Review The Counter - Hawthorn

The breakfast was incredibly tasty, one of the best I have ever had. The take away treats were not so great with exception of the Anzac caramel slice, I was guttered I had to share!

An absolutely wonderful place. Stopped one day for a coffee .. amazing service. Food was wonderful. Coffee was great.. have continued to pop in . Georgia now treats me like an old customer .. knows my order and has it ready as she sees me crossing the street ! Love it ..

Such a ripper cafe!! The coffee was honestly the best I've ever had, the staff were fabulous and the atmosphere was perfect. I loved the seating layout (they were very good about COVID) and it was such a pleasant experience for me! Will definitely be returning, loved it heaps!

Such a fantastic place to go!!! Great coffee, great food and great service 🥰 They've got a best coffee ever and penny makes the coffee so perfectly i just can't spend my day without going there and get a coffee and lunch. Great job to all of you ❤❤

The staff and owner are super friendly, always on the ball when it comes to take aways on my lunch breaks. Coffee is the best everytime and even better they remember my coffee order. Food is also amazing

Best Coffee 🥰🥰 And the homemade cakes are devine!! ♥️ Georgia is delightful, generous and attentive - she makes all her customers feel welcome 😊 and Penny makes my heart smile every morning with her coffee magic! ☕️ Thankyou ladies xx

Georgia and her wonderful team go out of their way to make you feel welcomed & valued. The Counter’s vibe is always friendly and positive (a much needed distraction in this COVID world!). Penny’s coffee is always spot-on and the freshly-baked muffins are the highlight of our day! Thanks guys for making us feel like ‘family’!

A bit misleading as they don't have any menu for air in food. They are good for picking up a work lunch or a frozen meal for dinner. The food is delicious so it's definitely worth it if you don't feel like cooking tonight. Really big drawback is the sheer amount of food packaging waste they have. Everything comes in plastic or cardboard, even if you choose to eat it on site. They don't even have cups so you end up with yet another take away coffee cup.

After many happy coffees and breakfasts at the Counter over the past couple of years, I won't be back. Thank you for the explanation given to another reviewer but it's no longer the place I want to be.

It use to be an old favourite! Not anymore. Terrible service from the girl making the coffee last Thursday... and the coffee was terrible...

Thank you so much to The Counter for providing such a Fantastic Cake for our Sons 21st Birthday. It was simply to die for - It was moist and utterly delicious and they went out of their way to deliver it across the road to the Auburn Hotel for our Special Function. Really nice to see see local businesses working together to make it happen. Couldn't have been happier - Many Thanks !!

Best coffee in Auburn Village and possibly the best sausage rolls in Australia! This place is a must visit for good food and friendly service. I like the plywood shelving unit on the wall too.

Always very friendly and the cakes and slices are to die for ❤️

Very disappointed with the new set up - ate in and was served in a paper bag/box, had to use single use disposable cutlery and a take away coffee cup for water!! Despite asking for a glass. The gorgeous courtyard was ruined by needless boxes, used cups and cutlery covering the tables and over flowing from the bins. Very sad for the business and especially the environment!! Used to love this place but I won’t be back, nor recommending it to others. �

An offering of decadent treats made with love and care.....this crew really know how to not only bake; but make you feel part of the Counter Family...Michelle and Justine along with their wonderful team are the best neighbors I could ask for!! Aside from the fact the food is sublime!!

Love the veggie pastries & love the succulents at the back room also nice people with big smile... ���

Super kind staff, and super delicious coffee.

The only thing better than the coffee here are the super sweet people who work here. This is my Melbourne home coffee joint.

Great food and coffee with friendly staff.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this cafe. Justine and her lovely sisters come up with the goods every time- amazing, homemade quality everyday and with a ready smile that is genuine . Nice coffee, top food, great location just near home.

If a cosy, neighbourhood cafe had a definition, it would be The Counter in Hawthorn. Directly across the road from Auburn Station, The Counter is a lovely quick stop for a light bit of breakfast and coffee, or a delicious brekkie catch up in their outdoor courtyard in the back with plenty of greenery dotted around you. The owner, Georgia, is passionate about her cafe and so welcoming, wishing for nothing but to share her small piece of suburban Melbourne brunch with customers – and that is no wonder The Counter brings is teeming with locals.

Upon entering we were greeted with the warmest welcome from management! We started off with coffee while waiting for our food. Menu is easy and straightforward with basic brunch dishes (yes! Very easy for me to decide). We love the potato bacon hash it is simple but pack of flavours! Also the triple pancake stack is our favorite as it's not too sweet and it has a good mix of berries. Smoothie bowl is a little bit on the sour side but really refreshing and they don't go cheap on berries topping!! Not to mention the owner was very sweet and let us try their daily fresh baked muffin (yummm so good I had to takeaway the leftover). We will definitely come back to try their signature baked eggs.

I have always loved the pretty shopping strip along Auburn Road, so I was thrilled to hear that The Counter cafe has reopened with new owners. With high expectations, I couldn't wait to see what the new team would come up with in this great location. I was greeted by lovely staff,and chose a great window side table. It's a small space, but there are several bistro style tables, and the feeling overall is cosy and comfortable. An outside courtyard is another drawcard, particularly when the weather is fine. A generous display of home baked treats is tempting, but I'm here to sample the new menu, so those delicious cakes will have to wait for another day.<br/><br/>Enjoying fantadtic coffee, we perused the menu, and settled on our dishes. Everything sounds fantastic, and we were thrilled with our choices. Each dish was generous in size, full of flavour, and plated in a way that appealed to the eyes.<br/><br/>Starting with corn fritters, we chose the Mexican version; but there are several variations to appeal to different appetites. The fritters were golden and tasty, topped with homemade salsa and guacamole, and a dish of beetroot relish added a touch of sweetness. These fritters were outstanding, with the flavour of corn definitely coming through.<br/><br/>We also had an amazing bacon and potato hash that was topped with poached eggs and Hollondaise. You don't often see hash on cafe menus, so I jump at the chance to try this comfort food at every opportunity. The Counter's version was full of flavour, with generous pieces of crispy potato and bacon, and a rich, creamy sauce. Served with toast on the side,we absolutely loved this dish.<br/><br/>Finishing up with the most epic stack of pancakes, we literally had to be rolled out the door. These amazing pancakes were fluffy and light, and the berry compote that came with them was bursting with sweetness and freshness. A crunchy crumble surrounded the stack, and icecream was served on the side, which is always a bonus, as it stops it from melting as fast. These decadent delights were some of the best pancakes that I've had this year, and trust me, I've had a lot! The perfect balance of sweetness and sharpness of the berries, and the added crunch of the crumble adds that necessary textural contrast.<br/><br/>The Counter is sure to please locals intrigued by the takeover of this long standing venue. I believe that the changes made by the new owners will attract a loyal customer base, as the service is outstanding, the staff are so friendly and the food is divine. This venue has always had the opportunity to shine, as it's positioned in a great location; and now with these adjustments, should become the new favourite cafe in the area.

