buns and the pear and custard tart. If you purchase a whole cake early in the morning, its usually still warm! Love taking overseas/interstate visitors to this place.

Isabelle

Their baked goods are consistently excellent, but do not warrant the huge price tag or the snooty service.

Emma Chow

New winter home. If it were possible, I would choose to never move from my table at Babka. I always want to buy every single thing on display, and all the items off the menu. The pastry in their pies is so flaky and buttery, and their lovely cakes are the best to be found anywhere. There is often a line for tables, but it moves surprisingly fast. Eat as much as you can, then buy a whole lot to eat at home later!

Helen

Quite simply the best lemon tart I've ever tasted and the caramalised pear and custard tart was unspeakably divine!

Kevin Lee

9/10. Kudos to the freshness of their baked products and the creamy lemon tart. Had the berry bubbles too which was fantastic. Service could be a bit slow but worth waiting.

H & V

Almond croissants!!!. I'm a sucker for trendy spots & the cliche arrogant waitstaff that always infest such places. i'm not a scenester though - it's usually something on the menu that has me hooked. in babka's case, it's those almond croissants! anyway, i am used to the attitude, and usually feel pity for these young things who need to score a low paid job in some flash-in-the-pan trendy place in order to validate their existences. but i recently made the mistake of bringing along someone who won't tolerate attitude. after waiting a looong time for our (take out) order, my companion enquired about the whereabouts of our coffee and croissants and scored this response: "uh - you probably don't get it. this is not, like, baker's delight or whatever...this is bab-kaaaa. we're super busy!" wow! you've scored yourself an oscar with that line, honey! my companion let fly to the shock and awe of the restaurant crew, and most of the restaurant. i was extremely embarrassed and made a quick exit to avoid being associated with the fracas! i imagined myself as elaine in a seinfeld episode out on the street screaming "where am i gonna get those delicious almond croissants from now, huuuuuh?" anyway, i still endure the attitude there because i've just gotta have those croissants!!!

Chev

Loved it! My friend and I came here on a busy Sunday morning and the experience on a whole was really great. The wait staff were helpful and really lovely, we never felt rushed for anything even though they were extememly busy. I had the B.L.T and it was huge. So yummy! Also a plain croissant - delicious. One of the best croissants I've had in Melbourne, really fluffy on the inside and went perfectly with the great coffee here. We had a splendid time at Babka and will definitely be back to try some of your mouthwatering cakes. Thank you!

Melbournian

Lovely. Loved everything about this place except our miserable waitress

Nicholas

Amazing bread. I love the bread from Babka, it's always fresh and beautiful, that's why I'd definitely recommend getting a sandwich from there (try the BLT). I almost always get take-away as it's usually to cramped for my liking, but definitely give it a go, it's worth the wait!

TP

Enjoyable, wish it was larger. You cannot beat the corned beef sandwich her, beautiful bread baked on the premises with pickles, salad and corned beef to die for! Besides the sanwiches, breakfast and bruch/lunch has lots of delicious items that you do not always see at other cafes..Well Babka is always croded with regulars and visitors, so sometimes you need to wait n wait.. Wish it was larger

Jo

Cute little rustic bakery. My friend and I were seated straight away and served promptly. However, it wouldn't hurt for the waitresses to smile once in a while.The ingredients are fresh, but I think it's a bit overpriced for what it actually is. I ordered a the lovely chicken and avocado with a herb mayo on rye, beautiful but it wasn't worth $12.50. My friend had the spinach, cottage and pine nut pie which was equally as tasty, but again at the same price. At the end of the day, yes the food is fresh - but it's a simple sandwich and pie at a bakery. There are other bakeries that offer the same quality at half the price. I do recommend it, but not a must.

FoodieFace

Shocking customer service. Baked foods are delicious but the service is consistenly terrible and it is always very cramped. I suggest getting takeaway!

Skinnyman

Like the hotcakes!

