Review Reading Room Cafe - Footscray

The staff here are amazingly friendly. Their coffee is well made and I've never have to wait too long. There's inside seating for the colder days and in summer the doors fold back to allow easier access to the outside seating. A great little Cafe on campus it also has a range of quick (heat and serve style) lunch options, sandwiches, sausage rolls, pastries, banana bread etc.

lovely place to chill at as a vic uni student, the rolls are ridiculous as to how good they taste! i love getting my BLACK coffee because they make it just how i like it :)

Great little cafe in the middle of the VU campus. Has the best coffee on campus with great alt milk options (MilkLab Almond & Bonsoy soy). Helpful, friendly staff, prompt service. Great selection of preprepared meals & cakes, but only a few gluten free options. Also have fresh meals on the menu, I had eggs on toast (pictured) was delicious! Recommend

Excellent spot for a coffee, friendly staff who are happy to help with menu adjustments

My favourite spot in town! The staff is super friendly, helpful and will perfect your order after a couple of visits - I am so particular and yet my soy chai latte is made to perfection! Prices are as in every other cafe; it is part of the Uni so the opening hours depend on Vic Uni as well, but I've never had a slight issue here. Definitely come for coffee and a bite!

Love the uni budget friendly lunches under $10

I order two sweet chill chicken sandwiches toasted and paid. The worker took one and put it in the toaster, A lady behind me order a sweet chill chicken sandwiches too and paid. As I went to collect my order after 30 mins, the lady lies to my face and said there was only one left. When there was clearly two there and she was holding one to give to the lady who order behind me! WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE!

Coffee is good, staff are pretty cool, and there's plenty of seating. Prices however are beyond ridiculous for most the food. If you're on a Uni-student's budget (who of their customers aren't?) I'd recommend getting a good coffee there, but your lunch elsewhere.

Great coffee great prices especially for uni students <br/>Can get quite busy but it’s worth the wait <br/>Best place to eat on campus that’s for sure <br/><br/>Would only recommend the coffees as the other options aren’t fresh and are pre made ! <br/><br/>The prices aren’t reasonable especially as most of the customers are uni students :) <br/><br/>3/5 score

Been there a few times and there chai latte with soy milk it’s good. Price is reasonable. Can be busy at times but service by staff is friendly and nice. There banana bread is also good as well.

The first time we ever went to the Reading Room made us want to return and then the last time we went made us never want to go back. We used to love it, but management switched over and our revisit was just a bad experience. The customer service is terrible and there are inconsistencies between what the wait staff think they serve and what is on their menu. <br/><br/> We had the “Corn Fritters” with extra side of Fried Haloumi and the “Big Breakfast” with extra Smoked salmon. The waiter forgot to ask how we wanted the eggs on the Big Breakfast since the menu stated “eggs your way” but they never came back to ask us – we assumed they’d probably be two poached eggs. When the big breakfast was served they shortcut the eggs and gave us a single-egg portion of scrambled eggs – they should at least put two portions of eggs on if they weren’t going to bother asking what the customer actually wanted. <br/><br/>The two main dishes came out 10 minutes apart, and the extra-sides came out after everything else, sparking poor time management of the order and lack of attention to what was ordered. A dish’s extra-on-the-side shouldn't come out 10 minutes after it does and if it does, the waiter should inform the customer of the delay – there was none of that, leaving us to wonder if they just forgot. <br/><br/> Also we had to remind the waitress the Corn Fritters actually came with a side of Avocado, but she thought we wanted extra. She had to double check on the menu then take it to the kitchen. The corn fritters tasted just like a fried slab of batter, had no pleasant flavours, as all I could taste is the oil. <br/><br/>In general the service was poor and they probably didn't realise the native language they were using happened to also  be ours as they made unflattering remarks from the kitchen about the things we asked for.<br/><br/>To be honest, the food was disappointing, but not as disappointing as the service and what The Reading room has become. We’re never coming back.

Hidden Gem inside Victoria university footscray campus. You get bang of flavours for every bucks you spend. <br/><br/>Came here for weekend brunch and greeted with nice waiter in a cosy library like environment. Looking at the price menu, we didnot put high expectation, but was amazed. We highly recommend their French Toast. The corn fritters were nice as well but sadly bit soggy.