We visited The Counter and were instantly greeted and felt very welcomed by management.<br/><br/>We sat in the outdoor courtyard which had a great vibe and is perfect for any weather condition.<br/><br/>We ordered:<br/><br/>1. Salmon corn fritters - feta, beetroot relish, dill-caper salsa<br/>2. Breakfast stack - with avocado, spinach, bacon, grilled tomato, halloumi and a poached egg on sourdough with balsamic glaze<br/>3. Triple pancake stack with spiced raspberry compote, vanilla mascarpone, hazelnut crumble, maple syrup and icecream <br/><br/>All dishes felt very homely and well balanced. Pancakes were great to share, not too sweet and had a great amount of fruit.<br/><br/>Overall, a really good brunch experience with a menu to cater for everyone. We can’t wait to return! 👏🏼

We were invited to The Counter a Hawthorn cafe recently under new ownership and management. I began with an iced chai which is always a favourite of mine on a warm day but sadly isn’t often on cafe menus. I then decided to try something a bit different from my brunch default and opt for a Mexican corn fritters dish. <br/><br/>This was uber filling, extremely vibrant on the plate and best of all packed full of flavour. I really enjoyed all of the delicious elements to this which combined beautifully. For dessert we also ordered the pancakes which were visually stunning and just as yummy. So much care was taken in the presentation of this dish and I loved it all from the coconut flakes to the freeze dried raspberries and all of gorgeous fresh fruit. Thoroughly recommend trying this one! Great variety of sweet treats in the front cabinet as well (I couldn’t resist a sample from the countertop!).

Fantastic place, great atmosphere with great service and friendly staff who always go above and beyond.👌definitely visiting again!

Best coffee I have had for a while! Great location, warm & friendly. The staff are fantastic, very personable and efficient service. The food selection cover everything......the cakes are to die for!

Coffee was incredible and staff were extremely friendly. Will definitely be back again.

Bill and his family run this beautiful cafe and it is just fantastic. the food is really great quality, good options to choose from and the service is excellent. It's our go to cafe for brunch now. OH and the coffee is AMAZE!!!

It was my first time here and definitely won’t be my last! Amazing coffee, fantastic warm hospitality, delicious vast menu and mouthwatering sweets... everything you could ask from a cafe, this place has it in spades! Judging by the many happy customers lining up at the door the new owners have obviously revived this place! Even if this isn’t your local it’s worth the drive! Highly recommend it!!!

Best coffee and delicious corn fritters, fresh tasting and super crunchy corn (fresh of course!) cannot wait to work my way through this menu, even though I was very happy with my choice every other plate that was served at other tables caused food envy! And the delicate baklava offering at the end with my second cup of coffee perfectly capped off this delicious brunch!

Taken over by new management this cute cafe is a hidden gem in Hawthorn. The cute courtyard was a bit of a squeeze especially when it was also dog friendly. We had the breakfast stack, baked eggs and smoothie bowl. Everything was delicious and beautifully plated. Would be great to see a few more dessert type dishes on the menu. <br/><br/>Great service and great food!

Wonderful new local cafe! The Counter has the BEST coffee, amazing food & incredible hospitality. Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great coffee and food. Breakfast was excellent. Staff very friendly and prompt. Changes to the cafe by new owners has made a massive difference. Definite new hangout for me.

With the new management, we decided to come back and see the difference from our previous visit and we were astounded with the difference. The friendly staff and especially the genuine smiles and greeting from the new owners Bill and Georgia, they greeted us like we were family. The barista makes an excellent latte. I ordered the breakfast stack and the chef had a prepared our meals with an even balance of flavours. The balsamic glaze was not overpowering and the halloumi cheese grilled to perfection. With our faith in The Counter restored, we will definitely return. Well done and keep up the great work.

The Counter cafe is a gem of a find in Hawthorn.  Despite it being small in size, this is a fantastic spot to enjoy coffee, brunch, chai lattes etc or devour some of the most delicious selection of cakes, muffins, pastries, foccaccias and desserts in Hawthorn - all freshly baked at the café.

This tiny place, on a corner of Auburn Road, is a real standout. I completely love their food and especially their baked sweets and desserts. They also do, proper meals, except; the place is tiny, so I would just be getting their take away options.

3.5 The Counter is a truly down to earth, no frills cafe that offers affordable yet more than generous serving sizes that are bound to satisfy. Emphasising on fresh, quality produce made specifically to your liking and dietary requirements, this versatile little cafe is bound to be a locals favourite for sure.