Rebecca Lim

Some of the best cakes I've ever tried! Had the choc mudcake -perfect texture! Not too heavy. Every mouthful was heaven. The flourless orange cake was amazing too! I was so reluctant to swap it for the bf's mudcake at the halfway mark

Transcendancing

Yum!. Having lunch with a friend here, I found the food tasty, inventive, and very different from other restaurants and cafes I've eaten at. I'll definitely look forward to returning on my next visit to Melbourne. The coffee was great and I had one of the specials, cabbage rolls with beef, rice and a tomato sauce - so delicious! Next time I'm told I must try their sandwiches or baked goods - I look forward to it!

Accomplice Anna

Enjoyed brunch here last Sunday and still a great choice for Brunswick st. Highlights we're the ricotta pancakes and coffee always consistent. Cramped surrounds appear to be part of the charm! Best to go with only 1 brunch companion to ensure a better chance for a table!

Chai Sipper

Our first choice. Will drop by whenever we have a chance. Freshly baked bread and chicken avacado sandwich is to die for. Coffee can be inconsistent but never disappoint to finish with a slice of lemon tart!

Ohsnap

Best lemon tart!. As if it hasn't been mentioned enough, this place has the best lemon tart. Food is simple but done well. Bread is good. But the lemon tart is definitely the star. Truly delicious. Only downside is service may be a bit hit and miss and place a little cramped.

Krystal

The original. With so many new bakeries around I haven't been back to Babka for at least 10 years but recently dropped by for brunch and I must say it is very very good. Great almond croissant and lemon tart.

Totoro

Brunswick street.... really?. So I've come here a handful of times now, and feel it's safe to write a review which I think is fair. Babka is small, therefore there is always a wait on a table. They have crammed so many seats into the little floor space to combat this, that you may be resting your arm on the table next to you and you waiter is probably going to trip over your bag at some point. I can only imaging what this little cafe would be like in a different location, maybe that's just too good to be true. Once you manage to get one of the top-knot girls to grab your order, the hard work is done. Sit back, immerse yourself in the buzz of this little cafe and wait for your meal. The food here has always been great, and the baked treats, even better. The specials are creative and exciting and I always sense that good specials reflect on how enthusiastic the chefs are. Happy to split bills and give you a take-away cake as they notice you salivating over the display cabinet, Babka for me is a win.

Minigolfgal

Nice bread - packed to the gunnels.... Liked all the meals I ate there when I was a Fitzroy local and bought a loaf of bread from time to time. Very crowded and little bit pretentious (reflecting the area), but that's to be expected for an inner city joint with small premises.

I'll Never Be Skinny

Really good pies + custard cake + tarte tatin. This is one of my favourite place for brunch..the pies are really good and the custard cake & tarte tatin are to die for. Hail to the pastry chef !

Panda

Best Lemon Tart ever... The pastry too!!

Christine B

Spotted Babka late one night walking past and loved the look of it. Went the next morning for breakfast - small inside and was a little noisy but the coffee was great and toast was delicious. Will go again.

The World’s My Oyster

Little Gem On Brunswick. Lemon tart.. need I say more? Definately lives up to the rave, had the more creamy, velvety filling and the crust is beautiful. Has the best texture I've had ever, however the taste of the lemon tart found at le petit getaux is what I prefer. Had the potato and mushroom dumplings while my friend had the apple, blackberry crumble. Both impressed. The crumble could have had more crumble, but the taste was devine. The mushroom dumplings were to die for they exploded with flavour, though the potato ones needed something to lift the dull taste of potatos perhaps the addition of parmesan cheese could have gone a long way. Service was slopping, got given a dirty look by one of the waiters and heard her mutter to the waitress next to her: "Wish that girl would stop waving her arm around, I'M COMING ALREADY!". Sheesh, you've got good food, let's not get too snobby about it :/ Hope it was just a bad service day and I will definately come back!

Stella

Nice brunch. This bakery cafe came recommended by friends. Queue didn't take long for a table for Sunday brunch but it's not very suitable for big groups. However the staff made an effort to seat the 5 of us together and the service was very good overall. Really enjoyed the zuccini fritters and lamb pie and the coffee was excellent.

