Review Operator 25

Jenny Thu

Waited for 30 min to get a table last Sunday. Waiting time for food to come out (30+min) and the server to come provide the QR code after we sat down (15-20min) are the let-downs on top of the additional 10% Sunday surcharge imposed. I guess we were not attended immediately because of outdoor table, until we went inside to notify that we were waiting to be served. Afterward, it was all good. The lady who served us was very friendly and accommodating. The food were delicious though. Must try this soft shell crab omelette! Hopefully, the whole experience could be better during the weekday.

Kenny W

Delicious brunch Cafe on the outskirts of the cbd. Great coffee options and plenty of choices for meals or a snack. Friendly service, minimal food wait times. Quality and presentation of food is incredible! Can't wait to come back next time!

Ruben Sanchez

I loved this place. We didn't have to wait for too long. Just 15min. We got a table outside. Food was delicious and not too pricy. Fresh juice $7 and it was big. Staff very friendly and kind. 10% surcharge on Sundays. 15% surcharge on Public Holidays

Dharshan dhamodharan

My Last minute google search for best brunch places in Melbourne told me this is the place for me to be and the place was just amazing there was a bit of a wait but it was worth it the food took a while to come but they were super busy so it made sense and the chicken burger was amazing the poached eggs were a little over cooked but it was still good. Overall it was a good experience 3.5/5

Barbara Zintl

French toast tasted good and was well presented. Oat milk flat white came out a little bit cold. Service was nice and competent even though it was really busy. Value/money is good 😊 I’d come again!

Heidi

Finally I could come here! It’s so busy that takes us 25 minutes to wait but it’s worthy. Food is great, we order Char Siu Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict and Ponzu Salmon. I love it so much! The sauce is excellent! Staff is friendly too!Definitely come back!

Tuyet Dang

Food is always exceptionally amazing here. 2nd time visiting here from Adelaide and can not fault anything. We had an ant crawling in our desserts half way through the dish, they offered to get us a new one. Latte art is amazing here. Whether you live or visit Melbourne, it's a place to visit. Beware that there will be a wait during the peak times on weekends.

Cecil Simon

Was sceptical at first but absolutely loved this place. The food was great! Had the char siu Benedict, chilli omelette and the smashed avo. Biggest hit among the drinks was the kaya macha latte but the others were really good as well.

Suzie Scribbles

I nipped here for brunch today with a friend. Got a table straight away which was great. The decor of the place is fresh and we liked how it used to be a telephone exchange and the use of the wires hanging from the ceiling to symbolise this. We order the black rice porridge and matcha almond hotcakes. The little bit of porridge I tried had a good consistency and a nice mix of flavours. My matcha hot cakes had a good flavour without being too strong or bitter and I enjoyed them, however they overpowered everything else on the plate except the pear which was a shame. Coffee was fine but nothing exceptional. I liked how they aren't afraid to try more unusual mixes of flavours and I'd definitely recommend giving the place a try but it's not worth queuing out the door for (in my opinion).

Meny Antonakelly

We happen to visit this cafe only by chance, we were that impressed we went there everyday for breakfast. Coffee and food was on point every time we dined there. All the staff were very friendly and welcoming...best pulled pork benedict ever. Thankyou guys !!

Paula Jimenez Rojas

First day we visited this place, we loved it!! The food, coffee and service was nice. However, there isn't consistency in the food and service. I invited my family to this place and we all were very disappointed. We had to wait for the food to come out more than 50 min, and in the meantime we ordered some pastries which were a bit old and not pleacent to eat, the food was ok, but not amazing. The coffee was nice.

Judy Wilson

Perfect coffee. Incredible (vegan) food. Service was also top notch. Really can't recommend highly enough. �

Andrew See

It is a great place for friends to catch up for Brunch or Lunch. The place decor is nice, people are friendly and food are well prepared as an art. I ordered Japanese Open Omelette and Poached Eggs on Toast. Both great!

Lisa Lehmann

Great little funky place with great service. The food was really tasty and some dishes had a great twist. The only thing that could be better was the food had cooled down by the time we got it and my hot chocolate was close to cold.

Chris Bellette

Massive serves! Strongman food! Great little set up everything was delicious! :) I had the Congee and it was very satisfying! Highly recommend for breakfast!

Lizzie Colbert

There was a bit of a line up as it was a public holiday, however staff were very accommodating. We had the pulled pork benedict and it was absolutely delicious. The coffee is perfect. We will definitely be back!

Tom Chiumento

Came to Melbourne for a little holiday. This was first stop and the only place I returned to multiple times. Food and coffee was some of the best and very consistent. Mason was probably the best waiter I have ever had in any cafe. Thankyou operator

Trevor Raylene Sheehan

Best pork Benedict I have ever had. Come to think of it, it was the only one I have ever had but it was great. Nice coffee but they should have turmeric coffee!

Anthony Atapattu

I would like to eat breakfast here all the time. Great staff. Great food. What more do you need? My new favourite.

John Robinson

Good coffee, friendly staff, had to visit as it's one of my Instagram favourites. Next time I will eat .�

Candice Lewry

Delishhhh!! Cannot recommendation this place enough! Loved everything.

Jose Pestana

Excellent coffee, food & service, made our Melbourne visit when starting our days at this venue. ☕️

Michael Shugg

Lovely brunch had. Tucked away in a old telephone exchange building. Staff very friendly

Masina Miller

Happy people , great service , everything we ordered was top notch! Fab coffee too!!

TeeTastes

One of the best cafes to head to in Melbourne, the food and coffee was 10/10! ☺️👌 Just be sure to book a table otherwise you will be waiting around 45 minutes!!

Chan Christine

Having to isolate myself, a good breakfast and a fresh coffee are crucial for survival. Appreciate their quick preparing time and extra thought in separating the hollandaise sauce so everything is neat in the takeaway. (Had several bad experience before with other cafe pouring the sauce on the food, and it became a soggy yellow mess when food are delivered.) Big thumbs up. Plus: taste of char siu sauce matches really well with the whole dish. Thank you

ARMANEATS

My first breakfast in Melbourne and it was amazing ! They have delicious dishes, very original and so esthetic ! No matter what you prefer, you’ll find something for you. The personal was really nice and we felt welcomed as soon as we enter the place. The inside is also amazing !

Wuwinnie1128

I just left my little belongs which were wrapped in the issue after the meal, and even didn't think I can get it back since the table has already been cleaned when we returned to the restaurant. But the staff did find them for me.. Many thanks to them and would come back definitely. Btw, the good is wonderful!

Sylv

Ordered the Char Siu Benedict, Salmon Aburi and a Kaya Matcha Latte. The dishes were all prepared beautifully, searing of the salmon was perfect, char Siu was cooked just pink on the inside 👌🏻 the Kaya Matcha Latte had a slightly sweeter tinge to it if you prefer the sweeter side of things. Place was busy at around 8am in the morning with a decent crowd and friendly staff 😊

Hansolo

The Ume Waffles are sensational. Fantastic coffee too. Great little gem in a quiet part of the cbd for a relaxing breakfast or brunch any time of the week.

Tran N

The french toast was delicious however it got a bit too sweet towards the end. My friend also enjoyed her dish. One of the best cafés in the CBD and would definitely come back!

G

Seems like a really popular place as we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. But the food and coffee is amazing. It totally does justice to Melbourne’s great brunch scene. Beautifully presented food.

Celia

This beef salad is sooo good, like a light and dry Japan ramen! But matcha latte is a bit sweet and not that pure tea taste. I met cute friends here and left brilliant memories

NotJenn

Great selection of traditional breakfast items as well as Asian fusion main courses. Very good latte art. Busy even on a weekday. Will definitely come back for more.

Sam C

We waited around 20 minutes to be seated on a busy Sunday morning and sat on a shared table. Waiter was attentive and polite, very happy with the service. We ordered 2 coffees, char sui benedict and ube waffle which came out within 5 minutes, both dishes were very satisfying although small in portion. The combination of flavours was unique as other brunch places don’t have these dishes. One criticism was the waffle was slight burnt/overcooked but still enjoyable.Price was justified for food/venue at that level. Would definitely recommend and/or revisit Operator25 Follow @crumbinyourpants for more content on Instagram

Suhujana

This place is popular but we didn’t have to wait to be seated. Waitress was very friendly. Food was well made and prepared. Been here once would visit again!

Shrek Childs

Magic

Paul Panapiwat

A fancy playing food, but taste is just average. Fruits that come on the waffle is something didn't go well with it. IMO

Alicia

I LOVED this place. Operator 25 mixed two of my favourite types of foods; brunch with a variety of asian cuisines. I loved it a lot. The Rendang Benedict was great and so was the soft shell crab. I will definitely be back.

TheNailChronicle

After about a 15 walk, we arrived at Operator 25. It was nice to walk there after sitting down for so long. We nearly walked straight pas Operator 25. It’s quite hidden and unless you know it’s there, you can easily walk straight past. I choose a Rendang eggs benedict and my partner choose the fried chicken burger. My aunt and uncle also had the same, so I guess we have pretty good taste in food....

Lia Eats

Really nice and cosy cafe. The staff were friendly and quick with service and the food was very good. We ordered the Balinese Burger and the Japanese Open Omelette, and both dishes were really tasty and well presented. The flavours of the burger in particular was very good and it definitely tasted like the food we had in Bali. The price is what you'd expect from a cafe in this city, ranging from $16 to $25 depending on what you order. Definitely recommend trying it out!

Jason Jost

Having been here last year I couldn’t quite remember the place but it all came flooding back when we went here for breakfast. This is popular place and I’ve noticed that there seems to always be a queue for coffee. Even though it was busy the wait for our food and coffees didn’t seem long. They have a rather elaborate menu with the meal in the picture being the closest thing to bacon and eggs. However it was really nice and yummy. They also have big tables so if you are by yourself or a small group chances are you will be at a table with others.

Celline Tamin

Truly a dish that says “fusion”. Had this when I was feeling a bit sleepy and wanting to get brunch although it’s 12PM in the afternoon already. Anyway, the fish is served with a creamy sauce, infused with yuzu, which makes it light in taste. You are going to want to lick the whole bowl that’s for sure. Also, this is a dish that you can truly enjoy “eating alone”—at least that’s what I did. Thank you for the lovely service as well. Would definitely come back for more. #greatambience #greatfood

Liss Tries Food

Delicious food and great historical building

Kikfoodlover

I’m really love fresh toast here!!! It was honestly the best I've had in Melbourne. Love the Asian fusion within the traditional breakfast foods. Although we did have a long wait to get in, it was definitely worth it. Good prices as well for a city cafe.

Ellie@W

the girl came urge us to leave even not in busy hours.

Melbourniancritic (The Melbourne Experience)

Set in Melbourne’s first telephone exchange, Operator25 cafe pays homage to the buildings past with its beautiful decor. This stunning brunch spot serves great coffee and an interesting selection of simply mouth watering and flavoursome brunch options with a twist.

EatOutWithJo

I went with my family of 6 (myself, hubby & 4 kids) on the weekend & it was a full house inside, but eventually we were lucky enough to score a table outside ☺️ The waffle was delicious & my children loved the artwork on their hot chocolates & my Matcha tea😆🐻🐖

FoodLoverQueenM

The very short time for waiting on Sunday morning. We’ ve ordered matcha latte and hot chocolate for cartoon face. It is so cute for coffee. Waffle with black sesame ice cream also nice . Friendly staffs.

Joshua Osborne

Operator 25 Came on a sunday morning due the amazing reviews. It did not disappoint. There was a small 5 minute wait for a 2 person table. This is a cozy joint with a Japanese influence. Staff were very friendly. We ordered the rendang beef brisket with poached eggs and the granola cocoa. The beef brisket was amazing. The flavours of the dish were very well balanced. The eggs cooked perfectly with a soft runny yoke. This laid on a very light fluffy bit of toast. The granola cocoa was a chocolaty, nutty mix with yoghurt and fresh fruits. Very nice but a little rich. The coffee was great except it was not hot enough for me. This was the only let down of this great place. The price was also very reasonable. Overall 4.5/5

Amberlee Yup

Busy on the weekends, best to go during the week.

Cmzajicek

This rice pudding dish was absolutely phenomenal 😍! The flavours, textures and portion size were right on and a fantastic way to start the working day! Great service, great atmosphere and great food, what a gem!!👌 1. Rice Pudding (black and white rice cooked in coconut and almond milk served with seasonal fruits, oat clusters and palm sugar syrup) 2 Skim Latte

Vnathanliong

Soft shell Crap

Sweetoothbrunches

This small cafe definitely is popular amongst the locals. I decided to order the ube waffles which are beautifully presented. However the taste is not sweet like what I'm normally used to as well as the flavours. I found the dish therefore hard to truly rate and recommend trying it for yourself .

Emily Shi

Came with high expectation, but the food was quite disappointed. I ordered soft shell crab, the crab was ok, but not much noodles inside and the noodles tasted not good. Also, the dish wasn’t warm, seems it has already cooked and placed aside for a few minutes. My friends ordered Japanese Egg Omelette, they said the bread was pretty hard.

Sijia Wang

Got surprised with this cup of hot choco. The Benedict is soft and mildly-flavoured with salt& pepper at your disposal. A warm way to start my day!

Fat Dreams

Good brunch. Had an asian twist to it, more of a fusion brunch. The pulled pork eggs benny was good, a must try. Platings, environment and service was good too. Always packed during breakfast/lunch hours so make sure you come early to avoid the queue. Overall, good food and experience. Worth the try and would go back again.

Just My Opinion

Came in on a Tuesday afternoon, fairly busy but didn’t have to wait long Ordered the Roast mushrooms, Ube waffles and batched brew coffee -Roast mushroom (3.8/5) •Mushrooms itself was very flavourful, and pleasing. Wasn’t overly done with any unnecessary flavours, or frills. •Polenta base/cake, was cooked perfectly. I am usually very skeptical when it comes to polenta, however they nailed it. Tasty •Vegemite rice purée, something Ive not seen before. But accompanied the dish well, plus acted as a sauce in a way. The taste of the vegemite is not overpowering, so no worries to anyone thats not a fan. •Poached egg was cooked perfectly but it also felt like a “filler” in the dish. The only comments I have is that, the dish feels like it was lacking something. Wish it had the something which pushed it a little more. -Ube waffles (3.6/5) • Waffles itself was alright. Pretty average, doesn’t taste like purple sweet potato but your typical everyday waffle. A very nice colour though, dark on the outside, but purple when cut into. Was not hot, as you would expect a waffle freshly cooked (could have been just mine) •Jackfruit and fruits. It might have been my first time seeing a cafe use jackfruit. Must say, I was very pleased by it and brought something different to the dish. •Black sesame icecream was amazing. Texture was smooth and creamy and didn’t taste overly sweet or overpowering. Great addition/accompaniment. All in all, it was a very pretty and well presented dish that definitely had plenty of thought that went into it. -Batched brew coffee (4.5/5) • Coffee’s were great, you can tell that they take their coffee very seriously. Will definitely come back just for their coffee!!

Breakfast_Adventurers

A delicious gem in Melbournes CBD! ‘Smoked Sardines' on grilled rye, w. pickled cucumber + sour cherry + manchego + parsley + rocket & dill | 🍴🎣 Wow, the smoked sardines packed a punch; What a taste-bud exploding starter! The dish was very thought out and balanced. My favourite part was the mouth watering picked cucumber which took away the 'fishy' taste of the sardines which make it more appealing for every bite! Yum! Spiced chickpea fritters w. Herb tahini + tomato & cucumber salsa + cottage cheese + chipotle sauce + crisp flatbread & thick cut streaky bacon | 🙌🏼 Oh my goodness - yum! This was a big portion of deliciousness. I loved how this dish provided enough of the sauces, which allowed me to soak my fritter up in, double & triple dips 😉 The fritter itself was fluffy, steamy and had whole chickpeas throughout. The flatbread gave it a nice texture & was a perfect accompaniment to the fritters. Delish!! | Balinese pulled pork slider w. Chilli Mayo + coriander + cabbage & carrot slaw | 🍔🍴❤️ Mmmm this pork slider was gorgeous with a very authentic taste. There were over 34 ingredients, which allowed every mouthful enjoyable and taste buds going nuts. The ingredients stayed true to its roots, leaving everything about this dish impeccable. The textures were zingy, hearty with bursts of subtle heat. The pork was cooked perfectly - melted away in the mouth with every bite, my advice would be your missing out in life if you don't try it!!! I was blown away with the amount of flavour they managed to pack into these little sliders. YUM. Loved my experience here. The staff are very attentive and have a large knowledge of the food. Lovely to know. 10/10

Goldielyn Limsiy

Food was just alright we got the teriyaki salmon which was good (interesting taste, salmon cooked well, loved the egg), but the Ube waffle was a disappointment (waffle was rather burnt, strawberry was sour, and the fruits and waffle taste just didn't mesh well together). Given the price point, not terribly excited about the food... Ambiance was good though. And food presentation, as you can see in my photos, was topnotch. Perfect place for Instagram!

Win - FSC

Real rating 3.75 ⭐️ We had visited Operator25 a while back and here’s what we had! Kaya french toast - brioche toast with coconut spread, mixed berry mascarpone, pistachio crumbs, banana and peanut butter caramel sauce! A lot of sweet elements on the plate but it all worked! The brioche was thick and fluffy and the sweetness of the caramel sauce and coconut spread complemented the sourness of the mixed berry mascarpone! Everything was melting into my mouth! Soft shell crab - tempura battered with rice flake noodles in tom yum broth, herb salad, baby corn, enoki mushroom and rice cracker! The soft shell crab was pretty good - crispy on the outside, easy to bite and juicy in the inside. The broth was a little underwhelming and disappointing as it didn’t have that kick to give the crab additional flavors. We had a good time at Operator25 and will visit to try out the rest of their menu.

Flabnbone Food

I rarely go to the city but today decided to go because Operator25 has been on the bucket list for way too long. We visited at around 1pm and had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. The waitress was very quick to take our orders which was good. We had a mocha and a hojicha latte. The mocha was more coffee than chocolate but still nice. I loved the hojicha with soy milk. It was very fragrant and not too bitter. For food, we had the 1.salmon in green tea broth with soy poached egg, pickled cauliflower and purple rice, and 2. the pulled pork burger with fried egg and sweet potato crisps. The salmon dish was very light and refreshing.The pickled cauliflower didn't have enough tang. The dish needed more acidity. The egg on the burger was lovely and runny - no burnt bits either. The pork was a bit over tho. I would have preferred sweet potatoe wedges over crisps because they were very oily. Instagram @flabnbone_food

Y

I was surprised to see the cafe packed with so many people. Lots of seating for large groups and outside areas as well. The staff were very nice and friendly here, I was happy to be welcomed. I ordered the waffle and French toast, both sweet but delicious. The food and presentation are all in such good quality and very well done. Worth the high prices.

Anisha

Delicious food with great service. I tried out the sweet potato waffles and it was quite an interesting and unique combination that worked well together. Can’t wait to go again!

Tania Shinalini

I thoroughly enjoyed my brunch in Operator25. I came at around 11 am and the place was quite full with people lining up for coffee but we got a place quickly after moving more into the space. The asian fusion dishes really made this place different from other brunch places i’ve been to. I chose the Rendang Benedict, which found out later after looking through Zomato that this dish were one that people mostly order. The actual Rendang on its own is quite okay you could taste the spices but when its combined with the bread and the egg it mixes together and not much flavour really came through. The atmosphere was nice; people coming in and out to get coffee. Service was decent; after we finished our dishes we were asked twice about whether we wanted to order something more before the waiter gave us the check, quite surprise about that one but it was fine.

Jie Yee

Came to Operator 25 after being recommended by two friends, and I’m happy to say that it met my expectations. Food: 8/10 (Rendang Egg Benedict, Pan Fried Barramundi) Service: 8/10 (moderately busy Tuesday morning) Ambience: 7.5/10 Pricing: $$ My Indonesian friend was very excited over the Rendang Egg Benedict, and she eventually finished everything on her plate! For spicy food lovers the Laksa wasn’t spicy (your mileage may vary, though) but it was still tasty and enjoyable. As for the Pan Fried Barramundi, the barramundi and mussels were very fresh, which I appreciate. However I felt that the sour cream/sauce (?) could’ve been saltier, but that’s just me, though. Overall a good brunch place that you can visit with friends.

Hon

Great brunch in CBD! Brunch with Asian twist. Nice coffee, nice egg benedict with rendang. The crumpets with coconut jam is also very good. Recommended!

Cafehoppingkids

Rendang benedict ($20) Balinese pork burger ($21) Ube waffle ($19) Overall ⭐️ 4/5 ⭐️ 🍴Fusion cafe with interesting dishes and mix of Asian-western flavours. The main dishes were filling and yummy. The #rendangbenedict could do with stronger rendang flavours that was overpowered at times by the lime hollaindaise but overall enjoyable. The #balineseporkburger was a well-marinated pork belly that was quite fatty with cold slaw and fried egg. All the components went well together and we’re glad we asked for the chili mayo on the side as it is spicy. The sweet potato crisps was my favourite part. The #ubewaffle is a one-of-its-kind purple sweet potato waffle that was of a more soft & chewy than crispy texture. It came with sesame ice cream and seasonal fruits of jackfruit, strawberry and poached pear which I found to clash slightly with the sweet potato flavour. 📍@operator25cafe, 25 Wills St, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Kerli Kerli Kerli

We made our way here one morning.. this cozy little cafe was a warm welcome from the cold Melbourne morning.. This place was a fusion type cafe.. we had a Japanese open omelette and some coffee.. Ambience was great.. coffees were amazing.. and the wait staff was very friendly.. the choices of food was a bit limited but we could still make do.. Would definitely come here again..

Amanda Ngo

Really good food, had the pork belly Benedict! Amazing, great service and chill atmosphere. I loved the menu, had so much variety would definitely come back to try more. Iced coffee was decent, only let down was the amount of ice cream served.

Nalia

3.5. The brunch here was nice and staff were friendly. Pork burger was good, although pretty small considering the price, and the matcha dessert wasn't too bad. Not the best value for money.

BevLovesFood

I expected my food presentation to be better for a popular brunch spot such as Operator25. I ordered the Pork burger and my friend ordered the Sweet and Sour Chicken.. I enjoyed my burger, the pork was cooked nicely but my sweet potato crisps was too oily & burnt. I tried a piece of the sweet & sour chicken and it was really good.. But $20 for each dish, i don’t think it was worth it.

Sense Of Food

🥑 avocado smoothie bowl 🏚: Operator 25 📍: Richmond, Melbourne 💵: $16AUD . ———————————————————— . 📝: Located in a heritage-listed original telephone exchange building just minutes from Flagstaff Gardens, be brought back in time the moment you walk in. Operator 25 is a bright and playful space, perfect for a cup or coffee and brunch as you settle in for a cozy chat. It gets serious when it comes to their food and coffee obsessions. The all-day brunch menu features Asian flavors packed in Australian brunch favorites, combining international tastes with modern cooking techniques to create inventive creations exclusive only to Operator 25. . ❤️: Here for a light healthy brekkie. An amazing bowl of avocado smoothie with sweet maple toasted oats, matcha, banana and seasonal fruits. It tasted so much better than expected. Creamy, not too overly sweet smooth consistent texture, with fresh fruits and sweet chewy oats. It was so good, you’ll have to try to understand. . ———————————————————— . . . #instafood #foodstagram #foodporn #food #eat #hungry #starving #foodie #yum #yummy #delicious #cafe #travel #breakfast #morning #healthy #fruits #fitness #tuesday #melbourne #australia #coffee #fit #brunch #healthyeating #vegan #cleaneating #avocado #morning #smoothie #healthyfood

Tushar Pasrija

Had pork benedict at Operator25. I was told it would be quite filling but unfortunately not that filling to fill a starving stomach. Good cafe though for a brunch!

Coffee Boy

My last trip here was outstanding. Tasty food (pork eggs benedict) and an excellent clever dripper coffee that I'm still thinking about. Well done!

Eats With Kayli

After being around so long, it’s great to see that Operator 25 is still so busy! I popped in today for breakfast and felt like having something more simple - I opted for their scrambled eggs with crumpets. Their scrambled eggs were cooked to perfection - loved how light and slightly creamy they were. The pork sausage and thick cut bacon were so good too!!

Quince And Cheese

This cafe is on the pricy end but offers an interesting southeast Asian-inspired menu for the price. That said, I chose to save a few bucks and order some crumpets when dining here for breakfast rather than spending $10 more on a main that I wasn't sure would fill me up. I always swore I would never order tea or toast (or its reasonable stand in) from a cafe because it seems like such a rip-off compared to the cost of making these simple dishes at home. But considering Operator 25 offers Kaya as a condiment option, I rescinded my vow. The crumpets were a bit on the dry side and honestly, I couldn't tell the difference between them and Coles brand. But at least I had some Pepe Saya butter to lube them up. Plus Kaya and some salt and pepper on top (don't judge) I had myself a satisfying brekkie. My soy flat white was nice and the whole meal only set me back $12.50, which is unfortunately quite cheap compared to most cafe breakfasts. If you do get one of this spot's other items, however, be prepared to pay about $25 a head.

Lunarcry

Menu looked interesting with an Asian twist like kaya and ube featured in it. I ordered the roasted mushrooms which was delicious. Portions are not too massive. Good coffee too.

Vanessa

From the high rating on Zomato, I was expecting the food to be amazing… We ordered the ‘Avocado Smoothie Bowl” and the ‘Ube Waffle’ which were presented beautifully but lacked in flavours. The waffle in particular had a burnt taste throughout. The fruits didn’t help balance the dish. Needless to say, I’ve paid $19 for better waffles. The coffee was nice though, strong and smooth. The matcha latte was sweet. **NOTE: No substitutions to the menu. No split bills on weekends and public holidays. 15% surcharge on public holidays.

Melbourne Food Journey

The wait wasn’t too long considering it was a public holiday. We were seated outside without being asked whether we were okay with it (as the weather was fine it was okay, but it would be nice to have been asked). The food options looked really good, although I noticed there was a piece if paper stuck on the menu with a note about a 15% surcharge on public holidays which differed to the zomato menu. The drink servings are quite small and the food generally didn’t taste as good as it looked. The ube waffle tasted burnt and the mix of fruit didn’t quite work. The black sesame icecream was enjoyable though. The omelette was just alright and tasted a bit sweet. The crisps that came with the sweet and sour fried chicken were burnt. Overall it was an okay experience, but not outstanding.

Ozzy Kunnu

This Operator does not only know how to bring ingredients together but certainly knows the magic of dishing-out flavors that satiates hunger, heart and soul Ordered a Sweet Potato Waffle.with Poached Peach, Beef Steak, Sweet and Sour Chicken Roll and Hot Chocolate. Sweet Potato Waffle topped with a creamy yet light Sesame & coconut IceCream drizzled with white chocolate and served with poached peach was worth drooling on. One of the best Beef Steaks in town, cooked medium rare, served with delicious miso and onion dressing managed to woo our taste buds Sweet and Sour Chicken Roll served with Pineapple Salsa and double fried /(or fried until dark red) perfectly crisp potato wafers was tender, filling and definitely high on flavors Hot Chocolate was decent to taste. Service was quick and amiable. Plenty of choices for Vegans and Vegetarians, dishes are priced eight for the portions and taste.

Melbourne Travel

Whilst everyone is screaming about the purple sweet potato flavour waffle, I am obsessed with their sweet and sour chicken roll. The chicken is juicy and the sweetness taste is slightly neutralise by the bread. Don’t deceived by the look itself, the roll is much more delicious than what it looks like. Though chip is albeit let down for me, not crispy enough. Ube Waffle is a good if you’re up for sweet potato waffle with black sesame ice cream, jack fruit and other fruits. Ordered the kaya matcha which I’m not too sure what does the Kaya means. Kaya as in the malaysia coconut spread or as in the “rich taste” translated from malay language. It’s a very rich matcha flavour latte which doesn’t disappoint me. I will wish to come back again to try other fusion dish! @melbourne_travel

Martin C

Great cafe. Friendly service, good coffee and delicious tasty food. Pretty different breakfast menu options so if you are looking for a change away from all the usuals with a little twist Operator25 will give you a welcome chance to stretch your breakfast tastebuds.

Makan2Melbourne

Finally got to try this cafe! The ube waffle was really good, the waffle was crispy, and the ice cream was really tasty. The sauce was the best part! it brought the dish together, not to forget the refreshing fruits as well. Unfortunately, the grilled miso salmon was very disappointing. The salmon was overly salty, the rice was overcooked. I also ordered the matcha latte, which was better than most cafes, but still not strong enough. The hojicha latte was a pretty good choice too. Would definitely come back to try theit kaya french toast! The duck leg was amazing!!

Sinfulorganiccook

This place was such a pleasant surprise. Coffee, though, is really good. Very popular with folks working in the city. Food wise, this is a good choice for brunch.

Le Cat & Kate

Love love love the eggs benedict! In my mind I’m not really sure how it was going to taste but emergewd that dish is heavenly and just the right portion size for morning. Highly recommend checking this place out!

Sannguyen2001

The service was friendly and the environment was very welcoming! The food tasted good and is very aesthetic for taking photos. The proportions were good for the prices too.

Foodie By Heart 💓

They got food both for your stomach and your eyes! I got recommended by my friends to this store. It was hidden from the noisy street and cannot be found unless you look for it on purpose. The decorations there were carefully designed as a combination of modern elements and old brick walls. Some of the lines on the lights are funny. My partner and I ordered a pull pork Benedict, a soft shell crab and a steak. The bread on Benedict is so soft and soaked with the sauce and flavor of eggs. Steak was well seasoned and served with various veggies. Quite balanced for a healthy diet. As for soft shell crab, I can only say that was the best soft shell crab I’ve ever had for brunch so far. Not oily or fishy at all. Overall, the food there was amazing and taste really great. A real feast of your eyes and tongue!

Bingeforever

First of all ! A wonderful brunch spot to visit especially when touring around Melbourne! The foods are worth the wait and experience with friends.

Alain Amarante

Without a doubt one of the best brunch cafes I’ve been to. Did not have to queue for a party of 3 on a Monday morning. The menu offering was diverse and interesting. The Ube Waffles tasting as amazing as how it was plated. Would also recommended the Korean BBQ Eggs Benedict.

Jessie Wid

this is the second time I’ve been to Operator25. This time, we tried three different dishes, and all of them is BOMB❤️❣️.. the dishes will not dissapoint you! this place has great ambiance too✨

Selly

Two stars for the service and atmosphere. Place is overhyped and over priced. We ordered the omelette and pork Benedict. The presentation was lovely however portion sizes were not fulfilling.

This Diner Is Anonymous

Hands down one of the WORST places I have ever been to. Let's start with the "twice cooked cauliflower," which tastes like steamed cauliflower with some fennel seeds thrown on top. It was tasteless, boring and an absolute embarrassment. The corridor leading from the cafe to the toilets had wet shoe prints from the chef, making the tiles impossibly slippery. Let's end with the state of the bathrooms, which had stale blood all over the female toilet. I politely emailed Operator 25 to share my revolting experience, and got a stock-standard "thanks for your feedback, we hope your next visit is better." Unreal. This place has been on my to-do list forever, but they can't even get the basics right. Spend your hard-earned elsewhere.

Hungry Koala

Quality brunch joint with a solid queue on our visit. Luckily there were ample seats for the wait (and the treacherous Melbourne weather held out!). Once inside found great coffee, attentive service and a quality menu. Had the twice cooked cauliflower with carrot puree and brussels sprouts. Loved how the cauliflower and puree came together. I did find the Brussels sprouts to be a bit sweet. Couldn't help but think if it would have been better to do them crispy fried rather than boiled... We also had the Balinese pork burger served with sweet potato crisps. It's Quite substantial be warned :)

Jess_foodie

Great place great food! No words! Got 4 meals, 3 sides, 2 coffee and 3 juices. Totalled up to $140+ , a tiny bit pricey BUT tastes ah-maayyy-zing.... also the soft shell crab with noodles was a little on the salty side. Would def go there again, but other dishes! 💕

D36R4

The food here was amazing and worth the wait. the waffles were the highlight. Amazing flavour. The soft shell crab was also very good however got spittle salty towards the bottle of the soba noodles because of the sauce . Would recommend.

Andrea Leong

Last minute decision to come here, but it was worth it! Waffle was very crispy (me like!), and I was surprised by the flavour of the pull pork - soy based (very Asian) but it blended well with the pickled cabbage.

Sarah

It's a Thursday brunch time and there's a short queue, which is understandable as I was told this place was good! 15 mins wait, not too bad. Staff were pretty friendly and ready to help. Ordered some iced coffee and iced tea while we wait and it was ready for collection pretty quick! Got a seat, ordered and food came pretty quickly too. I wasn't too impressed though although was told a few times to go and try it. I had the Pork Belly Brioche Bun with egg, chilli mayo and slaw ($20) and sweet potato chips - was okay acceptable but not wow. My friend had the marinated duck on roti ($23), duck was good but roti was flat and average & that's all there was on the plate other than 1 stalk of bok choy. Iced coffee was good. Overall, with regards to food, they weren't bad, but they weren't that good either for me to give higher than 3.