The new setup is quite dissapointing. This was one of our favourite places to visit and was always packed. Much different now as I am the only one sitting here writing this review. The staff used to be super friendly and always had smiles on their faces. Now the only staff are at the front taking your order - and doing so with nothing that resembles a grin.<br/><br/>I guess management has decided to step away from being a friendly neighbourhood cafe that I loved. I really don't get the whole recyclable Eco friendly concept though. If you get a table and have your food/coffee there, it comes in take away cups and containers with plastic cutlery! Just seems very hypocritical to me. Even a food court serves coffee in a proper cup!<br/><br/>All the best to them and their new model. I don't think I'll be coming back though

First off, the banana bread is superb when toasted properly. However this place falls down in so many easily fixable ways that I hope to one day come back and see some changes. A few examples; there is no table service, everything (and I mean everything) comes in takeaway packaging, you cannot simply get a knife to butter your toast, you get a knife, fork and spoon which is just a horrible waste of resources, even if the packaging claims to be compostable. Last time I came in I purchased a lasagne expecting it to be freshly made and able to be reheated that night. What I got was a frozen product that had to defrost for two days in the fridge which kind of defeats the premise of convenience. Disappointing.

The last time I was at The Counter the experience was overall fabulous. However, this is a changed business!! It has turned into more of a breakfast take away place. The consensus of the group I was there with, was that the food was revolting.  The food sits on the counter and is given to you reheated in a takeaway box even if you are dining in.  I’ve had aeroplane food that tastes better. If you are after a good food and a nice dining experience, I would recommend going somewhere else!   Back in its hey day this place was packed, now at the peak time of 12pm the place was basically empty, a reflection of what is being served.

Their sweet baked goods here are amazing! From their biscuits to slices and cakes, all delicious! I bought a sweet loaf to serve to friends visiting at home and everyone loved it! So great to see some classic Kiwi sweet treats there like ginger crunch and lolly cake! Coffee is nice too. I've only had savoury food there once and had to ask them to warm up the sausage roll more as it arrived cold in the middle - they were very apologetic about it but when it came back again, it was only just luke warm. I think i'll stick to their yummy sweets for now!

So yesterday I went in to grab two quick takeaway coffees so I can carry on with what was such an amazing spring day. I walked up to the counter to be greeted who must of been the grinch of spring. No smile, no hello, nothing. I was shocked.<br/>The guy behind the counter was so rude, it honestly felt like he didn’t want to be there. Ruined my vibe about the place also put me in a rotten mood after that encounter. <br/><br/>Won’t be coming back.<br/><br/>Edit: coffee wasn’t bad

This place has their priorities sorted: the food is impecable and delicious; the service, professional yet not snobby; the surroundings are aesthetic and tasteful and clean. Unlike so many other cafés which seem to make their priority the "ambience" or being cliquey or appealing to hipsters, these guys know what is important.

Such a lovely little place. With the option of courtyard seating is quite cosy. The cafe is warm and welcoming with beautiful staff. Lovely menu with a few lovely dishes. I wanted a hearty dish and the baked eggs were just that. With a good hit of spice and flavour the dish worked well. Accompanied by a great coffee and an options of amazing baked goods you just can't go wrong

Wow. I’ll be coming back here again. <br/><br/>Food was amazing. Poached eggs cooked perfectly. <br/><br/>My daughter had a mixed berry smoothie. Only issue was that it was so thick it was difficult to suck through the straw. But so worth it. <br/><br/>Highly recommended.

> Crispy zucchini & corn fritters, smashed avocado, sweetcorn puree<br/>two poached free range eggs AND Tart slice with tomato, zucchini, spinach, and capsicum <<br/><br/>After always coming in for coffee, we decided sit down and try some of their delicious looking food! Fritters are my favourite dish to order when I’m out so I had to get them! These were so delicious and had a powerful corn flavour to them, which I loved! The tart slice was also quite delicious and extremely filling! The combination of vegetables were so good and a great healthy alternative! Check our Instagram for more reviews on these! The staff here are incredibly friendly and really helpful in deciding what dish to get! We sat in the court yard and it is so beautifully set up with all the succulents and plants surrounding. We really enjoyed our experience here and would definitely go back!<br/>The breakfastpiggy team<br/>Piggies out, Oink oink 🐷

Something sadly amiss here. Was once a great personable service cafe sadly not anymore. The short Sri Lankan looking till lady is the rudest I hv seen yet. The way she spoke to 2 elderly lady's having trouble w there efrpos card shocked me. Honey you are in hospitality no need for your sarcasm or eye rolling. Technology challenges most

Enjoyed my Smoked Chicken Mayo and brie focaccia. Many delish options to choose from. Smallish but cosy cafe with outside tables available. Only issue was that a large coffee is not served in a proper mug but a takeaway cup (see photo) Need to change this.

Busy but cosy cafe close to home. Serve a variety of fresh sweet and savoury goods, piled over the counter, making you want everything all at once! Coffee is enjoyable, but not exceptional. Food was fresh but on the pricey side!

Hot cakes and baked eggs were both pretty good. Liked the place, small and cute - not too much hustle bustle. Would like to come back and sit in the outdoor courtyard next to heater.

Another great cafe in Hawthorn, this cosy little cafe is a great spot for a quick weekend breakfast. Their outside deck area is great and you don't actually feel like you're sitting outside. <br/><br/>Their coffee is pretty good and was quite hot when they arrived at the table, which is always a big tick in my books. <br/><br/>The house-made banana and raspberry bread was pretty tasty and was nice and fluffy, yet quite filling. <br/><br/>The Melbourne Pantry bacon steak was also quite tasty, but a bit expensive for my liking as I had to order a side of toast. Without the toast, the dish is quite small and wouldn't be very filling. The bacon steak was quite nice, but a little bit oily. But the hash browns were fantastic, as they were crunchy on the outside, yet soft and fluffy on the inside. <br/><br/>To read a full review, checkout cardsandcafes.com

We came here on a busy Monday for lunch, and sat outside in the courtyard, which was lovely as it was a sunny day. Ordered a chocolate milkshake, and at $7 I had high expectations, but it wasn't great. No different to anywhere else and cheap tasting chocolate topping. I had the Jerk chicken burger, which I really enjoyed. It came with sweet potato fries, which were not good. Very soggy and raw in the middle :( My partner had eggs, bacon and baked beans which he enjoyed. The Counter has a lovely atmosphere outside, but overall it just felt really tired and the staff seemed uninterested. Won't rush back.