Catherine

Nice multigrain bread. Will have to go back and try a hot dish.

GidgetShare

Old favourite. Babka's food is delicious. always. whether it cake, tart, pastry, sandwich, pie and so on, they simply get it right each time. Their coffees and teas are reliably good and the cafe is full of atmosphere. Their beautiful flower arrangements are also a highlight. The line is always long for a table (and even take away) so you need to go with a bit of patience...and the staff will test it out too, expect low quality service. Babka is a lovely lunch out with good and reasonably priced food; however it is independent of any service.

Funnygames

The Babka that got away. Babka once occupied a special place in my heart, and inbuilt bakery map, though i had never been. I had heard good things about, pies, croissants, tarts..but the few times I ventured in i am sorry to say I was met with a snarl. Who doesn't love a bit of cafe staff attitude, having been a perpetuator of which myself. But this was an extreme case. I wanted to crawl into my pastry and hide, was there something wrong with my shoes? Could they tell I didn't live on Gore Street?

Katrodd

Get new staff. I have been to Babka on a number of occassions and for the most part the food and drink have been nice enough, cakes exceptional and the service abominable. After my trip on Saturday I felt compelled to write this. I received no hello, no water, no smiles, no eye contact, no menu until I asked for it, my items being dropped infront of me and when I went to pay having to wait in front of three staff chatting three feet away for a number of minutes before having to interupt them. In my experience this otherwise lovely cafe is being bought down by staff who have no interest in the service industry and need to learn some manners.

JohnR

We buy the bread to take to freeze for the weeks ahead. Nothing satisfies like Babka multigrain. Casalinga loaves and multigrain bread we buy for life in the country a box or flour bag at a time. Veal, pork and sage sausage rolls are nicfe too

Walwal

Here the chicken pie is absolutely amazing. Not really sure how it missed out from the epicures pie competition. Maybe because it's chicken or maybe they just prefered the four an twenty. Reasonably priced for the take aways yet their stubborn refusal to never get in bonsoy put me off side.

Foodmeo

Makes you sick- literally. Went there on a sunday morning. where do i start: We ordered soy because we are lactose intolerant but they gave us full cream and then when we told them, the waiter became defensive and claimed it was not their fault?!? Then we ordered breakfasts that never came. and then when we had enough and told management about our horror morning, we were told 'as you can see we are quite busy' with the 'talk to the hand' gesture too. Don't waste your time, there are plenty of better bakery and jam elsewhere where you don' t have to suffer. And watch out here if you order soy, don't be surprised if you get sick.

Ilovebagels

Mouth waters.... Best lemon tart ever!!!! I have recently moved interstate but when I came for a visit back to Melbourne I had to come here for lemon tart.

A.Peach

If anything, consistant.. I would consider myself to be something of a regular; though the staff certainly wouldn't recognise me and the owner definitely wouldn't, I've been coming to Babka since the mid 90's. There are many things that keep me coming back: the warm buzz of the cafe area, the always comforting and well cooked food, the aloof wait-staff - there's a still little touch of the Brunswick Street of old here. Cramped, crowded and a little rough around the edges. At Babka, you always know what to expect, wonderfuly comforting baked goods and house specialties prepared to a consistently high standard, a comfortable and cozy atmosphere, and someone who'll take your order then plonk your food on the table. I've never been disapointed.

Em

Babka. Usually has fairly good coffee and cakes etc and has lovely big windows that face the road, however, line to order can be long and can be a bit cramped at times. Last time I went with a friend it was quiet and got a seat easily - we ordered two coffees and waited 20 mins to remind staff that we were waiting (meanwhile two staff members made a drink for themselves) was assured that they would make them straight away as order was lost...waited another 20 minutes at least (meanwhile staff chatted and drank their drinks) then had enough of waiting and left feeling like I don't want to go back. The ratio of 4+ staff to 7 customers should = coffee!

Ed

Call me stick-in-the-mud, but I believe good service is paramount. Never have I encountered a place where the customer is regarded with nearly as much contempt as Babka. To me, that negates however good the food may be. If this is the way they do it in Russia, it sure doesn't inspire confidence.