Disapointing!. Used to love this place and visit quite regularly. Food was generous/consistent and staff attentive and friendly.<br/>Unfortunately standards at this café appear to have plummeted since new management took over late last year.<br/>They basically broke all the basic rules of good hospitality during our visit this weekend. After taking our coffee orders when we walked in, they didn’t come back to our table to take our food order. Eventually my partner had to go up to the counter and order, despite there being 3 or 4 staff in the restaurant and we were the only ones there.<br/>They managed to royally screw up my partners’ order. He wanted poached eggs, avocado, toast and bacon and they forgot the eggs and toast, and oddly gave him pancakes instead (despite two attempts and getting it right). Then they charged $20 for a dish he didn’t ask for!<br/>I had a smoked salmon omelette, which was nice. But it came out with one piece of dry toast, so again the dish ended up pretty overpriced. It looked like something I could easily make at home. <br/>They also brought my dish out 10 minutes ahead of the other one, another failing of basic hospitality that annoyed me. <br/>Sad to say we won’t be going back here again, with plenty of solid breakfast options now in Footscray. I hope the new management takes note of the negative reviews. The place has heaps of potential, but the staff didn’t seem to care at all about providing good food or service. They were lazy and clearly not concentrating on what they were doing. We were actually really shocked that it had gone so downhill so fast.

Was one of my favourites until new management took over. <br/>They were very amateur. Don't understand the basic fundamentals of hospitality.<br/><br/>- Had to approach a staff member to be seated<br/>- Brought out luke warm coffee<br/>- Didn't take our order so I went up to the counter, it took almost 10 minutes for them to process it off the very basic menu. In the meant time people arrived, sat down, didn't get served then left.<br/>- brought out the wrong meals.<br/>- Overpriced for what we ate.<br/><br/>Definitely won't be going back.

...being away from the commercial strips of cafes, The Reading Room Cafe didn’t have the infamous Melbourne brunch crowds and we found that we could really eat at leisure. It

Variety is king at the Reading Room cafe. The constantly rotating seasonal menu means you can expect quince in the winter and crab croquettes in the spring. With an unfortunate location, buried deep within Victoria Univ

Reading Room Cafe is one of my favourite places for brunch in the West. It’s in an unlikely spot- hidden away in Building P of Victoria University but that’s what I love most about it! It’s almost like a hideaway, somewhere where you can take a book and escape the rush of popular weekend brunch spots like Yarraville and Seddon.

The coffee here came from Sensory Lab, and they occasionally get their beans from Auction Rooms as well. It was slightly sour, with a mild taste of berries and an exceptionally strong body (though surprisingly, it didn't have much of a linger). Definitely a good, savory coffee.<br/><br/>

...ordered a ham and cheese croissant. It was delicious, one of the best in memory I’ve ever had of this simple cafe dish. Largely due to the fact that the ham was completely warm. Usually the despite it being toasted, I am always served with a croissant where the ham is often cold. I was very impressed.

Back to the pizza - it comes laden with juicy tomato (which I like to think was picked that morning), field mushrooms, cheddar and parmesan cheese combo, not one but TWO eggs and shaved bacon. I gotta say, having the bacon so thinly sliced is genius for a dish like this, not too much salt factor.

<br/>I had the Fritter's Lane and it was divine. The fritters were beautiful - crispy and flavourful. The eggs were perfectly poached and all the flavours married together beautifully. I would return for these alone!

Coming back? Yes, definitely! Every thing was YUM and the ambience was great too. Plus the service was excellent, the lady always came and checking on us including offering us more dishes :p Reading Room Cafe (Victoria University) on Urbanspoon

Ok ... isn't university all about greasy cafes and slops at the Halls of Residence ... well kiss those salad days goodbye! Forego that bucket of chips and the instant noodles cooked in a billy kettle, VU has thrown its hand in the Hipster stakes with its resident cafe - The Reading Room - aptly named and situated just inside the Library's main doors.