Pretty disappointed with this little cafe. We ordered 2 regular lattes and both were very very weak. We also had the gourmet sausage rolls which were just as bland as the coffee. The chutney that accompanied it also had no flavour, just tasted like watery tomato sauce. Really nice decor and feel but won't be returning as the coffee and food just don't cut it.

I just purchased one of their sausage rolls, and it was pretty awful. I had to keep spitting out the gristly bits, and the flavour was not good - so I'm throwing more than half of it in the bin. The tomato sauce that came with it was not nice either. I hope their other food is better!

This place is no. 3 in the Auburn Village line-up, behind Hello Sailor (starting post-fire refurb Jan 17) and Blood Orange Foodstore. The food it good. The coffee is good. The service is good, as long as you can avoid the one(s) who are rude and condescending, oozing Prue and Trude style.

Delicious food. Got a soy hot chocolate and an omelette with cherry tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella. Everything tasted high quality and yummy ingredients. Great service and nice atmosphere. Menu doesn't have that many options but I believe they specialise in catering: they had lots of precooked goodies everywhere that looked delicious I really wanted to buy one of everything!

What a great cafe. On the recommendation of a local I dropped into this cafe on a cold Melbourne day to be warmly greeted by the friendly staff. You will see the counter stacked high with cakes, pastries and salads all made here too.<br/><br/>There is enough space inside for a couple of small groups though we chose to sit in the back courtyard which is under cover and slightly heated. We were all given nice blankets for our laps too - always a nice touch.<br/><br/>There is a full brunch menu with some great options if none of the freshly baked pastries are what you feel like eating. We went for the poached eggs with salad (looked great), the southern style chicken burger with fries (great burger) and a sweet orange and ricotta hot cakes with lemon curd butter, maple syrup and sweet dukkah. This was tasty and not overly sweet which is excellent.<br/><br/>Coffee was strong and tasty, I think it was Supreme. We would definitely go back and I can see why it's such a local favourite.

Great little coffee shop. The coffee was really good and so was the food. Very friendly staff. I had the baked eggs with chorizo and it was very filling and delicious. My niece had the chicken burger and she loved it. Will be back again. Perfect location near the railway and easy to park well at least it was during the week.

Charged me an extra 30 cents for a card purchase under $10 with absolutely no verbal warning. She only mentioned it after I questioned the price. By then, the transaction was done. I'd recommend avoiding based on this poor communication and the small crowded space.

Great little cafe. Coffee is good. Food is very good. Good selection of fresh home made cakes, muffins and other pastries. The sausage rolls looked really good.....<br/>will have to try next time 😉

The counter was my favorite cafe/brunch place around my house. This little cafe can always surprise you with its display counter full of freshly made salad, quick bites and all sorts of pastries and cakes. There are also some home-made, well-packaged goodies to buy as gifts. As weather is getting better, you can sit at the backyard and enjoy the outdoor vibe. <br/>The coffee is always good there, especially soy milk based. Sometimes, take-away might take a while during busy time. <br/>#small savory tart-flavors may very everyday. Both the salmon and prosciutto ones are good! Flaky pastry shell with cheesy and extremely creamy filling~really yummy snacks.<br/>#shakshouka Moroccan baked egg-served on a hot plate with herbs, goat cheese, extra chorizo sausage and pieces of bread. The egg in the middle was cooked perfectly with running egg yolk. The sauce of tomato and capsicum was a little too sour for me...but other than that, everything was good. <br/>#deluxe egg Benedict-daily special, using toasted brochure bread and made it really crispy and soft. Poached eggs were cooked perfectly and prosciutto slices were really crispy with strong cured meat flavor, such a heart warming dish~<br/>If I want to grab a cup of coffee, I will go to the Counter. If I want to grab a snack or even simply lunch, I will go to the Counter. It will always be my first choice. Hope you all like it too.

Delicious dine-in brunch or lunch or take home options make this place a bit of a local gem. The coffee is good, the passionfruit and coconut slice is oversized and perfectly luscious, the gourmet sausage roll filled with meat, almonds and currants and served with a side of relish is moreish. So many delicious cakes and savoury items to tempt or take home. Worthy local cafe in the auburn village neighborhood. The right blend of homemade and professional.

Small cafe situated in the Auburn Precinct close to Auburn station. Sun drenched seats both inside and outside.<br/><br/>Wide array of baked goods displayed in the window is eye catching. Big selection of cakes, slices, muffins, pastries and filled baguettes are available, as well as a full breakfast menu.<br/><br/>I had the daily special omelette and it was nice. So was the coffee.<br/><br/>Friendly service and cute cafe. We will be back.

I was stopping by there for a take-away flatwhite and some food. surprised how busy it was at 8.30am Sunday morning. 4 waitresses at the counter and I guess about 4 chefs in the kitchen. Small but hearty inside sittings, nicer outdoor sitting area. Coffee was gentle and on the side of my preferences. My kid enjoyed the soft plain croissant. Will call my besties for a calm catch-up next week. Can't wait for...

We got there early and the inside tables were all already taken so we sat out the back. They have heaters out in the courtyard so you forget quite quickly that you're outside. The actual place is very cramped: outside you're surrounded by spiky succulents, inside is jammed full of tables, so you're constantly doing the crab shuffle to get through.<br/><br/>We ordered the ricotta hotcakes and shakshouka eggs. Neither of these were spectacular. The fennel and spices on the eggs gave it some appeal but were a bit too underdone for my liking - I struggle with the look of translucent egg whites in a cooked dish. The hotcakes weren't overly stunning either. Nice enough, but I wouldn't order them again. There was a lot of sweetness on the plate with not enough to counteract it. I also ordered a banana, date and almond smoothie and this was really good. I saw several orders of the muesli come out & it probably looked like a good choice.<br/><br/>While breakfast as a whole wasn't anything special this time around, all the goodies in the window seemed much more appealing and is probably what actually draws people in. I'm assuming this is where their great zomato rating comes from. All of it looked delicious and decedent and I wish I hadn't filled up on their breakfast menu. Coffee was nice, so I'm sure I'll be back here to try a slice or biscuit.