Michellexu6

Not sure about the hype of this place, nothing memorable the first time, decided to give it anther go since we were in the area, but food and coffee is just ok compared to some many better ones we tried in Melbourne, the real problem is the food made me and my partner felt very sick in the stomach abt half hour later (had nothing else in between). I dont think i would go back.

Piggy 小猪

Came to this cafe on a saturday morning for brunch and was PACKED!!! We waited for about 30 mins and got our seat. I order the Bbq pork benedict, it was pretty good. I really like the fusion idea from the chef. The food is amazing here, very beautiful plating. Service are quick and good. Decor is very modern. Food : 4/5 Service : 4/5 Decor : 5/5

Doitforthefood

There was about a 40min wait on Sunday around 11am, so definitely be prepared to wait. I ordered a white chocolate earl grey (relatively small portion) but didn't taste like anything too special. It was also my first time trying coffee jelly, which definitely tasted interesting! My favourite was probably the ube waffle, which wasn't too sweet and sesame ice-cream went well with the waffle. The other menu items were quite average and in my opinion, not worth the price nor the wait

Pav Arneja

Tried our luck again here after missing out the first time due to a long waiting list, we finally got a seat (albeit after another 40 mins of waiting). We tried the Kaya French toast and it was delicious! Not overly sweet but sweet enough to hit the spot. Coffee was good, friendly staff and a nice ambience, overall it was a pretty good experience!

Beck Cahill

This outlet is amazing. The service was friendly and attentive. The food was sensational! We ordered the duck leg, crispy chicken roll and the French toast with Kaya for a dessert. (I love Kaya so much) everything was paired perfectly to enhance the flavours. I've never had such a flavoursome duck. The crispy roll was messy, but it really didn't matter, flavour made up for this. As for the French toast... May they never remove this from the menu. Perfect. 10/10

Srslyfoods

Great place for brunch or lunch - we stumbled across the place just before the 9am opening time and there were already people lining up at the door, so we joined in just to see what the fuss was about, and we have no regrets

Jianne Yong

A talk of the town As I love Brunching, Operator25 was a ‘must-try’! When I went, I was welcomed with friendly staff and the waiters/waitresses are really pleasant so A* to them for service! The place was abit cramped though cute! I ordered the Coffee Spritz and the Cocoa Paleo Granola and at first they both were amazing! But after awhile, it felt abit sickening! Don’t take this the wrong way, the food was great but the portions were HUMONGOUS. Also, maybe my brain isn’t the most used to soda having a hint of coffee but the strawberry puree was great! Overall, I’d return but I’d opt for a savoury option (considering the person sitting near me ordered a savoury dish and it smelled heavenly!)

Eat_today_diet_tomorrow

We have been to Operator25 many times and still keep going back. Their asian inspired brunch menus are on point! We really like the fact that they keep changing menu, so every time we go we get to try new dishes. Not only the food that we love, their loft style cafe is also cool! The tip - go early / avoid peak time or else you will have to wait for 30 mins!

The Famished Fork

What a beautiful breakfast experience we had with our family today. Gorgeous fluffy Japanese omelette, pork belly Benedict and French toast! And my children adored their creamy hot chocolates - with Reece’s cookies and cream kisses on the side for an extra little bit of indulgence!! Service was attentive and friendly but not intrusive. Ambience was delightful and decor was perfect for the restored telecom building it once was. Loved it all.

Some Bunee Loves Food

They always change their food menu which is great! Yuzu Matcha Latte - A smooth and creamy milky green tea with a tinge of yuzu taste. Yuzu is a citrus fruit from Japan which seems to combine the best flavors of Meyer lemon, mandarin orange and grapefruit - zesty and aromatic. Love this drink! .

Jessica Felise

They have a good service with a very friendly and approachable staff. They also serve one of the few egg benedicts that i love in melbourne. Cant wait to come back and try their other menus💖

Angelo Pinnaduwa

This was recommended by a friend of mine as one of the best places to visit for brunch. The service was good though quite slow. It took around 30 minutes for them to get us a table after a 5-10 minute promise and that too after I did remind them when they were sending others who had come after us. Here comes the food. We ordered the BBQ pork Benedict, balinese pork Burger, a latte and a white chocolate earl's Grey. Those were definitely some instagrammable plates which looked good. Then comes the taste of it... The best cooked pulled pork topped with 2 eggs Benedicts, hollandaise sauce and kale; all on a fat slice of bread. Quaiity wise, 10/5, however I could eat 3 of them easily. The balinese pork burger however was more of a man's meal with such good flavors packed in one burger which was too big to hold together. The white chocolate was a quality drink to go with a meal. Again, they took around 10 minutes to get to take the order and we had to make awkward eye contact and calls to get the attention. If you're able to be alittle patient with the kind yet slow service, you're in for a treat.

Latitudes

Have been picking up excellent take away coffee from here for years and finally managed to meet some friends here for breakfast. So disappointed. The pulled pork dish was served cold with an unpleasant piece of brioche. I left it. One of our group had the rendang -great flavour but mostly fat and no meat. Other breakfast just ordinary. Coffee cool as in too long had passed between msjing and services vv. Hot chocolate ordinary. Service seemed disinterested. Perhaps my expectations were too high but we left very disappointed. Will not return.

Yulz

Decided to give this place a go for Sunday brunch after read glowing reviews and high rating in Zomato. We ordered ubbe waffle and Balinese pork burger. Coffee is good. Balinese pork burger is ordinary, nice bun and good marinated for the pork slices. Waffle is nice and warm, and the combination is good too. But the taste are just ordinary from my liking.

Leila

Asian inspired goodness! The dishes were so delicious, especially the kaya french toast. Coffee was great too. If you’re looking for brunch in the city, this is the place to be.

Annika Höfermann

Service was very good, coffee was strong (as I like it). But the paleo granola was kind of tasteless. The yoghurt tasted like they put a lot of water in to make it more voluminous.

Happy Foodie

4.5/5 I ordered the French toast and my friend ordered the beef brisket rendang. The French toast was thick and tasty but to me, just a little bit too sweet as I got to the end. The berry mascarpone and strawberries provided a refreshing combination with the brioche. The sauce was nice and buttery. Moderately busy on a slightly rainy Tuesday, there was no line. Staff were friendly - comfortable atmosphere and great for a catch up with friends. I tried some of the beef rendang, the beef had a lighter flavouring whilst the puree was the saltier one. I liked the combination. I also ordered the hojicha latte which I thought was a bit too sweet on it's own, but after the French toast the sweetness disappeared.

Angeliainmelbourne

Operator 25 incredible French toast and hojicha latte. I have tasted many kinds of crepes,waffles,and toasts in Melbourne since I am so into sweet taste for my first meal in a day. Sweet flavor brings a sweet day hhh. Taya French toast The toast is so soft, fluffy and subtle. And what surprised me was the toast looked like 3 even 4cm thick of each! There are some potatoes or pistachios(not sure) between two toasts, which makes the flavor richer than imagination. What’s on the top is taro ice cream or source, I love that so much!!! The berry mascarpone matches so well that you may not feel too much. And the hojicha latte and matcha latte are both amazing. I ordered a hot hoicha latte there, and I couldn’t help myself taking the ice matcha latte home with me after tasting. The staffs are so friendly and the service here is pretty good. I am going to have all options on the menu hhha~ Love the cafe aaah😽

Danielle Smith

Food was pretty good. Not really a lot of seating options so our parry of 4 had to sit in like a community style table. Made it a little awkward to have the family catch up conversations.

Gina Tran

A bit pricey, and not very filling. However, a great place to socialise wth friends, and have a cup of coffee. The interior design is beautiful and light. The overall food was average; my dish (Sautéed mushroom) was not what I expected, in a bad way and was definitely not worth its price. My partners dish was the BBQ Pork Benedict, which was flavoursome and delightful. First experience was not what I expected due to the major hype ups on facebook and instagram, but I would like to come back to try out the other dishes.

Heather Snow

Incredible food, relaxed atmosphere, fast service. Totally worth the short wait for a table. Loved the friendly shared table. We’ll be back!

Laksana.andrea

Super good food, service and ambience! The twist on brunch x asian flavours really brings out the best and specialty of this place! Definitely one of the best duck and french toast I have had during brunch in a while!! Will be back for sure!!

Shrek

Hip trendy very Asian hang out good magic That's coffee if U don't know corn fritters r insane with poached eggs for breakfast Staff freindly and there on hand to assist you There are lines to wait for a inside table so if weather is good then sit outside ... Positive foods shd bnd likes this one Coffee 8 Staff. 8 Shop fitout. 9 Fritters. 9

Melissa Phu

operator25 is a small cafe on Wills street. The food is super delicious and would definitely come again for another brunch date. The food is worthy for instagram and the sweet dishes aren’t too sweet. We all liked our own dish, but I especially recommend the French toast!! It’s not too sweet and the bread looked like it was 4cm thick!

Yuxi Li

Great coffee place. Fancy place for brunch. Always full during the busy hours. Nice environment to chill with friends. Have been here for several time and will come again.

Two Sheds

4.6 We found it hard to fault this place. It’s a beauty as there’s so much done well. I used to work in this area of town and in those days there was barely any cafe restaurant worth visiting. Operator 25 though absolutely demands to be visited. We loved the fit out and modern decor. They have created such a bright, attractive and fun space here which just feels so good. We started and ended with coffees which were beautiful. Gorgeous faultless brews. As is my tendency these days, I asked the server to suggest what they thought the best dish was. She unhesitatingly said the Pulled Pork Benedict was the top dish, in her view. It was a great recommendation. I really loved this dish. Couldn’t fault it. Just the right size, this is a gorgeous delicate number. The pork was fantastic, the eggs superbly done, the brioche was just right, the herbs spot on and the brioche chips a bit of fun with a little different texture and flavour. Great dish in my view. Perfect combo for mine. My colleague too loved his citrus cured salmon, as well. We had the sparkling wine as an accompaniment which was great. We wouldn’t have minded a Bloody Mary option on the drinks list as well. A final word about the great service here. We had three servers over the course of the brunch. They were outstanding. They were there instantly whenever you needed them, they always had a lovely nice smile and a good word, and everything - food and coffees - appeared with impressive speed. Service is rarely better. We’re progressively working our way through the highly fancied brunch places in Melbourne. Operator 25 deserves to be very high on that list. It is superior on this experience to a few other prominent cafes we’ve been to.

Mike

Very friendly engaging I just had a muffin and coffee but best coffee I’ve ever had. Will be a regular at wills street. Food looked tasty as well.

Karina J

Great coffee as always. The blend is smooth and the strength is medium range. The milk is not overly frothed. The decor is bright and the space is inviting.

Yorkstergram

Operator 25 is fusion brunch at its best! Delicious chais and matcha lattes, seasonal fruits and vegetables in thoughtfully made food, all packed into a neat little corner on the fringe of the CBD. Cannot wait to go back! :’)

Mrs Mark

There were so many things on the menu that I wanted to try! Settled for the mushrooms (the vegemite rice purée sounded better than it was) and the citrus cured salmon which was superb. Can’t wait to try the Japanese omelette amongst other things

Daniel Duong

Been here once for a fancy lunch. The food was good and i was served by friendly staff. The speed of the food was pretty fast and the quality and taste was amazing. I highly recommend checking this place out if you are around the area.

HC

I went there around 1pm, still lots of ppl eating. I really like the Asian style omelette, it’s good! And also, the staffs are friendly. Ice latte is normal.

Ashan

Lovely staff, great coffee and a cool menu - can’t wait to return! Brick walls are a great base decor to build on. The pulled pork Benedict sounds very interesting

Andy Ly

Had the BBQ Pork Benedict. Everything on it was perfect. The texture of the pork was amazing. Hollandaise and poached eggs were cooked to perfection. The addition of the wonton crisps made each bite worthwhile!! Good rustic atmosphere as I’ve concluded most Melbourne breakfast joints follow in the same manner!!!

Linda

This place rates well. They are perfectionist trying to get all the elements to a good cafe right. The coffee was done well (i just happen not to like their beans as much as others), the food is of a good quality, the service is pretty good and the portions vs pricing is fair. We have ended up here quite a few times too because it was a cbd location with good parking options around it.

Jasmin Lyons

This was seriously the most amazing breakfast I’ve ever had!! We ordered the Kaya French Toast and the Ube Waffle along with a peanutella and a latte. Everything was so fantastic. The waffle was a purple sweet potato waffle with black sesame ice cream. The flavours were very subtle and not too sweet at all. So yummy. The French toast was incredible. The berry mascarpone went so well with the peanut butter and banana sauce and the toast was so thick and fluffy. The meals came out very quickly and the staff were very lovely. Such a cute cafe in a great location. Can’t say a bad thing about this place, highly recommended!!

ＪＯＥＬＬＥ

Cute brunch place in the city. Ambience: The place is okay size, not small but not big as well. Most of the tables are bit tall, but some are normal height, which we were seated at (we prefer it too) though we did share the table with other. Overall nice ambience, we sat near the window which lets in just perfect amount of sunlight, the place is also pretty nicely lit. Service: The staffs were very friendly and attentive, despite seating at an area that was not in the sight of the staffs (which is awesome). Food came out quick as well, and overall just great experience. Food: Eggs benny was a pretty good dish. Both eggs were perfectly runny, the hollandaise sauce was yum, bread was fluffy and quite generous, wonton crisps add that crunchy texture to the dish, pork was nice and tender but some parts were bit too salty. What i dont like is the fact that the bread gets so soggy midway and it was hard to finish the dish without feeling sick/heavy. Nonetheless a pretty good dish. Ube (purple taro) waffle was actually a great one. The waffle was nice and crunchy outside and soft inside, not too sweet nor oily. The sesame ice cream complimented the dish really well, and again good texture and not too heavy nor sweet, just right. The fruits on the side (jackfruits, strawberry and compote pear) gave the dish a great fresh touch to balance the other two components, though can have more fresh/sour fruits. Matcha latte was pretty good, I'm not sure why it's called Kaya matcha latte, but there was no signs of kaya at all, it's probably just its name. Anyhow it was a good one, size was pretty good too, can be a tiny bit sweeter though. Oh and the latte art was so cute! (It was a bear) Houjicha latte was LOVE. I had soy houjicha and it was so good. The smell and taste of houjicha was very rich but not overwhelming, and it was just the right sweetness. I legit loved it. Price: For brunch, it's reasonable prices for the quality of food and service. YUM: ube waffle, houjicha latte NAH: none photos: ube waffle, houjicha latte, eggs benedict, kaya matcha latte ( follow for more!✨) ｘｘ，ｊｏｅｌｌｅ

Dinewithme

I don’t know why this place rating is so high, it’s just an ordinary cafe. Came here with my family, total 6 of us on weekend. Waited outside for about 30 mins, finally got us a high table with bar chairs, which was quite inconvenient as I have a 4 year old kid to dine with us. Food was average but quite expensive, small portion. Service was good. I won’t be going back as I think many cafes are far better than them.

Harrysingh Rawat

I love this place for breakfast. Great coffee and such creative, delicious food. Also very pleasant service. I like the space but expect to be sharing as many of the seating areas are long benches or big tables. I think that is fine for a breakfast and lunch place. It is tucked away from the main streets but worth the walk.

Anita Luong

Great customer service! Great range of delicious food options! Would definitely recommend. Had to wait 40 minutes to sit a table of 5 but it was definitely worth the wait.

Joanne Liu

We had to wait for ages, which is what lost this review it's 5/5 star. It's such a busy place too. I ordered the Blurple Iced tea, which was honestly not worth the money. It's supposed to change colour and look all pretty, but the taste was so average- a big let down, unfortunately. I thoroughly enjoyed the food though, however, I thought the portions could have been bigger for the price, but it was very tasty. The art decor was excellent though- 10/10 for the ambience.

Louise

One of nicest brunch places I’ve been to in a while. All of the items on the menu are very creative and 100% instagram-friendly! The service and ambience was great! If you’re wanting to go here make sure you book beforehand!

Carmen Lim

Conveniently located in the CBD and neatly tucked away in a smaller street, Operator 25 is a lovely place to seemingly get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The interior design is sleek and stylish, staff are all very friendly and the presentation and quality of food exceeds all expectations. We ordered the citrus cured salmon (gluten free) and the kaya french toast (vegan), as well as the banana mango passionfruit Hepburn natural juice. I enjoyed the citrus cured salmon - however it was nothing too special. The highlight of my meal here would definitely have been the kaya french toast - this was cooked perfectly (not too much oil!) - with a perfect blend of mixed berry mascarpone, strawberries, banana and sauce - a must try!!! Really enjoyed my experience here, would definitely recommend!

Eunice Garay

Was really pleased to eat at Operator 25! Ordered the Ube waffle and BBQ Pork Benedict which were so pleasing to consume. Especially the choice of fruits that were used for the waffles, wasn’t too overly sweet which usually happens! We also had a Kaya matcha latte and hot chocolate that were presented so cuteeeeely, it was a shame to have it been dipped away... It’s really busy so you will probably have to wait during peak times and may also have to seat next to strangers. But other than that, the meal was filling and delicious!

Descartesmuse

What a sensational place! The food here is exactly what Melbourne is about. It's edgy but comfortable, bright and colourful but tasteful, bold but subtle. You simply must take yourself and a friend here for a culinary delight as soon as you can. The menu options are so brain boggling good, you need extra time just to decide. Go.

Caroline Beaney

Operator25 has a really appealing menu but this time my friend and I decided to try the waffle. Interestedly enough the waffle’s appearance seems to differ in reviewers’ photos. On the menu it says there’s a white chocolate sauce. Not sure if it was there because the sauce was purple haha. It was kind of a weird waffle... I liked the taste of the waffle itself and the sesame ice cream however the other elements didn’t really appeal to me. I wasn’t overly impressed but would like to return to try the duck leg or twice cooked cauliflower dishes since they sound appealing to me. Also it’s an interesting set up. You will be eating on a table with strangers most likely. Due to space however you don’t notice it much.

The Go Go Mumma

I headed to Operator 25 to catch up with a girlfriend visiting Melbs which was just the ticket. Keeping its historic bones - originally a base for one of Melbourne’s telephone exchanges, its decor encompasses this with its own modern flair. The menu offers a delightful array of Asian fusion - with interesting twists to your timely favourites. However, for the plain Janes who don’t like to stray there are offerings of you basic eggs on toast too. My BBQ Pork Benedict - 👌🏽 the poached eggs were googey accompanied with the Asian herb hollandiase and wonton crisps made this dish; All that and a bag for chips. Centrally located, easily missable but not forgettable,. Definitely make you way down to operator 25 with your crew for incredible Melbourne dining experience.

JW

Operator25 has a relatively smallish breakfast menu with more sweet than savoury options on offer. I decidedly took advantage of this and tried the Kaya French toast, which was well balanced. It would be great to see a few more savoury options to appease those salty tooth's out there. I might give Operator another shot in the future.

Emily Chung

I had a really good experience at operator25 , my friends ordered the granola and matcha waffle while I had to kaya French toast. Let me tell you, you have to order the French toast !! It’s so unbelievably good and tastes as good as it looks , I would describe the taste as a buttery fancy as pastry that is soft and full of texture from the lovely sauce and fruit toppings 10/10 just for that dish 🙀 The iced tea is nice and refreshing , tastes like honey lemon tea with a hint of lavender but it might be too sour for some , I personally like it

Aye Mya Mya Khin

Came here on a Saturday afternoon. We were told to wait for 30-40 minutes but we got a table after 20! I had the duck leg and my friend had the matcha granola bowl. The menu was actually slightly different from the one from zomato. Duck leg was delicious, and I enjoyed the roti-duck combo, but was slightly dry. I also ordered an iced Kaya Matcha, which was okay but i couldn’t really taste the kaya in it. Got the Balinese Pork Burger for takeaway. We only ate it after 3 hours so I can’t accurately rate it but I liked the spicy mayo! Overall it was a filling meal and staff was really bubbly and friendly.

Walter

Stay in Melbourne for a week,breakfast here everyday,Friendly staffs, gorgeous food, fantastic place, A wonderful cafe must come again!!! Passionate chef👍🏻😍😍😍😍😍😋😋😋😋😋🙂🙂🙂🙂

Kaseyzz

Perfect menu for meat lovers!!! Duck leg was juicy and mushrooms r soft. The pie beneath absorbed the juice from the duck meat n become partially crispy n partially chewy. It’s like have Peking duck in another way. Burger is the best-sell one in operator25, which can serve you full. Crispy sweet potato chips reminded me of the snacks in my dad’s hometown. Overall, A good place for brunches other than pork belly and baked eggs.

Amysyder

The decor in this place is great, loved the coffee puns on the walls. The staff were very friendly and helpful! I thought the price of most food was very reasonable for Melbourne brunch. When my paleo granola came out I was happy with the portion size, and it kept me full for a long time, super tasty. Me and my friends were able to take our time and enjoy our morning without feeling rushed to leave which was great! The coffee was also superb! I would say the price of the avocado on toast was a tad much for what you got, but then most avocado on toast in the city is!

Alice Yin

We went here bcz of the matcha waffle, which didn’t disappoint us- the matcha taste of waffle, the sweetness of ice cream and fruits and the sourness of dried raspberry flakes blended very well. The other dish we ordered was BBQ pork Benedict, which was quite satisfying too. The eggs were well cooked with the taste of sauce to balance out the “meaty” taste of the pulled pork ( I’m not a big fan of meat but still like this dish) Did I mention the outstanding service from the team? We won’t hesitate to come back to try other dishes.

Sally Phillips

Love this slightly hidden, small cafe just near Flagstaff Gardens and Queen Victoria Markets. When you arrive you will have to wait 15-20min for a table but it's worth it! Once inside, the service is friendly, atmosphere warm and the food delicious. My partner and I had coffee to start with and cannot fault it one bit. Then we shared a sweet and savoury dish. We went for the eggs Benedict with pork on Briosh bread and the matcha waffles with stone fruit. Walked out full and content! This is our weekend go-to.

Nini Foodie

One of the most impressive cafes I’ve been to in a very long time. All of our dishes were amazing, but the Kaya French Toast ($18) actually made me die a little of joy and happiness. I don’t normally love or feel fully satisfied after a sweet breakfast but this one seriously did hit all the spots!! Everything went perfectly together without being too sweet, with the berry marscapone and fresh berries providing some much needed creaminess and tartness. Staff were also super lovely, coffee A+, and next time I would love to sit inside to enjoy their beautiful heritage listed interior!

Christinana

来过两次，第一次去得排队排了很久点的鸭肉，还不错但分量很小就个鸭腿配一点蔬菜. 第二次是早上来的人不多服务员不怎么搭理都围成一堆在前台聊天. 这次点了 pork burger 和软壳蟹 Tomyum，口味很一般没有特别惊艳的感觉分量还可以. 不会特别推荐. 不用排队的话可以尝尝，要排队就没必要了不值得.

Tintin39

It’s hard not to recommend this place for the best kaya matcha latte!!! reasonable price with solid portion. Eye catching decoration and cosy place to have lunch with friends

Bailin

Instagrammable food. Taste is ok/mediocre. Ambience is nice, good service, nice place. I ordered the pulled pork, the taste was ok. My friend ordered the matcha waffles, she said it was very sweet, not much matcha taste.

AManda Chen

Every weekend I will go to different restaurants have breakfast. Today's breakfast really good. The egg is very soft, it's perfect eat with tomato and spinach. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I will back again!

Foodies.and.Coe

A few matcha craving individuals stumbled down here on a Sunday seeking some brunch to fill their partied out stomachs and brains. The matcha latte came first, and it was sweet, sweet, green heaven in a cup. Next came the matcha waffles and the french toast, well boy, did these two individuals engorge themselves in a colourful and delicious feast. Two very satisfied creatures left the cafe smiling and satisfied, hoping to return for another treat.

Foodie In Paradise

This cafe serve some amazing food. We came here on a rainy weekday and it was very crowded. We had to share a table with others. We ordered the matcha waffle and the BBQ pork Benedict and there both taste absolutely amazing. The Kaya matcha latte was nice , taste more like matcha with a hint of Kaya flavor. Highly recommended this cafe and definitely coming back for more next trip.

Lisa May

Love this place. Amazing service. I ordered the Matcha Waffles. They were perfectly cooked and combined with a range of fruits. It was also beautifully presented. Highly recommend this place.

Jamie

Though busy, staff were pretty attentive and provided good service. We ordered a flat white, apple juice, iced matcha and peanutella for drinks, and for food the salmon, pork beni, matcha waffles and burger. Drinks and food were all great, however my iced matcha was pretty watered down. Aside from that, was a great brunch!

Kat Tran

I had a great time at Operator25 although it was very crowded. I had to share table with other parties but it was fine. The table was large enough to each of us have our private space to talk. I ordered avocado latte because it sounded interesting. I opted out the ice scream so it was a bit bitter but still strangely good and creamy. For two people, we ordered soft shell crab noodle and five spice duck. The food was delicious! It took a bit of a wait to get our food but it was worth it. The flavor was rich and yummy. If you enjoy Asian fusion food, you would love this place.

Christy

Thought I’d pop in after seeing so many raving reviews from this place. It was a rainy day when I came so it was nice to be able to grab a coffee. I remember it wasn’t the best coffee so I was slightly disappointed. This place doesn’t allow you to bring any outside drinks, just a heads up in case you were planning on doing so. I felt the service was a little of a let down as we struggled to get the waitress’ attention even though it wasn’t busy seeing as it was closing in about an hour. I’m not big on the atmosphere or the seating arrangement as it was dim outside enough. However, the food there was beautifully presented and very pleasant to my tastebuds. I had the balinese pork burger and my friend had the bbq pork benedict. There were a good combinations of sweet and savoury in both meals which were generous in each element of the dish, both cooked perfectly and very juicy. I particularly enjoyed how much they invest in balancing textures and played with colours.

Yuki Does Brunch

Operator25 has a good vibe with the decor and seating. Staff were friendly and accommodating. Coffee was good however would have liked more food options for breakfast/brunch. I ended up going with the tapioca and chia pudding which was the only option for me and that was quite pleasant. I would definitely try other places before coming back here again.

Bite The Looks By BHA

It was a bright spring day when my friends come to Melbourne and i invite them to have some brunch with me. We waited for approximately 30 minutes to get a table. After we got a table, we ordered, 1. kaya french toast 2. Grilled Chicken 3. Citrus cured Salmon 4. balinese pork burger 5. beef brisket with a cup of hot chocolate, 6. chai latte 7. coffee. 8. Hot chocolate Overall, The food was delicious (remind me of the taste from my home country (Indonesia) food) and the hot chocolate taste amazing! The staff was so busy, however it was a nice experience! #BHAsFoodDiary

Kathy2403

The meal was alright, despite its high price points. The sweet meals were way too sweet. But it was a good experience and the presentation of the food was insta worthy!

Season

Great brunch! The food was nicely presented and staff were welcoming, but the “duck leg” took really long time ( around 20 minutes) to be served.

Moetfan

Not entirely sure what all the hype is about Operator 25.... Maybe I had the wrong dish (Asian Eggs) but the dish was very average, not much flavour. The prawn crackers were a nice textural element and the bread was high quality. Staff were 100% Might go back for chia bowl maybe.

Lil Miss Vegan

I’ll get straight to it. The ‘granola’ is only nuts, seeds, some dehydrated apple pieces and two strawberries with a spoon of coconut yogurt. How are you supposed to eat nuts and seeds with no milk to go with it?? We had to ask for some. Normally granola is an oat mixture not just nuts. So bland and inedible. Waited 30 mins for this when I can do better at home. Really disappointed. I didn’t take a pic but I did get a shot of the only savoury vegan option. Wow yet again no flavour. Just the veggies you see with unmarinated tempeh and no dressing to tie it together.

Tiffany Chen

Poor environment and poor time frame estimation, I have told that just 15 mins wait and end up more than 30 mins. If 2 ppl go, then u have to share table with the others, 1st impression is bad.

Eating Away Melbourne

Used to go to Operator 25 every week when they firstly opened, back then there wasn't any queue or any hype but I loved it. Went again recently and glad they are still as good! It was a hot day and I had the chia. The chia wasn't overly sweet and the fresh fruit made it really refreshing. A good dish on a hot day!

Laura

Absolutely amazing! Delicious food and coffee, nice refreshing setting - prepare for a long wait if you go at peak lunch time but it’s worth it

Jason Estepa

Came here with my girlfriend to try the place out based off a friend’s recommendation. Located in a laneway, in a cute little spot. We tried out the pork Benedict and Asian omelette, as well as an orange juice and latte. Juice and latte were great! Pork Benedict: a bed of sweet savoury ‘filo bbq’ pulled pork which it failed to capture fbbq, but still tasty on a brioche slice and beautifully poached eggs. Asian omelette: Not so much a big fan, strong fish sauce and multi grain bread slices were a hard complement. The omelette cooked beautifully was overpowered with the fish sauce and nothing to balance the flavours, the fresh salad garnish on top was nice but didn’t help the dish entirely. Wouldn’t mind giving this place another go, and try their other menu items. Must try the sweet breakfast items next!

Fatcat

Beautiful atmosphere; they've built a nice theme around the building's history. The coffee's good (I had a nice iced latte) and the citrus cured salmon was delicious!

Victoria Jin

Disgusting. There was a fly in my drink, and I asked for changing another one. They said if you already drink it they cannot change or do anything about it. Not gonna go back again!! Bad service.

Gillydoesfood

Always a favourite of ours when we travel to Melbourne. The menu has changed slightly since our last visit, however, the food and service was still on par. The staff have always been friendly and the place is well decorated with funky signs on the walls. On this visit we had the mango smoothie bowl which was delicious as well as coffee and green tea. Of course we will we back here on our next visit to Melbourne.

_anne_with_an_e

{ _anne_with_an_e // review } * ORDERED: Chia pudding - best I've ever had. Perfect combination of flavours, textures and presentation. The tapioca mixed with the chia seeds was delish, as well as the compressed pineapple and my fave (surprisingly) was the freeze dried apple (I think it was). * PROS: lovely ambience, friendly service, great unique menu items, awesome looking dishes * CONS: not really any, maybe only qualm was the soy mocha coffee was a little weak in flavour/pretty milky * WOULD I GO BACK: yep yep Food: 4.5/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 Service: 4.5/5

John Michael Ong

Operator 25 is just awesome, one of my go to places when I'm craving some fusion inspired brunch dishes. Great coffee too and I love what they've done to the interior. Really has the vibes of the cafe name going on!

Xtina

Interesting menu. The pork belly was tastey, but needed another piece of toast. The matcha waffles were nice, but need much more sauce! The green tea ice cream on top was faultless though. I’d be back to this place

Vic

The wait on weekends is super super long but if you love brunch, then you can hear the 35 minute wait... Super good food and service was a bit slow but since it was so busy on a Saturday, it can be forgiven

Michael Tan

Beautiful brunch food with amazing coffee. If you have dogs and want to bring them along, outside seating is usually available which was great! I believe their Balinese pork burger has been there since opening and there's probably a reason why it's still there ;) Can't wait to come back with my furry friend!

Danny Diep

Food looked good, did not try so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. We came at a busy time on a busy day so we just got takeaway coffees. Great teamwork shown through minimal staff and maximal efficiency. Love your work guys. Lost major points for not stirring my half raw sugar in the takeaway cup hence my coffee experience was bitter.

Pinkysori

This place was super crowded at lunch time. I had to share table with a family. The Japanese open omelette was pretty nice. Although the art decoration for the matcha latte was cute, the latte did not taste so good, probably because of the matcha powder.

Jocelyn

The portion is of decent size. The flavour of both dishes were alright. Didn’t get any coffee this time because there’s nothing special we want to try.

AvocadoToast

Had the matcha latte, duck and soft shell crab dish today! Lovely presentation and tasted fabulous. The duck was cooked just right with a crispy skin, and the roti was great. The sauce was quite sweet which somehow blended everything well together. The soft shell crab laksa was very coconut-y and I would’ve preferred if the laksa had more curry flavour to it and perhaps maybe a bit of spice. But the dish was thoughtful and I enjoyed every bite!

Linh Thuy Vu

It was a really nice place to eat and enjoy the taste of foods in weekend. I love the blurple ice tea here. It’s very signature flavor and the foods was really amzing ❤️❤️❤️

LA Aguirre

Decided to have brunch in the city last Saturday afternoon and came across this place on Zomato. We went there and we got told there would be a 30 minute wait, but we didn't wait more than 20 minutes (Woohoo!). Staff were really friendly and prompt! The food was amazing! Great fusion of Asian and Brunch-y foods. Avocado smoothie was okay, but the matcha latte was probably one of the best we've had (and they did a cute bear art for us). Would recommend this place to anyone!

Cherry Chen

nice little restaurant for brunch. had waffle plus a duck leg~yummmy~ wait time: 5mins food: 4 stars service: excellent will come back for other dishes.