Local

Love the food here. The chicken & avocado sandwiches, the borscht, the lemon tart are all fantastic. Service can be a bit iffy at times, but you should be fine if you're patient and follow the rules (don't just sit down if you see a table - wait to be seated!) I like to think of it as a bit like 'the soup Nazi' from Seinfeld - there are rules to stick to, but it's well worth doing so!

Jane Birkin

Babka. Great buns

4chillies

Busy busy busy, so it must be good. It's a bakery with Russian options. We opted for a sausage roll and a salad - both of which were delicious. The sausage roll came with fresh bread and butter (mmmmmmmm), rocket and good sauce - it was definitely a high quality sausage roll. The salad was a decent size.

Ellen

Love it!!!. Not sure why everyone complains about the staff, they're always polite and efficient when I've been there? love the potato dumplings, they're amazing- and the rhubarb danishes!!! coffee is great too. only bother is the tiny little space on the weekends. I reckon the staff give GOOD service!

Enander

Acceptable food but service quality is low. Food was pretty good but the service was sub-par, don't think we would be returning.

What's For Tea

Stale service. The food here is SO good. I am an absolute sucker for the nicoise sandwich and the poached fruit. The service on the otherhand is SO bad which is a real shame. I've learned to ring ahead and order takeaway rather than let these surly girls ruin my lunch.

Easygoing

Lovely bread; awful service. I love the sandwiches here, but have finally given up going after several experiences with rude, unhelpful staff. Hint ladies: if you've got a "wait to be seated" policy, YOU'VE GOT TO ACTUALLY SEAT PEOPLE. A shame that something so simple lets down a great product. Owners, even if -- heck, especially if -- these girls are your daughters, you really need to get them to pull their fingers out.

Da Restaurant King'

PMT CREW. All the staff in this place are arrogant and stupid. A righteous regal air is present in all of these stupid girls. Which is cool, right? Yeah... If you can top up my water,clear the table, take my order quickly and efficiently and deliver what I ask for. Simple eh? Not seemingly for some. I really hate it because I love those bloody rare beef and horseradish sandwiches on multi grain bread. And, I have to go back and put up with stupid people while I wait for my sandwich to arrive. Yeah it's good - but the crew ain't.

N. Kramp

Mmmm pastry. After reading the other reviews, felft I should comment. My memories of Babka are wonderful. Yes it was busy, but the service was fine, food was great and the take home pastries were to die for.

Naify

Definitely worth waiting in a que if u have to.An experience your tastebuds must be exposed to. The cakes are probably the best in Melbourne-can't beat proper European quality

ChrisAL

Patchy. Had a very ordinary brekky here a few months back (if you can't do a basic eggs on toast properly what ARE you doing???), but then had a great lunch here last month...still, the lemon tart is worth the cycle from Northcote for.

Margo

Lovely food and service. I find the food and service at Babka consistently wonderful- the menemen and blintzes in particular! The staff are lovely, especially considering the sheer number of customers who walk through the door! If anything I would add more tables to the cafe. Excellent food, coffee, and excellent, personal service- Margo

Paul

Less than average. The bakery goods here might be worth queuing for but my last visit for breakfast was not so great. My bacon, eggs, and toast were dry, overcooked and seriously lacking in terms of serving size. Staff were civil but clearly disinterested in doing anything more than dumping the plates and running. Wouldn't breakfast here again when there are so many other options available in the immediate area.

Rc

Best pastries and breads food so so beautiful girly girls busy most of the times

Adrian

Leaves a sour taste.... I absolutely agree with daniel. Great food especially the breads and cakes but come on ladies, it is really that difficult to provide service with a smile & get a "thank you" from you when I get my change back?

Daniel May

Service :(, food great. Food is always terrific here, especially the bread. Service is consistently atrocious: on one occasion, we were served spreads and condiments with our dishes, and were told off when we assumed these were for our personal use and stuck cutlery in them. Staff has been generally rude when we've been.

Review Babka Cafe - Fitzroy