We came here based on the reviews from zomato and we certainly not disappointed. This cafe look tiny from the front but it connected to the backyard with we felt like sitting inside a garden, individual rugs are even provided. <br/>When we walked in through the door, we were greeted by the staffs. I really like the bakery display at the front of the cafe and there offer great variety of bakery which smell divine. <br/>We asked one of the staff to give us some recommendation from the menu and he was very kindly going through the menu and letting us know which were the popular dishes at this place. <br/>We ordered Moroccan baked eggs and the chili folded eggs with grilled roti. Both of them taste absolutely delish especially the grilled roti. Our mocha taste good too. <br/>Overall, we absolutely love everything about this cafe. Good food, great setting, 'super' friendly staffs and would highly recommending this cafe to anyone. I could not resist to get the sticky date pudding as a takeaway and it taste amazing especially the sauce the came with it.

I used to love the back open space at The Counter. Great coffee. Service used to be good. Once had a good range of other food, especially takeaway stuff. They've expanded to Cremorne St Bakery, but I fear, at the expense of The Counter. Not quite the same.

Best place around, The Counter makes great eggs and fresh food, they provide friendly and accommodating service and it is a great place to relax and unwind with the family.  Check out the cakes, all fresh and made there, look and taste fantastic.  The people who work there are always happy and smiling, it says a lot about the vibe.  Check it out when you are around Hawthorn, definitely worth it.  Got one of their double chocolate cakes and some coconut slice for my friends at work, check out the photo, I was very popular.

Thanks to the recent high ratings and good reviews, my friend and I visited this place for breakfast. Parking wasn't particularly easy despite many nearby parking spots. The place had a great feel with lots of delicious muffins and cakes at the counter. We orders some eggs on toast and we were very impressed with both the quality and quantity. Coffee was good, service was friendly and efficient. The rear eating area was full so we had to sit in the front which was crowded and busy. If possible, definitely try and get a seat in the outdoor area. Two thumbs up!

The Counter is a cosy cafe/bakery in Hawthorn, just opposite Auburn Station on the Belgrave/Lilydale/Alamein lines. The front window is lined with an assortment of baked goods, and there's also an extensive menu of breakfast and lunch dishes, as well as specials of the day. Upon entering the cafe, it doesn't look very big, as the counter and display takes up about half of the space. However, there's also an outdoor area that expands into quite an open, spacious sitting space, which is great for the warmer weather. The decor in the outdoor/garden area is quite simple, but with lots of plants and wooden benches that makes you feel like you're in your own backyard. Upbeat music plays in the background, and the general atmosphere of the place is lively. We chose to sit outside, and I was quite surprised at the attentiveness of the staff; there was almost always someone in the back area, so we didn't have to wait for ages to get their attention, just because we weren't in the main cafe area.

Gosh oh gee wizz I had fun. I search Melbourne for the best chilli eggs and I found heaven in the chilli eggs here. I'm ashamed to admit that I then made room for the Anzac caramel slice. Proof that God exists lol. 🐽 not looking forward to my gym visit.

Do: the pulled pork Sanga and steak sandwich, they definitely hit the spot. All the other items were yummy as well, particularly the muffins at the counter. <br/><br/>Don't: forget to order a coffee when you get there. Helps with waiting in line. <br/><br/>Tip: although small and cramped, the food is delicious and filling.

Had an omlette special here thursday. It was simple but delicious and they use gf precinct bread which is my fav. All the baked goods looked so fresh and delish. A few people i know rate this place. Service was friendly too.

Best French toast I've ever had!! <br/><br/>The staff were lovely here, great coffee and great food - I had the French toast, and my friend had the steak sandwich. <br/><br/>I also loved how attentive the staff were - they regularly refilled our glasses with water and checked in without pressuring us to order or leave once we'd finished. <br/><br/>Will definitely be returning!

This place has a cute setting with lots of outdoor areas with rugs. The food was good, but the drinks were a let down. When I read "double chocolate milkshake" on the menu, I envisaged a dark, rich milkshake that would satisfy my chocolate cravings. Instead I received a nearly white milkshake made with cheap chocolate syrup. I know a lot of cafes make their milkshakes this way, but I think "double chocolate" is misleading, as is the price point. What made it worse was that the iced chocolate was cheaper, but so much better quality. All I ask is that you update your menu to reflect what customers will actually receive. One of my favourite things about brunch is having a nice milky chocolate drink, so it made for a disappointing brunch.

Generous servings of fancy and fresh food, but pricey and a cramped place. My mother took me here once when I caught up with her because it is near her work - I had beans and Turkish bread which came with a poched egg and was well-seasoned, interesting and filling. The counter is full of yummy looking muffins and slices and a selection of salads. There were many people here to just get takeaway coffees as well - although it's quite cramped with limited seating, and the customers are the up-market types, so the prices have kept climbing up, so I';ve been told.

this place is overrated ... we felt the negative vibe immediately as we walked in as we were asked to arrange the tables by ourselves for our group of 5 ... coffee took forever to arrive when the acceptable average waiting time is 10 minutes ... coffee tasted awful and had burnt smell ... food was average and it also took like forever to reach our table ... they're not short of staff ... just that they weren't well coordinated and wait staff wasn't friendly at all ... there were flies hovering over the open deli counter

“Fancy Courtyard, Winter Joy”<br/><br/>Great location, great old building, nicely refurbished and a little quaint backyard, comes complete with your individual rugs just in case you forgot to bring your jacket.<br/><br/>The Courtyard is bigger and nicer than the inside, even in Winter, that's me anyway, I'm an Eskimo.<br/><br/>Super pleasant service, great operator, much enjoyable.<br/><br/>Great smooth Soy Latte, Short Black not bad too and tasty food, great Chutney with the Ham & Cheese Croissant.

Nice atmosphere, coffee is just as good as other specialty coffee shop. If you are a sweet addict , the counter has all kinds of home made sweets.