This. Was. Woahwieskjdzngvx, Amazing. Better than Hutong. As soon as I placed a piece of fat in my mouth it melted across the tongue and was gone. Remoulade was very creamy and a refreshing break from decadent pork.

I'm glad to have discovered this local gem and will sure be back to visit again soon. Also, an interesting note to add is that the cafe also offers weekend high tea, reasonably priced at $25 for 2 people. Another reason for me to revisit! :) <br/><br/>

This place used to be amazing. Huge, delicious fresh portions, we arrived today to a new, more basic menu. Waited 50 mins for some eggs on toast that was so small it left us hungry.. Wait staff flirting around in a daze, unattentive to the few customers.. Never again!

What a lovely cafe. Been there for the first time while waiting for my nephew in the library and really felt love this little café. Nice food and friendly staff. Love it!

Agree with the previous comment. This place WAS really great now the food and atmosphere are really average.

I haven't been here for a while, but what a disappointment! Sad looking focaccias, uninteresting cakes and no cooked food at all. The little touches such as cutlery in a container at the tables are gone and the atmosphere has disappeared with it. Won't be back.

I feel so relaxed in this little coffee shop. Great coffee flavor and nice latte art, delicious food! Especially, I like the staffs here, they are so friendly. The new owner apparently has done a beautiful job!

Great coffee and yummy cakes...on a rainy day. Visited the cafe with a friend who is a local. We ordered coffee and some cakes. I must say the cakes were delicious, especially the vanillas and brownies...the place was clean and warm with catchy music playing in the background....perfect on a rainy day. Will definitely come back.

I love drink coffee and hving breakfast here. This cafe is nice and warm place to enjoy on weekend. Love it<br/><br/><br/>-----05 May, 2014-----<br/><br/>I came here on yesterday . Food was amazing." grilled salmon with peanut And sesame dressing with pomegrante salad " , omellete with beansprout, mushroom with fetta cheese beautiful. Great coffee , great customer service, highly recommend .

My second home!. I honestly don't understand the negative reviews below, being a regular at the reading room, I have never had a bad experience. Lately, I noticed a few changes to the cafe, the menu and furniture, it must be under new management. Old owners were great, I liked the old menu, but in all honesty I prefer the new one. I remember clearly that the old one had about 4-5 dishes, it is now changed to about 8-10 dishes, which is AWESOME as my husband and I like to invite our friends here for our weekly friends reunion. The coffee is excellent, as always, I like my latte strong, which they make no mistakes in making it as close to my taste as possible. Had lunch yesterday with my husband, finished our dishes and were served by friendly staff, so thank you for that! Will definitely come back, maybe on Mother's Day!

Great Coffee. Great coffee. Quality of food has been inconsistent, sometimes mind-blowing and sometimes sub-standard. Great menu though.

New owners... going downhill. The Reading Room Cafe used to be a hidden-away gem. Good food and coffee were the reason this place was buzzing each weekend. Unfortunately the owners who made this place so good have sold up and moved on. The new owners have new menus and unfortunately lack the attention to detail that fussy brunchers are looking for. There are so many good brunch cafes in and around Melbourne that you can't afford to dish up generic coffee and average food. Won't be going back. Sorry to see a good cafe go downhill.

Love it!. My go to coffee joint while on campus, Love it! Beautiful coffee, ambiance and staff!

Under new management.. Reading Room used to be my favourite Cafe, but after today I'm not sure of that any more. Been going there every since they opened and always enjoyed their menu. Today was completely different, the menu was reduced to about 4-5 dishes. When asking about the menu, we were told that they were under new management and the menu was changing. Why change the menu so drastically and make your regulars not want to come back again? The service was not as good as it used to be under old management as well, it just didn't feel as friendly as it used to be. It may be a while before I go back again.

Never Going Back !!!. Clearly place is under unexperienced new management. I have been customer of this place on and off from last all year. i can definitely point it out that this place has recently changed hands. i went there on this saturday morning Food and coffee were terrible. I can see that chef had no idea of food or may be one the staff member was cooking. i order fritters and my partner order fruit bread and fritters were flat pan fried and eggs were undercooked all dish looked like was just thrown in to the plate. we had fruit bread here before it is usually beautiful home made bread but instead of fruit bread we got some sort of sponge bread with raspberry in it. After yesterday's experiences i don't think so we are ever going back their again. Just a suggestion to new management that if possible bring your old chef back we think she was amazing.