Erica

"Boring flavour, over cooked lamb and very salty cured salmon" summarises my experience here. Coffee was good, but as food goes, quite a disappointment

Munching Pandas

Had the soft shell crab soba today, and the taste was very rich and thick. i don't know what to expect since they put laksa for the base soup. But it was one of the mindblowing dish ive ever had. Soba soft texture, crispiness of crab and strong flavor of laksa is just wonderful. it really brings out the asian touch. the only suggestion is that thick asian flavor is not for everyone, might be a downturn for non asian customer. you might also consider to sit in the outdoor table since it is not a busy street, you can actually enjoy the spacious and fresh outdoor

Hungry Polar

Prepare to wait for at least 30mins at this busy joint, but we were lucky enough to be seated in 10minutes!! One little look at the menu, there’s so much that ticked the boxes etc; matcha waffles, the citrus cured salmon...hmm,but G had a small appetite so we ended up ordering the soft shell crab and barramundi. The soft shell crab was served with enoki and soba noodles bathed in laksa sauce. The laksa sauce was spot on, flavours were rich and full bodied complemented the soba noodles with the crispy tempura battered crab. The sesame rice paper crisp was a bonus to scoop up the extra sauce! G enjoyed her barramundi, cooked just right with the flesh still delectably soft. The white bean purée went well with the other elements. Needless to say, we really enjoyed our lunch, and definitely coming back to try out the matcha waffles and other dishes on the menu! Till then...! 😊

Rebecca

The duck leg is really amazing not that strong sauce and everything is just balanced! The service is good but just a bit slow serving, as 35 mins waiting.

Vkap8

We tried to get a table here and failed due to the number of people. Determined not to have the same issue, went this time with just four including a baby. The food options read well, and we opted for the pork burger, omelette, and the yuzu salmon. All dishes were excellent, but that omelette was clearly outstanding. Although the coffee is rather average, will definitely return to sample the rest of the menu.

HeHe He

Tried the balinese pork burger and found that it was a bit too rich in flavour for me - generous servings, however, and thoroughly enjoyed the soy latte.

KLLYXNG

I do love the interior, it's a gorgeous setting and there is never a long wait when I go. Only thing I would comment on is the lighting on the inside is a bit of a downfall. There isn't much natural light unless you're sitting on the common table (which is rare for me). For the food -- matcha waffles are a definite must, although I have had other variations from their seasonal menu, this is one of the better ones. I personally prefer the waffle texture to their hotcakes for some reason - not sure if it is the batter that they've used previously that didn't quite hit the nail. The price point for their dishes are quite high in my opinion; but service is always friendly and I have dropped by at least twice a year.

Anton Stevens

Great coffee and a very interesting menu with loads of unique dishes. I couldn't resist the open Japanese omelette. To get a table does take time and the food is slow to arrive. However it was worth the wait very tasty.

Skeyfei.jia

The waffles where cold , the fruits on the waffles however where really good, the fried chicken inside the burger was very sweet but still tasty.

Chibi

Operator25 is located in a quiet alley a little off the main CBD area. It has a very "Instagram worthy" feel inside and I didn't hesitate to snap a few photos of my place and the food. The food is great for pictures but taste wise is just ok. Portion sizes were extremely small for price and although I have a small stomach, I still felt peckish after leaving. I will most likely not come again but do recommend everyone to try it at least once.

FoodieLoveEatFood

This is the brunch place I visited the most. Firstly the location is good. Secondly the food itself is so yummy! Then change menu quite often! But last time when we visited the girl at the front door was not friendly. it was raining so heavily, she asked us to wait outside. We been informed that the table will be ready 30 mins later. So we went to the car and came back like 20 mins later. She told us our table has been offered to other people coz we came bk late! You should at least took down our phone number instead of blaming on your customers! Well beside this we still love the place!

Danielle Nguyen

These place seems to be quite popular so I had to give it a go. I ordered the five spiced duck leg. The flavours complimented each other well. The layout of this place were clean and modern 👍

Judy

The pulled pork eggs benny is a brilliant way to start a Sunday morning. The hollandaise sauce isn't too heavy, but still rich and smooth. It is a good portion and the watercress added a nice touch of freshness to dish. Yum!

Flora Pun

Nice coffee with very friendly staff. You had to share tables with other customers in this cafe. Very busy cafe, people finished their foods and drinks in a short time.

Lonnie Wong

We had to share tables with other customers in this cafe. A very busy cafe not really relaxing. Quality of food does not match the price. Coffee was good though.

Steven Gu

Operator 25. The place I like to come and they change the menu all the time. Therefore Always something new to me. Like the old menu which some of them may not be available.

Whitnieee

Very friendly service Had the pulled pork benedict with some mushroom and avocado on the side and a long back, the coffee is shorter than I expected but quite tasty 😋

Coco F

We waited for more then an hour outside this place only to find out the food was very average and it was 1/4 empty inside. The host was unable to manage his tables to fit his customers in the place, where there were so many empty seats in the cafe. As the staff person who is running the floor his attitude and demeanour was Very poor .

Maureen Grace Kuran

Ambience is average, typical modern cafe. Food was great! Coffee or matcha tea is yummy. Price is descent as the serving is very large. Customer service is wonderful, always smiling and very helpful.

Hoyon Jo

I've been here twice. At the first time, one of waiter was bit rude for me. His face, actions did. So i didnt go here for a long time but i went here tday. There was a new waitress and she looks kind. And our dessert delivered when we finished our meal. The matcha latte was quiet pretty. But in the case of matcha waffle, was little bit dry and the rasberry sause didnt go well with the waffle taste. The sause was too fruty and the seeds are irritating. But this cafe is very near my house so i might go here again:)

Jean

Poor service, poor food. The place was empty yet our food took forever to come. Even before that, they sat us at the side table and didn't bother to come to get our order. We had to call them at the counter twice. Food wasn't particularly delicious either. The tempeh in the roasted pumpkin dish was way oily. And the lamb was so tough!!!

Nen

I came here when it first opened and the food was fantastic. I recently visited again and it changed. Service was underwhelming and food was not as great as I remembered. I do love the matcha latte!

Eunifoodie

Honestly, I thought this was just another one of those overhyped and overrated cafes in Melbourne but I was so wrong; this cafe is AMAZING. The dishes are unique and infused Asian tastes into some of there dishes. My mates and I ordered the soft shell crab, bbq pork benedict and the Japanese open omelette. The soft shell crab was served with a soba noodle salad with laksa sauce - now that was an interesting combination. I loved it, but then again, I love anything with soft shell crab. The benedict was so good, the brioche toast was so crispy but soft and the pork was very beautiful done. The Japanese open omelette was interesting, I didn't know what to expect tbh. The sauce was so good, it tasted a bit like takoyaki sauce. The bread that came with it was very nicely toasted. I also ordered the kaya matcha latte and the peanutella. I couldn't really taste the kaya in the matcha latte so that was bit disappointing but the peanutella was SO GOOD SO VERY GOOD. The peanut butter Nutella milk was a bit too rich for me by the peanut butter chocolate bar served on top was amazing, especially when it's slightly melted into the drink. Would come again. Definitely.

Joan Lee

Long queue but worth the wait. The matcha latte is smooth and creamy with just enough matcha. The burgers are unique and delicious. Most definitely one to try for something different and it is nice and filling.

Sin Yee

Nice environment but you have to wait about half an hour as the business was really good! I love the burger so much. Thanks for making a cute latte art for my friend.

Fat Boi

It's not hard to find good coffee and a good breakfast in Melbourne but Operator25 is one of my favourites in the CBD. Service was great and the food was quick and the menu had enough variety to go back every morning for a week.

Mary Tran

A nice brunch place to visit but the queue gets quite long for lunch. I very much liked the pulled pork eggs benedict. The ice matcha latte (not pictured) was too milky.

Sanj Tanya

Great atmosphere and menu! Definitely recommend for a nice brunch with a group of friends! The chai latte has a tad bit too much cinnamon but otherwise the coffee is great

Sebastian55

Pork benedict amazing! Coffee not so much. Don't understand baristas that decide to serve you a half latte in a piccolo glass. I asked for a half latte because I enjoy drinking my coffee from a latte glass.. if I want to drink a piccolo I will ask for a piccolo!!! Disappointing! Won't return!

Taeyeon's Hamster

It's been a while since we returned and Operator25 never disappoints us. From the service to the food and coffee, everything is good. As usual there is a queue on weekdays during brunch and lunch hour. One of my favourite dishes that comes and goes on their menu is the Matcha Hotcakes. As a matcha lover, their hotcakes bring out the bitterness from the matcha accompanied with the sweet mixed berry sauce. Operator25 change their menu time to time, giving us more choices and new dishes to try. Always looking forward to surprises on their new menu. Really miss the time when Mikael Jasin was Operator25's barista. However, the coffee is still great here. Operator25 has kept their food and service standards. Great place recommended if you are after good coffee and brunch.

Breakfastpiggy

Piggies recommend this breakfast for people who love that something sweet in the mornings! Very delicious and great coffee! The service is good as well 💕🐷

Shelly

Good coffee, friendly staff, reasonably quick service usually. Definitely cheaper coffee of a similar standard in the area that don't charge a credit card surcharge. Still worth a go though.

Karen Giang

Been here a few times and though I love the atmosphere of this place, I must admit that the food can sometimes be a bit hit and miss. Coffee here is always great though !

Jade

was keen on returning to operator25 for a second time today! we ordered almond chia pudding, matcha waffles + blurple iced tea. Chia pudding was presented really nicely, there was a lot more tapioca compared to chia but tasted amazing + milk crumbs were a delicious complement! a lot more filling than it looks. blurple iced tea was so pretty but ginger taste quite strong! Waiting time is average :-)

Kylie

Not bad service, felt like only one waitress was working. Although she was very polite, there was another waiter walked past at least twice in ten minutes without asking if we wanted to order. We ordered the kaya matcha latte and cappuccino, both of which were standard tasting. I ordered the soft shell crab and my boyfriend ordered the Asian omelette. My crab was alright, but the soup it came in was very salty compared to an actual Vietnamese dish, too much fish sauce. The omelette was very bland and presentation wasn't anything special. Wouldn't pay $50 for this again.

Aabcsunyue

Being attracted to operator25 by its matcha latte. It is really as expected. The cute baby bear made me not bear to drink it. Really spent a nice afternoon chating with friend

Christine Tjang

Tried this famous brunch spot based on reviews, the food looked pretty however the taste was blant. ambience of restaurant is nice and the kaya matcha latte was really good. i ordered the citrus salmon for my main, salmon was nice and fresh and the poached eggs was well done, however there is a massive piece of polenta which was really big in proportion of the salmon, furthermore the cucumber and tomatoes were just chopped and no taste and the flavour combinations weren't working with each other at all. disappointed overall :(

Jessamy

Reliably good coffee, and a variety of seats for small and large groups. Nice location (tucked up a small street, but still in the CBD), with friendly staff and a high tolerance for those of us who need to pull out a laptop at the table.

Hannah Rogerson

I come get a lot and love it every time! Customer service is great, even on a Sunday morning when it's quite busy. The photo is of the matcha waffles, great serving size and price! High key would recommend!

Kimberley Leggett

After a small trek to find this place, a friend and I came in and sat down at the bar stools nearby the window. The place is well decorated and has a good atmosphere. and had the Barramundi dish with asian greens and tomato medley - It was tasty and the fish was fresh with crispy skin. My friend had the soft shell crab burger which was crispy with the right amount of crunch. We had a good lunch and enjoyed coming in. Will come back to try the rest of the menu as there are a few new additions to the breakfast side that look uber tempting!

Kira Dinh

Went here for a catchup with my friends yesterday, and we were quite impressed with the presentation of our dishes (except for the pork burger one-however although it looked plain, my friend said it was quite delicious). I ordered the king fish dish (Japan inspired) and I found it quite nice. I thought like the flavours worked really well together and gave a very satisfying taste. The eggs also was quite yummy and I thought it was cooked to perfection :)

Eugene Li

This place is absolutely over expectation , if you want to try something different to normal brunch have , you must try this cafe, the food combines Asian and Western style , very interesting place to go.

Love At First Bite

Operator 25 is a cafe located in the Melbourne CBD and has become a Melbourne institution ever since it opened up. It’s Asian inspired menu, excellent coffee and clean decor see a long line every weekend. We’ve been here on several occasions – for weekday breakfasts before work, for a lazy brunch on the weekend, and for a quick coffee. In this post we’ll be going over one Breakfast and one Brunch that we’ve had at the venue.

Lena

After being left disappointed by another brunch spot in the CBD, Operator25 left my partner and I more than satisfied! With an Asian twist on typical Melbourne brunch dishes, the food here is exciting and different. There are plenty of drink choices to compliment the food menu, a favourite of ours is the corn fritters and the teriyaki benedict. With a cool vibe and easily accessible by public transport, Operator25 should be on every Melbournian's brunch bucket list!

Mustard

Being indecisive with my ordering I picked a dish based off a waitress's recommendation from a select few. I ended up getting the Japanese open omelette which was reminiscent of a takoyaki. Don't get me wrong, I like takoyaki but after a few it can get sickening. The sauce, pickled ginger and mayo became too overpowering. I probably made it sound worse than what it was, I still found it decent. In saying that my friend thoroughly loved his teriyaki benedict as did the girls sitting next to us. Interested in trying their signature dishes next time around.

Maddi

Had brunch here with a few friends, everyone enjoyed their food. I had the corn fritters which were crispy on the outside and soft inside, overall very nice. The atmosphere might not be everyone's cup of tea, tall tables shared with multiple groups, but we didn't mind that.

Mengxi Le

Latte coffee was cold. All food were burned in black. Terrible place！You are able to find it in the pictures. I don't why the rating is so high!

Ben Streater

Cute little place with the perfect decor for the current cafe seen. And I love the Asian fusion menu. I had the Japanese open omelette and flavour were on point. Chai latte had a pretty spicy punch for breaky but still enjoyable. Will be back to try more. Great job operator25!

HungryMelbournian

Very busy Sunday morning, we didnt want to miss the oppurtunity so we waited and got a seat. Staff are absolutely amazing 😊 Had a chai latte. Very authentic tasting, assuming house made. Beautiful. Teriyaki Benedict was a great desicion. Something different to the usual breakfast. Flavours were great all together. The omelette was very flavoursome. Would recommend both dishes. The couple next to us also ordered the same dishes so I assume it is a popular choice. Definitely return and recommend.

Vyngocbui

Both savoury dishes were tasty, good in balance of texture and taste from the few bites I had. The omelette was delicious with the ginger and sweet sauce. My waffles were crispy but lacked fluffiness, they were a little plain but the ice cream made it better. It needs a little more chocolate to add more sweetness in my opinion. The cap and matcha latte were standard, however I asked for soy milk and I didn't get that. Food: 3/5 Service: 3.5/5 Time for food to come out: approx 23 mins

Elmocookie

Had some matcha infused drinks and food here. The Kaya matcha latte was delicious but had no hint of Kaya at all, the matcha was definitely overpowering. Omelette was a bit on the sweet side but we felt the pickled ginger went well with it. Waffles were tasty but perhaps a bit too much on the crunchy side. Will definitely be back to taste more!

Kurt Jenkins

Got the Teriyaki Benedict with avocado and the Japanese open omelette, pricing waa competitive, the portions were pretty big, couldnt finish the meals, and the taste was amazing! Perfect coffees too!

Jessie Foodie

I have heard Operator 25 have the best matcha in Melbourne. My friends and I went there to enjoy the brunch and taste the best matcha. We ordered matcha waffle, Balinese pork burger, chicken burger, chicken teriyaki Benedict and chai latte and matcha latte. One of my favorite dishes is Balinese pork burger. The burger bread is soft and the pork is soft as well. It is the meat could melt in your mouth. Once you bite the burger, you will put the bread, fried egg and pork meat into the mouth. It tastes really yummy. Must try it. You will know how delicious it is. Matcha waffle is a good dessert but you need to eat it in hot. It is unsweet. With the green tea ice cream melting on the waffle, it tastes great. The kiwi fruit is little sour, hah. Chicken burger is okay. The fried chicken meat is a little bit dry. Chicken teriyaki benedict tastes not as good as I thought. The bread is too dry but crunchy.

J0yy173

On a day when the taste buds demanded something inspiring to start the day, Operator 25 answered the call in a most satisfying way. Starting off with the most helpful, smiling service, she helped me to decide on the tug of war between their famous Balinese Pork and the Cured Kingfish. The latter won. The tender slices of kingfish rested on a bed of sushi rice with coconut crumbed prawns, soy poached egg, cucumber, seaweed sheets, pickled pickled radish and avocado wasabi mousse. The ingredients harmonised well in taste and texture, counter-balancing any sharp flavours of an individual element. Friendly service in a modern, converted warehouse setting, I've always enjoyed my time here.

Urban Foodie

The first day we had breakfast here it was delicious! We ordered poached eggs on toast with a side of avo and the smoothie bowl. The eggs were delicious!! And gluten free toast was the best toast I've ever had and you would never know it was gluten free. The avo side was half an avo so very generous! The smoothie bowl was also scrumptious and my partner finished it within minutes! The coffee both mornings was very delicious and smooth! The second morning our order got stuffed up but we got amazing service in the correction of this! We had fried eggs on toast with a tomato side and the chia pudding. We also got to try the Bircher muesli for free! This was super scrumptious and exceeded expectations with just the right level of sweetness. I would highly recommend this breakfast place to anyone visiting Melbourne It does get very busy on weekends though so either go early or be prepared to wait for a table (we only had to wait about 10min for a table though so not too bad)

Kriti Kapoor

Best brunch in Melbourne. The food is excellent quality and perfectly prepared! I was visiting a few friends in Melbourne and they brought me here and I'm so glad they did. I still think about the Matcha waffles and green tea ice cream. It's been 4 months and I can still taste them! It's one of the many things I miss about my trip to Australia. Definitely give this place a try, food is fantastic and prices are great too!

Hannah Robson

I'm intolerant to eggs and asked to swap my meal's egg for a cooked tomato (both were listed as the same price on the "extras" menu) however the waitress informed me that substitutes were not possible. I could, if I wanted, pay for the tomato and they would simply leave the egg out. I agreed, then received my meal with the egg and no tomato.

Patrick Leung

The Long Black with Colombian Single origin is the best I had today in Melbourne. Extremely sweet and fruity smell and flavour. No bitterness means they always keep the machine clean. The barista made a shot for himself to taste first and made a second one for me to make sure it's the highest standard. Much better than Sensory lab and Axil's barista!

Weddy76s

I ordered Matcha waffle first bit there is some plastic things inside of waffle, so disappointed and the coffee made looks like what I made at home ,not so nice

Wandering Ella

Great atmosphere, friendly staff most of the time and good coffee. Recommend: Cured kingfish on sushi rice Cured Kingfish Surprisingly enjoyed this dish. Every element on the dish on it's own would just be bland, but everything combined made the dish perfect sense. I liked the combination of flavours and the coconut crumbed prawn and the avocado wasabi mousse won me over. Matcha Waffles The waffles were pretty good, not too sweet. I didn't really like the rose water scent that went into the dish but I enjoyed the strong green tea ice cream that came with it.

Paulin Kosasih

Amazing Chicken teriyaki benedict! i loved it :) the service was nice, the staff was helpful except the long waiting time for the table and the foods. the matcha waffle was fine but the chicken teriyaki is my favourite:) Good Job!!!

Gee

First of all, loved the height of the communal tables and the stools. It was quite hard to get the waitresses attention (it was 2pm and past the rush), but eventually we ordered. The matcha latte looked great but was far too milky for my liking. The Bali crispy pork burger was delicious but far too small for the $20 charge. Also, the fried egg wasn't cooked correctly and had the transparent film of membrane on top. The smoothie bowl was interesting and overall we'd probably go back to give them another chance.

Sprinkles

Found this place on instagram, walked from our hotel. We had to wait as it was busy! Good signs! I ordered the smoothie bowl which was delicious, different to what I've had in the past though! But the taste was there :)

Full Time Wholesomeness

Very beautiful layout inside the cafe~ cosy, modern and elegant. Went there on a sunny Saturday to catch up with my friend. We loved the food corn fritter and the matcha waffle which are the star dish. The matcha ice cream together with the chocolatty syrup from the organic waffle slice enhance the aroma and taste buds. I especially enjoyed the cheesy texture and imitation of the porched egg in the corn fritter. Need to be there before 10 to enjoy the time before everyone hits! Staffs were very courteous 😀

Ferris Wheel Flight

How do you keep in touch with people who you no longer see regularly? A sad part of adult life seems to be losing touch with friends. Sure, you can see what they’re up to on facebook, instagram or other social media but there’s nothing quite like catching up in person. In a similar vein, how often should you touch base with a good cafe or restaurant? I’ve admitted time and time again that when it comes to food I’m not one for commitment. I can’t bring myself to visit the same places again when there are so many new ones to try. Even so, sometimes I feel that from time to time I should check up on places that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Perhaps it serves me right when after a year, they’ve totally changed the menu and replaced all the old favourites.

Sarah In Melbourne

Came here with my friend as I was visiting Melbourne city last year. I had the granola bowl? ( forgot what's the name of the dish). It was leaning towards the sweeter end I hope and suppose it's from the fruits? But overall the taste was good. Coffee was ok. My friend had I think pulled pork ? It was goood! Wouldn't mind trying their other dishes!

Hangry Horace

When we arrived at Operator25, we didn't have to wait for a table which was great. We ordered a double espresso and some food. I had the five spiced duck leg while my partner had the corn fritters. The duck was okay but I wished the skin was more crisp and the fat more rendered. It came with roti which tasted quite nice on its own but I didn't see how it went well with the duck as there was no sauce/curry to mop up. My partner enjoyed his corn fritters as they were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Their coffee wasn't my favourite as it was quite acidic.

Leah Deutsch

Highly anticipated cafe that was on my watch list. Sadly was a hit and miss on this one. Food was bland and texture was off, felt very one dimensional but I'm not a chef so I could honestly just be some bougée white girl that didn't understand the concept of the dish ?? Staff was lovely no complaints there :) maybe just ordered the wrong dish , but to really inclined to go back

IEats

A lovely cafe with many great brunch options. I had the Balinese Pork Burger which was really delicious. At the time of my visit, they had the matcha hot cakes which was what drew me to this place initially. The coffee was also very good and the service staff were excellent.

Danny Nguyen

One of the best brunch places I've been to. Food was absolutly delicious and the wait was not long. The vibe of the place felt amazing and overall a pleasant experience.

Bi.ly

I've gotta say, I was very impressed. Their matcha latte was smooth and creamy, and matcha waffles were very creative and delish! Probably worth the 30min wait. Can't wait to try their other food items.

欣玲刘

Great atmosphere for breakfast and good coffee before going to uni. Their food was quite tasty, good portion size and customer service was friendly and quick. Will be dropping by quite often.

Tattooedup888

Poor service , waited outside for a table was told I would be attended to in a minute as the little Asian girl was taking in 2 people by the looks of it she's totally forgot about us , went in for the second time and was told she would come out in a moment with no apology ... sends out one of the waiters 10min later only to tell us that there would be a very long wait on food and that even though there's a free table outside we would have to wait for the people on the waiting list to be seated inside first before we are attended to!!! Umm? Are you friggin serious ? I have travelled the world and been to many places and have never heard of anyone saying that before in my 33 years of my life ! Ahh thanx but no thanx .. bad service . Bye Felicia

Amanda Ryan

Came here for brunch yesterday afternoon. As I had my little dog with me, I had asked the host at the front how long the wait would be for an outside table. She said only a few minutes, there was a table available outside which was available, however a couple were sitting at that table while waiting for their inside table to be ready. Once the couple got off the outside table and went to dine inside, my husband and I (pooch included) went and sat at the outside table. 10 minutes passes by and not a single waitress/waiter came up to our table to serve us. I took it upon myself to go inside and ask the host for menus to which she replied 'just give me a minute and I'll bring them over to you' not sure why she couldn't have just hand me the menus when we've already waited 10 minutes. I replied... 'ok we'll can I just put through an order for 2 lattes?' She then replied 'I have to set up your table first before I can put through your order' I found this weird! So I then went back outside, with no menus and no coffee order and waited another 10minutes for someone to come outside and 'set up our table'. Finally another waitress comes outside WITHOUT menus and says 'there's going to be a bit of a wait on your meals today as there are still people waiting to be seated inside who came before you' ummmm WHAT?!?!? So you mean to tell me that because they came before me and their table isn't ready (not my problem they don't want to sit outside) that I have to wait until they order their food first?? Never have I ever heard such bull in my life! Lucky this is Melbourne and we aren't short of amazing cafes who take pride in their service and customers! Will not be returning!

Laurence Song

Recommend via social media therefore we went to there to gave a try. First, had to wait 15 mins with plenty empty tables inside even those tables were not for reservation. We ordered the match latte, nah, too sweet, omelette, nah, didn't know why they put bread on and they were hard like a rock and too many elements on a small omelette. Match Waffle, average. Still hungry after spent same amount money as other cafe. Service is average as well.

Kathy Loh

was a long wait.. otherwise, really great coffee, great breakfast. loved their smoothie bowl and waffle. their food tasted as great as how it looks. would not mind coming back to try some of their other stuff.

Venky Rajagopalan

Do yourself a favour and get down here. By far my favourite cafe of all time 🙌🙌. Ordered the corn fritters and chia pudding which were both AMAZING. Will definitely be coming back down to Melbourne and dropping by again soon!

Whenfoodiesmeet

Feeling like a Saturday brunch? @operator25cafe is the place to be on a springy day like today! Featured here is the Slow Cooked Duck Leg with Japanese pumpkin purée, broccolini, confit garlic, shitake mushrooms, chorizo and xo dressing. The duck simply melts in your mouth and goes very well with the pumpkin purée - a must try! We also had the gluton free Almond Chia Pudding comprising of chia, almond milk, rhubarb and elderflower compote, lots of pineapple (thankyou!), toasted almond flakes and pepitas! This is definitely a light, refreshing and healthy meal to kick start your day! For those that rise a little later, you can still have your share as these are served all day! Happy weekend Melbournians :)

Anson

Cute, little cafe tucked away in the CBD providing Incredible food and service! The teriyaki benedict was perfection as it was so innovative, with all the flavours melting together in harmony. The matcha waffles were marvellous - not overpowered in sweetness, which I loved. In addition, the matcha latte was a cup of magic, just what ever matcha latte should taste like. I will be back again!

Nozomi Oishi

Good ambience and great food. The Teriyaki Benedict was a unique Japanese twist on a classic brunch dish. Be prepared to wait on weekends though.

Lisa Giles

I had always wanted to try Operator 25, and so glad I finally did. I went with my cousin and sister on a weekday (no waiting time) and we all raved about it! I loved the look of all the Asian themed brunches. I had the octopus omelette, and the flavour was amazing! Can't recommend enough. My cousin ordered the kingfish sashimi and my sister ordered the barramundi main. Both were also very tasty! Will definitely be back!!

AnotherAsianAbroad

Decided to try this place as it was in the CBD. Service was slow as we were tucked in the corner. I had to get up and ask for them to come and take the order. I chose the granola but there was nothing special about it in terms of flavour or presentation. It didn't come with any milk however which would have been very dry to eat! My partner had the benedict which was ok the portion was quite small and he left feeling hungry. The bread was also sweet so be careful before you order. Wouldn't come back here for brunch.

Kirby May

Excellent breakfast menu! I had the Matcha pancakes which were to die for! Great vibes, although not a lot of seating so make sure you book a table. Would return.

Alex

Beautiful atmosphere and service, and the crumpets with butter and compote were five star! Highly reccomend for coffee and relaxing, really nice experience

Expat Gourmand

One of our favourite places to bring our out-of-town guests is brunch at Operator25 and then a short stroll to the Queen Vic Market, which is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. We first visited Operator25 a few years ago when we met up with a cousin, during a trip to Melbourne while we were still living in Hong Kong. We certainly didn't know that we would be back for many more visits, and we have enjoyed every visit. The drinks menu are as innovative and creative as the food, and I especially love the beautiful latte art that accompanies the hot drinks. The menu changes seasonally, so there's always something new to try everytime we visited. It is a very popular brunch joint, so I always make bookings on days that Operator25 accepts reservations (on weekdays only for groups over 6), which is essential whenever dining out with children. The benedict creations and burgers are always excellent choices, and all the other dishes we've tried have also been fabulous.

Goldentongue

Teriyaki benedict was flavourful. The pulled pork gave a different but pleasant twist to an ordinary eggs benedict. Would definitely come back to eat it again! Also tried the chicken karaage burger, flavours were there but the bun is quite dry and thick.

Winnie Fafa Chan

After a long boring class, I came here alone for lunch. There is bar I can sit on my own. Love this beautiful duck leg 💕 and I like this matcha latte as well. I would love to try matcha waffle next time.

Chee Ching Low

I find the food here decent but I expected more out of it. I like how the menu is very Asian inspired and has those elements in it, but I think it needs to be more flavourful and presented better. However, I do like their deco and typically it's a good place to have a catch up with your friends. Coffee is good but not the best. Overall, it's your average brunch spot.

Jessica

Loved the friendly service and ambience of the place. Had to wait about 30min for a table for 4 at 2pm on a weekend, but loved the fact that the service was not rushed even though our seats were in high demand. Ordered the Soft-Shell Crab and found that the crispy layer was slightly too thick and oily. Every bite seemed to ooze oil. Fortunately, the sauce managed to cut through some of the oily flavour. Also, loved the fact that the crunchy sesame crackers complimented the crispy exterior of the deep-fried crab with its crunch. Great place to take awesome pictures, but once is enough for me.

Jeanette La Fame

Good first impression, very welcoming and cosy. They say this is a good brunch spot, well they were not right. Food looks good on the menu but unfortunately it did not translate well on the plate. The matcha waffles were alright, but the Japanese inspired plate did not deliver well - octopus were overcooked.

Retno Widyanti

Operator25 has forever been one of my favourite brunch spots in the CBD - probably the closest I could ever come to a 'regular' spot. The seasonal menu is always exciting and varied - there's something for everyone - but I will always come here for my favourite matcha waffles.

Must Be Hungry

Operator25, where shall I start: from the awesome service or the incredible food?😅 Came in for a quick breakfast and I couldn't have been happier with my choice😏 Ordered their Smoothie Bowl and a Piccolo with one of the most expectional wait staff I have ever dealt with: just amazing service👌 The food took no time to be in front of me and it was nom nom every bite of it, perhaps I would have preferred a bit more granola and the smoothie to be a bit less liquidy but the flavour was surely there 😍 The coffee was just okay, not their fault probably, the milk was at a good temperature but the coffee itself was bitter, not in a nice way😕 Overall this venue is surely a good option to keep in mind if you are around this area of town😊 Thank you for having me 🙏

Ariana

Awesome vibe, great set up. Slightly tricky to find but so worth it! Delicious food - the eggplant was delicious the marinade quite sweet though. The pork burger was also great, not amazing but great. Many other things on the menu that sounds delicious, will be going back for sure! Breakfast or Lunch :)

Neha Deverapalli

One for the very first brunch place I ever went to. I've been there more than once and every time the menu is different which I really like it encourages you to try new dishes. Definitely worth going! 😅

Timtams

Was very excited about trying this place and ordered the matcha waffle and Japanese open omelette. The omelette was very salty and that coupled with the creamy mayo, made me feel sick after a few bites. The only thing on the omelette that wasn't salty was the octopus, which unfortunately didn't taste like much and was tough. The matcha ice cream that came with the waffle was really good, and eventhough the chocolate sauce was very sweet, it was complimentary to the waffle. Overall, its a place with good service and nice people, but we probably should've just gotten the eggs on toast instead as it looked much better.

Avolemon

Excellent food We had matcha waffles with green tea ice cream and the duck leg with roti prata. Absolutely loved it, especially the duck leg. The meat was so juicy and delicious. The waffles could have been more crispier.

Alessia185

The benedicts here are the best ones out there really enjoyed my time there but had to wait quite long but was definitely worth it. Service was also lovely will come back any day.

Jaynie's Belly

I took a visiting friends from overseas to this cafe, we got there after 3 in three arvo, they were cleaning up but still happy to serve us their menu. I ordered the Balinese burger, the pork was soon flavoursome! I would definitely go back just for that. My friend had the chia pudding which she loved too. Great staff too

Sher Win

Asian inspired brunch. To people from Asian countries (like myself) who are new to the brunch culture. This is a good place to start to avoid food culture shock as you may find some familiarity. Great coffee too!

MelbFoodHunter

Great coffee not so fantastic food. While the coffee is incredibly smooth and definitely on par with the best cafes in Melbourne, the food leaves a lot to desire. While the flavour combinations are intriguing and sound fantastic on the menu it doesn't execute as well. Had the Japanese pancake with octopus and edamame. Overall an ok dish but with too many elements. The bread that comes with it was overly buttery and therefore couldn't be used as a base for the omelette. The cured kingfish wasn't great. Prawns had way too much batter, rice wasn't really tasty and the rest of the elements not exciting at all. Kingfish was ok but nothing special as it really was a few pieces of Sashimi. Will be back for coffee but not for food.