The place is a true local gems.<br/>In a small space of The Counter, the layout was smart and even though it was packed and rainy outside I got seated at the counter with my friend. It didn't feel awkward or in a way at all because of the way it was designed. <br/><br/>I was greeted warmly. Service is remarkable, nobody gone unnoticed (might be because the place isn't that big anyway..) and everyone feels like a regular. Throughout the seating, we felt look after and was not neglected at all. <br/><br/>Chai latte was really nice and while I was waiting for my friend to arrived, I enjoyed looking and mind battling in my head on the topic of "what should I get from their counter!!" - considering there are mouth watering cakes, bakes every where!<br/><br/>We decided to share Caramel donuts (because, why not!) it was really great, light, good sweet and not overly sugary (by taste, I'm sure actual fact is that it's full of sugar). I settled with tart of the day with side of salad and my friend had sausage rolls with salad. We choose to ordered things from their counter items because you can always have ordinary breakfast elsewhere. Everything was really nice. Very homely. Not fancy just honest food. It was so perfect for morning rainy day.<br/><br/>Could not left without grabbing brownies to take away, and I wished I grabbed more! Was the best brownies I had.

The Counter has an abundant range of both sweet and savoury treats. Their cakes and slices are particularly fantastic. Their coffee and service is great - their staff in particular are an asset always remembering your name and coffee order. One minor but annoying thing ... the toast is cut so thick that It is more like warmed bread not toast. It's a really good dense bread that's used - tasty and wholesome, but I see lot of plates returning to the kitchen with the toast untouched.  Apart from that coffee and food are great!

I've been to this place many times and food have never ever disappoint. Seriously delicious food. Many choices of sweets and take home meal options. All the staff very lovely, attentive and helpful. I never have a bad meal here. 👍🏼

Great staff, very friendly, consistently good coffee, amazing food, cute little venue and very helpful with dietary requirements!!! Love this place!

Love this cute cafe , my favourite is the baked beans . My friend and I love popping by for brunch , coffee and something sweet. It can cost up to $25 each , it's a bit much I think but I would still be back.

Baked eggs here are amazing, really tasty and filling. The cafe is small and can sometimes be a little too cramped, but the staff are very attentive. Amazing array of baked goods in the window

My local. Know my name, order and the time I'll be there in the morning. Stellar crew, tasty coffee and delicious baked goods. Always such a buzz. One day I'll get snapped on the famed brick wall, if it's the last thing I do!

Morning coffee in the autumn at The Counter. Fabulous high fibre muffins, exceptionally friendly service and excellent coffee. - an unbeateble combination!

’s almost impossible to sneak past the café’s window display without being tempted in by its gourmet goodies. Seats are limited inside but there is a cosy courtyard to retreat to at the rear. Pick up one of their take home packs for a relaxing night in if you can’t be bothered cooking.

The Counter is such a fantastic and unique place and everyone works very hard here to make it all happen - you can tell. The girls working here are all so helpful and always smiling. The coffees and food are sensational. I only wish that I had the time to hang out here more often! :)

Amazing brownie and coffee. .... Amazing brownie and coffee.<br/>The girls are all smiles and friendly.<br/>Great place.

Here is a footprint for a successful cafe business. Jammed packed full of excellent options -except for g.f. The service was a lot of tight pursed lips like the customers. One big smile though.

Great service and friendly staff. I usually visit the counter on a regular basis, food is always fresh and coffee is the best in the area. Staff are always friendly and polite. I've tried other cafes around aurban village and the services doest cut it in comparison.

The cafe itself is cosy, compact and quaint, with a few tables lined against the large windows inside and more seating in the courtyard out the back. Every surface here seemed to be used to have something on display, but instead of looking cluttered or messy it just looked deliberate and well, very pretty.

Yummy food AWFUL service. A friend asked me yesterday what is the worst level of service I would put with for amazing food... I responded that it's all about the food. If the food is outstanding, then then service is not important. This place proves me wrong. Its my local cafe and does really delicious food and coffee. BUT the service is so painfully, tooth-pulling, infuriatingly slow that it makes me want to scream and knock all of the pretty mouth watering cakes on display over with one dramatic sweep of the arm and then storm out and slam the door. I won't go back.

Food heaven. Worth a visit. The food is delicious. You can count on it!

The best hawthorn has!. Hands down these are THE BEST cakes, muffins and sweet treats you will find around. They're all baked at the cafe fresh. The ALTA muffin is a go-to. The raspberry yoghurt cake is pretty hard to beat. They have delicious take-home desserts (all homemade), especially the sticky date pudding in winter! <br/><br/>The coffee is fantastic (and the chai lattes are delicious). The breakfasts are nice - especially the baked eggs and super seed porridge, and the lunch is fabulous as well. The steak sanga was incredible, and i'm dying to try the pork burger. <br/><br/>Finally, the staff are absolutely fantastic. They're all lovely, friendly, and attentive. <br/><br/>I cannot rate this cafe enough - thank you !

Coffee and cakes are great. Savoury food is a bit bland. Still love it for the cake and pastries though!

Shame about one of the staff members.. Living locally (across the road) we finally took the time to lunch here. Shame about the rude waitress who served us - asked us 3 times in as many minutes for our order and when advised we weren't yet ready she seemed to be put out for the rest of our time there. No excuse me when reaching across to place cutlery down, no thank you when we fixed up the check, wasn't happy when one of us explained about an allergy - everything just seemed to hard for her. Not good enough at all given the prices they charge. Wont be visiting again.

Poor service. Tried this cafe out for the first time after driving by for weeks. Was greeted by staff with a poor attitude and continued to receive poor quality food and service. The menu was severely overpriced, clearly they are incorporating a tip into their menu due to the lack of customer service provided usually rewarding a tip.

Taken off. This place has really taken off. A small space, but alot happening. Get in early or you don't get a seat. Coffee is delicious, and the breakfast is even better. If you are also looking for a place just for a coffee and a sweet, come here. There are plenty to offer... I've had a sneaky few and they are GOOD.

Cramped but commendable. If you are a claustrophobic coffee lover - this place isn't for you. Coffee was totally scrummy, Chai was pretty rubbish though. <br/><br/>I really like the display of cakes in the window. Really cute.