Terrible. I'm not sure if this place is under new management but the coffee is terrible, and all the food is stale. This place used to be so good, it had wooden cutlery, great service and was packed everyday. But no chefs are on now and the food is ave at best, i have no problem with the place its just a real shame because it used to be amazing.

Always looking for something different, we went to the Reading Room to give it a try after reading the really positive reviews and fab menu posted on urban-spoon. After arriving and waiting a bit for staff to acknowledge us, we asked for the menu, only to be told that things had changed and the menu now only comprised of some ready to order sandwiches and items in the front counter. They looked hastily put together and unappealling so we left - disappointed. Our advice, if your menu changes so drastically, please ensure to update relevant websites so that customers know what they are getting.

One of the best in the west. Great food and great coffee!!! <br/>and the place is nice an cosy

Love its Unusual Location. This is a pretty cool find- I was curious to dine here given its very high rating but didn't know what to expect from an on-campus cafe. It's not the sort of place you would expect at a Uni but I somewhat enjoy the idea of its hidden location, it's almost like being in on a little secret. It's a great place to chill and makes me feel like a student again! <br/><br/>The food is fab, great presentation and nice fresh produce- the corn and coriander fritters are delicious, I highly recommend this dish. Was disappointed the spanner crab croquettes weren't on the menu, but will be back to try another time. I agree with other comments, the coffee isn't great and the 'coffee art' is lacking but the food and peaceful atmosphere more than makes up for this. Have to say the staff could be more attentive- it shouldn't take 15 minutes for someone to take our order. <br/><br/>All in all though, a great quiet spot to just chill and enjoy good food, will definitely be back!

Great food. High quality. Had the pork belly. Quantity was appalling for the price though

Where were you when I was studying :(). Finally a place on Campus that deserves attention. <br/><br/>Visiting your premises is a joy. Your ambiance is #hip, your staff are #cool, while your delicious delights are irresistibly #addictive. <br/><br/>When I need a latte or two, you are definitely the one to visit whenever I am close by. <br/><br/>Where were you when I studied? :()<br/><br/>Bon Appetit Melbourneeeeeee....

Interesting place. A bit out of the way.. Food is good but coffee is average. Decent price but lacks atmosphere.

LOVE THIS CAFE. I have been customer of this cafe from last 6 month. staff is really friendly and welcoming and always try to accommodate all the things best possible way.<br/>the breakfast option is really good and food is really yumm. it's the only place where i go in weekend as well as in weekdays to have my morning coffee.place it self has been tucked in university campus away from all noise and traffic.i will highly recommend this place to anyone.

Have been a regular customer for months since I've recently moved to the north west suburb, at least visit there twice a month on a regular basis. Great customer service, friendly staff, delicious food and marvellous coffee! My favourite is Farmer's Breaky and Candyman coffee. Don't be fooled by the bacon steak in the breaky, it is actually very lean meat, try it and you won't regret it!

I was blessed with a sunny day when I made the trip to footscray to check out this unusual cafe based on its reviews, were it not sunny I would have been dissapointed. While the staff were lovely, the coffee good and the food LOOKED lovely my eggs and fritters were cold and that is at the end of the day the biggest dissapontment a breakfast officianado can enounter. When the chef was asked about the cold eggs he dismissed it as something due to the cold weather. Odd?? The waitress was sweet and brought a coffee on the house. There needs to be a button that is better than "doesn't like" and not quite "likes it".

Love it. Been a couple of times, the only problem with this place is that I want to go all the time.<br/><br/>All of the meals (that we've tried) have been amazing, and the coffee is great.