Nelson-zhang

Food was great! We ordered the lamb shanks, cured kingfish, teriyaki Benedict, japanese open omelette, and matcha waffles and Kaya matcha latte. Lamb shanks was full of flavour, big chunk of lamb, and cooked perfectly, super tender and slightly pink in the middle. Cured kingfish was refreshing, sushi rice cooked perfectly still retains texture, and the Wasabi just enhances the flavour of the whole dish. The Japanese omelette, the egg cooked perfectly, nice and soft, however the octopus is a tad overcooked to the point where my friend thought it was a sausage. The teriyaki Benedict, the pulled pork is tender and juicy, and almost melt in your mouth, while the poached egg is cooked perfectly, firm white and a runny yolk. Matcha waffle, crunchy exterior, soft inside (however a little dense for my liking), bitter matcha flavour, rich chocolate sauce and tangy fruits, perfect combination. However the Kaya matcha latte is a little disappointing. I expected a lot more coconut flavour coming from the Kaya, whereas it just tasted like a normal matcha latte to me.

Ernest Leow Yan Cher

One of my go to place for brunch! uber loved their eggs benedict with a little asian twist to it with friend won ton skin on top. Would 100% recommend.

Fattie Kat

Came here for lunch and left feeling unsatisfied. The food seemed like basic ingredients plated in a fancy way. Portion sizes were quite small and were not filling for my female friend and I. The kaya matcha latte just tasted like a normal latte.. which was quite disappointing as I was excited about it upon ordering. I would not come back here as there are better brunch places around.

Stepha

Near our home, we enjoyed a delightful brunch. Like other reviews, must say the dishes were delicious. Great place to have a light meal! We will come back definitely!

Ivy Yu Ti

雖然這間店已經在這裡很久了但是這是我第一次來 我點了Cured Kingfish 朋友的則是Japanese Open Omelette 不知道是壽司飯裡的醋加多了, 還是Kingfish醃漬過頭了 總之整道菜吃起來就是好酸呀 酸的口感蓋過了魚跟米飯本身該有的香氣 有點讓人失望 Japanese Omelette我沒有試吃但是看起來賣相不錯 改天想回來試他們菜單上其他的東西 I had the Cured Kingfish, the presentation was great however the only thought I was left with after eating this dish was it's very sour. Maybe they've put too much vinegar in the sushi rice or over cured the Kingfish, I don't know. But it was quite overpowering and lingers on my palate so I was a little disappointed. My friend's Japanese Open Omelette looks great though. I think I'll come back again to try other items on their menu because I'm sure there's a reason why Operator 25 has been around for this long.

Good Food Good Mood

I'm 99% sure my soulmate is a smoothie bowl. Bursting into the Asian fusion brunch space is Operator 25 named as such for being housed in an ex-telephone exchange. Love the quirky decor with framed quotes such as 'call me maybe' paying homage to the buildings history. It's a small space but I was brunching solo so I didn't have to wait. Melbourne was crying out for something a bit more unique and it is so refreshing to see the menu vacant of a smashed avo dish. Really interesting flavour combinations. I'll be back for the iced peanutella

M J

Ordered the smoothie bowl at the server's suggestion. Not my typical breakfast choice, but it was amazing. Stone fruit, banana, granola, and chocolate buttons! Insta: @voraciousventures

Sam Clifton

Good coffee and good food. Nice spot , smaller than on the photos, good art style and get matcha waffles. Teriyaki Benedict was also nice too.

Gabriel Karamoy

Its a little specialty-coffee-brunch located very close to flagstaff garden. I had the teriyaki benedict and a cup of magic. The food is outstanding, all of the components are meaningful and add a little bit of everything to the plate. It's so mouth-gratifying and the coffee itself is just as good as the food! Will definitely be coming back to try their other menus 😃👍

TheZenChick

Housed in a heritage listed ex-telephone exchange building. Operator 25 offers contemporary asian fusion fare, with punchy flavours and bold pairings. At the helm of the kitchen is Valerie Feng (ex- Bacash) and judging by the lines of people waiting eagerly outside on weekends to be admitted entrance, the cafe runs a fairly tight ship. We ordered the Japanese omelette which had lashings of kewpie mayo and Japanese soy. This is the 2nd time I've eaten this dish and it's different from the 1st, 2nd time around the flavours are stronger, but I wouldn't necessarily say for the better. The fritters were very filling and had a perfectly poached egg balanced on top. The matcha lattes are always perfection. Expect a wait when you arrive, but come for the buzzy atmosphere and the unique flavour combinations which you won't really find at other cafes.

Dr S

Melbourne has so many hidden lanes, alleys and streets and mills st is no stranger. And it houses a modern rocking Asian fusion all day breakfast cafe with so so many coffee blends. It's quite small so expect a long wait. A group of six of us arrived at 12 and waited until 12.40 for a table. This place is definitely not suited for groups and service is quite slow despite having six waiters. The menu is quite interesting with pork belly burger, duck, stuffed chicken leg, deconstructed sushi, Japanese omelette with enoki mushroom and miso bread. I ordered a skim mocha with double shot (no extra charge) and the Japanese omelette. The Japanese omelette tasted like miso, Kim chi, sweet, and with a slight bit of spice. The miso bread was so tiny and bursting of flavour. My friend ordered the deconstructed sushi which came with fluffy wasabi flavoured cream. Service was quite slow and they absolutely refuse to do split bill or even help with change. But Food is definitely worth it. Coffee size is quite small.

Mei Ch'ng

Melbourne is never short of cafes that serves equally good coffee and food. Operator 25 is one of them. Conveniently located off the main shopping strip, it quickly became my favourite brunch pit stop. . I've been here a handful of times now. It was their Asian inspired menu that caught my attention on my first visit. I really miss their matcha and white chocolate pancakes!

Jellybeans

Haven't been here in a while but forgot to review, been here twice and both times found it quite nice. The matcha pancake dish was pretty nice and filling, the pork belly dish was a bit cold when we got it one time unfortunately but they were busy so it might have taken longer than expected to get to us. The chia pudding is pretty good compared to others I've had around Melbourne. Great busy location, don't do bookings last I tried but that's commonplace in Melbourne for brunch eateries now I guess, the price is okay but there's some other places like Manchester Press that give a similar quality if not sometimes better for a cheaper price. Don't really feel the need to come back something seemed lacking

Sam

Overall, it is a good place for brunch, the location is slightly hidden but still easily accessible, about 5 to 7 mins walk from Melbourne central. Been there for twice already, need to prepare to line up if visit on the busy weekend, the duck leg was delicious but could be done in a better way.

M.

Yum! My partner chose here for breakfast and it didn't disappoint! Located in a 1900s heritage listed building, originally housing Melbourne's first switchboard, the cafe is small but light filled, with a raw brick interior. We ordered the: 1. CURED KINGFISH with sushi rice, coconut crumbed prawns, avocado wasabi mousse and soy poached egg - my favourite!! 2. BALINESE PORK BURGER marinated pork belly and fried on on slaw 3. MATCHA WAFFLES fresh fruits, rosewater watermelon and green tea ice-cream - couldn't quite taste the green tea ice-cream but maybe that's because I had wasabi first 😉 Each bite was a delight and the service was excellent! Do get there early in peak times, but if not their table-wait system seems efficient. Overall, a lovely reasonably priced Asian influenced cafe that I would definitely recommend!!

Benita Tang

Ordered the Smoothie Bowl, which tasted amazing simple but has a bust of flavour, the dried fruit (apples) tasted awesome, this dish also had oats which also added a crunch to the dish. Everything was fantastic friendly servers, quick service and a great little cafe for brunch with your friends. I most definitely recommend this place to you all and will be coming back!

M并没有点兔子

等了半个小时的样子，门外大晴天狂风呼啸，店内很小人很多，菜品不多，份量大，人少不推荐，点的东西拼着吃感觉还不错，吃一整份还是算了吧。 【Soft Shell Crab】软壳蟹墨鱼堡，貌似这类堡在猫本火了很久了，整个一起吃还不错但是好大一个戳起来很有难度。而且还是有吃到腥味。 【Matcha Almond Hotcake】无亮点，配的梨子很莫名……无论看相还是味道上都毫无帮助，这个甜点对三个人来说分量也大到可怕，颜色很深却抹茶味不浓，最好吃的部分是配的那一圈甜脆酱。 【BBQ Pork Benedict】猪肉班尼迪克蛋一致好评，很中式的口味，感觉像甜肘子肉，猪肉又多又甜，蛋形状很美但是蛋黄好少啊……是蛋比较小吗…… 猪肉风头太足了，更像点了个x万三肘子。 【Sprotini】whisky+coffee🙂冰的很小一杯$18 一直都惦记着在忘记名字的咖啡馆蹭的那一口咖啡香味过后酒味爆炸的不知道叫什么的酒咖，看见酒咖就点了，很失望，混合的太匀了，只是自己也能做出来的那种酒咖，上面还有意义不明的红梅脆……这点儿脆片在细杯子里正常喝不到，和hotcake里的是一样的，味道也无辅助作用😤 人气挺旺的，外带咖啡也很多人买，还是有它理由的。 但个人来说，不会再来。

FoodforThought

I've heard about the raves and nays with Operator25. One of my friends' dishes didn't turn out that great but I'm purely rating based on the food I had. Having had so much brunch lately, I thought I order a main for a change. I got the duck leg, which I suspect must have been cooked confit-style because the meat was so tender. The flavour was great and pairing with the plum sauce made it even greater. Had the skin been crispy, it would have been the greatest! The roti prata on the side was crispy and yum although I don't really understand why it was on the plate because the flavours were very Chinese. Maybe a fried mantou could have done the trick? If you haven't noticed by now, the previous reviewer is my friend ;)

Foodlover12

Visited this restaurant with a gf today for brunch:) We had to wait for 20 minutes to get a table but that was the only down. Interior of the restaurant was modern and warm. We ordered the ballinese pork burger and the teriyaki Benedict; both were amazing!!! Coffee was also one the best in town!

May

First time here on a weekend, a little bit of a wait due to its popularity and small space. Food wise - slightly mixed reviews. I had the pan fried Barra (pretty good), friends had the five spiced duck (very Asian inspired, crispy skin and tender meat) and Japanese kingfish with sushi rice (fish was good but rice was hard ). Fancy looking food slightly on the pricier side & not overly impressive.

Danny G

Service was ok, food was unique. The description of what you are buying was exact - my bacon was slabs not slices, butter was yum. Coffee spot on.

Yume Yume

Had the "fritters" which were not quite what I was expecting. I would have called them croquettes instead because that's what they were. This made the meal much more oily than I expected but overall it was not a total disaster, it was yummy for what it was. The service was ok and the interior was nice. I'd come back again but it wouldn't be in a rush

Cynthia Giang

I haven't been back to Operator25 in a while, but from what I remember the staff are really lovely. Unfortunately, the food is over hyped in my opinion - I can't say that it's the best cafe I've been to - some things are generally a hit and a miss. Presentation is quite pretty as with most cafes. What I do like with this joint, is that they experiment around with different flavours and dishes unlike your generic kind of foods. Sometimes is a bit of a miss, but hats off for trying.

Issac Xu Su

Last time had the balinese pork. It was great. Came back again with a Not so Good Food experience . Me and My friends had the softshell crab, the fish dish, another some sort of meat(MyFriend had it, i can't remember it). None of them finished Their meal. My fish was ok though.

Sebastian Judge

Operator 25 is an interesting combination of some classic breakfast staples like eggs Benedict and hotcakes with wonderful Asian twists. We went there for brunch and I had the pulled pork, with poached eggs, wonton crisps on top of a muffin (an Asian twist on eggs Benedict). The pulled pork was delicious and succulent, the poached egg was runny in the entire and the wonton crisps added a different texture to the dish. Only criticism I have was that the dish wasn't hot, it was more Luke warm. The person I dined with had the matcha hotcakes where although the hotcakes were light and had a delicious Almond topping the matcha flavour was overpowered by the sweet components accompanying the dish.

Suzie Scribbles

I nipped here for brunch today with a friend. Got a table straight away which was great. The decor of the place is fresh and we liked how it used to be a telephone exchange and the use of the wires hanging from the ceiling to symbolise this. We order the black rice porridge and matcha almond hotcakes. The little bit of porridge I tried had a good consistency and a nice mix of flavours. My matcha hot cakes had a good flavour without being too strong or bitter and I enjoyed them, however they overpowered everything else on the plate except the pear which was a shame. Coffee was fine but nothing exceptional. I liked how they aren't afraid to try more unusual mixes of flavours and I'd definitely recommend giving the place a try but it's not worth queuing out the door for (in my opinion).

Steve Pash

Terrific service and meals. My wife is in a wheelchair and the staff were really mindful of her situation, made us feel mpst welcome and then the chia pudding and smoothie bowl made the morning complete. So good we went back the nest morning.

Askl

Ordered the confit duck and Japanese omelette. The duck was nicely done and moist and the puree at the bottom was something so simple but done so well. The Japanese omelette was interesting because of the combination of the pickled ginger and seaweed buy suprisingly it was so refreshing and delicate. I would come back again to try the stuffed chicken.

John

I went here last weekend with 2 friends. Coffee was very nice and food was fantastic. Really really love this place. The best cafe in CBD. I will come back100%%%.

Mi55Bee

Pretty good for brunch in the city but just keep in mind of the waiting. They have great coffee and love their interior, fusion inspired breakfast but delightful

M. T.

Went here on a weekday with some friends and had high expectations from the plentiful reviews of this place but everything was quite average. Food menu was elaborate, as was drinks menu and rather pricey for brunch. I had the duck which was nice but there was nothing really wow about the three dishes we ordered - also presentation could've been a lot better given the lack of customers in the place when we were there.

Shrek Oh

Magic good food hmmmmm well it took a while a bit too long for me the sizes of dishes is just ok a bit bland but very big on Asian culture if u looking 4 a place to be seen its cool place staff veey friendly but I found the coffee was just ok milk was a bit sour sorry guys I can only give you a 4.5

PacMan

"What could you possibly have to review, you had fruit toast...." derides my better looking breakfast belle from atop her Level 14 Connoisseur high horse. Well my fruit toast was thick, sweet and contained figs - a winner in my book. The butter came out pre-softened, another winner. Sitting opposite, the matcha hot cakes and associated latte were not receiving a great many positive adjectives. The one good point was an appropriate level of matcha. On the flip side the ingredient combination was not really symbiotic, they were heavy and had she not been so hungry it is doubtful she would have got as far as she did. The latte was too sweet. My coffee was passable, but not really worth going back for, given the other options around. In sum...fruit toast quite good...rest average, and I can make toast at home.

Oodreiilittlepotato

I like the overall taste, its just that texture of the crumpets is too rough(?) idk if its the original texture(?). But definitely coming back to try the other dish;) 14/08/18 COMING BACK AFTER YEARS! Ume waffle~ barely taste the ume! However the black sesame ice cream is so good and the sauce is 👌🏻 decent portion for $18! :)

Maria

Was disappointed with Operator 25 when they ran out of most things on the menu, so you might wanna swing by earlier in the day. Very popular and hyped up, gotta line up for around 20 minutes. I had high expectations for the food, but it was pretty average. I must say the interior and pun decorations were creative and definitely different compared to other brunch places.

Meg

We order a cured kingfish, matcha hot cake and a peanutella. Personally I love the peanutella, it's a combination of peanut butter, Nutella, hot chocolate milk and top with Oreo crumbs. Nothing special about the matcha hot cake and I think the portion of the cured kingfish is a bit small.

Brando The Pig

In the competitive Melbourne cafe scene, this is one of my top 3 favourites - ticks all the boxes with good service, excellent coffee, exciting menu, well executed delicious flavours, and a beautiful space. Highly recommended!

Lili

We order a bbq pork Benedict and a matcha pancakes. The benedict was nice. I like the sweetness of the BBQ pork. He pancakes was good too but it was not that special.. it was just like a normal pancake with nice decorations... I would recommend this place and will go and try different stuffs next time.

Sybarite

One of five places shortlisted for brunch for a foodie trip from Perth. Unfortunately the matcha pancakes were not enjoyable. Too heavy going and the elements of the dish did not work together to provide any wow factor. Matcha latte was too sweet. Dining partner after two days of heavy eating could only manage fruit toast which was satisfactory. The butter came out softened, bonus points! Coffee was said to be odd tasting, as if there was leftover taste of different beans or different milk. Service was good other than clearing plates before all parties had finished. Other than the slightly odd collection of light cables without corresponding light bulbs, the decor was fresh and acoustics were faultless. The menu had a fantastic selection of options however a return visit from Perth for more sampling would have to wait a while.

The Not Picky Eater

Unfortunately the food quality was not worth the bill. Came here with a large group - greeted by friendly staff and seated after a short wait. I started with an ice-chocolate ($6); relatively small portion, and was quite diluted with milk, was very disappointing. For mains, I ordered the Corn Fritters - now I have eaten many corn fritters in my life time and this was average. The fritters were a little on the dry side, although the goats curd was a unique and tasty addition. I had a bite of my friend's BBQ Pork Benedict - this was the redeeming bite of the meal. Albeit tasty, it was a bit on the salty side. The dessert was the most disappointing - matcha hot cakes. They were extremely dry, with barely any cream and sauce to compensate. Unfortunately the food here is great for Instagram but not so much for the palate. The 3/5 is given only for the good service and the BBQ Pork Benedict. Do not foresee myself returning any time soon.

Karida Yao

The matcha latte over sweet and I don't like their pancake. My friend had the pulled pork and said it was nice. Overall I'm not really enjoy the experience.

Zhihao W.

My girlfriend strongly recommended me this place, but it think the food is actually not that special. They looks good, but they taste normal, the food are cold when they are serve. The bamboo shoot is actually quite bad, tasteless and cold. The chicken need some seasoning and the overall dish is quite overwhelming when the yellow curry is stone cold. The duck is actually much better, pumpkin puree is smooth and tasty, but it is cold!!!! The cappuccino and matcha latte are quite small and their price is higher than the average.

Shanshan Baby

Nice food but coffee is the worst I have ever had in Melbourne or in my life. Maybe it's just me. I thought it was just the coffee I ordered, cause I had long back, however I tried my friends cap, it tasted so bad too

Grapefruit Groupie

Decided to drop by Operator25 one morning and what a great decision! We tried the Kaya Matcha Latte and it was so good we decided to get the iced version and justified it as 'dessert'. We ordered the Slow Cooked Duck Leg and BBQ Pork Benedict. The BBQ Pork Benedict with the crispy wonton skin was yum but the Slow Cooked Duck Leg with Japanese pumpkin puree, broccolini, shitake mushrooms and chorizo was delicious! Definitely will be coming back for the duck and kaya matcha latte!

Renee

Love this place!! The atmosphere here is super chilled and the staff are lovely. We ordered several dishes and were very impressed with them all. The BBQ pork benedict and almond chia pudding are definitely worth trying!!

Bbqgirl

Ordered a matcha latte and matcha hot cake. Too sweet and the matcha latte also had some weird flavour, maybe it's the style? The colour of the hot cake looks very nice - dark green but overall just doesn't taste nice for my liking. What a shame was expecting more from this cafe.

Omelette

This place is always busy, especially during peak hours. But we were lucky enough to get seats without having to wait too long. Food was not too bad, but they do serve a few special mains that are different to their competitors.

Food Etc.

Operator 25 has been on my radar for some time. Social media led me to some of their impressive photos and I just knew they were the goods. I have been following them for some time on Instagram, and every post saw me wanting to visit more and more. I don’t get into the CBD very often, so when the opportunity arose, I took it with both hands.

Yolanda Wong

Good tastes good and not overwhelming. Portion is just right for girls~ The matcha cake is not too sweet, good to go with jams Chicken legs also tastes good! Services are attentive but not on the warm side Will go back

Jessica Wirawan

Had a japanese omelette for brunch yesterday. The taste was just so-so, under expectation. Would like to try another dishes which I believe will taste better :) Coffee was very nice! So smooth and creamy. Also the staffs were very helpful and friendly. Overall, it was a good experience to dine in here. Will come back again to try another dishes

Fifi

Had a really good brunch here. We ordered the bbq pork burgers and corn fritters. Both were well presented, lovely flavors and arrived really quickly. Great place!

Mel's

We went on friday lunch time it was busy but we got the table pretty quick. We ordered black rice, fish and matcha pancakes couldn't remember the correct name but all were great, tasty and pretty. Will absolutely coming back 👍

A. Chan

Had brunch today to take advantage of the sunny weather. We were greeted by a lovely female attendant who seated us promptly. I ordered the slow cooked duck while while lil sis took the barramundi. The duck was full of flavor and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Would recommend it :)

FoodBooster

Heard about how tasty this cafe is and it did not disappoint me, the Kaya Mocha Latte was wonderful and the mocha flavour was blended naturally into the coffee whereas the mocha latte in some other cafes will have a strong sense of mocha powder, in addition the pork Benedict was a classic dish with pork floss that was cooked right on the spot with perfect English muffin. Love this cafe and will definitely pay another visit next time if there is a chance.

Xuan Anh Nguyen

Love this place! Their menu is a great combination of fusion dishes, with flavours from Japanese and Indonesian cuisines come together deliciously. My personal favorite dish was the Japanese open omelette, with toppings of smoked cod, shitake, mirin, seaweed to name a few. It comes with miso bread to complete a heart-fill breakfast with lots of flavour. The other highlights were confit duck leg and beef cheek rendang, both were lovely as well. Saying that, their service was a bit inefficient. Our group and others were waiting quite a bit in their door way and in front of the cashier, which made it very awkward for the people that tried to pay or the servers that tried to squeezed their way through, while there were many empty seatings to be filled. And my friend ordered a side that went forgotten and came only when we all had finished our meals.

Foodie Ahlawat

Went with a friend on a Saturday afternoon. We had to wait for 25 minutes which was fair enough since it was brunchtime! We ordered the following - Flat white - good Iced chocolate - good Multigrain toast with peanut butter - good Gluten free toast with vegemite - also good. My friend is gluten intolerant & said it's rare that he finds good toasts. So kudos! Thick bacon strips - good, nicely cooked. We paid $32 for the above which wasn't bad. Overall a good cafe & will go back to try their other menu options.

Pauliwag

(Monday 30/11/2015) Love the ambience of the place. Has the unique and chill vibe for people to hang out and have a cup of coffee. Love the pork dish (can't rmb the name, if I rmb correctly it has the Balinese style and taste) and the five spice duck dish, the purée was beautifully done. However, the matcha almond hot cakes was a little bit disappointing. It was one of the few reasons that interest me and it was said to be the most recommended desserts. It maybe pretty in presentation but the texture of the hot cakes was super dry and the taste was just average. Coffee was good. Love the temperature, froth of the milk, aroma, coffee taste and the art. Overall, it is a nice place to bring friends and catch up, although you might need to wait awhile to get inside.

Elisha Lee

For a popular brunch spot, I expected the food or at least their coffee to be decent. Unfortunately, it was average dry matcha hotcakes and a bad soy cap. The hotcakes didn't do justice for its amazing visual. The only positive review of operator25 is the service of the staffs.

Shuun

Great location, a short walk away from Melbourne Central, along a quiet lane. I have visited a few times and I love the softshell crab bun and the Benedict. Not a fan of the Japanese omelette, or the barramundi, as they don't taste that great, and are not worthy of their price tag. I would come back again to try the rest of their dishes!

Ruiyao

It is a busy brunch restaurant in cbd. Waited about 30min to have a seat for two people. Not bad food but still need to wait for a long time until the meal prepared.

Brenda Zhu

hotcake is heaven though is a small portion, and the doughnut names raspberry rose lychee is one of the best I ever tried, definitely come back

Crystaleats_

That Pork Benedict was the bomb! The lime and coriander hollandaise worked really well with the bbq pork. I could taste Hoi Sin sauce which balanced everything out really well. However, I didn't really enjoy the matcha hot cakes, it was quite dry :(

Thooha Saleem

We got there early which and got seated straight away. The drinks were fantastic and service was prompt and friendly. There were so many good things on the menu I felt I need to go there agaim to try the other dishes. The squid ink brioche was super tasty and loved the coconut salad. Definitely worth another visit.

Kirst Dollery

The staff are always very welcoming and the fitout is great. The coffee is fantastic and there are always plenty of new specials for us regulars who eat there all the time.

Chloe

Ordered a take away latte and it took almost 15 mins. There were 4 customers ordered after me and they all got their coffee except me. Asked the barista why and he said "it's because they ordered soy milk". 😕

Evelyn

Weekend mode is on and so is good matcha latte hunting. Read a lot about the good matcha latte served at Operator25 and it definitely didn't disappoint. Oh my God, I was so in heaven. Lol... The matcha latte was thick and creamy as well as it has the right balance of bitterness and sweetness. 😂😂 Also, that Balinese Pork Burger was so flavourful and unique. Oooooohhhhhh... This is definitely a cafe I would highly recommend to any matcha latte fan. Love it.

Jordan Chan

I've had the soft shell crab on squid ink brioche and a normal latte. The latte was pretty normal like any other latte, my friend had the flat white on the other hand and said it was the best ever, even ended up ordering a second one. The soft shell crab was okay, not wowish. The batter overkilled the crab in my opinion. The coconut salad was just a tiny portion in the bun itself, personally wished they would put the salad on the side as they usually did in the past.

Just Another Foodie

Been wanting to try Operator25 for a while and was able to finally tick this off the list. Went there on a weekend and because it was early we didn't have to wait (before 10am). Tried the soft shell crab burger and it didn't disappoint. Looked really cool with the squid ink bun and the dressing was really tasty. Being a fan of matcha I ordered the matcha latte. Tasted okay but probably a bit too sweet for my liking.

Thuyteeisaboy

Went here when the place first opened around 2 years ago and really enjoyed it. I recently came back with the same friend to try their latest menu and was not disappointed. The eggs benedict dish with the pulled bbq pork was delicious! (Recommended dish) The kaya matcha latte was tasty but serving way too small! The matcha hotcakes had a good balance of matcha flavour however I felt that it could use with some ice cream or more berry sauce as the cake itself is a bit dry after a few bites. The place has definitely gotten more popular over the years; it is packed with people even on a weekday so expect a queue and allow time if you chose to dine here.

TrufflePig

Solid queues even after 2pm confirmed our judgement that Operator 25 was worth visiting during our trip to Melbourne, and it remains one of our favourites despite a 30 minute wait. The place is truly buzzing, and a hive of activity even up until close. Service is effective and streamlined and coffee orders come out quick, and the best of he top two we'd found in the arctic city. The place is toasty, and helps you recover from a cold wait in the breezy street. They have a great range on the menu, and extend well beyond the basics, mostly executed well. The Japanese open omelette is a true sight, varied in texture, although the fried enoki sadly wasn't crisp. Flavours in the omelette are strong, and ideal to convince yourself you're keen on breakfast later in the day. There didn't appear to be too much sweet potato hiding in the fritters, however I loved the turmeric in this. The tomato and corn salsa also wasn't too heavy, as I often find salsa with corn fritters tend to overshadow the lead act. We only encountered two spots in the city worthy of re-visit for their coffee. Operator25 is without a doubt one of them. Quality cafe goods and a vibe you could sink into for hours.

23x31

loved the smoothie bowl they had, the bbq pork benedict was nice since we shared between two, but it maybe heavy if you had it by yourself. wished i tried more from there !

.xLngo

Operator25 runs a delicious brunch operation. I really like the Asian flavors which are incorporated into the dishes here. The curry sauce with the fritters The crisped vermicelli with the benedict I believe it's got a lot of different things to try. Didn't like the bulgogi burger though.

Bloo

Headed to operator25 for a quick brunch. We had to wait about 15 minutes for a seat, which we had to share with another group. Despite that the overall experience was pleasant. We tried the peanutella drink, which we both found amazing, albeit too little! The food seemed to be a sort of fusion which was very interesting as it wasn't the usual brunch menu and style you would get at other places. Despite the crowd, service was also quick and staff were friendly. Will return.

Willie Chang

This should be a new menu, accompanied by sweet potatoes, corn is a very clever match. The sweetness of sweet potatoes with sour cream, very balanced, with a very bold attempt but the effect is perfect score. With the taste of tomato sauce. In the visual and taste to make a noble.

Mama Of 3

I have been searching for anything matcha and found operator 25. I enjoyed my kaya matcha latte and matcha hotcakes. Hubby ordered the beef cheeks rendang which was soft, tender and yummy. I also ordered the king fish dish which was a deliciously delicate deconstructed sushi. Beautiful plating of food, excellent customer service. Thanks heaps guys. Well worth braving the cold and wind with my 2 month old baby and 3 year old 😊

Nancy Luu

Turned up around 10 in the morning and the place was busy with diners already, which meant we had to line up. However the wait wasn't long and within no time, we were seated on a large round table with another couple. I ordered an iced latte even though it was a cold winter day. No regrets. I opted for the slow cook duck leg and mmm, I still have dreams of it. The duck itself was moist and it was well complimented by the Japanese pumpkin puree and shitake mushrooms. I think I may have even licked the plate clean afterwards. The overall interior and atmosphere of the cafe felt very modern and hip. The price tag for food and drinks are what you'd expect from a typical Melbourne cafe. I would recommend this place.

Shekky

Delicious food in stylish surroundings. The textures of the Dr Marty crumpets and matcha hotcakes were perfect. Perhaps it may have been good to see some more Asian flavour to the decor to reflect those influences in its menu.

Brunching

Baby friendly, just avoid the peak lunch hours. Meeting up for brunch on weekdays are great. Fusion Asian/Aussie breakfast. Coffee is strong and good and juices are fresh, they sometimes check if ginger or any added fruit can be added if you're keen. Bliss!

Giorgio Barcaiolo Battaglini

Hidden gem in the northern cdb. Initially perplex by the sharing tables (we are still European inside), we found that the operator 25 is fabulous. Good it's very imaginative, with soft textures and great colours. Coffee it's a bit light but good. Service it's very good for a busy place. The menu it's a collection of food desires. Go there!

David Food Leasing

DO: The Balinese burger, soft shell crab or duck. DON'T: Be boring and have eggs on toast. I suppose you can but couldn't you have just made that at home? TIP: Coffees are great. Grab a takeaway, put down your name and wait for your name. Lines move quick.

Carra

Obviously biased considering I live above this gem, but the food is creative and diverse. There is enough to return frequently for brunch, lunch or a little something sweet. The menu changes often enough to keep it interesting, but a few token favourites always manage to make the cut! The coffee is classic Melbourne, and on the cheaper side compared to some other takeaways. Only reason they don't get 5 stars is the lack of takeaway options!

Hosanna

My first time here, quite hidden, not exactly where I usually walk around in the city but I glad I found it! Love the overall design, not your biggest cafe but super quaint and cozy! Food is presented nicely, thoroughly enjoyed my experience will come again with my friends again!

G

The kaya matcha latte was underwhelming. If you're ordering the hot version, it'll taste more like straight up matcha latte. You get that slight hint of coconut when you order the iced version. But for those out there who knows how kaya tastes, this does not taste one bit like kaya. Adding coconut to a matcha latte doesn't render this drink as a kaya matcha latte, but rather a "kaya-inspired matcha latte". Bbq pork egg benedict was good, but not good enough for me to return for more. Only one out of the two eggs were poached, and it was still a tad too cooked to be considered as a perfectly "poached" egg. The other egg was almost cooked through as a hard-boiled, which was a bummer. Service was alright, and props to them for attaching coat hooks under the tables. However, seating can be a little too close for comfort and the ambience and proximity between seats might not make this the most ideal cafe to chill out and catch up with friends or family. Overall, I can see how this cafe is trying to establish a name for itself in the thick of Melbourne's saturated cafe culture. Good concept, but in need of brushing up on their technical skills to make customers go back for more.

Dimzib

Good coffee, beautifully presented food and a great atmosphere, however it became evident that we were paying mainly for looks and not taste.Had seen many brilliant photos of food from Operator25, and decided to give it a visit after the hype, however was disappointed at the volume of food that I received from the eggs benedict for the price that I paid. It was tasty but no outstanding, and not worth its price. My companion ordered a duck congee which was beautifully presented, only to be extremely disappointed at the lack of flavour that was delivered with bland congee which tasted like rice and water with no seasoning. The only provider for that particular dish was the confit duck, cooked well, but not enough to provide flavour for its proportion to the rest of the dish.Am keen to give it another go, but will be mindful of the dishes that I order the next time I do so.

Levina

Went for Sunday brunch. Had to wait for approximately 15 minutes. When we got our table, we ordered coffee. Coffee was great. The food, though, was superb! We ordered Japanese open omelet, pulled BBQ pork benedict and matcha hot cakes. All of them really really good. Would love to go back anytime.

BRUNCHIN' WITH US

Nice and chill environment! Food was good and customer service was good! It couldve been abit better but still pretty happy with the outcome

Our Foodie Finds

Ordered straight up on arrival, a strong café latte and a cap $4.0 which was served just the way coffee should, straight up and strong. The place serves Code Black and Small Batch which I've had at other places and doesn't disappoint provided it's made well. Turned up around 10am and it was bustling with patrons which was a mixed bunch but looking like it was predominantly internationals from Japan it seemed. Food was Japanese fushion made by the contrasting styles of Executive Chef Feng and Head Chef Guedes which made for fantastic breakfast and brunch dishes. We ordered the SWEET POTATO AND CORN FRITTERS $18.0 with tomato chutney, poached egg, goats curd, cucumber, herb oil, spring onion, tomato and corn salsa which was one of the best if not the best corn fritters we've had. Also got the JAPANESE OPEN OMELETTE $18.0 with smoked cod, soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, shitake mushrooms, pickled ginger, furikake, spring onion, bonito flakes, fried enoki and miso bread which was delicious and something I would mind having again although, I think I'll give the MATCHA ALMOND HOTCAKES a try seeming as everyone keeps hyping them up and they look good too. Operator 25 wasn't too hard to get too either as its situated just off A'Beckett which had ample street parking. We were doing a market run that day so we parked at the Queen Victoria Market parking lot for $7 and walked over which only took 6min. Beautiful day to match also. The café is fitted out with an industrial feel which would seem to pay homage to the old telephone exchange building it once was but has the relative feel to the hipsters and conservatives at the same time. All in all a great place with the service and ambience to match which we look forward to revisiting again soon. Till next time, this is Our Foodie Find!