Best cafe in Hawthorn. Delicious food, great cakes and sweet things and the coffee is good. Very friendly staff .

Fresh and Delicious. Went to the Counter with my dear friend this afternoon<br/>what fabulous fresh food, friendly service<br/>The Soup of the Day was Chicken and vegetable and can i just say, absolutely delicious and my friend had the spicy beans dish...<br/>and the service good..<br/>will be back again and will spread the word<br/><br/>one thing... the tables bit too close but then the cafe is not big so I suppose the more the merrier to try this beautiful food.. will try the cakes next time..

Great coffee. Amazing selection of cakes. Excellent services, and most importantly doggie friendly.

Great coffee and service with a smile. The Counter is a cute cafe with a lovely vibe - decorated in a stylish and quirky manner. The owners and their staff were very friendly and accommodating, and the seating inside was comfortable. The coffee was definitely the highlight of our visit - it was bold without being bitter. One thing that could do with a bit of adjustment is the serving size of the breakfasts. They could be a little more generous. I would definitely return.

Cute find!. I came across The Counter this weekend while shopping in Auburn Village. Excellent coffee and poached eggs with spicy beans. Another thing which stood out was how extremely crazy busy they were, but all the staff seemed to enjoy their job and nothing was a problem. Smiles are not hard and they were in plenty here:)<br/>Oh and not to forget that the in-house baked cakes, tarts etc are amazing! Yes I took a fair few home.<br/>Thanks guys I can't wait to return.

Happy Happy Joy Joy. I am a regular, I go almost everyday. Coffee is awesome, consistent, good temp and full bodied. the staff are really friendly and always make me feel welcome. the toasties and yum, and everything reminds of what good food is about. things taste home made, ie real butter, eggs and flavours etc. i eat probably once a week, and i am never let down. if you haven't been, go! The cakes are brilliant and if you ask them you can buy whole cakes to take home to the hungry hoards at home. well done "The counter" and congrats to creating something that we lacked in hawthorn. :)

Onto a winner. Had a few people instagram me or send me pictures of the Counter’s baked eggs, and as a result, I did have expectations.<br/>Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief as the team at the Counter are onto a winner; eggs beautifully cooked and still runny, the dukkah on top was delicious, delicious garlic mushrooms (apologies to all who I came into contact with afterwards), and lots of Napoli sauce. Bonus points for the ability to add chilli.<br/>Tiny little cafe, so if you sit inside expect to be sidled up with the person next to you. However, on a nicer day, head outside to the courtyard and stop by the cabinet that provides lots of take-home goodies.<br/>Kudos to the staff who handled menu adjustments, and the tricky patron next to us, with aplomb.

BEST BROWNIES EVER! Pretty awesome coffee and service too! Can't fault you wonderful people - keep up the delicious work!

Very lovely, good staff, excellent coffee and cakes. Back court yard is charming, everything from cups to plates to glasses is of high quality.

Recently moved to the area and discovered this cute place. The girls are lovely and have a chat. I grab a coffee whenever I can and they haven't disappointed. The Counter is a keeper.

Brunching Paradise. Had a great coffee , supreme brand - ethically sourced and roasted in Richmond - as per the Barista. <br/><br/>Amazing brunch options - suiting all dietary requirements: Veg, Vegan, Gluten Free making it an easy destination for dining. Cozy, warm, inviting. Baked Eggs are the best in Melbourne, and a huge portion (great value for money). The slow roasted tomatoes are thyme-delicious and a must have side (Vegan-friendly). Spicy beans are also home-cooked, non-tinned amazingness (also vegan-friendly). For those Gluten free - they make their own Gluten free bread, and always have gluten free home-baked sweet treats available! <br/><br/>Highly recommended.

Terrible coffee - came out lukewarm and bitter tasting. Took an awfully long time to actually get the coffee.

Cute! Was only in for a quick coffee and although not the greatest coffee I've ever had, the food coming out of the kitchen looked fresh & delicious. As for the cakes & other special treats on display......yum!!! Need strong willpower to not indulge here! Will be back for food....very soon!

It's a nice little cafe, with a cute courtyard, but it is SO over priced for what you get. I ordered eggs with a side of bacon. $6 for 2 tiny pieces of bacon is pretty pathetic. I live quite close and will not be going back.

Charm & comfort. The Counter has become my regular for a great scrambled eggs and coffee. A wide array of delicious food on offer and the addition of blankets when sitting in the cold is a wonderful addition. Thanks to all the hard working staff. Keep it up.

Love it

Counter on the corner.... ...is a nice surprise!<br/><br/>Busy little cafe that is cosy, usually full with others enjoying warm service, tasty food (great selection of savoury and sweet), and good coffee.

Very expensive. Lovely coffee, lovely selection of food, hideously expensive. For what you get, even factoring in the quality of food, is outrageous.

Fabulous food, terrific team, phenomenal coffee. A brilliant little local. <br/>PS love the decor too

Excellent coffee, amazing cakes and afternoon treats and fantastic staff!! Well done to all at the counter. A much needed addition to the area.

I love the cakes and desserts, especially the chocolate croissants on Saturday :-) Staff are really lovely, oh and so is the coffee!

First time visit today. Ordered takeaway soy latte & portugese tarts. Loved my drink & the tarts were lovely. Cute corner find, will be back to try the lunch menu :)

Impressive Counter Offer!. I just love this place! The food is consistently good, the coffee is great, the service is always of a very high standard. It reminds me of being in New York. I love the quality baked goods, beautifully presented in the window, the edgy marble bar and the intimate table set up. This place is definitely run by professionals, as evidenced by the careful attention to every detail. Outstanding addition to the Auburn Road Village.

Sweet tooth. A real sense of care and experience is evident in the baked goods and menu, an outstanding product. Coffee is tasty and consistent but an attempt at some latte art and tidier presentation might communicate some of the enthusiasm that is expected with specialty coffee. Service is friendly but lacks a sense of hospitality and attention to detail. Will be back though.