If only this was here when I went to uni.... Back in the day when this little Madam was at uni, the cafeteria was awful. So so awful that I don't think you will ever understand. The only time I went to the cafeteria was to watch Yan Can Cook on the tv.... oh those were the days!<br/><br/>Anyhoos, it's all changed now, all for the better!<br/>I loved the Reading Room.<br/>Friendly and efficient service, a great little space made to feel like a small home library, cute little touches add to the fantastic vibe of the place.<br/><br/>The food totally lives up to the lofty expectations that has been lumbered onto it. We had a brunch there, with no booking mind you, and got lucky. It's a small space so if you don't want to wait or miss out, do plan ahead. It's worth it. I've been waiting for a place like this to start popping up in the west for oh so long and now my prayers have been answered.<br/><br/>Madam is a happy girl now.<br/><br/>Would I go back? HELLS YEAH!<br/>(The coffee's pretty good too I hear....)

It's an amazing little place.. I won't beat around the bush (or university campus as it were), this place is incredible. After reading about this place, I thought it was about time to pay it a visit. The place might not look that much but given it sits right in the middle of Vic Uni, you could say that it fits right in. <br/><br/>I ordered the new crispy chicken with peanut slaw and jalapeno aoli and it was wonderful. My better half went with the pork belly crackle. Both dishes were great. And to make a great lunch better, try the coffee. A definite highlight. <br/><br/>Can't wait to head back and try something else on the menu.

YUMMY BREAKFAST. Have been here twice, service great and friendly staff. We went once during week but they only have the full breakfast menu on weekends so went back on a Saturday to try the weekend menu and were not disappointed. The eggs were cooked to perfection (there really is an art in cooking decent eggs) and we had chorizo sausages with the poached eggs, the whole meal oozed quality! Nice touch was the lovely chutney served with the breakfast. Coffee is their thing as well with absolutely fantastic coffees.

More please. A little difficult to find if you don't know your way around Vic uni but well worth the effort. Brekkie here on a sunny Sunday is so very inviting. Love the cosy decor, friendly, smiling staff, and cute dish names. Fritters lane was delicious. Good poached eggs, avo a little too runny, fritters a nice change from bread. Look forward to going back soon.The bill in an old book was a quaint finish.

Friendly.. I eat here regularly. The staff are lovely and make you feel welcome, the coffee is good, and the meals are tasty. The cafe itself is pleasant, cheerful and clean, and there are numerous gluten free options. Price wise it's on par with your average good cafe, but the food is above the usual standard.

Mini Roll. The lil 'mini roll sold at Reading Room for $3.50 is the best thing to happen to VU since the affiliation with the Western Bulldogs (love havin' a perv on the fellas doing laps). The delectable lil roll comes jam packed with roasted vegies, with some aoli and feta to get your taste buds JOYING. It's so good, a couple of me mates have created a 'mini roll club'. The only problem, you have to get in quick or else you miss out! If you can get your hot lil hands on one of these bad boys, kick back and taunt all the sporty lads in the factory trackies and you will never look back.

Great little place for us westies. Had the fritter's lane which was good though kept eyeing the pork belly sandwich with yummy chilli jam and also the BFG for its size. Will definitely be back

Footscrays growing up!. Who knew Footscray had a serious brekkie on offer?!? Staff are very friendly and attentive - the kitchen is small but a powerhouse. Coffee is great and somewhat unexpected for a cafe within a university! Will definitely return - coffee is 5/5!!

Tried the place out las Sunday. Coffee was okay, my BFG was exactly what I wanted for my sweet tooth on Sunday morning. Hubby's pasta salad( can't remember the fancy name now) was yummy too, good brunch choice for blocks with decent portion. Friend tried the lamb wrap special looks yummy too. My new fav place!

This is restaurant quality food for the price of cafe food, the corn fitter breakfast is faultless and if your have room you must try the banana bread with ricotta amazing! This is my new favourite place for breakfast! Keep up the good work guys!

Omg. Really don't want to let this amazing secret out, however a few words come to fantastic, polished, yum. Give it a go. You will not be disappointed. Cheers Carson

Most awesome thing in Footscray. For non-students, entering the campus can seem intimidating. However it's completely worth it to visit this lovely little cafe. The food is amazing and generous, the coffee is wonderful and the service is pretty ridiculously great. Think I just met some of the nicest people working in Footscray today.