Ali Sh

Food was good, wait 15min to order a coffee!!! the service and manager was not really professional, the poached egg was uncooked and I asked to changed it, no one told me any word of "sorry" and did not tell me what they want to do, after waiting 20min, they Prepared whole meal again, however when I refused to have it, manager did not ask why and did not tell "sorry" and just returned to the kitchen without telling me anything!!! Even the cashier just told me they canceled one meal, Hey guys, it is not about the money, remember to respect your customers!!!!! please learn how to say "sorry" to your customer for ruining the Sunday brunch!!! That was unacceptable, won't go there any more. If you like good food with out any services choose this place.

Jessie Ng

Pulled pork Benedict to die for 👍🏼 it's really juicy, just perfect! Milk tea pudding wasn't up to our expectation though. The service was good

Michelle Hosemann

Welcoming and attentive staff give this little cafe a nice atmosphere. The breakfast menu offers a wonderful and interesting choice. The BBQ Pork Benedict was very flavoursome and satisfying. I added some wilted greens to balance the richness of the dish.

GREENTEA

Operator25 is located near Flagstaff Garden and is magnificent place for brunch and to catch up with friends! The food and staff was great (although we did want to wait 20-30mins for a seat).

Stace

Really good Asian inspired food. My only gripe is the price. Serving sizes are tiny compared to what you are paying. The eggplant dish was fantastic but at $20 for essentially half an eggplant fried in asian style prices I'm not sure I'll be back!

TweeVy Ngo

A bit of sweetness, a bit of sourness, a bit of spiciness and a bit of saltiness. The food was very satisfying to the palette. Each ingredient was unique in itself and the inventiveness of their dishes makes it perfect for anyone who are wanting to explore beyond the ordinary in brunches.

Asian Food Ninja

Japanese ninja!!! This place, a very Inspired Japanese fusion cafe. The matcha hot cakes were abit thick and rich in matcha flavours so if you are not a fan of matcha becareful. The Japanese omelette was delicious, might needed a little more kick in flavours to it but Japanese are known for mild flavours. The service here was great, they were busy pumping coffees and able to service us quickly and calmly haha Definitely coming back and trying other dishes!!! Until next time .... Keep eating!!!!

Foodasociety

A nice place for brunch. The pork benedict is definitely the highlight. Coffees are smooth but a little weak. Note to staff: make sure to clean carefully as I had pink lipstick stains on my coffee cup and dried chocolate on my fork.

Jenius Antariksa

I just spent my long weekend in melbourne and had a great breakkie at operator25, the place isn't really big however, really cozy and situated close by a'beckett st. I ordered two kind of foods, the egg bennedict was really scrumptious and has delicious hollandaise sauce with beautiful prep of trappings. The other is balinese marinated pork. The burger was awesome with slightly taste from indonesia that was really healing me from yearning of hometown.

VNabokov

This place is playing at being trendy, waiters have their Doc Martin's and rolled up black jeans and you get your juice in jam jars with little handles--mine got taken away from me while there was still a quarter left in there but I guess that's just the latest fashion these days. For me though the trend has passed and is already tired. Plus the food was average and they make you pay an extra 5 bucks for half an avocado with your eggs.

Peter Chea

Coffee was great! Avoid the BBQ pork benedict, two friends ordered this dish and everyone thought it was way too sweet. I ordered the stuffed chicken and it hit the spot.

Kpling

Quite a nice little restaurant but had to wait in the cold for a while since there is no standing room at the restaurant.. Ordered the beautifully presented duck leg but was not liking it a bit .. Thought it tasted funny or whether there was something not up to standard in that dish.. The bbq pull pork was real average.... So is the service .. Cured kingfish and coffee are fine..

The Food Traveller

Loved the atmosphere inside and it was really busy when we visited for a Wednesday brunch! I was expecting the food to be really good because I had heard from many people that the food was delicious! We placed an order for 2 cold brews, maya matcha latte, bbq pork benedict, Berk cheek rendang and pan seared baramundi. The food was really average. Nothing great about the food as we had heard! We, in fact felt that the place was over priced. The staffs were friendly though.

Ellinaki

I was pleasantly surprised by this cafe. The location has changed hands many times. But they are onto a winner now. Great innovative dishes. Keep it up guys.

Stefanie Gilchrist

This has got to be up there in Melbourne's top brunch spots! Always excited to try the new dishes they have. If you feel like somertihng a little different from your standard bacon and eggs then you need to check this place out!

Tony

Yum! Very innovative menu, and food made for Instagram, as attested by the number of cameras that feasted on food before their owners did. Delightful brunch options, and one of my favourite brunch spots in the CBD (much better option than the far more popular Hardware Societe in my opinion).

Shereena

A couple of weeks back when YY was still here, we went to Operator25 for brunch. I've heard a lot about this place but I've never been, plus it was just in the CBD so we thought why not try it out. We were there on a Tuesday just before lunch time so the place was still quite empty. There were only a couple of occupied tables.

"JT" Jeffrie Trika

Sleek operator and they have evolved ..... It was mind boggling to hear from the original owner the investment on this place. It wasn't convincing at the beginning, however with my last few visits they seem to be on the right track. The place has evolved into a quaint place of food creativity and specialty coffee. Not forgetting these sleek looking team and a sleek haircut and aprons to match. Great work guys! .... I trust that it is still okay to use the word "guys" David Morrison - Australian of the Year

Meeateor

Not the biggest fan of this place.. Food is alright. Coffee is okay, sometimes not that great. It's got a nice atmosphere and a nice location, away from the bustle. Just don't quite get the hype.

Richard King

Brilliant ambience and the best staff in Melbourne. Coffee is great and the menu choice is awesome. I eat here every weekend and I'm disappointed when I don't. Highly recommended.

Ta.be.tabi

A revisit was due since Operator 25 seemed to have re-added the Matcha Hotcakes to their menu. It comes and goes on the menu in different variations, but it wasn’t there when I went the first time over a year ago. Today will only be my second visit. I arrived at 12:30pm on a Friday and had a small 5min wait before I was seated at a round table shared with 2 other pairs. Unexpectedly the menu was different than what was shown on Zomato, they had Japanese Open Omelette! (Menu is updated on Operator’s website) It was a tough choice but the protein packed dish won me over. While waiting I saw the 2 girls opposite me had ordered the Matcha Hotcakes and it looks like they made slight changes to it again, it had pear and ice cream but no colourful berries. I would have been disappointed!

Liv Balzary

Really friendly staff and great service! They have created a really cool atmosphere which has a nice feel to it. The food is slightly Asian inspired and tastes absolutely amazing! The coffee is one of the best in Melbourne. You can even tell this by just watching them make coffee - the happy staff takes such great care in each cup they make! I now frequent this cafe all the time 😊

Joni Wang

The service is friendly and really fast! My friend ordered the benedict and I ordered the smoothie bowl. The add of rose water in smoothie is a creative try, and I like the crunchy chocolate cookies inside!

Gdkf

I have been wanting to try Operator25 for so long now! Being such a popular joint I understandably had high expectations! I ordered the balinese pork burger. And iced coffee! You could really taste the asian influences. Was lovely! Doubt I would return however I put that down to personal preference not the quality delivered!

Penguineats

The baked eggs were very ordinary. The so-called ‘Great Northern Beans’ within were anything but great and tasted like cheap canned baked beans. The eggs benedict was drowned in Hollandaise sauce, which was the only thing that gave the dish flavour. The ham was devoid of any flavours but salt. How disappointing. Not a great place for breakfast/brunch to be honest. Every item was executed poorly despite looking great on the menu.

Angie Bui

A nice brunch place in the CBD. I came here with a group of friends and we tried different dishes. I had the balinese pork burger which has an interesting taste, I wouldn't say that it's bad but the flavour is just quite strong in a way that I'm not used to. Overall I like the place for their ambience + friendly and prompt service.

Eatdrinkbemerry

Portion sizes were quite generous and the decor was clean and modern. Unfortunately the menu looks better on paper than in reality. The tapioca and potato fritters were disappointingly bland.

J3FF

We ordered chicken laksa, pork burger, matcha friand and bbq pork Benedict for brunch, all are so tasty, and they also serve great coffees, the staffs there are so friendly 🙂

CLABEL

I went here quite a few times and tried the summer and winter menu. The balinese burger is so packed and full of flavour. I find the mayonnaise a little bit too much, and when it's combined with the meat and buns, the dish actually become so heavy and soggy. Very enjoyable at the start but sadly not till the end. Another dish is the matcha crumpet. I expected a light, fluffy, soft on the inside but crunchy on the edge kindda crumpet. However, it turned to be very dry, even though I poured a lot of cream already to it. The combination with the berries is good though. My most favourite dish here is the smoothie bowl. It was very refreshing, light and nutritious. Very enjoyable and it's actually a pretty dish.

Biggiechee

Operator 25 – have heard so much about this place! And finally I had breakfast there, we ordered the Matcha Friand and Balinese Pork Burger. I have to give this place a 5/5 on food presentation and taste, 4/5 on service and 5/5 on ambiance. The Matcha Friand was perfectly balanced and not too sweet. It looked so beautiful on the plate. The Balinese Pork Burger was a delight and full of flavour. Definitely give this place a try!

Bonnie Ke

点了bbq pork Benedict！我想说这是目前为止我在墨尔本吃到过最好吃的Benedict。我基本上每到一家餐馆不知道点什么的时候都会点Benedict，但这家给我很惊艳的感觉。猪肉好嫩，充满了原汁原味，sauce的味道不会很重。最上面撒了脆脆 wonton skin，一口下去口感好丰富！！！荷兰酱也好特别。反正我几乎是清盘的… 一点不剩！！！

NappyMomma

Pretty food, like pieces of art on plates, prices are a bit on the high, service is attentive & friendly. I've come & tried their coffee on 2 separate occasions... Average, definitely not the highlight. 3/5.

.rednosekuma

Breakfast with asian twist. The reason we went here was because my husband wanted to try their balinese pulled pork burger. I was a bit indecisive on what to order as a few items on the menu sounds delish. But then i set my heart on the soft shell crab burger (the one with the black buns). In my opinion, the soft shell crab taste much nicer especially when paired with the salad and its nam jim dressing is refreshing with a little kick from the chilli in the dressing. The pulled pork is okay but i was expecting for bold taste from all the spices involved in balinese cooking. All in all we left with happy tummies.

Ezio Hungary

Another great find in CBD, a good cafe but always crowded. I love their meal, simple but tasty. The quality of the coffee was fantastic too. Service was delighted as well.

Hungry

Pretty good cafe. Great decor too. However it's 2016 and you operate a coffee shop, get rid of the $10 minimum on eftpos. Invest in payWave if its that much of an imposition on you. I go elsewhere for coffee because of it.

Charlotte White

A momentous event happened in this very cafe last week. A coffee virginity was lost and it was a magical, mouth watering, eye opening moment.

Let's Nomnom

Well.. I've said it many times to many people before but I'll keep on saying my love for MATCHA is unbeatable and it'll always be my no 1 over a good cup of coffee! . Talking about caffeine boost in the morning, I still think matcha gives better benefits for a natural glowing skin (rejoice ladies!) and heaps of antioxidants linked to so many health benefits! Well, I'm not saying we need to give up coffee completely - since I also believe Mr. Nomnom doesnt plan to - but I guess give matcha a try (especially if you haven't) and you might be shifted to a worshipper in this whole new green tea world~ LOL!

Perry

Awwww sweet place. Came here with my high school girl. I ordered BBQ Pork Benedict. Highly Recon. Really delicious!!! Popular brunch place, it's my first time being here. Will come back then!!!!

KungfuKitty

Good coffee, yummy food, nice ambience. Come here for brunch on a Sunday. Me and my SO ordered the famous balinese pork and the duck. They are delicious. Other friends ordered their matcha pancakes and the fish. Tried abit of theirs and boyy they are also very delicious! Will order those next time!

Phuong Phan

Easily one of those the best Benedicts I've had. The lime hollandaise was amazing. Nice zingy texture to it which make it melt in my mouth. Place was nice and cosy, staff are super friendly. Definitely a place to try for the mornings during the week.

Cissythescorpio

Visit this cafe on a Sunday morning. It was quite busy, but staff are very friendly. we got seated after 5 mins waiting outside. Ordered the BBQ pull pork on muffin. the dish is super amazing. the egg yolk is running over the pork and muffin. onr of my favourite in melbourne.

Annie Xu Lok

Went there bcos it's fairly close to my place, but it was a such awful experience. The food was very average and the staffs were very very rude. I would rather drive to somewhere else where has better food and much better customer service. Will never go there again and recommend to any of my friends either

Xiaomewpie

The DIY Peanutella Melt theatrics was fun at the beginning (pouring the hot chocolate milk into the cup in which everything in there proceeded to melt).

Let's Nomnom

This popular place is located at a nice, quiet street in the CBD. But don't let it hinder you from trying their Matcha Friand! It has a little crisp on the edge with a little dense, moist and fluffy on the inside. Served with grilled pear, macadamia, dark chocolate and berry sauce.. I love how strong the matcha flavor is and just goes well with the chantilly cream and the unexpected kick in acidity from the berries.

Luke And Hannah

Another rare 4/5 rating place! The soft shell crab squid ink burger was beyond Hannah's expectation. It tasted so good with the crunchy but not oily deep fried soft shell crab. The salad did a fantastic job balancing everything out. That goes the same for the duck leg: very balanced taste, fresh and well-dressed salad, and delish nan. We also tried the peanutella which was fun and tasted great. The deconstructed cheesecake was also an excellent treat. Protip: There is free 2-hour street parking nearby on Sunday, perfect for those weekend brunches!

DatAznGuy

Great atmosphere, the place is set up so you'll be sharing a table with other people. Service was good. The menu is rather adventurous and it might require a very specific pallette to enjoy, but for me, it was excellent.

Crispymelbreview

Impressive cafe with a tasteful minimalist interior situated in a nice Parisian style backstreet of the CBD which you wouldn't know was there. The Eggs Benedict was excellent: a fusion of Asian with the pork and Melbourne cafe. The eggs were perfect, both having the same running consistency. The coffee was divine. Service was efficient even after the initial confusion of whether I wanted the Eggs Benedict as a takeaway meal or to dine in. The waiter had a perplexed look but was nevertheless efficient after things were sorted out. She was extremely friendly and chatty when I paid. I would highly recommend this sophisticated destination which only adds to Melbourne's amazing foodie appeal.

Jimmy Chew Food

My second trip to Operator25. Previously I had been underwhelmed despite the very interesting and innovative breakfast ideas. The flavours had been fine, but weren't like a party in my mouth, which was certainly the impression given by the look of the dishes. I must say, this time around the party was on and all the guests showed up. Usually I am a bit skeptical of Asian fusion breakfasts or those with an Asian twist--a theme that Operator25 uses with a lot of their dishes. I've had plenty of disappointing moments elsewhere in this regard. My BBQ Pork Benedict that I ordered this time was just beautiful. The BBQ pork had just enough sweetness, and the lime and coriander hollandaise had just enough zing to compliment each other excellently. The BBQ pork also contributes in a way that bacon or salmon or ham cannot. I highly recommend this one. The peanutella melt hot drink was not bad, but incredibly sweet. Expect quite a queue here on the weekends!

Fielder6

Whilst the coffee was fairly pleasant, the positives stop right there. It took several minutes to be acknowledged after I entered and waited at the counter. Once acknowledged, the cashier mumbled hello in a monotone style. I gave my order politely, smiling and saying thank you. My name was taken. The two baristas, dressed like they were preparing for fashion week, with hair gelled and cologne that could drown a baby- spent more time facing each other and closely inspecting cups of espresso than pulling shots for customers. I felt fairly quickly, that despite having just one dine in coffee ahead of mine, I would be waiting a while for my takeaway. No communication from the staff. No apologies. After more than 10 minutes waiting, my coffee was placed at the edge of the counter and left there. I saw this happen. "They can't seriously expect me to know that's mine" I thought, recalling having given my name. Still, after several moments, and watching the staff turn their backs from the counter, I concluded that they must expect me to read their minds. I asked if the coffee was mine and was met with an attitudey 'yes, there are no more orders'. I wasn't shocked, although I should have been. The atmosphere was dreary. Soft music that couldn't be heard, complete silence in the dining area and just NO personalities at all serving or making coffee. I was disappointed. My sugar wasn't stirred at all and I ended up with a sugary mess at the bottom of the cup. I would love for just once, to be given the same level of service that I deliver, when ordering my coffee. A 'hello, how are you?' goes a long way. All I felt at Operator 25, was like I was unwelcome in their shop. Will not be returning.

Mz_J

Summary Review: Asian fusion brunch place, very popular, very good food, very good coffee/drinks variety. I couldn’t fault it from the moment I came to this place. Service was excellent, friendly and helpful staff and always attentive to their customers. Took me awhile to try this place but I was so happy that I got to try it and there was no queue outside! The highlight of my visit is the BBQ pork Benedict for breakfast. It’s so unique and clever way of taking the traditional eggs Benedict to a different level. I would definitely recommend this place when you’re after some unique brunch whether it’d be savoury or sweet.

Shijing Wang

Every time I pass, there are lots of people. I went here a week before when my friend came to Melbourne. It was a lovely brunch started with nice coffee and hot chocolate. We chose three dishes and shared them. The smoothie bowl refreshed us. It was very nice. The metcha cake was also delicious but too small I think. Love the tofu and mushroom in noodle salad. It is really a good cafe in city.

Lucas Foo

The pork eggs Benedict is amazing. Matcha latte is pretty normal though! But great service, queue wasn't too long, overall a good place for food.

Giovanni Go

"Have you heard about Operator25? They are great!" exclaimed my colleague. "Yea? What sort of insurance are they selling?" I replied. Needless to say, she gave me a weird look. My heart dropped and my mind started to race. "Did I accidentally said something out of the line? again for the third time today? I really don't know what I said that pissed you off this morning. I am sorry." She luckily stopped me from tearing up by explaining that it is in fact a cafe. "Phew" I thought. She followed "I'll forgive you for all the inconsiderate things you said to me this morning. Only if you shout me there". Fine... For some reason, I was still expecting Operator25 to be laid out like a call center. Perhaps partly from suspecting that my colleague wanted to teach me a lesson. Of course, I was well pleased that Operator25 looks to the contrary. The ambiance is cozy, the operators are friendly and rest assured that none of them were wearing headsets. Also, the music in the background was not the elevator kind; thankfully. Operator25 serves marvelous fusion food; asian meets western that works. We were a hungry bunch and ordered quite a few things from the menu. Crab burger was excellent but has been done to death; in fact the sides (apple based salad) that comes with it was the star of the dish. Five spiced duck leg was wonderfully well cooked. We were well pleased with the baramundi on Yuzu based cream sauce; I find it unique and the ingredients goes quite well together. Finally, Balinese pork burger was good but I was not sure if I would associate the flavors with Bali. Unlike many call centres around the world, Operator25 serves good coffee with zero surveys and insurance. Do try their matcha latte; its awesome. I am happy to recommend my mates to try the grubs here; especially if they are feeling for a great fusion food for brunch. Just make sure to explain to them that you are not trying to sell them anything.

Zhitian Zhang

（English review below） 当我还在国内的时候，苗苗就跟我说，她在这家店吃到了Laksa新的做法！于是我满怀憧憬地来到这里，点了这碗东西。 Laksa的汤汁被浓缩成酱，而油面被炸成小浣熊（干脆面），鸡腿肉精心的腌制后一轮怒煎，外表一层焦黄跟带皮的内里相映成趣，怕是厨师想让我们尝到油滑的鸡皮。酱汁有青柠的酸涩，咬出辣椒圈的一刻，泰式的鲜辣瞬时击出舌尖上的快感。 接下来的绿茶something 作为我意犹未尽的甜品。抹茶的含量很足而且——而且——而且这蛋糕的糖分控制的很好！略甜，不腻，绿茶有愉悦的回甘！从侧面的蛋糕看出来梳打的用量也很诚恳，没有为求发酵体积而折衷味道。然而巧克力和夏威夷果仁的side我没明白（发呆脸） 最后抹茶拿铁不错喝，我那杯cold brew ice tea有点不对，洋甘菊的腥涩无奈被带出来。咖啡的味道就……中规中矩。 这家店的菜单和味道都是经过细心的考虑后登场的，可以看得出用心。当做一个新的菜时，厨师就背着不能被理解的包袱，不管他是否被大众欣赏（这位已经被大家欢迎）这种创新精神我很欣赏。 Strange how I've written so much about the food in Chinese and when it comes to the English bit i just lost it - I don't even know if there's anyone who would scroll this far to read it. Anyway. Great job to the chef who takes on the confidence to each of dishes(that I've ordered), who also is capable to do a modern Australian way but willing to input a twist. Chicken in the laksa has been carefully marinated and the noodle is presented in a creative form - deep fried. Sauce was thicken and occasion bitten with chili was so refreshing. The cold brew tea however, is not so nicely infused with chamomile - distinctive character, but I didn't like it. It's probably not fair to end this review with a negative note. So I will talk about the sweet dish, that green tea (matcha) cake something. Should I call that "an Asian tea cake" ? It was so good. Purposely made it with adequate sugar so it compliment the vanilla seeded cream(or maybe mascarpone? It taste more of double cream). Flavor is a bit complex nonetheless it's a good finish.

The RnB Diary

We started with outside table but admitted defeat by the gale force wind and moved inside. The menu was imaginative and with a twist, such as the chicken laksa and soft shell crab on squid ink brioche bun. My beef cheek was nice but under seasoned and a bit bland. They didn't have Diet Coke but some organic substitute which was a bit unnecessary. Licensed with alcoholic beverage is a plus.

MF

I love the design inside, it's so modern, clean and comfortable. The coffees are very nice here especially the match latte really matches their non ordinary breakfast menu. Everything has a fresh and healthy taste here. Just a simple eggs on toast can surprise you, scrambled eggs are already flavoured and the butter they are using is quite special. Personally I like the pan seared baramundi the most. The sauce is just beautiful 👌. Prices are a little bit high but definitely worth it when you want to indulge yourself with a nice breakfast. And it is not as crazy busy as the one in the hardware lane.

Sammy C

It took me a while to jump on the matcha latte bandwagon, but once I had it, life was never the same again I was hooked. Ironically, the first time I had matcha latte was not in Japan, but in a Melbourne brunch and coffee specialty shop, Operator 25. Deriving its name from being housed in Melbourne's first switchboard building, Operator 25 delivers good coffee and food, making it a hangout favourite among the young and trendy. It's brunch fare incorporates many Asian flavours and changes seasonally, making it a stand-out among so many other brunch cafes and coffee spot.

Monkey King

Good place for brunch & coffee. Very easy to find this place after hopped out from the free tram. They were always busy so try to go in earlier to avoid huge crowd.

Jeanette Vu

The restaurant is a small and we had to share a table with some other people but as there was only 3 of us we didn't mind. I ordered the smoothie bowl and unfortunately I could not eat it. I don't know if it was something in the bowl but it didn't taste right and had a overly perfumed scent. I shared pork bun with poached eggs as well and that was absolutely delicious. Other then the smoothie bowl, the staff was great and kind and overall was a good experience.

JZY

可以说是malaysian fusion cafe, 食物里处处可见多东南亚特别是马来西亚的元素，很喜欢这种用心对待食物的饭店，希望他们的食物可以做的更好！ Good overall, I'm sure they could do better.

Joyce Wu

I have passed by so many times, and finally had a chance to discover those creative cuisines. Operator25 is kind of a Western x Asian fusion cafe, which just fitting my taste. They were known for their matcha products but I decided to try something different. So I had tapioca and potato fritters which I really recommended, the satay sauce was touching to the taste. (I have never seen this in other cafes) And black soft shell crab bun was also tasty.

Sal

Loved the decor and nicely presented dishes - cute ceramics! Also loved the drinks for their creativity. Food was an appropriate portion size and was decorated nicely with great fusion of western and oriental flavours. Excited to come back next time!

Nona Tukang Makan

Operator 25 is a brunch restaurant that has been receiving much love and a few hates from its customers. Even my friend who came before, has a love and hate relationship with the restaurant. Their menu is always changing depending on the season. I heard through the grapevine that sometimes the menu can be delectable, but other times it can be not so appetising.

Jenlicious

Knowing that i'd be spending a weekend away in Melbourne 😄 I jumped straight onto Zomato and compiled a 'must go to' list of restaurants and cafes to dine at and Operator25 was one of them! Now if you don't know what you're looking for, you can easily walk right pass this cafe without realising. Located within an early 1900s building, Operator25 is styled with fun and funky décor, paintings and picture frames. The original brickwork illustrates that the building was once Melbourne's first telephone exchange ☎ We waited roughly 15minutes before we got seated. Like any other brunch cafe these days, the menu is quite limited. I ordered the 'Cured Trout' dish which was ok in flavour, but despite the beautiful plating I wasn't fully satisfied with the serving. "Please sir, I want some more" 😟 Maybe next time I'll go for a more filling option.

Shazzamataz

Fast, friendly and delicious! Laksa grilled chicken with crispy nooodles... OMG! It was like a great party in my mouth! Beef checks rendang...YUMMO!! Thai milk tea sago... Somewhat bland but ok.

Smiley

A bit overwhelmed with all good things we've heard while we had rather good and bad experience. We had barramundi which was cooked to perfection but combination, not quite sure; and balinese pork burger that hardly had pork in it with components doesn't seem to work. Coffee wasn't great either; white coffee was not bad & long black was terrible, but juices are freshly squeezed, which was the only thing we enjoyed. Overall, probably won't come back although service was great.

ElsewhereBriefly

Housed in what used to be an old telephone exchange, and is now another block of skyscraper apartments, Operator 25 is a newish cafe on the ground floor. A little sign against the brick facade is visible as you approach, not with an easily legible name, but with a fork and knife icon on it, a wordless symbol for food or restaurant here. Only when you’re much closer can you see the letters forming Operator 25 along the side. You might also see bunches of people hanging around outside, waiting their turn to be called in to a table. Given that they don’t take bookings on weekends, you are likely to also have to join that throng.

James Crabtree

This place is seriously top notch. Food is a brilliant fusion taste bud sensation. Coffee is brilliant. The majority of the staff are polite and attentive. Been once, can't wait to go back!

The Other Jess Tuck

First visit of 2016, and it is as good as ever. Cold brew was on point as per usual and the menu made me drool. I chose the duck which was damn delicious with the hoisin and roti and cooked well. Service is always friendly and I will definitely be back again soon.

Iamapotato

PSA: Kaiserfleisch is a type of bacon. My mood went 100-0 when we sat down and saw the lack of bacon listed under 'Extras'. What kind of place serves breakfast without bacon?! Turns out, I was in for a gastronomic education because when I asked our server in a whisper, "Do you any bacon at all?", she said "We have the Kaiserfleisch which is a thick cut bacon". Hallelujah! When she said thick cut, she means at least 1. 5cm of tender streaky cocaine-like tastiness. Much recommended.

Piggyeatalot

I heard so many good things about Operator 25 and saw so many delicious pics on Instagram of Operator 25 that I begged my friends to visit. A little bit out of the way in the city, it still attracts a crowd but the wait wasn't too long. The food though, was a bit disappointing. We ordered a tapioca and potato fritters, broken eggs and satay. The flavours simply didn't match. We tried simply eating the fritters and it was quite bland and gingery. The matcha friand was quite nice, it wasn't very sweet. The menu said its served with grilled pears but it was more like poached pears. It wasn't cooked very well though, it was hard and once again didn't really go well with the matcha friand. My friend's kingfish on sushi rice with avocado and wasabi mousse was delicious though, and we even used her wasabi mousse for our potato fritter which made it taste sooooo much better. I quite like how they have creative drinks menu too, my friends were impressed with the white choc Thai milk tea and te matcha pandan latte, though less impressed with the peanutella melt, it was kinda like hot peanut butter milk but then because there was an icecream in the cup it kinda made it weirdly lukewarm. Overall it was a bit of a hit and miss, depending on what you ordered but I do give it points for its creativity.

Go Find Alice

While it didn't quite blow my mind, Operator25 is certainly a decent brunch spot in the CBD area. Great vibes and good coffee for sure. Some dishes were impressive (barramundi with braised fennel & couscous) and some were just okay (Benedict crumpets). Overall above satisfactory and yes, I'll be back!

Food Comatose

This is no ordinary cafe, my foodies. Cleverly named to pay homage to Melbourne’s first telephone exchange company, Operator 25 offers a cool, modern edge to high quality dining. This heritage site embodies a rustic feel with exposed brick walls and dimmed lighting, while the contemporary furniture and cartoon murals present a fresh, humorous attitude. I mean, the blimp depicting a girl sipping coffee with the caption “It brew my mind” was positively pun-tastic! Despite the cosy ambience, it was a lovely day so I chose to sit outside on the street corner to catch some rays.

David Reaburn

For what it is - quick, relatively cheap breakfast/lunch joint - Operator25 hits the mark. Tasty food, bit of a funky atmosphere & good service. Pefect little place for a quick lunch.

Roy Dogan

Surprising cafe. Great coffee and food. Poached eggs were perfect. Atmosphere is ideal for meetings or lunch or late breakfast which is also handy.

Judge Betty Cocker

HIGH COURT OF CONSUMPTION BETTY COCKER CJ 1. It can be a little exhausting to know that there are probably hundreds of brunch places in Melbourne, but seriously, Operator 25 (the 'Name in Brunch') is fit for a CHIEF JUSTICE and all of her EX-HUSBANDS. 2. Operator 25 is perhaps one of the first places I've been to that adheres to the HUMAN RIGHTS CHARTER ON FOOD PRODUCTION AND TASTINESS. 3. Please refer to all photographic evidence if you have any concerns about the feasibility of this establishment. ORDERS 4. Pick up the phone and make a booking under the name of LIONEL HUTZ and they will be legally obliged to provide you with a 5% discount courtesy of yours truly.

Mikhaylo.

No hyperbole here, this is the absolute worst food I have eaten in my life, that I had paid for. Got some overcooked, chewy pieces of flavorless pork swimming in oil and corn as well as a $23 burger that had some dry pieces of meat in it along with ginger (wtf??), cheap bread and chips sprinkled with super salty nori (wtf???). Whomever created these dishes should be banned from cooking ever again. Absolute overpriced rubbish, I'm still so angry I paid for this crap.

Janet Duong

Have been for brunch here twice. Have tried the braised eggs and soft shell crab. Definitely loved the soft shell crab. Looking forward to trying the matcha crumpets next. The wait is generally a little long even on weekdays but service is pretty good.

Darwin Tantra, TwoPaperPen

Love the story behind Operator 25 brand. They have massively improved on their service & foods, now they are one of the top brunch place in Melbourne. I had their suckling pig burger back in 2013, which was really delicious and one of their popular dish. They have gone through some changes on the menu every couple season. Their egg benedict will always in their breakfast menu, which I recommended. For lunch, definitely go for Balinese Pork!

Missdelish

Smooth Operator. It was a wonderful development when Operator 25 joined the fairly dismal dining options near the Flagstaff gardens a couple of years ago. It's gone through a few iterations of menu, decor (all telephone themed) and staff but it's consistently great food. That also means it's usually packed with long waits. The first really wet day this year meant the crowds stayed away, and there was space galore. Speaking of abundance, the piece of chicken in my laksa was enormous. Coated in creamy mustard-coloured coconut soup and topped with crispy noodles, it was less liquid broth and more a delicious emulsion. Serious plate-licking lusciousness for $21. Get yourself in the line.

Food Affair

Went for brunch with my friends. Food was good but the portions were a bit smaller. Service was quick and attentive. Overall a nice venue for brunch

Tom Schweitzer

Overall the food was really good, hot, and delivered relatively quick. The coffee was subpar. It had a good flavor but was barely lukewarm. I will be back for the Benedict crumpets but may just get a juice next time.

Tdiddy

The tapioca and potato fritters was different to your usual brunch but tasted average. My friend's matcha pancakes were a little sad + pallid. The matcha with yuzu beverage was a nice and unique combination but I just wish there was little more in their serving size! Overall, the drinks were good, the food was average.