Delightful. A quick afternoon coffee with delicious apple and date cake which was just perfect. No cream needed! The owner and staff were friendly, coffee was good and hot chocolate yum. Not a huge fan of the very squishy tables and seats but not much you can do with such a small space. Definitely will be back to try breakie.

Wow!!!. Came here with my boyfriend by recommendation by a friend and we were not disappointed!! Had the leek and chicken soup with barley superb!! The home baked treats were off the chart!! Coffee was great!!, all served by friendly staff. We will be back!

Pleasantly surprised. Cakes are to die for! Will return soon!!!!

This airy suburban cafe has a nice friendly ambience. Coffee was flavoursome and well made. I had the avacardo with poached egg and chili flakes. My only gripe is why put a serviette under the food.

Great for a coffee and cake- best brownies in Hawthorn!

Sunday Shakshouka. Perfect antidote for my very late night, just the right amount of kick with a rich flavoursome tomato/capsicum base coupled with great coffee and fabulous staff, highly recommend you get down pronto if you haven't yet.

Lunch at The Counter; what a nice surprise.This busy little cafe certainly hits the mark with lovely house baked treats! Check out the window display of sweet ideas if you don't believe me!<br/>Service was attentive & prompt, great spot if you are on your lunch break. But please can you turn down that annoying alarm on the oven, what a conversation killer!!<br/>Happy grazing.

I used to come here a lot when we lived nearby. I was looking forward to my return this morning and specifically chose The Counter from several other nearby cafes. So I was really annoyed and disappointed when not one of the 5 staff who had the duty of managing about the same number of tables, could not manage once to look up and check their customers. I was trying to get their attention to order a second coffee. Surely, when it's so quiet it would be easier to keep a check on your tables?

Yum!! Very, very delicious. Cakes, coffee and service all are top notch. A very friendly joint with experienced owner operators and not far from home. Back next time for breakfast with the family.

East Side Treasure!. It's great to have a quirky cafe pop up run by two sassy sisters in the eastern suburbs! Mostly been getting my morning coffees from here but managed to pop in for the beans and eggs recently. Absolutely delicious!! If only I had time to eat here more often. Can't wait for my next chance to try the Moroccan eggs or gorge on the wicked baked goods that I always have my eye on!

The Counter lifts the gastro-cafe game in Auburn Village. Edgy little boutique corner cafe with outstanding home baked cakes, top notch coffee, clever-flavoured salads, tarts & rolls for lunch (eat in or take out). Breakies a delicious start to the day. Like our door seating options. Their delicious temptations will keep me coming back.

This is my second visit to the counter my first being just before Xmas. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they have changed the lunch/ brunch menu to included poached eggs and sides and other breakfasty items. I had the morrocan baked eggs which were sublime, the person next to me had the ricotta pancakes which looked amazing and apparently tasted just as good ( will make sure I try these next time!!) with the friendly staff, awesome cake displays and good coffee, this is definitely going to be a regular haunt .

Let down by service. Met a friend for brunch yesterday for my second visit to The Counter. Again I had the thyme scented mushrooms, which I'd been craving since having them late last year and they did not disappoint. My friend had the salmon eggs which she really enjoyed. So, food excellent. Coffee was OK, not bad, but not to my liking, a bit bitter.<br/><br/>My only complaint was the service. One lady seemed really friendly at the start, but after we'd had our coffee and food, she pretty much ignored us. The other girl on the floor ignored us the whole time we were there. I'm glad the staff weren't fake nice and/or in our faces, but if you're doing water service from a jug, then don't let people sit for 15mins with empty glasses. Also, offer more drinks if the food comes out and people don't have anything, I would have had another coffee with my meal.<br/><br/>I am torn about a like or dislike; the food is excellent and priced fairly, but the whole experience was taken down a notch by the very average service.

Tiny Treat. I almost don't want to write this because I'd like to keep it my little secret (with a few others)! However, I wanted to congratulate the owners of this delightful little cafe - they have done a lovely job of creating a great breakfast/lunch spot. I was recently there for lunch and could have eaten lots but managed to restrain myself and ignore the delectable -looking (and smelling) treats in the window and on the counter. A delicious lunch of freshly made salads for me and my friend had a wonderful tasting tomato tart with salad. Service was efficient and friendly. The place is tiny (and was very warm on a hot day) but I will be back soon, this time to be tempted by some of those goodies in the window!

I was so excited to see a new cafe opening in Auburn village as all the others are terrible. Was delighted to find that they do amazing baked goods & tasty breakfasts. The only let down was the coffee. Not terrible, just not exceptional either - a tad overextracted. In Melbourne, there are many places that do amazing coffee, so it's hard to drink an average coffee and not feel disappointed. I hope over time the coffee will improve - maybe it was just new cafe opening jitters. I'll definitely give it another shot sometime soon.

Inviting window display. We were there before 8 on a Saturday morning, the first customers. We had scrambled eggs with salmon on toast and the breakfast bacon tart, fresh out of the oven. Food flavours were good, service was prompt. We had a special request for the scrambled eggs, which was to have the toast on the side and instead of sourdough, multigrain. They missed that. That's a slight disappointment.<br/><br/>Cute and cosy little cafe and the courtyard and sidewalk seating would be great during warmer days. Worth another visit.

Breakfast or Lunch - The Counter gets my thumbs up!. Excellent coffee, fantastic service and elegant touch of style to Auburn village. <br/><br/>The Counter is a refreshing addition to Melbourne's Eastern Cafe community. With loads of delicious sweet and savoury treats on display and a great selection of breakfast and lunch items on the menu, I am happy to say I have found my new regular Saturday brunch spot. They also have a good selection of vegetarian and palleo friendly items, so can be recommended for the more health conscious days too.<br/><br/>The most impressive thing about the Counter is the warm and familiar service - often a rarity in Melbs, but always noticed and definitely appreciated.

Love this small cafe, fit out is beautifully done and the girls looked after us while we had one of the best breakies I've had in a long time

I didn't try any of the sweets, although I was sorely tempted, as we had lots of leftover goodies at home from one of mum's bake night extravaganza's and I couldn't really justify buying anything.<br/>