Full of surprises, worth a visit on the weekend. I heard about this cafe recently in the twitter-fied space of food bloggers review. I decided to drop in over the weekend and was pleasantly surprised. Friendly staff, a menu full of favourites with their twist on it and some amazing dishes that are jaw-dropping, I now know why the food bloggers were raving about it. They offer all-day breakfast, great coffee from both Sensory Lab and Small Batch roasters and for sweet tooths, High Tea. Located inside Victoria University Footscray Park - yes I know,...why here...!?! - we found it actually quite easy to locate and parking is free on the weekends...and there are no queues (at the moment) but probably not for long, when the word starts getting around. There's an open forecourt at front, great for young kids and bubs to play in too. Highly recommended for a visit.

Surprised! In a good way. I imagined my uni days in the student caf but at closer look, this place is nothing like it. I never got pork belly with my hot chips in my day! It's a brilliant modern concept cafe, with an upmarket alternative st jeromes cool about it, food is well thought out and flavoursome, the pork belly itself was ok, but the refinement and execution will come with time. The chilli jam tasted like grandmas secret recipe - excellent, I want the recipe! Overall its an adventure and experience well worth taking a look, if u can find it ;)

Best coffee this side of town!

The coffees were pretty standard and we were unimpressed and mildly annoyed by the somewhat dismissive and condescending staff member's attitude.

The flavours and textures of the fritters were further balanced out by the buttery avocado and tomato salsa. The eggs were perfectly poached (check out that ooze from the yolk) and flavoured from the sweet and spiced chutney.

To cap it off, the food was generous and it was tasty. Coffee was really good too. And how many times have you come across a place that serves both good food and coffee these days? Plus, I feel like I've only just scratched the surface because there's SO much more food I want to try from their menu and those on display. Had my eyes set on some delectable goodies on my way out. Anyway, I'm definitely coming back to Reading Room Cafe very soon and I do hope that they continue their weekend menu even after the Charity event is over (which I'm sure they will, given the amazing response).

Janelle and I were pleasantly surprised when we saw a plate of Coco Bananas on our table when we arrived. Besides it looking visually appealing, the banana bread was to die for.

I'm glad everyone of whom I've brought with me to The Reading Room Cafe have really enjoyed it. I can see us returning again and again - you never know, it might become our Footscray hot spot.

If I had a cafe like this on campus during my student days, I would have been there at least once a week for the coffee and the omelette if nothing else. As it stands though, Footscray is too out of the way for me travel there frequently. If you're in the area though, they're well worth a visit with their great coffee, good food, efficient service, and reliable opening hours.

Catering to Melbourne’s crazy need for a good coffee fix, The Reading Room features a Synesso machine (these days, who doesn’t?) and uses a selection of beans from Small Batch, Auction Rooms and Sensory Lab.

there’s a vibrant, youthful vigour about the waitstaff here that reminds me of those carefree days as a student.

You can see why I really like this place. Every time is a good time. They’re so solid I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed.<br/>

Meanwhile, Aaron chose the Eggs Hemingway, essentially eggs served any way (naw, cute!). The default option was to have it served on buttered toast with tomato relish but for an extra cost, you have to option to customise. I was secretly hoping that Aaron would request some slices of Tasmanian oak-smoked salmon so I could be all ‘Haha! Old Man and the Sea!’ but to my disappointment, he chose to add a side of dry-cured bacon ($13, including the eggs). Aaron loved his breakfast – he especially noted the extra generous serving of bacon, something that he rarely sees at other cafes.

Cakes were really fabulous - the scones were proper scones. One of the things I find most exciting is that the Reading Room is open until 6pm on a Saturday or Sunday. After 3pm it can get hard to find a cafe that will be open for much longer or where the kitchen's not closed. I look forward to dropping by in the late arvo for a coffee or a spot of high tea, which involves a three-tiered stand with sweets and savouries, like chicken and tarragon sandwiches. Ooh la la.

The Reading Room Cafe is a great little place with student friendly serving sizes. If you just eat breakfast here you are unlikely to feel hungry for the rest of the day. The drawback is the cafe's location in the middle of the university buildings which is pretty desolate on the weekends. Hopefully the charity pop up will bring a few more people into the area.