Yi Lin Inez Zheng

Absolutely loved their coffee~ beans were perfect to my preference and was spectacularly made. Food was also really amazing. Good portion size that didn't let me waste food but I was definitely full in a healthy way. I feel like the food despite there being so many features to it, mainly lent towards a healthy style. Many of it were Asian influenced and were spot on flavours. Very fresh ingredients and love the use of fresh tapioca sauce with raspberry on the Matcha Crumpets. 👍🏼 I went with a friend on Thursday morning so it wasn't too busy. Nevertheless I feel like it wouldn't affect the atmosphere, even with full house, as the seating gave everyone a lot of space, lighting was warm and nice when the place could feel a bit cold with the stone floor. Very witty theme! 😍

Benny Jets 77

My number one coffee hut in the CBD. Staff are always friendly but that doesn't really matter as its all about the coffee. Soft silky and robust. Don't compromise

Kira Jade

Came to Operator25 a while ago with friends from Uni, we were able to book a table last minute so when we arrived and it was pumping we were 10/10 thankful. The drinks menu was awesome! Their peanut butter hot choc(??) or similar was so declious, although 3 of us shared as it was super sweet. Lovely vibes, great coffee, and fantastic food. However, our waitress seemed to have something against my friend, as his food was never ordered and his drink was stuffed up 3 times. He wasnt exactly the happiest chap especially after we were all ravenous from some PT we had beforehand.

JoJo X LiLi

Upon arrival, you'll notice that, for quite a darkly painted and bricked interior, Operator25 has some strikingly bright spaces. We were greeted as soon as we walked through the doorway and were promptly found a seat one one of the communal tables, conveniently placed in front of a large window. You know what that means. Natural lighting. The place was abuzz with trendy patrons, from all day shoppers to the food travelling elite - the lunch time crowd on a lazy Saturday certainly was a pleasant crowd to be amongst. We started with a round of refreshing drinks, featuring Operator 25's House Brewed Iced Tea (Hibiscus, chamomile, honey, nata de coco and a sprig of mint) and an Iced Matcha.

Bel

Vege burger and chips was a tad dry, and the goats cheese was sparse. Brioche bun delicious, as was the chai latte. Friendly waitress. Out of free water yet there was a station for it.

Jean

Albeit the space is very small and cosy, I think it is still a great spot to catch up with friends. Operator25 has great coffee, service, environment and food. The balance of flavours and carefully selected ingredients is evident when you eat your meal. I think it is worth the price. Thanks again guys.

MelbourneFoodie

Was in the bottom end of the city yesterday for a client meeting and we ate at Operator25. The fit out of the space is fairly unusual and is not the best use of space. I just ordered eggs on toast with a few sides the eggs were well cooked and bread used was nice. The coffee was good too.

Jessica

Don't be fooled by the simple menu, the quality of the food here is top notch and certainly filling. Coffee was outstanding. Waiters were polite and attentive. The only downside was there were limited tables for couples as we had to share a table with others. However, if you were to go out for brunch with a group of friends, Operator25 would be perfect

LeixD

Operator25 has actually become one of my favourite cafes. Decided to check it out on a Sunday afternoon and expected a longer wait but it was actually pretty short. Ordered the Benedict Crumpets which were soo good, the fried vermicelli on top were really interesting but complimented the dish. I tried a bit of my friends dishes and they were all quite nice. Will definitely be coming back.

L

Came for lunch on a Sunday afternoon, and as expected it was busy, though the wait really wasn't that long. The place was smaller than I expected and we ended up sharing a table with another group of people. Ordered the soft shell crab with the squid ink brioche, and at first, I was really hesitant as I didn't know if I'd like the flavour of the bun. But when I had a taste, it really surprised me how much I enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend! I also had the iced matcha latte, which was lacking some sweetness in my opinion. Will come back to try the rest of the menu, though it is a bit pricey compared to other places, service is fast and waiters are very friendly.

Sheemal Visun

Nice little cafe located on wills street... not too far from flagstaff station. Vibe is great at this cafe. Friendly staff and good choice of food. I tried out the matcha crumpet since I liked what it came with (poached pears, macerated berries, kaya sauce, mango and lychee). The presentation was great but had a very bitter/earthy taste to it. Is not something that I would order again. Their chai latte is amazing! I could not help to order second. Overall a nice place for weekend brunch.

DuckieLovesToEat

My friends and I love to catch up and try new eating places and Melbourne is the city for that. There seem to be a new cafe popping here and there all the time. Anyways, enough rambling. So we found ourselves checking Operator 25. I must say it sure is popular. It has an Asian fusion style going on with the menu and I do like that. The food that we ordered were pretty tasty. The coffee were ok but I can't say it is the best I have tried so far. The customer service is also alright. Will I come back? Ummm maybe but I think I will check on other places first.

Tony

Loved it! From the coffee to the food, this place is amazing. Surely, deserves a better rating than what they currently have. Environment was good and the waiting staffs were kind.

Kate Dougherty

Quirky little CBD cafe with an Asian inspired menu. I ordered the matcha crumpets with poached pears, macerated berries, kaya sauce, mango and lychee pearls. The dish was spectacularly presented. No wonder its an Instagram hit. Overall it was a light and tasty meal however I personally would have preferred it a little sweeter. As it was a hot day I also decided to try the coffee spritzer (coffee, maple syrup, lychee, mint, lemon balm and tonic water). Probably wouldnt order that again - I found it to be quite sickly.

Louise Zheng

I love this shop! Went there for breakfast on my birthday! How can you not love the Ted coffee. Food was very good, but I find the sticky rice too dry, i thought it suppose to be soft and sticky!

Ai Ng

Great service and very filling meals, enjoyable and relaxing experience would definitely recommend this for friends, family and visitors. A must try is the peanutella drink, even throw a shot of coffee in to top off the experience

Why__dee

Nice interior and friendly staff. Quite an eclectic menu. Got a "Sweet Marty" and it was delicious. I'm obsessed with crumpet and blueberries so this was a match made in heaven!

FoodieAboutTown

Located in a heritage listed telephone exchange building at the top of town, we have been trying to get to Operator 25 for ages now and I am so glad they were open over the holidays for us to drop by. Coffee was fabulous, one of the nicest I have had in ages, breakfast menu is a smorgasboard of flavours spanning across coconut and red rice pudding with mandarin, hazelnut, basil and rosewater or cured ocean trout with ginger, coriander and avocado or Tapioca and potato fritters with satay sauce. There is a definite swing from sweet to savoury and hubby and I definitely went to opposite ends of the spectrum.

Joyce Wang

The soft shell crab with black bun taste really good ,especially with the salad including mint. It is so fresh. The yuzu matcha latte is recommended also

Angie

Nice CBD cafe with bustling atmosphere. I had the soft shell crab on a brioche bun which was quite nice. The black bun was a unique touch to the dish, although I thought it was a bit dry. The salad on the side wasn't great. Coffees were good. Service was great, staff were helpful and friendly.

Selena Zhang

Very limited menu at breakfast, and there was no need to wait (I think I went very early in the morning). My eggs Benedict was not disappointing but it would have been nice if I could have ordered something else.

Angela Eats

I like the soft shell crab, everything worked well together, the combination of flavors were very fresh. The matcha crumpet presentation was very pretty however it wasn't that pleasing to eat. The service was amazing! Wouldn't mind trying dishes :))

Potaoto

Great cafe serving an interesting fusion of southeast asian and traditional brunch staples. Innovative and beautifully presented dishes with an excellent selection of desserts for the sweet toothed.

Gabbys79

Loved it! Different, modern, welcoming and amazing. Japanese cushion cafe in Melbourne. Absolutely thought it was brilliant. My crumpets benny was amazing. Pastrami peppery, eggs poached to perfection and the yummiest crumpets ever. I'm not a fan of single origin coffee just not to my palette but coffee made amazingly. Lovely brekky

Sakura Dallaire

Good effort on the creativity but I wish our dishes tasted as great as it looked! I had Dr. Marty's matcha crumpets with mango and lychee pearls. The presentation was beautiful, but I got bored with my crumpets so quickly.. ugh!

Food1995

Came here for their last menu which had the congee, which I absolutely adored. Sadly, the menu had changed by this visit. We got the soy scrambled eggs and the balinese pork. The balinese pork was excellent in texture and flavour, well cooked and seasoned. The scrambled eggs were an interesting combination, but disappointing after my high expectations. Overall, still excellent

Dan The Man

Having been here twice for breakfast in the last few months I can attest to the quality and freshness of the food. The fruity crumpets were tasty, textured and full of flavour. The coffee was strong but smooth and the menu evolving. The decor was interesting and the atmosphere warm. Highly recommended brekky venue!

ParsnipAndFennel

The inner OCD in me was put at ease as each dish from Operator 25 came out from the kitchen. The Matcha Crumpets, the Cured Ocean Trout and even the Deconstructed Lime Cheesecake was absolutely symmetrical and perfectly balanced. All three plates could easily be split in two, with each person being content in the knowledge that they have exactly what the other one has.

The Epicurean

A very impressive all-day brunch menu. Well-deserved praise for the chef Val Fong. The dining tables are communal style and can be a little bit deprived of natural lighting.

Sam Kc

Went here not that long for the first time after stumbling upon it on Zomato. From a first glance I fell in love as I love the interior design and not to mention the concrete floors! But anyways back to the food! I ordered the Benedict Crumpets and after it arrived, I'm pretty sure I devoured this dish in about 4 minutes flat. I couldn't chew fast enough which was a problem because I wanted it "in me" as quickly as possibly lol. Yummm! 😍 If I had to find a negative it will 9/10 times be that I can never find a comfortable chair! Why is it so hard?!

Joji N

At a first glance the place is modern and has a nice aura. Staff are well trained, making service tiptop. The waitress even knew to walk around me to place the cutlery on my right hand side. However, the coffee wasn't hot enough; have a feeling the barista was afraid to froth the milk longer being it was soy. :P Now the food. Curried braised beans: full on tomatoes. The curry flavor was very hinted. Not satisfied at the overall dish. Soft shell crab: not bad of a dish. Salad, bun and condiments went well together. However, the hero of the dish, yup the crab, was over cooked leaving a burnt taste. The place is definitely overrated. Recommended for a try but not for go back to place. :)

Alexandra Stewart

This cafe had great reviews so I thought I'd give it a go, the menu is a bit too fancy and overpriced for my liking. The standard eggs Benedict with ham was instead a bubbly crumpet concoction with a bit of crispy noodle on top with some pastrami. A bit of thinly sliced smoked salmon would've gone down a treat with my avocado and poached eggs, but instead I got chunks of warm, chewy salmon that tasted like it had been sitting out for hours. Slow service but if you like weird food then go for gold.

Reality Served

Cold potatoes with average burger don't waste your time at this place. Gave extra for ok matcha crumpets but they seriously have to lift their game.

Jess B

Me and my best friend went to this place earlier this year. She discovered it on Instagram and once I saw the food I was down to go! She went there for a school project and we interviewed the people and everything. They said they change their menu according to whats in season and that their ingredients were sustainable. Which is awesome! No regrets, this place is amazing. Really cool vibe and setting. Their food is super creative and delicious. It does take a little while to be seated, because it gets quite busy, but well worth the wait. It's situated in a really nice quite part of the city, and it's really easy to get to. We really enjoyed this place :) (By the way, really recommend this dessert, it was some kind of deconstructed ginger bread thing, so good -- but I think its on the winter menu)

HH24

Love the menu at this place! We had the Indian style beans which were absolutely to die for, the rotti and coriander yoghurt were superb. And the pastrami crumpets Benedict were delicious too.

I Am Cheng

For my opinion this brunch cafe was totally overrated. The foods are so-so compare to other brunch cafe such as hammer and tong, auction room and others. The taste of the food is normal. Nothing special. Just normal English muffin with few pieces of pastrami, poach egg and hollandaise sauce. The service is good and the environment is great as well. The food was not surprising. **everything just from my opinion.

Rachel Tan

We were greeted with really friendly and bubbly staff, which was a huge plus for us! Despite being a weekend, there was no wait at all, which was quite delightful to hear. We ordered 1 sweet and 1 savoury. The matcha crumpets were one of the recommended staff picks and one of the more popular sweet treats. I can see why now! Its not tooooo sweet, neither is it too bland. Just the right balance, and anyone who is an avid matcha fan would LOVE this. We had the ocean trout which was really delicious as well. There were about 6 thick cut trout, which I felt looked a little bit small perhaps I was expecting a bit more fish. However, the avocado that was served with it was so smooth and tasty I practically licked the whole plate clean. It was definitely a good pick. No regrets. 2 thumbs up for service, food and coffee! :-)

Roshanaksamadirad

it's a nice place, great food, but a bit over priced comparing the portion. not much variety of cakes and pastries. all in all good and recommended.

Mausam Jha

Went there on Melbourne cup day, and got a seat for two immediately. the ambience is rustic and warm. staff is quite friendly and service is quick. we ordered hot chocolate, espresso and Egg Benedict. Portion was generous and everything felt so fresh and delicious. will definitely recommend it to my friends

Charlotte Simpkins

I've been wanting to visit for a long time. Was impressed with my green tea crumpets with poached pears. A very nice atmosphere with nice and friendly waiters. A must go for breakfast or brunch.

Panda With No Bamboo

Lovely atmosphere. I recommend sitting at the bar table so you can enjoy the barista skillful coffee making process :) The chai latte here is extraordinary; bold flavor, strong spice smell yet very very smooth.

Narzi-Goreng

Small cafe with a refreshing look of trendy meets open-loft. There is a great deal of technique and love in their coffees! Staff are friendly. Definitely recommend!

Shalini Raj

I was wanting to try this place for a long time but once I tried the food I unfortunately was underwhelmed. I ordered their take on a Eggs Benedict and it was quite bland. The crumpets that they used instead of a traditional muffin or even Turkish bread or sourdough, failed to add any flavour to the meal. The fried vermicelli that they had sitting on top looked nice but served no purpose but was yet another element with no flavour. That being said maybe only this dish is uninspired not everything on the menu.

Arv Sharma

I would call this an experimental food heaven ! The menu is exquisite but you have a limited options ! But the food was amazing and people around were calm and charming. A must brekkie place !

Mavis Tan

Great brunch place to hang out, we had our brunch around 1pm waited for 10mins till our table. Great service, food is decent "Balinese pork" & "Squid ink soft shell crab", drink "cold brew with lychee" & "Nutella hot chocolate".

ThatFoodie

Today's Food 'Operation' is Operator 25! Located in the heart of the Melbourne CBD, These guys have been serving up some great brunch dishes and are seasonally changing their menus to showcase their skills and show us what they have in store each time :). Lets move on to today's selection. Today's Selection

Kelly Palmer

By far the best bacon I have ever tasted. The servings are generous and beautifully plated and the waiting staff friendly and always seem happy to be there. The interior is very trendy and has a chill atmosphere. Will definitely be returning.

Janice

I'm impressed with the menu. Perth has some catching up to do in terms of food fusion. Absolutely delightful! I had a tapioca and potato dish: the flavours, the textures were visual and tantalising. I'd love to see cutting edge flavours back in Perth.

Viperinblack

I wentt to Operator 25 for brunch this morning and was delighted by the bubbly staff, fantastic coffee and prompt service! Beautiful presentation of the cafe and the yummy food ☺ Will definitely be coming back!

Binula

Small cafe on the north edge of the CBD. The interior has a modern, sleek look and feel to it with a nice atmosphere. The staff were friendly and service quick and efficient. I tried the Benedict Crumpets - the dish was made well with plenty of pastrami and a good amount of hollandaise sauce. The coffee was nicely done too. The menu had a few unique options I'll definitely want to try out next time!

The City Walker

When it comes to cafe in the CBD, you definitely need to visit this quirky cafe at the corner of Wills Street. Operator25 is one of my favourite cafes in the city for a reason. You can trust their innovative menu for a good and unique culinary experience. My favourite item from their new menu is the Brazilian Seafood Curry ($22.00). It’s not too spicy yet it’s enough to intrigue your palette. Smoked Sardines ($17.00) and Polenta Soldiers with added bacon ($21.00) make healthier alternatives. I love their precise and creative use of spices creating spectacular yet subtle taste that match every dishes well.

Eatwithhendri

being a fan of polenta, i was quite happy to find out that this place serves "polenta soldiers" in the menu. i decided to give it a try for breakfast on my last day in Mel before flying bck to Perth. But sadly the polenta turned to be quite bland and dry. I was expecting it to be more creamy with a little bit of cheese flavour in it. The tiny serve of tomato salsa helped to give flavour in the entire dish but the serving size could be a little bit more, and the broken egg tasted weird and did not compliment nor help to make the dish outstanding.

Meily So

One of my favourite brunch places in the city of Melbourne – Operator25. I definitely need to compliment the savoury taste of the dishes. The specialty coffee was delightfully delicious. Anyway, the brunch is worth the trip for a hearty and satisfying meal. Don’t miss out guys!

Mabel Lee

Convenient brunch place to dine in. Instagrammable interior + food but need to widen their menu selections 😊 one of the nicest brunch places in the CBD I reckon!

Samm

Had Balinese pork. Pork was dry and had a really strange condiments. I love fusion food if it works really well together. This one, well Im not sure. It was just strange thats all. Nothing that compliments the taste of the main

Jimmy Miloseski

An absolutely spectacular breakfast! The service was very good and the food delicious. I had the scrambled eggs on toast with a side of bacon but Brooke Townsend had the hash with satay and it was to die for. Highly recommend for breakfast

Gem

Chose Operator 25 for my birthday breakfast! Heard so much about this place, especially about the long queue to be seated. So I was pleasantly surprised to walk in at around 10:30am on a public holiday Friday and be seated straight away! The staff were friendly and attentive throughout breakfast. The coffees came out very quickly, beautifully presented and quite tasty! The orange juice was freshly squeezed and delicious! The menu has some unusual items. Vermicelli noodles on Benedict crumpets (which looked amazing) for example. Great for those who like to venture out of the ordinary with their order. We ordered the matcha crumpets and the curried baked eggs. It was a shame to see the famous matcha hot cakes off the menu, however the crumpets were a great substitute! On its own the crumpet was a little dry, but with a combination of the berries and the coconut cream, they were perfect! Moist, fluffy and a rich matcha green colour! The mango and lychee balls were a great touch! The curried baked eggs were equally good! Rich taste and just enough spice. Poached eggs were cooked perfectly! The coriander in the yogurt was a little overpowering on its own, but when it was mixed through with the rest of the dish it was delicious!! Overall a really great experience! Just enough out of the hustle and bustle of the inner city, great vibe, cool interior and lovely food! Would return! Note: the menu is different to the one currently displayed on zomato.

Patronus

Loved this place. Food tastes sooo good here! Definitely worth the wait! Definitely will go back! One of my favorite brunch places. PS photos attached were quite old now. They probably have updated their menu!

Kmlisaa

The food here is definitely unique - serving an asian inspired menu showcasing some unusual combinations that you're probably not quite sure they would go nicely together. It makes you rather curious about how your order will turn out. I tried the yuzu matcha latte and it was different to the sweet kind that you usually find. I felt it had a lemon zesty taste to it, not bad, although the matcha flavour wasn't very strong. If you like your brunch to be different, this is the place to go. If you prefer your brunch to be safe, then it's still worth a try. This is a popular cafe, so do expect a bit of a wait, especially on the weekend.

Trading Plates

Sometimes you have to step away from the hustle and bustle of the main CBD streets to find truly delicious food. Operator25 supports this theory completely. If you want excellent brunch and coffee, whether for business or leisure, executive chef Valerie Fong (previously of Bacash Restaurant in South Yarra) and head chef Felipe Guedes have got you covered.

Fifi.ng

This little gem is located on Wills Street as part of the Wills Court apartment on the ground floor. It was opened in 2013 but I only visited it recently. Why? Because of its popularity. Yup, it's a popular place for brunch. I always saw a queue lining up outside of the cafe on the weekends. So I thought I better wait for the crowds to die down. But it hasn't been the case...

Lanaa

So happy to have found this place, its really cool and its one of those breakfast places you are gonna wanna stay for a while and not just eat and off u go! The food was great, staff were great and they serve till 4 pm!!!!

Jacob

Come here for morning coffee regularly. Thought I'd pop in for breakfast one day. I'll start with the coffee. Its awesome (hence being one of my favourite joints). The staff are super cool and this experience was no different. The atmosphere and decor is vibrant (for the lack of a better word). The food was OK. They use crumpets as their toast/muffin base, which is different and gives the place a little bit of uniqueness in their own right. I ordered the eggs with pastrami. I found the pastrami a little too dominating, but still enjoyed it enough to finish it.

Nosoundwithoutsilence

A nice little joint. Great coffee, but personally, mediocre food.

Juliana Chang

Food is amazing!!! But servings are pretty small, would go and get maccas after as it didn't fill me up. Good service, location is hard to find though.

Tia Mukherjee

Our first stop on what turned out to be a gourmet tour in Australia. It took about 25 minutes to be seated, with a long line of people waiting. The ambience is totally worth it. I only got a chance to take a picture of the coffee because then I got busy eating. I have a very high sweet tolerance, so ordered the Sweet Marty. I loved it, but I can imagine it could be too much for someone not used to an overload of sweet for their first meal of the day. My friend ordered the Doctor Reuben, which is a hearty, flavorful portion of good brunch-y things: crumpets, pastrami, eggs and hollandaise. It set the mood for the rest of our trip, so I would definitely go back on my next visit.

Pineapple San

Breakfasting at Operator25 is a pretty good way to start your day. Arrived around 9.30am and was pleasantly surprised to be seated immediately. Service was prompt and very friendly. We ordered the coconut porridge and Sweet Marty's. The food was very nice! I loved the banana butterscotch sauce for the crumpets, which wasn't overly sweet. The pears were poached perfectly too; really lovely!The porridge was nice as well; the fruits went quite well with the porridge. However, the matcha yoghurt didn't really taste like matcha; all we could taste was coconut!Drinks were fine. My yuzu matcha latte tasted great, although the matcha could have been stronger. Overall, it's a pleasant cafe; very relaxed (when I went anyway). Food was great! Keep it up!

Bunny

Really good,food...... The people soo friendly... The breakfast in a thing to die for... Finally a good cafe that can meet the needs of Melbournians....... Cheerzz,guyss for such a nice meal and awesome time... Will be returning soon

David Gonzalez

What I like about Operator 25 is that in addition to standard Melbourne café menu items, there is always a couple of super unusual dishes for those who want more- like breakfast couscous with morcilla and a duck egg. Coffee is excellent, service is friendly and efficient.

Wei-Chi Lee

The wait was extremely long, waited for just about 45 min to get seated. The service wasn't the best as the waiter forgot part of our order. The food was good though but would probably not want to wait that long to get seated again.

Misscharlot

gf brought me into this joint, love the interior design of it, love the coffee to kick the morning, and also a great choice of breakfast for weekend.

Carlton_Mama

I really do like operator 25 - staff are incredibly warm welcoming attentive and lovely, food is nice, coffee is really good the only negative would be that the coffee is always tepid, even when requested to be extra hot

Lilian Baedeker

Industrial interior and coffee bar front welcomes you as you enter. Friendly staff will find you a table in a reasonable moment. Food: does meet Melbourne standards. I enjoyed both baked eggs and Reuben. Drinks: decent coffee and cold drinks (including alcoholic ones!)

Kris

Friendly staff & a pretty cool space that isn't over done. Coffee is nice - the chai latte with soy is delish! & the food on offer is really yummy too; lots of options but not ridiculously too many. Thankfully the wait to get in isn't as bad as some breaky / brunch / lunch spots. Worth a try!

Robert Karoly

Excellent lunch at this smart industrial space with a good fit-out. Cheerful, friendly staff and imaginative, fresh menu. Not a bruscetta in sight! Really good place for a different take on a work-day lunch. Recommended.

World In A Bite

Good food & coffee (only thing is that the poached eggs are not done well as they should be - still raw inside)... Been here many times. The place is always packed! The decoration is nice too... Needless to say, you have to put on your list! 😉

Gin Tan

Heard about this for a long time and we were lucky we only waited for 15 mins. It's a small restaurant, coffee wasn't my type, it's too milky and I like it a bit sour. I had the Polenta Soldiers with extra bacon, the streaky bacon were so yummy! It's really worth paying the extra $4.

Food Dine Roll

Maybe it's my own high expectation that led me to feel disappointed. This place got really high rating on Urbanspoon (before zomato) and it was always one of the top breakfast place to go. We tried to go there once and it was really really long qeue (good on them!) so we left. I tried again a while later during weekday and we got seats. The place was nice and very modern. You got seated like restaurant. Menu was impressive. Loads of interesting items. Food was.. In a good way, pretentious. Don't expect big breakfast here (or anywhere in Melbourne). Everything was alright. Bacon was a standout actually. Really flavorful. I'm not sure how I'm feeling about it. I rarely speak of it and I guess to me, it was no where near my expectation. Service was, alright. Good was ok. And the place always packed during weekend.

Eating

Food was very unique but not amazing. Not a big fan of squid ink so maybe that was why. I did enjoy my bf dish with polenta chips but it was still nothing to rave about. I give it a 3.5 because of how unique it is.

Aki

Waited for more than 30 minutes to be seated in a Sunday afternoon, but not problem getting a seats at a shared table during the week. Dishes were very good looking but flavour was a bit lacking. Sizes weren't very generous too. You either have to order some more or you leave the cafe craving for more.

Elizabeth Duong

We had the Dr. Ruben Crumpets with smoked salmon, braised beef and Dr. Marty's crumpets with caramelised banana. All dishes were fabulous but my favorite had to be the Dr. Ruben's. The dill and Salmon were amazing together and would definitely recommend changing the bacon for salmon! The sweet crumpets had a little too much going on above the crumpets and I didn't feel as if the caremalised banana and berry compote went well together and would have preferred them separately. However everything was delicious and definitely would be a place I'd recommend!

Jason Meaden

The fact I woke up early, walked all the way from my hotel in Southbank, just to get here before they open to avoid the crowd is testament enough, I think, to my love of this cafe. However .. Just in case you're reading this to hear about food and not my exercise regime, let me tell you - it is fantastic. This morning I had the Sweet Marty - which is a artisan wholemeal crumpet with poached pears, hazelnut, caramelised banana sauce and berry compote. There is a heaven and it is made right here! The danger with these breakfast dishes is that they're too sweet, and you spend the rest of the day coming down from the sugar high. That isn't the case here - it is wonderfully balanced between the sweetness and the tart berry compote. The crunch of the hazelnuts and the softness of the crumpet and pear is delightful too. On previous occasions I've had the scrambled eggs and bacon, the thick cut bacon melts in your mouth and the scrambled eggs are full of flavour without being heavy and gluggy. If these guys can do it, why is it so hard for everyone else? The coffee too is on point. The staff are very knowledgable - declining the coffee menu, I gave a rough description of what sort of flavours I wanted from my filter coffee, and they delivered. The temperature was perfect, the flavour was refined but robust, and I could have sat all day and just soaked it up. Why 4.5 and not 5.0 ... I'd give it 4.99 if I could, but the inevitable queue in the morning made me shave a little off.

MissyNess

I don't venture into the city for brunch all too often as I prefer the peruse the inner suburb. However we decided to watch Miss P's hockey and it presented the perfect oppotunity to try out Operator 25. We went there on a wet, wet Saturday. Mario and I went to get a table first and Bear came shortly afterwards (he was being sweet and dropping Miss P for practice first).

Elsie K

Great friendly service! The coffee was delicious and well made, as was the food. This is a unique little cafe with good vibes. I will definitely be back!

Madison Ashton

NO green tea pancakes on the menu, it's what makes this place stand out online. Wasted my time walking several blocks in the cold to get there.

Mottlino

Have visited and dined to Operator25 twice. From the very first time, I had some hot chocolate to start the day, followed by main and dessert. The service was good, the wait time was acceptable, I waited about 20 minutes for the food. The main dish was great - the food is well balanced, beautifully presented and colourful. I love the fact that the Hot chocolate was served quickly and had a cute presentation. For the dessert I ordered Matcha hotcakes with black sesame mascarpone and raspberry coulis - beautiful presentation, but the taste wasn't that good (the combination of the flavour were disappointing). Even though the dessert was quite disappointing, so far I had a good dining experience at Operator25. Good food at a reasonable prices and good atmosphere. Definitely come back for other mains.....

Icelynne Yeo

Pricey and shit. The Brazilian seafood curry is so bad. The seafood isn't fresh at all. I could smell the seafood from far away and it stinks. Imagining eating it. The beef cheeks are bad too, there is no taste to the beef and the soup with it. While eating it, it felt like the food was in a room temperature which made it seem like it the food isn't cooked.

Minyip

Have dined at Operator25 several times now and have always had a superb experience. Coffee is spot on, as is the food and especially the service. I've not experienced anything but friendly, attentive service from the staff here, which is one of the reasons why I keep going back :) Their food is very reasonably priced - 2 bucks for a side of the most delicious roasted tomatoes - sweet, well seasoned, roasted to perfection, is a total bargain. As a uni student I can grab brekkie here without it breaking the bank. As for the wait for a table, I struggle to comprehend why people would mark a venue down for that. They can't control how many people turn up at a time, nor should they have to worry about it. Places like this are obviously busy for a reason - they're doing something right! Thanks for a great experience guys, see you all again soon :))))

Monica

They have really cool flavour combinations! Coffee was great and service was good. Highly recommend it, so disregard all the the complainers!

Instamato

Would I say this is an amazing place? Not really not too sure what all the hype is about. After waiting close to an hour to get seated the food was average and it didn't tantalize the tastebuds

Johnathan Yue

Their eggs benedict runs out at 11:00AM on a Sunday - this is just poor planning. Coffees are OK, and food is alright - though overly seasoned. Both times I've went, the service was subpar. Asking for water deserves a death stare from one of the waitresses apparently. Also, this place seems to attract the world's loudest clientele. I reckon the conversation volume is akin to the stock market pit on the New York Stock Exchange.

LNHN

From service to food this busy little pocket was coming fast and with great quality. Although we had to wait 25 minutes to be seated during the early mornings, it was well worth the wait. We had the Doctor Ruben which was cooked perfectly and first time ever, the breakfast couscous. Everything was delicious and full of flavour and texture including the coffee! Great stuff.

Justin Wong

This place is a hidden gem where it serves pretty amazing brunch. Had their pulled pork burger and it was their sweet potato fries that were amazing. The burger was no disappointment don't get me wrong. It was delicious. Good recommendation.

Nathalie Keeler

Had the matcha latte and coconut porridge. Both were delicious. The atmosphere is great and the food is really creative. Great place for a lunch date.

Peifinna Pangestanu

It's just a simple dish, with bread, poached eggs, and salmons, but the taste is so good, especially for the poached eggs! The poached eggs are cooked perfectly! I will definitely go to this place again!

Linnie Eats All The Food

Brunch catch up with Miss Pear and her friend was due and I got to pick and BAM Operator 25. I got there early with Mr D just before 12PM on a sunday (Yep, peak hour for lunch) and I put my name down on the list with an expected wait of 20-30 mins (Mr D wasn’t too impressed at all…). Now, since it was already 12:30PM, coffees/hot beverages were due! It took FOREVER (was dying of starvation now….) for the coffees to come, perhaps 20 minutes or so. We were getting so grumpy by the minute. I know the baristas were busy and all but if your specialty is coffee, be prepared for an influx of coffee orders. Anywho, I got the Yuzu matcha latte (I LOVE YUZU AND MATCHA) and I was disappointed. I wished I stuck to my original chai latte…I generally love yuzu and matcha on their own so when I saw this I was super EXCITED! Next time, will just get a latte…

Denise

My treat yourself breakfast: soy latte and ham & cheese toastie from Operator25. BEST HAM AND CHEESE TOASTIE EVER!!!! Be warned though. They only serve them until 11AM. Great atmosphere to go for brunch, good food and good coffee. Service can be a bit slow at times though, but has always been friendly and given with a smile :)

Lauren Jameson

Haven't eaten here but have had MANY coffees and all have been great. Funky atmosphere in an unexpeteced location, staff all seem really approachable.

JustASlice

Nice spot for breakfast before work in the CBD. Coffee is good. Have been a few times now and the food is a little inconsistent. My toast was cold and undercooked the last time we went which was a shame because previously everything was on point. Staff are friendly enough but could be a little bit more attentive to morning diners.

Ellen Silvia Oetomo

Operator 25 is successfully collide the unique taste of indonesia with western brunch. My sis ordered balinese marinated pork and gosh it was the bomb! They also served it with black bun. The pork cooked so well and you can taste that the pork has been marinated with bali spices or something and it was so tender. Highly recommended!

MellowFever

Nothing to write home about. The space is bright and well laid out. The coffee is decent for a lighter roast. Our waiter was super friendly, though everyone else was a little too cool... The food was tasty and well made. My pho was interesting and healthy. More flavour and more reasonable prices would have been great, but high city rent probably makes this difficult..,

Talulah

I tried the 'Sweet Marty' crumpets which were okay - in my opinion they were a little bit overpriced considering the portion size and what not. Our food also took quite a while to come out considering that it was very quiet when we went! Nonetheless, Operator 25 has a great atmosphere and the dishes I saw around the restaurant looked delicious.

Krystal

Only bad thing on my experience was the 45 minute wait for a table for 2. Aside from that the service was so friendly and helpful and the food was amazing. Me and my friend had the Sweet marty which was delicious and the price was reasonable. And just a heads up they don't split bills.

Kullanat Kya Arr

Good place for Sunday brunch👍🏻and famous especially for Chinese customers. Coffee doesn't taste good but hot chocolate with bear face is rated 3 out of 5. Moreover, actually wifi is on but unfortunately the staff said they don't have so feel bit disappointed.

DiLing

Was quite disappointed that they remove the matcha cake. But! The ginger banana bread was excellent!!!! It taste special with those combination. Nice place for brunch for sure

Christabel Patterson

Amazing. Have been here 4 times, I love the matcha pancakes and backed eggs. My go to breakfast place when I can't think of a new place to try.

Charizard

Tried their Balinese Marinated Pork and Polenta Soldiers. I loved the Balinese Marinated Pork as the pork was well marinated, since the flavours was not too overpowering and the meat was tender. Moreover, the Balinese sambal was exceptional, as was spicy and had a pungent taste. I loved the onions from the sambal, as it combined well with the marinated pork and the fried shallot, thus making every mouthful of the pork even more flavoursome. Furthermore, the squid ink brioche was crunchy on the sides yet soft on the inside. I tore the brioche into smaller sizes and ended up with delicate strands of brioche on my plate! This was uncommon and it proved how great was their brioche. Last but not least, the coriander labna was unique, but I felt that it was not really compatible with the overall dish, which was very southeast asian. As for the other dish, the Polenta Soldiers were crispy and the corn and tomato pesto was appetising.

Tannie

Absolutely delicious! Chai and oats coconut porridge. Would definitely come back to try out more others. It's a busy cafe, don't mind the long wait as I was having a catch up with my friend...

Tram Dang

Having outdoor lunch here and I have to s ay the food decor is really nice, place for foodie looking for good food pics, the taste is ok I ordered classic all day serve Egg benedict and the taste was good but not sure abt the tea, not top grade thou. Classic modern aussie resto. Bear in mind there will be a queue and waiting time to get table. Service: 3.5/5 Taste: food: 3.5/5 tea2/5 Atmosphere: inside:2.5/5 ( really small and noisy nice decor thou) outside 3.5/5 Value for money: 3/5 Presentation: 4/5

Z For GoodFood

Interesting coffee art but wouldn't say taste is the best. Same goes for the food. My experience could have been discounted as I went with friends last weekend and the place was Super crowded. front glass door was left open with people waiting inside and outside near the entrance area, therefore cold air kept on coming in and food/ drink got cold very quickly. Waiter was lovely but got our order wrong. In total we waited for 50 min and another 20 for food... Would I go there again? I'd probably try seven seeds next time if I'm in the mood to stand around for a table- at least they have papers to read...

AH

Don't know what all the fuss is about. The chai tastes like dirty dish water and my friend's even came out spilled all over the saucer, and they did not say anything nor offer to replace it. The food was definitely way below average, as the scallops were overcooked and tasted so fishy. The grain salad was below par and the lamb benedict, while very average, was the best dish (not that it had much competition). Would not recommend Operator25 to anyone, unless you want awful drinks, below average food and icy customer service that is.

FizzleO

On our last day in Melbourne, we made our morning-hating selves to this eatery to experience the hype that we've heard from all around. Meh. We arrived at 10:30am to beat the brunch rush and found ourselves at a sharing table. We ordered the delicious Nutella Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate and a Chai Latte, that was meant to be more sweet than spice, it was all spice. We had our Chai replaced with a Mocha and the waiter was very courteous. We ordered the Eggs Your Way On Toast with avocado and salmon on the side and the special of the day, Wagyu Burger with Aioli Fries. It was a messy breaky. Filling to say the least. Our burger was dry and impossible to eat without it falling apart. The scrambled eggs was up to scratch, partnered with rustic toast. All in all, its not a terrible place with a friendly staff and indie vibe.

Lisa Wang

Another delightful spot for brunch, pork burger and sweet potato fries were tasty, mango sweet was even better than expectation. Better avoid weekend though coz of long waiting line.

Eyes > Belly

I love a good sardine dish for brunch and the smoked sardines on toast here hit the spot (congee is not too bad either)! If you're looking for your traditional eggs bene or smashed avo brekky then this is not the place for u. But if you're bored of the usual Melb brunch fair and want something more creative then give this cafe a shot.

Fainzee

I had to wait a long time and I was pretty disappointed by the food. I had the soft shell crab burger and it was pretty bland. The coffee was not that good. Everything was aesthetically pleasing but the environment was a little uncomfortable.

W

The interior of the cafe is lovely. Loved their Balinese pork dish! Their duck was alright, could've been more flavourful. Overall it was a pleasant experience :)

Filled With Food

Arriving around 10:30am on a Saturday morning, we had to wait up to 20 minutes. This place was buzzing and expect to wait for a while, even up to one hour during peak times (11am-1pm). Operator 25 offers an all day breakfast and lunch menu on weekends, with an endless amount of choices to tantalise your taste buds.

Mr S

This place has a great atmosphere and the food is generous for the price they ask. Although, we had to wait in line to be seated as it is a very popular place by the looks of it. As we were seated we were attended to promptly and selected our choices. My girlfriend had the chai latte which was horrible and tasted like pure milk. I had one of their organic juices which was refreshingly different and pleasantly different. I had their signature burger, which had pulled pork, egg, spicy relish and coriander. It came with a side of thick cut sweet potato wedges. The pork of the burger was succulent, juicy and spicy with a hint of coriander to balance it all out. The egg calmed my tongue of spice and gently broke apart in my mouth. It is an extravagant burger that is both appetizing and large, which more than left me happy and full. Operator 25 is a great place, but I don't think I'll be back. It is definitely worth a try though, but not something I would indulge in often.

Joel Onno

Very very very slow service. Was told it would be a 30min wait to get a table and the table they ended up seating us at was empty the whole time we were waiting. Additional 30min wait for food not worth it. Terrible coffee too! Not sure what the hype is all about

Courtney

The menu read well but for me, i was a bit let down by what i was delivered. Ordered the polenta chips for breakfast, which came with broken egg (cold, sandwhich mix egg which was a bit strange) some salsa, greens and 3 polenta chips. Flavours ok but i was thrown by the egg and didn't overly enjoy it for the $18 price tag. The staff however were pleasant, the space really nice and it was great watching them make the drip coffee.

Peppermint

We had brunch at Operator25 after hearing good reviews, and it was absolutely amazing. I am usually picky but this one hits it on every mark. We had the pulled pork burger with sweet potato wedges, and poached eggs w avo and their special thick cut bacon. $7 for a side of bacon- I thought it seemed a bit much when we ordered but soon realized how large the cut of meat is! Haha fair to say it was worth the $7, it was so yum, but I would think it is more in between pork belly and bacon. The pulled pork burger was divine, we ended up sharing half of each plate, overall it was so filling. The first few bites of the burger was oozing with the egg, coleslaw, and the pulled pork with chipotle mayo. Delish! Then as I soldier on I tasted a little bit more of the pork and in my opinion the pork wasn't spot on- the seasoning was kind of curry-like and I wasn't sure if it fitted the rest of the elements of the dish. But overall a scrumptious delicious burger! The sweet potato wedges were perfect and so well seasoned too. We also got a double shot latte and a chai latte. The double shot was done well, but the froth could have been better. The chai latte was okay, a little too much spice, but they were both very good coffees nonetheless. Overall, we would definitely come again! Totaled up to about $50 so we were generally happy :) although we did not like the chairs, they were industrial like designs and doesnt offer much comfort.

Mai Lam

The coffee was rich in flavour and indeed, did it's job at waking me up. The aroma of the coffee was not so intoxicating that it made you sick, like the tar in other cafes, it smelt like proper coffee. But I seriously do not understand the hype. The food was nice but nothing to go crazy over.

Eleni Metaxas

Nice cafe with a good community vibe. AMAZING latte art. Staff were all lovely and welcoming and our waitress gave us her opinion on the better dish when we were having trouble deciding. Food was fantastic, filling and worth the money. Will definitely be going back to try some more dishes!!

Emmmma Llove Food

Nice café to spend the morning with friends. Wait for half an hour for a table for two. Feels like the dishes r more like Asian flavour. Love the burger, as u can taste a bit spicy to balance the meat. But for the Chicken, it's a bit dry and doesn't have much flavour in it. A bit disappointed~

Leon

I went here for breakfast this morning and heard good things about the place the food was ok the coffee better. Limited CBD options available for breakfast so I would most likely go back. The flow of the space was a little bit awkward and felt disconnected from service to food delivery to paying for the check it couldn't have been thought through much better I feel.

Amy

Nice atmosphere and creative food, I had three rice congee which was nice especially for winter morning, coffee was great too. Will come back to try more..

Grace Zhang

I've been there several times. Coffee quality is above the average. Lamb and beans are all good in taste. Burger is also delicious with sweet potatoes as side dish. If you like juice, just don't leave without trying its apple juice! 9.6- they've changed manu, no burger any more. Following are what we ordered this time.

Adam Ferrario

Good proximity to Vic markets with an nice open communal space - the coffee was smooth and mild temp but the food options were limited. The spicy chickpea fritters were not spicy and the whole dish a bit bland but the dr Marty crumpets with pastrami and hollandaise was really tasty. Get there before 10.30 if you don't want to queue.

Katherine Chiu

Operator25 is in a laneway in between Queen and William sts in the city. It is near Flagstaff station. It was here that I met Julia of Zomato. Zomato is a food sharing site and it does have a ranking system in place. The more you are active on that site the higher your rankings go. As for adding a restaurant you need to email Zomato and their 60+ members of their content team will go out to the restaurant and try their food and then will verify them. Similarly if a restaurant closes they will do that too. Their aim is to as open as possible and inform people of closures. With Urbanspoon there were a lot inaccurate information as they were run by a team from Seattle. So that meant that anyone can add stuff in and be anonymous.

Mo.liem

Saturday morning on the stroll down town heading to the Queen Vic Market, we spotted a very inviting eatery sign. We entered Operator25 to be greeted and seated by our friendly host. After ordering our coffee, my eyes quickly browsed through their breakfast menu. My growling stomach got even louder after being met by a very interesting selection of offerings. I decided on the three rice congee while the mrs chose the spiced chickpea fritters. The food arrived and man I was impressed. Not only they were beautifully presented, every single item on our plates tasted amazing. The coffee were just as great! Operator25 is a stand out and definitely gets my highest rate of approval. It's skyrocketed to be my best choice of breakfast place in Melbourne. Well done!

Anna Doyle

Very yummy and creative food. Nice environment too. But - after short term close and menu changed this place just too busy with being a Hot n popular brunch place. Customers wait 30mins + is not for hearing 'Sorry We Dont have this We are running Out of that' and maybe not aimming for attack more ppl but make better service too.

Peggy

A nice place for brunch with nice coffee. Went there with my friends and luckily the waiting time wasn't too long for us. It was soooo sweet to have a free little cupcake after meal. :)

Mommyinmelbourne

Warm little cafe with great food! Love the elderflower sago since I am a big fan of chia seed pudding this one just hit the spot. The menu is selective and edged out. Every dish we ordered came out pretty perfect from presentation to taste. Warm cafe. Very casual and chilled out. Great brunch spot for weekend however nothing awe striking for me but rather turned out to be a safe place with mostly regular and usual choices to offer. But the service and quality would win all points for it.

The Baroness Of Melbourne

Like most good things in Melbourne, you need to seek them out. We are not the Harbour city where the beauty leaps from the sea and smacks you in the face with some architectural finery in the form of a bridge and an opera house. In a city like Melbourne, however, it is important to not judge a book by its cover, or perhaps in fact you should because the darker the lane, the obscurer the location, the more sinister the neighbours and the greater the cobble stone to paved road ratio the higher the chance you have found a gem of a place to eat.

Steven L.

My favorite brekky venues are typically outside the CBD: Seven Seeds, Carlton; Two Birds, South Yarra; Fifty Acres, Richmond and St Ali, South Melbourne. This is certainly a CBD venue to add to my list of favourites! Awesome granola, friendly service and great interior aesthetic.

Beini

You know great things can be expected when a cafe has a line of people waiting to get in, plenty of space inside, a grand coffee machine, and let's not forget the most important element in that equation - posters with coffee puns. I first visited Operator25 a year ago when it was still reasonably quiet, but it certainly made an impression on me. It's definitely done well in such a short period of time, becoming one of the better-known brunch restaurant in the CBD area, and it's not hard to see why, I mean, presentation wise, it's already got me salivating.

Farzana

After a 20 minute wait (have to admit, we were expecting to have to wait a bit longer, so there's a bonus right there- and also the host was very friendly and helpful, letting us know every five minutes or so that 'it wouldn't be too long) used effectively to scour the menu and make our choices we finally got to our table. Now, I know communal tables are popular these days, but having 3 different groups crowded together at one not-so-large round table was a bit of a pain. I note that almost all the tables were communal, and I wonder whether a few single tables wouldn't be a good idea...anyway. The menu wasn't as varied as I expected from all the hype. However, a few dishes seemed to stand out- the smoked sardines on rye and the quinoa salad. We ordered both between us, and weren't disappointed. Grilled watermelon seemed like a novel idea, but actually tasted quite good with the quinoa and roasted almonds. Instead of the confit duck suggested to accompany the salad, I opted for smoked salmon- quite a hearty helping, almost worth the $7! Overall, the dishes seemed a bit small for the price-tag attached. However, taste-wise I'm not complaining. In terms of service- it's obvious the staff are trying very hard to be as accommodating and efficient as possible during a busy period! Do like the operator/phone theme going on with the signs (over hear, pick up line haha) and posters on the walls. Not sure if I'd come here especially, but if in the area with some time to spare, why not?

Rob Y

Operator 25’s actually been around for a quite a while, however unlike many of its compatriots, its now booming popularity was a bit slow to come by. But for all the people who are now lining up waiting for a table in front of its doors, its something that’s more than deserved. Big thanks goes to Operator 25 for inviting me to try out their latest iteration of their menu.

Baba93

I had the soft shell crab roll which was very flavoursome. My partner chose plain eggs & bacon - not adventurous, but enjoyed it. Our first coffee was Ok. So I ordered a second one for myself, but it didn't arrive.

Melbsgaleater

Too be honest, a bit overrated. Menu sound interesting but expected bigger servings for the price. Taste was alright but nothing special. Interesting cafe can see why it's hyped but is it worth the hype? Probably not.

Megan M

First time here today for breakfast and was super-impressed - the coffee was up there with the best, and my duck & poached egg congee flavourful and enormously photogenic :) If you're thirsty they also do a "large" coffee which I would call "soupbowl" - I find a lot of places that go large with coffee tend to kind of ruin the flavour (usually too hot/bitter) but all I heard was praises from my table. Definitely going back! Update: Have tried breakfast here a second time and just as good as the first. This time I had the Reuben Breakfast - crumpets were a delicious combo with the savoury topping (I'm used to sweet crumpet toppings) and the poached eggs were perfectly cooked. Great coffee again too!

Melbourne, Let’s Eat

Exceeded my expectations. Coffee was average maybe because I usually drink stronger coffee but the burger was one of the best spicy burgers I've had in a long time :)

Suri

Food: Average. Ordered the 1) Eggs Benedict With potato and thyme rosti, grandmother lamb ham and horseradish Hollandaise 2) Ginger & Date Bread With caramelised banana mascarpone, pomegranate sauce and salted milk crumb Both of them tasted average. I could not find anything special in both dishes. Coffee is nice though. Service: Good! Staff are friendly. Ambiance: Great! Cafe is nicely decorated with big tables. It is quite peaceful and cozy for catch-ups. I felt very comfortable during my last visit. Overall: Food was really average and for the price, not worth it. I would not want to come back for the food. However, if you are looking for a cozy and quiet cafe in the CBD for quick discussions, this could be the place.

Evelyn Liu

Waited an hour. Coffee is good. Food was not as good as expected. May because I was expecting too much. Elderflower sago is good, sweet and sour. Do not remember the name of the other two dishes.

Melbournespoon

Have tried few times to come to Operator25... Unfortunately I wasn't lucky to get in from the past.. I woke up early and be here before 10:30!! Hooray finally finally .. Highlight for me was the sago .. Delightful!!! I was actually quite disappointed that menu variety wasn't broad enough

John

loved the coffee, had a strong body with great flavor, plating is very impressive, and tastes good as well, staff was friendly, however lacks protein heavy choices which I don't like

Chisyelda Oey

Nice place, a bit hidden and hard to find. I like the interior. I had the benedicts and my boyfriend had the omelet. The benedict was good but there's nothing special to set it apart from other benedicts. The omelet was mediocre, I've had better. Good service.

Jianierrrrrr

Love this brunch place. Staff are very friendly, the coffee is very smooth. Ordered the three rice congee, the presentation was very good as well as the taste. Perfect dish for a cold Morning in Melbourne. Definitely will go back!

Ben Lee Kong

The food is outstanding! Sure, this is based on one brief first visit, but I am still thinking and talking about this dish a week later having eaten out all weekend. The dish is pressed confit duck surrounded by congee, with several other ingredients but most prominent is the soy poached egg, lotus crisps and pickled ginger. The dish is described on the menu as “three rice congee” with a trick in the presentation making it appear as if the duck is the star, but the congee, rich and wonderfully comforting, steals back the show.

L Y

Portion sizes were really good for value, rarely the case with Melbourne brunches! Staff were friendly and attentive and the interior design was lovely.

Angel Putritama

Good service. Good brunch. They even offer you tea while you wait when the weather is really cold outside! How sweet! The ginger date was a bomb!!! So doooood!

TJH

Had brunch here on queens bday. Had FW and i find it too weak for my taste. It felt like 70% milk and 30% coffee. For food, We ordered the baked eggs, crumpets, sago. The crumpets are dry but overall tastes OK. For baked eggs, they actually put the jalapenos inside, which is not my liking and plus its a bit bland, tomato soury taste and if you happen to bite the jalapenos, it can be abit too much of spiciness in one go. Overall i think its OK, nice ambience and maybe i will come back sometimes and try something else.

Foodieadventures

Love everything about this place! Amazing food, great ambience and staff are very friendly. Love the food presentation as well. Well done!!!

Emma Lim

Had breakfast here after hearing some good reviews from friends. We got seated within ten minutes of waiting. However, it took a while for the waitress to get us our menu. Coffee was very watered down,you taste more milk than coffee. I feel a bit cheated considering how much coffee cost these days. Food was average. We had a puff pastry (that was stale), the breakfast Reuben and the elderflower sago. I have to warn you that the elderflower sago is a dessert and not a breakfast main. Breakfast Reuben was just your normal poached eggs with hollandaise sauce,some smoke salmon and crumpets with a price tag of $20. Overall, Operator25 is not worth the wait, the price and the hype. There are plenty of better Cafes in Melbourne city.

I_M_M_ND_

I always ask soy latte when I first time come to a new cafe. However, as one of Melb best cafe, operator 25 quite let me down, milk was not very well. Although food were quite good. Love chips.

Elonie

Came here for weekend breakfast with friends, and the round table was perfect. Interesting menu, and had some unusual items, but all so tasty. The thick bacon was really good. The Elderflower sago felt more like a dessert than breakfast.

Kevince

I have been here many time, never feel disappointed. I had a congie that was absolutely perfect dish. I can say this is the best cafe in CBD.

Tetsuk

Normal standard for the brunch. I can't know why the mark is so high and so many people like this place. Maybe next time I should try their lunch to see why.

Chelsey Ramos

Came here for brunch on a Friday. Thought it was the best Time to come because it would be quite. Coffee was good. But food was over priced and very average. Ordered eggs on toast with thick bacon. Eggs perfect but bread cold and stale. Bacon was $7 for a over cooked (small) piece of fat. No meat on it. Very disappointed as we were starving. Over priced for what it was. Left feeling underwhelmed and never to return.

WeiTing Ashley Shyu

Absolutely LOVED this place when I was in Melbourne. My friend Bailey and I came here twice because we just loved the vibe, the coffee, the food and (omg) the flavours were so quirky and fun! Everything on their menu is as good as it sounds - i had a lamb dish and it was beautiful. The second time we came here, there was a waiting list. All was worth the wait when the food arrived in front of our faces. Lovely service, good location, cute as hell coffee kid (As I can recall - we visited in November of 2014), beautifully presented meals and great coffee.

Amy

Food was interesting and pretty good, however, the squid in my dish tasted like chicken... I pointed this out when I was asked how my meal was and was just given a nod.

Another Chef

Love it. Worth waiting. The food was really good. Best coffee. Must try. Even though, I waited for 1 hour on Sunday but worth it. Definitely come back.

May L.

The fanciest congee I've ever had in my life. The three rice congee has brought me to a new perspective about cafe food. The combination of traditional Chinese cooking and cafe style cooking worked so well on this dish that makes me unable to wait for me next visit to this cafe.

Mariposa

An all time favorite and convenient as I work just around the corner! The interior has changed and there has been a slight seasonal change to the menu also, however, they have maintained the standards and improved on the retro Decor. I've always been here for brekky, the variety of cuisine fusion is really awesome and the chef somehow manages them all to perfection! A favorite is the sago and I really like the special ham that comes as a side with brekky. The variety of coffee is great too. Hope to try lunch here soon : ) P.S. Must mention the excellent food presentation ; ) xxxxx

Jenny

Ambience, food and coffee were all great! But the service kinda disappointing. We had lunch there today, after the meal a waitress came to clear our desk and asked if we would like anything else. When we said no (while our coffee still going) she asked if we want bill then. I was taken aback as it felt like they can't wait to get rid of us. Anyway...we paid the bill and left. Probably won't be returning again.

Be Wachi

Best brunch place I've been so far. Even though hard to find and have busy environment. But love the dish I had, slow-cooked lamb. Next time will sure try dessert and coffee !

NicholasT

Been going back to Operator25 on and off for the past year from old to new menu - Balinese pull pork burger with sweet potato chips is my all time favourite.

Food Comatose

Once I glanced at the impeccable, varied menu I couldn’t resist ordering the Balinese Pulled Pork Burger ($20.00) with a fried egg, chilli mayo, coriander, cabbage and carrot slaw served with sweet potato wedges. Coffee is sourced from Code Black, my personal favourite beans in the biz, so I also ordered a regular latte ($3.50). Okay so, this dish has convinced me that pulled pork is so versatile and can literally taste good with anything! This asian-inspired masterpiece was so fresh and spicy, full of exotic flavours. The syrupy egg yolk oozed into the pork and slaw and the sweet potato wedges were a great choice for a side. I really tried my best to finish the protein-packed burger but as the staff will agree with me, it’s extremely filling. My coffee was served before my burger and it was so damn good I finished it and ordered another, to-go. It was just right – not too strong, not too watery, just the perfect creamy, sweet goodness that you want to guzzle down on an Autumn day.

Emily

Beautiful but bland. Went during both the autumn and summer rotations of the menu and both resulted in the same outcome (tried the waitress's recommendation - green tea combo in summer and mr crumpet/congee for autumn): beautifully plated food however lacking taste, and overall quite disappointing for $18 each. Coffee was good. Did not live up to the hype at all. Service was helpful but could have been friendlier.

Kimmy_desu

Even though I just live across the street this is the first time I came, because it's really popular right now and wanted to have a try for a while but never got around to it because of the ridiculous waiting time on the weekend. Hence today when I had the chance, I asked my friends to come and try this place together. First of all, I WAS DISAPPOINTED that they no longer had the famous matcha hotcakes. I was so eager to try those. Instead we were recommended ginger bread...Which was quite sweet for our liking and we couldn't finish. The meals were delicious. I ordered the slow-cooked lamb and it was a very small piece of meat but the flavour made up for that. The skin was just divine. My friends ordered Balinese pork slider and eggs on toast, and both were good as well. It's creative that they use red potato to make wedges instead of the normal potato. Will definitely be back- on a weekday again.

Hannah

Service were terrible. We were there yesterday around lunchtime. The waitress was so arrogant and ignorant. She kept her mouth shut the whole time while serving and taking order, not even bothering to repeating the order or saying anything. Then she gave me the wrong drinks. When I told her that's not what I order, she tried to debate with me by saying that's what I told her and get me to have that incorrect order. Absolutely dissapointed. Food and coffee are just average and slow. It is a cute little place but def not a pleasant experience.

Live_in_melbourne

Disappointed. I was very looking forward to trying out here, but the food was a little disappointing. Both of the dish we got were cold and the chicken a la Normand my husband ordered was super plain so he had to keep putting salt and pepper. The Pulled pork Burger I had was nice but I really don't like my food especially chips cold when it just served. We were both happy with the coffee, it was very delicious with beautiful latte art.

Sheisme Lim

Waited an hour for a table for two, which is ok for us. Food is good, coffee is ok. Service is bad and slow. Indicated to staff ready for order, staff acknowledged and walked away and never returned. We waited another 10 minutes to waved to the staff for order, again acknowledged but did not come. Finally we have to leave the table to find a staff to physically brought him to us to take food orders, which is not ok.

Taste Buds Galore

As soon as I arrived at Operator25 I fell in love with the decor and atmosphere. It was super busy with a lot of people chatting away but I felt relaxed and ready for a good meal. I had heard good things from thetiafox about the place, so was keen to come and try it. Be sure to get here at a good time!! Phoebe and I arrived at 12:30PM and waited for around 10 minutes to be seated, but as soon as we sat down and were eating our meal, the queue of eager patrons stretched all the way out the door! We ordered a drink each and two mains to share. The waiters were quick to come over to take our orders at the slightest turn of heads.

Olive Sundays

Operator 25 is a modern brunch restaurant in the city and is the perfect place for all brunch occasions. The menu has an assortment of inspired foods from around the world, so everyone is sure to find something to suit their tastebuds. The food is incredible and on top of that, they do a mean coffee. The spiced chickpea fritters are tasty and have a really nice texture. They had lots of whole chickpeas inside each fritter, which was fun. It was served with herb tahini, tomato and cucumber salsa, cottage cheese, chipotle sauce and crisp flatbread, which made every bite different and exciting. We had the addition of thick cut streaky bacon, which was super thick and delicious. Bacon lovers ahoy.

Frenchtoastandindiepop

They took longer to return and take our orders but we were happily sipping coffee by that stage and weren’t too bothered by the delay. They were also training a new server which could have contributed to the wait time. Every good breakfast for us starts with coffee! We found Operator 25’s to be creamy, with a good flavour and latte art. It was obvious care had been taken with our drinks. Our sweet dish was a ginger and date bread served with a pomegranate sauce, caramelized banana mascarpone and a salted bread crumb. It was fantastic how much the caramelized banana flavour came through and the sweet and creamy pomegranate sauce was uniquely delicious. The bread was rich, a bit sweet and moist, a perfect combination of textures with the salted crumb.

Evelovelle

Autumn is the season where all we want to do is just tug comfortably in knit sweaters and faux fur scarves. Every season our palate changes and Operator 25 had adjusted and launched its new menu to suit the fall. I was fortunate enough to be invited by Randy Dhamanhuri, one of the owners of the cafe, to sample specific meal courses and share it with you guys today. We were extremely fortunate to skip an hour long wait of queue that was outside, which explains the extreme popularity of this particular cafe. Operator 25 just renovated its premises, and it now exudes a more homely vibe. The interiors have been revitalised but its heritage stays with a little fun installed, telephone cords tangling on its ceiling, and glossy white subway-tiled walls. Operator 25 got its name from the building that it was before, a site of one of the original telephone exchanges. Today, Operator 25 still stays connected (pun intended) for friends and families to have social gatherings over a good meal.

Em Belden

The menu has a great selection of dishes that are all plated with phasic and inspiring compositions that is now what is hitting the breakfast food scene.

Jennie Eve

This place is always great! The food is always flavoursome and yummy! The flavours are different and so are the ingredients....also the staff are nice and professional, yet very approachable! I wouldn't say it's the number one cafe in Melbourne but it's definitely top 10 food wise!

Jeev

Chai Latte. Chai

YC Chen

Good food, long wait times. I liked this place before it was cool. It's hidden away in the quiet Court district of the CBD, close to Flagstaff Gardens. Interesting menu and good, solid food. Be prepared for ridiculous wait times on Saturday / Sunday mornings though. Prompt and efficient service.

Katieppie

Long wait for not so great. My partner and I waited over an hour to get a seat right next to another couple we could literally hear there entire conversation and then even the food was disappointing, I got the Matcha hotcakes looked great must just very bland. The Sweet Potato fries were great though! This is just my opinion of a one of experience but I don't think I will be returning.

Sallysfoodadventures

Coconut mango sago... Wow!. Lost for words, just... So... Delicious. Everything. Sensational food.

Seasmile_ozx

Yum but long line. Great brunch spot, but has a really long queue. Take us up to an hour to finally get into the restaurant, and another half an hour wait for the food to be serve.

Sj652413

Overrated. Feel like it is not up to the hype. service was slow, and hotcakes were dry!

MyFoodBelly

I’d recently made two separate trips to Operator25 in the last couple of weeks, and thoroughly enjoyed the food on both occasions. This trendy café is a relatively new addition to the Melbourne brunch scene, but already it’s been welcomed with open arms. I personally discovered this gem on Instagram, where @operator25cafe regularly posts beautiful pictures of their menu items. The dish that originally caught my attention was the ‘Matcha and White Chocolate Hotcakes’, but unfortunately they had already transitioned to their new Autumn menu by the time I got around to making a visit. Luckily, my disappointment was short-lived as I discovered that the new menu was also full of potential deliciousness

Welovemelbourneblog

Operator 25 is my go-to weekend breakfast / brunch in the CBD. The Breakfast Tortilla is delicious. The chef plays with the recipe from time to time, my favourite take runs with Mexican inspired flavours and bacon. Operator 25 has become very popular in recent months, partly because its the next best thing to Hardware Society in the area – and it beats standing in line there for 45+ minutes when you’re too hungry to wait! It’s also just around the corner from the Vic Market, so I’m a regular there on Saturdays before I go shopping.

Inlovewithbrunch

keeping up with the fast-moving melbourne café scene is no easy feat. so when one of the long-standing top 10 cafes (as rated on urbanspoon/zomato) does a complete rebrand and renovation after only 2 years in the game, you know they are serious! the iconic operator/switchboard building was recently transformed by the same design studio that brought us kettle black, adding pops of bright and zesty colours. along with the revamped look is a revamped taste, and i was honoured to have been recently invited along to try the new autumn menu. first is the coffee, which has always been exceptional at operator25… today is no different! head barista mikael jasin, recently a runner up in the australian coffee in good spirits, adds his flourishing and experimental touch, none more so than his #noyouhangup – a honey + fruit infused coffee with grand marnier, amaro montenegro, orange bitters, tonic water, mint + orange peel.

Bonjourchickie

This place has been on my must do list for a little while, however as one of Melbourne’s top brunch venues, its popularity comes with a price and as soon as I walked down Wills Street towards the café there was a lengthy line-up of people outside waiting for a table. Just inside the door is an illuminated sign “HOLD THE LINE – PLEASE WAIT TO BE SEATED” which I brazenly disregarded on this occasion and walked up the stairs hoping that there might be a solitary vacant seat available somewhere, anywhere. Two people had also arrived at the same time as myself and approached the front to enquire about a table of four and were told that there was an estimated wait of one hour for the next available table … so be warned.

Confessions Of A Little Piggy

Visually pleasing to the eye and even more pleasing to the palette, we loved the playground of textures and intricate flavours of this dish - from the refreshing elderflower sago, bursting chia seeds, the tartness of rhubarb together with the sweetness of the strawberry compote, heavenly light white chocolate foam to the crunch of the freeze-dried mango. Absolute bliss.

Forksake

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Extras Please

Goodness. The day that I have feared has finally arrived. I am sad to announce that that I have become a coffee snob. Typical pompous Melbournian behaviour. The exterior of Operator 25 looks like any other brick building you would pass in Melbourne’s CBD. I, being the snob I am, assumed that I was going to be glugging down mediocre and nibbling uninspired dishes. How I love being wrong in these situations.

ScottyH

We picked this place off the "Hottest in Melbourne" list provided by UrbanSpoon and I can see how it's reputation has spread. Our group of four adults and a toddler was seated promptly on a share table of six - a little squeezy but certainly not a disaster. Coffee came out fast and had a solid flavour (long macchiato). Juices followed suit and were equally as tasty. Four of our dishes came in a timely manner, however the Eggs Benedict was very late, the table had eaten most of their meals by the time this dish was served. Staff were apologetic about the delay. The menu boasts Asian-Fusion inspired meals and would cater to the local market well - there is still something for everybody and you definitely don't feel like you're in a Shanghai back alley eating the braised Ox Tongue (delicious). Presentation was on point and prices were very reasonable considering the quality of the meal. Aces - would recommend.

Neen

Come here earlier for brunch. Forget all the "other" brunch places with hundreds of people in lines. Not naming names haa! But a little walk up north and you will stumble across this gem! It is amazing, vibrant and the staff are lovely. The food is just absolutely amazing and adds a notch to the brunch scene.

Alana757

Customer Service. Went in to get a table for two at Operator 25 today, walked in and a man was the first impression of this cafe. He was so rude, he didn't give us a chance to decide if we still wanted to eat their as he was that rude. Just poor customer service and a very bad impression on such a modern place. He shouldn't be working the door if he is that rude to each customer. Ridiculous.

Facebook User

Elderflower sago. Perfect combination -berries n whitechocolate foam

Farah.nabil1990

Bad service. Ate here last week. service was very slow. and hotcakes were dry

Chenny Li

Service was definitely slow, green tea hot cakes were a bit dry. Every else was good :)

Ashley.cheuk

Bad staff and average Melbourne brunch. The staff are really slow, they took forever to clear one table and to seat customers as if they have all the time in the world. My friends and I waited an hour for a table, not including the other 20-25 minute wait for our food to arrive. The food is similar to all the other nice brunch cafes in Melbourne, so it wasn't anything special for its high price. Don't think I'd come here again as there are many other substitute brunch areas in Melbourne

Vivian

Matcha and White Chocolate Hotcakes. Sooooo yummy!

Kyle Ying

Had the house Benedict, wasn't quite impressed. It's not that the food wasn't good, but just expected so much after hearing so many good reviews of it. Anyway coffee was amazing and staff was great!

Jerry Askew

Inflexible Service - Food OK. After taking my whole experience into account, I chose to downvote Operator25. I ordered eggs to eat there, and asked for Muesli and Yoghurt to take back to my wife, who was not feeling well. They stated that they do not do takeaway on the weekends. The reason, they explained, was that takeaway orders interfered with table service. Understandable, except that I was eating in and the order would have gone in with mine and not "jumped queue". At the waitress' suggestion, I ended up placing the order, just to have it set at the table and subsequently loaded into a takewaway cup. The ridiculous gymnastics required took away from the overall dining experience. I found the management too caught up in black & white rules to bother with hospitality.

Mylittlej

Great food great service

Thefaeriecupcake

Best big breakfast. Decided to head to Operator25 two weeks ago when we were back in Melbourne. I love the street/location where, though we had to wait for about 45 minutes we were seated. The staff were really friendly and the service (though was a little slow in a very busy cafe) was still pretty decent. We crafted our own big breakfast because we were ravenous by noon! I would return to try their matcha pancakes that looked really pretty from across the table.

Rocky

Average coffee average food Won't be back soon unless they improve the waiting time (waited 30min for my hot cakes to arrive)

Facebook User

Great food but the faces of the paintings were really bad. What am I thinking fried f fickleness chicken potato cirque croquette glandular hollandaise so supertankers

Eliza Nguyen

Great atmosphere but average food at best. Maybe it was my great anticipation to visit the newest talk-of-the-town cafe that fueled my disappointment. We dropped by in the afternoon for lunch between uni classes as the location is perfect for those studying in the city. However, we were informed that it would be a 40 minute wait at the time and although not unusual for popular restaurants, most would not have that time to spare on an average weekday. Disappointed at the waiting time but still curious for the experience we decided to wait. We were fortunately pleasantly surprised when our wait was cut short by 20 minutes due to people listed before us having left to come back later. After being seated we had to wait nearly 10 minutes to be served. Needless to say, the service was not fantastic but the crisp, modern but slightly street environment that makes you feel like you are part of an edgy click, outweighs that time lost. Once the food arrived, eventually, beautifully presented, again we were disappointed by the lack of balance and depth of flavour. The scallop dish was cooked well but was drowned amongst lentils. The sweet corn fritters had a lovely texture but were bland and overpowered by the goats curd not to mention the soggy tomato salad and dry fried duck egg that accompanied it. I had heard good things about the sweet potato fries and the coffee but even the fries were bland and the coffee weak and watered down. All in all I would come back for the location and the atmosphere to hang out with friends. I definitely would not come back for the food.

Gkwkhong

Poor service, food average at best. I went to operator 25 twice twice. The first time, I was told the chef cannot replace the bread for the mains I ordered ( I am allergic to gluten hence asked for gluten free )but was told that option is only available if I choose the two eggs with toast option. Not impressed by the coffee either. The second time I went, I was not served for around 15 minutes although people who arrived after me were served quite quickly. We were eventually served and we ordered two dishes which were recommended by people- corn fritters with duck egg and the avocado bagel. The bagel was rock hard!!! The corn fritter dish was not impressive at all. I wonder how this cafe will survive especially with competition like hardware societe and grain store which are not that far away!

Andrea Catalina Laksana

One of the most wholesome brunch around ! Tried almost all their foods (benedict, corn fritters (fav!!), pork, soft shell crab, coconut sago, tortilla, matcha hot cakes) and all lived up to their raves!!!

Jess Abdul

Don't know what the big fuss is , average everything

Varaka227

Melbourne is a city which is hungry for a good breakfast/branch/lunch and a cup (or two) of coffee. And that is exactly what Operator25 is targeted at. However! I can tell you for a fact that Operator25's food is way too overated. Breakfast Tortilla, $17 AUD Operator25 is rank very high when it's comes to coffee. As soon as we arrived at 2pm on a Friday, we were seated right away (which is lucky for popular place). My friend ordered a cut of latte right away. She hoped for amazing coffee, and I hoped for gracious food. Unfortunately, the coffee was average (according to her). My friend ordered the breakfast tortilla filled with chorizo, scrambled egg, mixed mushrooms, aged cheddar cheese and green harissa sauce, which comes at the price $17AUD. As you can see in the picture, the tortilla look very average, and it taste very average. To be truthful the tortilla actually taste very bland. It needs a good seasoning, and just not a high ranking cafe quality! Matcha and white chocolate Hot cakes, $16 AUD For my late lunch, I went with the Matcha and white chocolate hot cakes with black sesame mascarpone, banana chips, toasted hazelnut and cherry sauce, which comes at the price $16 AUD. To be truthful, I actually wanted to come to Operator because of this Matcha hot cakes. Just like the tortilla, this dish was absolute disappointment. The hot cake green tea it self was acceptable if ignore that it's a bit dry. Pillowy soft on the inside, good bitterness level of the green tea, crunchy on the outside, with a slight golden brown crunch. The problem is the black sesame cream and the sour cherry sauce. The cream was way too heavy and dense. The sour cherry sauce just have a very strong tang, and does not have any others flavour to it at all. This dish simply was not right at all! The only thing I enjoy from

Stephanie Tang

A few weeks back I went to Melbourne. Ate till I was stuffed everyday. Walked around till my feet were numb which is exactly what I do everytime in Melbourne. Through battling temperatures ranging from 16-35 degrees, within a FOUR day period, I managed to pack within my 7kg limit to experience a 4 seasons in 1 day rollercoaster. So here is my Melbourne trip, summed up .. in a bit more than a nutshell (pic heavy post). What better way to start a morning, with a 5:30AM wake up call, mad rush to the airport and an 8 something AM flight. I swear Maccas rarely do specials at the airport, so I was seriously delighted to pay only $1 for their greasy hashbrown ... more greasy than normal but pipping hot and crunchy. Despite the 1hr flight, I was in a "don't touch or talk to me" state - probably combination of lack of sleep, early wake up call and grease but as soon as I landed, there was no time to waste ! I know this is going to sound somewhat gross, but I had1 burger everyday on this trip. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about Huxtaburger ranging from would not eat again to .. best burger ever. Even at peak hour, our burgers were delivered pretty quickly. My Clair Burger was a tad bit hard to eat with the ginormous southern fried chicken ... no complaints. Lots of flavour in the slaw and the jalapeño mayo though I wish there was more as it got a tad bit dry towards the end. Ordered the Chipotle Fries but would give it a miss next time. Very bland but good value for the size. Of course the boy had to go for a 'manly' option Theo with a double beef, double cheese, bacon & BBQ sauce. I actually loved this burger more than my clair burger ... and I didn't find the beef patty burnt like some people said .. Our dinner stop where I met with some friends, Gami Chicken . Don't be fooled by the small exterior and there are two levels, though it's extremely packed inside and a que goes outside .. so best to book. Our Seafood Pancake was a little on the small size with

Foodpornjournal

It was a cold morning and I was interested in trying the three rice congee with pressed duck confit, pickled ginger, puffed buckwheat, lotus crisps and soy poached egg ($18). So second breakfast it was! The broth was beautiful and great for a winter’s day. The egg was perfectly poached and I let it ooze out into the broth.

Minh Thuy Le

With a minimalistic dining space that extends beyond the interior, Operator 25 positions itself like a hole in a well fitted and painted red brick box. Plastered over the walls of the cafe is a lovely picture female coffee operator on a painted grey backdrop, an image that has become Operator 25’s defining feature. From the moment I read about Operator 25 in its early days that the place was going to be popular. I’m glad my prediction was right, because now I can enjoy the same popular dishes which made Operator 25 hit it off with breakfast and brunch goers alike. Ever since their opening, the cafe has not really made many changes to the menu so you can be rest assured that your favourites won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. I loved the retro poster wall coffee operator girl they had painted on the wall House Benedict $16.00 Potato and thyme Rosti, grandmother lamb ham, poached eggs with tarragon and mustard seed hollandaise The house benedict looked small when it came out, but we all know that the bigger isn’t always better. The level of satisfaction, satiety and flavour of this house benedict with the lamb ham on potato rosti was just divine. The mustard seed hollandaise as my friend thought, really pulled everything together quite nicely. Matcha and White Chocolate Hot Cakes $16.00 w/ black sesame mascarpone, banana chips, toasted hazelnut and cherr

Burn My Mouth Blog

This café is fairly close to the centre of Melbourne city, set inside a heritage listed building with a modern and rustic ambience. We were there mid morning on a normal working weekday and the place was so popular that we had to wait 10 minutes to get a table. But it was well worth it. The waiters were all very friendly and helpful in explaining the menu. The coffee served was smooth with a great flavour. The pulled pork had a slight curry flavour and this spiciness contrasted well with the sweetness from the sweet potatoes and the brioche bun. The pork was soft and it melted in our mouths, and this was a good contrast to the crunchiness of the sweet potatoes. A very delicious dish and a must try for everyone visiting this café.

Simmybear Eats

I had to make two trips to this restaurant as the menu had too many tasty things that I wanted to try. Food was tasty and the service was decent. Got the matcha hot cakes that everyone was raving about, it was a little bit dry but I liked the taste...

Burn My Mouth Blog

This café is fairly close to the centre of Melbourne city, set inside a heritage listed building with a modern and rustic ambience. We were there mid morning on a normal working weekday and the place was so popular that we had to wait 10 minutes to get a table. But it was well worth it. The waiters were all very friendly and helpful in explaining the menu...The pulled pork had a slight curry flavour and this spiciness contrasted well with the sweetness from the sweet potatoes and the brioche bun. The pork was soft and it melted in our mouths, and this was a good contrast to the crunchiness of the sweet potatoes. A very delicious dish and a must try for everyone visiting this café.

MelbourneVita

Tucked away in a quiet little street off La Trobe Street you’ll find this great little café, just follow the smell of coffee and you won’t miss it. I rolled up with bubs in the stroller and needed some help up the stairs, but once inside the staff were so lovely and seated us in a corner so that we weren’t bothering anyone. I was meeting a friend there, so while I was waiting, I couldn’t help but notice how insanely busy the barista was. I’ve been to a stack of great cafes, but never have I seen someone smash out as many coffees as this guy. I’m not a big coffee drinker (I know, the horror!), but based on the volume of coffee orders being processed, it must be a great brew. I on the other hand came here for the food, and food we ate. We ordered the pulled beef roll (Pulled Beef Roll with Apple Celeriac Slaw, Watercress and Jalapeños) and the matcha hotcakes (Matcha and White Chocolate Hot Cakes, Mandarin Mascarpone, Toasted Hazelnuts, Banana Chips and Cherry Coulis). To put it simply, I devoured the beef roll. Full of flavour, tender and down right delicious. The slaw complemented it perfectly and really rounded out the dish. It took us a little bit longer to really get into the hotcakes because the flavour matcha was so subtle, but once we did they were also great. Light fluffy and not overly sweet as some hotcakes can be. Overall I liked Operator25, I can now understand what all of the buzz is about. DOC Pizza and Mozzarella Bar 135 Victoria Avenue Albert Park Vic Doc has been on my hit list for ages, but since having bubs it’s been a bit hard for us to get out for dinner. To combat this, we met a group of friends for a casual Saturday afternoon lunch at the Albert Park restaurant and damn did it live up to all of my exp

Chengweichik

Operator 25 is a brunch place I've been wanting to write about for a while. We had some family coming over to Melbourne during the December break and after we brought them there. After the meal, my visiting sister exclaimed that "Singapore brunch have some catching up to do!" Operator 25 is found along Wills Street, just a short drive away from Queen Vic Market. As the reigning 2014 number 4 Most Popular restaurant in the entire Melbourne, it can get crowded even off-peak hours. I've been there a couple of times, and on both occasions, we had to cool our heels for a bit outside on the pavement. The restaurant interior has brick walls, whimsical art and communal tables, and I feel instantly at ease. I started with an Iced Coffee , which in their words... Okay, well not exactly. But it was delightful. The rest of the dishes took a while to arrive, so I was glad to have something to sip on. The star of the meal was the Balinese Pulled Pork Burger with Sweet Potato Wedges ($20). It was one of, if not the, most flavourful pulled pork burger that ever crossed my lips. The sweet potato wedges served alongside were hot and crispy. I was so impressed by it that we ordered a side of Bowl of Sweet Potato Wedges ($7) mid-meal. Another great dish was Smoked Chicken and Vegetable Hash with Poached Egg ($15). My visiting sister went all quiet and hogged the plate for herself when it arrived, which clued me in that I need to try it pronto. My mother ain't raised no fool. Still, she raised no Sherlock Holmes either, and I only wound up with a bite. Such is the dynamics in

Minameetsfood

The first thing that you notice when you walk in is the massive art adorned on each of the walls that just screamed Melbourne. The Asian tourist in me wanted to simply snap photos of all of them! However, internally I was embarrassed to. Iced Latte But what I can take photos of is my food! I’ve been slowly restricting my coffee consumption over the past few months but that went out the window going to Melbourne. As if you would not drink coffee at the place that boasts having some of the best in the world?! (I agree to that statement 100%!) This iced latte was perfect and I could have ordered another one, restraining myself because of the food I planned to eat the rest of the day. Check out the pretty layers of the milk and coffee! House Benedict ‒ Potato Rosti, Grandmother Lamb Ham, Poached Eggs, Mustard and Tarragon Hollandaise ($16) with an added side of Smashed Avocado. I love eggs benedict. I also love potato rosti. What if it was put together? Operator 25 probably won my heart in combining two of my favourite breakfast items together into one. It is as if they knew me and my food desires!

Friendlytoad

They use Code Black and as far as I can remember this was the first time I’d had it, there was some berry sweetness to it and a pretty crisp finish, impressive.

Ani

Operator25 is just a couple of blocks away from Melbourne Central, in a quiet street off La Trobe Street. They serve mostly brunch food, as well as a few lunch items which cost more. We stuck to the brunch menu but a few people near us ordered the pulled pork burger, and it looked tasty enough that it might be worth the $20 price.

The Travel Journo

Heading in to Operator25 to meet up with a friend, I didn’t know what to expect of this very well named café. I needn’t worry. Operator 25 is a hidden little gem in the North of the CBD. It has a fantastic feel to it that allows you to be comfortable , even if it is only your first visit. I ordered a hot cappuccino. In between talks about websites and life and love, my coffee arrived. I took a breath and hoped for the best. Great smell….yum. The first sip, as is usual, gave it away… it was great. A nutty taste which is smooth and lingers on the tongue a while. Yes! The walls are adorned with some great paintings and sayings which I really liked. It is also very open with high ceilings. The staff were great and were the right kind of attentive. My favourite kind of staff. I will be coming back again, for sure. Well done Operator25. Well done. Coffee: 4 passport stamps Staff: 4 passport stamps Feel: 4 passport stamps Value: 4 passport stamps Average 4= A 25 week trip around Sth America!

Carrie

Operator 25 is a lovely brunch spot located on the edges of the CBD. Set inside an unassuming heritage listed building is a stylish and minimalist interior. The sleek and simple furniture contrast nicely with the rustic exposed brick on the inside. The place's name and the murals inside both pay homage to the building's history of being the first telephone exchange in Melbourne. Whilst on the other hand, the menu is modern and vibrant with all day breakfast, some hearty lunch options and even something for the kids. I liked the food, I thought their menu was rather impressive for just a cafe but perhaps a bit more than they can handle. My braised beef cheeks were good, the sweet onions went nicely with the rich beef but the squid ink risotto although tasty was tepid at best. The flavour and texture was but getting a lukewarm risotto on a cold winter's day was a huge let down. Having said that, I enjoyed the laid back and cool ambience of Operator 25, so I'll most likely be returning to

ByTheSpoonful

Operator25 had been on my wish list for ages, after I got major food envy from seeing all the delicious brunch pics pop up on my instagram feed. I finally got to tick this off a few Sunday’s ago for a lovely brunch date with the boy. Operator25 sits in a quieter street within the CBD, kinda hidden away and quite easy to miss if you weren’t looking. It’s actually located really close to Flagstaff gardens – so actually quite accessible. When we arrived, we were seated fairly quickly at one of the many communal tables – yay, no queues! Operator25 We ordered coffees which were made from Code Black Coffee Roasters, and they were quite lovely. Flat White; $3.80 Latte; $3.80 This cafe presented a pretty uncomplicated menu – nothing sounded too fancy schmancy and over the top, but there were some interesting dishes and I did umm and ahh a little between the Vanilla Custard Sago and the divine sounding Honey Baked Oats. But, I’m a sucker f

CuriouslyCeleste

Operator25 is another cafe tucked away off in Melbourne's lanes, just off A'Beckett St. Their menu is filled with a good selection of breakfast/brunch and lunch options, with a decent selection of coffee and bottled juices. Mr Curious ordered a soy chai latte, it was creamy and not too overpowering with any particular chai flavour. After trying their burgers earlier in the year, only to feel slightly disappointed with the fusion flavours, Mr Curious and I came back to try what I intended - Vanilla Custard Sago, Rubarb Compote, Raspberry Foam, Rose Meringue and Vanilla Ice Cream . The item is on the breakfast side of the menu, but could definitely pass off as dessert. The vanilla custard sago was my favourite part of the layered dish, with the raspberry foam on top balancing the flavours. I found the rhubarb compote very sour and overpowering in comparison to the sweet sago and raspberry, no matter what combination I had it with, it just didn't balance right in my mouth. The vanill

Echristakakis

...the House Benedict with Salmon and Mushrooms on the side. The entire meal was cooked to perfection, and for once I was impressed by the amount of extras I was given, definitely got my moneys worth of mushrooms.

SouthSideBrunch

Coffee is bold and soy chai is adequately spicy. Milk based coffee is by Code Black Coffee and there are changing single origins and filter coffee options on the display board. There is ultra-cool graffiti on the wall of a 1950’s pin-up girl phone operator, daffodils in jars and a number of communal tables (not a bad way to meet new people!).

Duy

...The coffee was served mildly warm (a little cooler than I prefer), and did not have a strong caffeine flavour to it, but had a nice woody flavour where a touch of brown sugar brought out the flavour even more.

Natasha Juchkov (Culinary Runway)

Way out on the outskirts of Melbourne's CBD lies this little treasure. After an unsuccessful morning of cafe hopping with a section of Little Bourke St was roped off, making Manchester Press inaccessible and a massive line at Hardware Societe, we trekked it through drizzling rain to Operator25 . The cafe hosts several large tables around the central cashier, coffee and pastry counter. The tables are all communal unless you come with a large enough group to take up all the seats. Although this does encourage more sociability, it doesn't really make for close d&m catch-ups over coffee & food. The lady that waited us was lovely, not that everyone gets a personal wait-staff, but she was always walking about offering help while some of the others just stood by the counter looking bored, so service and attentiveness could improve.

Eat.more

Operator 25 seems to have been surging in popularity over the past few months judging by the crowds that gather outside, and I can’t blame them. J&E live practically opposite this unassuming cafe and we have been frequenting this place for our regular coffee catchups. You know they take their coffee seriously here, with code black blend on offer, as well as a large list of single origins and filter coffee. But on to the food…

Lobster

Wow. I picked a good one this time. On Wednesday I took Blackburn J out to breakfast before work. I did some scratching around the Internet deciding where to go and came across positive reviews for a place I had never been: Operator 25. The reviews were right – this place is GOLD. This specialty-coffee cafe lives on Wills Street, near the Flagstaff Gardens. Inside the historic building is a beautiful cafe in the industrial-chic mode, professional and attentive staff, gorgeous flowers and really top quality coffee. So to the important part, the food really is exceptional. Though clearly today’s photography isn’t. If you think you have pretty much done the Eggs Benedict, you should have one last try of this one. Blackburn J did. Operator 25 do their eggs benny on a crispy outside, fluffy inside potato rosti – the grandmother ham is smokey, the eggs are runny, the hollandaise is just the right rich but tangy and the watercress is pretty much what it is, but looks pretty. I tried the breakfast tortilla filled with soft, moist scrambled eggs, some of the most delicious bacon ever (I must find out where they source it), rich aged cheddar – scattered over with a fresh bean and corn salsa and drizzled generously with a sensational herb oil that I would have licked the remainder from the plate if nobody had been looking. This is an amazing brunch dish and, for hungry-types, absolutely massive. The menu is compact, but all looks interesting so I am definitely returning and soon. You can scope out the menu on the Operator 25 website HERE . I really think this is a lovely brunch spot. The interior is gorgeous and the service is gorgeous – the Jazz classics music is lovely … Possibly best of all, the coffee is absolute perfection. I opened with a flat white which was as good as it gets – and rounded off with a divine cold drip blend, which is a way of brewing coffee that I love so I’m so glad to see it offered in specialist coffee places. To be honest, until recently I was too s

A Food Fable

The decor of Operator 25 is quite modern, but set inside a brick Heritage listed building. They have drawings on the wall, including this one – the coffee “brew my mind away”! The seats are cool stool like chairs with mini arm rests and long legs. There’s an open kitchen/coffee and counter section in the center of the cafe, and it seems like there’s a bigger kitchen tucked away behind.

Roscius D

Confusing. Whilst the Balinese pulled pork burger was arguably quite good, the overall meal was diminished by the lacklustre matcha hotcakes. Contrary to its delectable good looks, its extreme thickness and being strangely dry made it incredibly difficult to eat. Was never disappointed by a hotcake till now.

CheeseAndCrackers

Not a fan. Didn't realise this place was super popular as it has been around for a year or so, but obviously word is in the wind and spreading quickly. Not sure it deserves the hype. We live around the corner so popped in for brunch, and obviously were lucky at getting a table as we didn't have to wait long as many other have mentioned. The food was presented well but just didn't work or taste that great. Your usual breakfast and lunch ideas, but nothing stands out and didn't make any impression. However one thing that I won't forget is hands down, the worst soy chai latte I've had in Melbourne. I admit, I am an aficionado in the soy chai latte business, because it is my jam and it's the only thing I drink at breakfast, so I've had plenty. This one was so bad, it tasted like hot water with a dash of soy, there was honestly no chai in it at all. The service was pretty good as I mentioned this to the waitress who said she would replace it with a to go as we were leaving. One sip outside the cafe and in the bin it went, not sure if it was an off day or they honestly believe that is what a chai should be. I guess time will tell if operator 25 is as good as it is being proclaimed to be.

A M

I was so excited to try Operator 25 and have attempted to go previously but the wait was too long. Having finally being able to go today I have to say I was disappointed. I ordered the avocado bagel and the bagel was so hard it was impossible to cut (I have happily battled the densest of breads before but this was impossible) having dropped my knife I requested a different type and explained I couldn't cut it. Dropping my fork again I told the waitress it wasn't edible to which she just walked away. So I left hungry.

Nicole Raynal

Another overhyped Melbourne cafe. This place won't be this popular for very long. When I wait 30+ minutes I expect amazing coffee and even better food. The Balinese pulled pork burger was absolutely flavourless, the smoked chicken vegetable hash was "meh" - nothing overwhelming. Just lots of salt and stodge (diced potatoes) with very little tomato chutney in the centre, and the poached egg dissolved into the rest of the dish pretty quickly. The coffee was bland too. As others have mentioned, the guy taking reservation names at the door had an unbelievably negative and cocky attitude which further took away from the experience.

Eli

Not worth the 30 min wait. The door attendant was arrogant & the food was mediocre. Would not return.

Coldpackage

Awesome food and vibe. Love the food there and one of the waitress that served us provided a good customer experience. It made the whole experience just that better. Would go there again for sure.

Mello

Breakfast Tortilla Filled with Scrambled Egg, Bacon, Aged Cheddar, Herb Oil, Sweet Corn and Black Eyed Bean Salsa. Very filling and recommendable for hungry people!

An

Why in the world would any cafe decide to add this "seaweed" sprinkle on one of their breakfast dishes. Yes firstly I made the mistake of not clarifying the ingridents, however I would have never thought it would have such an overpowering and actually rather awful flavour. I was really enjoying my avacado bagel however all of a sudden it tasted super fishy but only enough to make me think that there had been some kind of cross contemination this was so unfortunate as I couldn't bring my self to finish the meal and I was not a fan of the flavour. I asked the waitress at the end and she proceeded to tell me it was one of the ingridents (can't remember name but was stated on menu) I just laughed it off and said no worries . But this was a real disappoint. On a brighter note iced lattes were very good.

Mads

Amazing service! I came here with my mum and aunt who being from older generations were not too sure about some of the foods listed on the menu. Our french waitress was so paitent and was able to explain each dish they asked about. It was obvious she knew the menu back to front. Food was also a standout. My mom and I had the mancha hotcakes which were absolutely delicious! Will definitely be coming back!

M.K

Best brunch in Town!. I am happy to report that I didn't enjoy some poached eggs slapped on top of some sourdough. My partner and I absolutely loved the corn fritters with heirloom tomatoes and goats cheese/curd. So beautifully put together and presented, we demolished every little bit of this. Coffee is great and the atmosphere is buzzing yet comfortable.

Mariska Adinugroho

Nice brunch. Had the pull pork burger here was very good. It's so much flavour.! Tried the hotcake too it was amazing.keep up the good work guys

Tess Marinelli

Waiter was quite rude.

K

Average. Ordered the corn fritters and while some elements were quite good, it didn't really live up to my expectations. I also shared the matcha hotcakes with my friend and, despite a mouth-watering description, the dish was incredibly underwhelming. The cakes were extremely dry and there was not enough sauce to compensate for that or the bland flavour. Quite a disappointing meal after so much hype

Melb Foodie

The food was very nice but the service was bad. our waiter was so grumpy that it made the whole experience really bad.

Shirley Shirley

Had the pulled pork burger, average at best. Too dry and honestly nothing special. Sounds harsh but really doesn't deserve the rating it gets compared to the likes of top paddock.

Miss.stephanie.guo

Never go there again. Definitely overrated the food there. and we were waiting for 10 mins for the seat which is fine. But 25 mins for food to coming is unacceptable!

Lam Mai Van

Overrated. Service was so slow even though the shop was not that busy. Food was ok, but nothing so special, you can find this kind of food almost everywhere. Compare to other famous breakfast/ brunch places, its flavour lacks uniqueness and impact, maybe just not my cup of tea. Overall, not bad but i don't understand the hype and would not return or recommend to anyone.

Melissa

Matcha and White Chocolate Hotcakes. Very good but it gets a little too sickening. Would recommend this to share.

Ringo

Nothing special. The Matcha Hotcakes concept is interesting but could be improved upon. I don't understand why it is served with marscapone...the texture does not suit the matcha hotcakes. The berry sauce was the only thing which provided a detail of moisture to the dish but too runny..it ran into the hotcakes like water. I can see from other reviewers that other people enjoyed this dish so perhaps my dislike for this dish is my personal preference. The Balinese pulled pork burger was tasty....but I'm sorry it didn't hit the spot. The sweet potato chips aren't too bad but they taste like the frozen ones from McCain. Given the raves from previous reviewers I had expected them to be amazing. We were seated on a share table and received our dishes before another couple who had been seated and ordered their food before us. Slightly awkward! While we were busily tucking into our meal, they were only able to peer over hungrily. Food was ok, nothing special though. Perhaps we came on a busy day (Saturday), or perhaps we ordered the wrong dishes!

Sugar_licks

Excellent coffee, good food only negatives were that the lovely waitress didn't ask if we wanted a second round of coffee's and it was impossible to catch her eye also the potato rosti was fried so much it bordered on burnt

Marcella

Love the new rebranding! Now it has the finish look. Perfect combination of the brand and the interior; mixed with the amazing food and friendly skilled staff, makes Operator25 a great place to hang out, and food is definitely a must try!! Keep up the great work! -----17 Jan, 2015----- Fruit Salad. Refreshing super healthy breakfast

FaveCin

Good but not enough to rave about. After a 25 min wait for 5pax, while watching about 8 groups of 2-3 getting seated, I was still looking forward to Operator 25's food and coffee. However, I left feeling a little perplexed by the rave reviews. The Balinese pulled pork burger had a lovely subtlety and the sweet potato wedges were some of the best I've had. In contrast, the matcha and white chocolate hotcakes were so dense and stodgy that it took some effort to cut through. The soft shell crab was light and crunchy, an unusual breakfast offering; eggs benedict a little bland. We were told that the special coffee blend could only be served in limited styles. Taking the barista's confidence to be a good sign, we ordered the special blend as a flat white. It was an excellent coffee but came with a $2.20 premium ($6 flat white) - not sure was worth that much when good coffee is almost a given in Melbourne - and the piccolo was distinctly disappointing. It's a bit of a hot spot right now and there's not much else immediately close by. I'd try it again but not with that kind of wait.

Chips_Dumplings

Won't return the call. Coffee was average. Skip the chai latte. Hotcakes dry & not sweet. House benedict sauce tasted a bit goat cheesy (?) and three of us didn't force ourselves to eat the soggy and bland rosti. Service was good.

Kat81

BEST coffee, BEST food and BEST service in town!

Bboy.cr_zone

Overated!. This place is definitely overated. Having above 90% rating on Urbanspoon, I expected more from them. Service was bad, food was just average. We were served by this tall and skinny blond lady who was not very friendly. She did not give any smiles like what people wrote as feedback on this website. Instead, she expressed her unhappiness through short and blunt answers and her black face when communicating. For the same food type, portion wise was relatively smaller as compared to other brunch places. For example for the French omelette special, they only served one toast instead of two like any other regular brunch places. Never going to visit this place anymore and I highly do not recommend people to come here. Disappointing.

Wini Wang

Not too bad. Came here for lunch with my friends. It was a good place, we got seated quiet quickly for a Saturday lunch. Ordered our drinks first but feels that the waiters where not as attentive even though it wasn't that busy. The juice was nice and I ordered the fresh omelet which was nice too. Overall it was a nice food but the service need to be looked into more.

Supper_time

Super amazing!!!. Love everythinga about this place! Food and service was just top notch!

Ben Hourigan

Urbanspoon ruined it!. Boo for the Urbanspoon Effect—a year ago when I last visited this was a nice, quiet café. Today, now it's in the top 10 for Melbourne, it was packed even for breakfast at 10am on a Thursday. Still good food, though, even if, given the noise-level, I'm less inclined to forgive the rosti under the house Benedict being a little burned. Congrats to the owners: this place is booming.

Grazia Prochilo

Cold Mango Rice Pudding, Macerated Berries, Pistachio and Cherry Foam. This was fresh, wholesome and yum

Antoinette

Excellent coffee, great service, beautiful food. Love this place.

Jdmtimmeh

Hidden treasure. Rocking up mid-morning breakfast/brunch and we were greeted and seated immediately. Surprised with a lack of standard breakfast menu but the vibe of this quite busy coffee shop was that nothing here was standard. ordering a simple eggs on toast w/bacon and hasbrown. Hasbrown was cooked perfectly as was the bacon and eggs, the only thing I could fault was the toast was quite crisp and hard to cut. iced mocha was perfectly balanced and the Hot chocolate was as good as it gets.

Faye Chen

Great Breaky on a Friday. The nice chilled ambience might be because of the weekday but I can see it would still be great on weekends too. Uber crunchy hash browns and poached eggs that hit the spot and lovely staff. What better way to start a long weekend.

Valerie

Can't fault!. With easy smiles and prompt service, Operator 25 definitely made a good impression on me. Not only was their latte wonderfully balanced as well as optimally roasted, their poached eggs, ham with smoked salmon hits the right key. With warm hollandaise sauce melting on top, the poached eggs and hash brown were golden brown and well-cooked. Operator 25 also boasts a relaxing ambience with attentive staff hovering around constantly to attend to your needs.

Anne Pham

Friendly service, great food and one of the best coffees I've tasted!

Kate Lancaster

Went for brunch & loooooved it! Had an iced latte & the house benedict with hash browns & sweet potato wedges. It was amazing! The hollandaise with the poached eggs & ham is my new FAVOURITE brekky.

Kate Burns

Great food every time. I visit Operator 25 pretty regularly- mostly for coffees, and occasionally for food. The food and coffee are always fantastic- everything I've eaten there is delicious. It's slightly pricier than what I'd want to pay for everyday lunch at work, but for a treat every now and then (or a pick-me-up on bad days!) it's fantastic. Great for meetings too- everyone's always impressed. My only gripe is that, while the coffees always come out in a reasonable time, the food service is very slow. Expect to spend at least a full hour there by the time you look at the menu, order, have food delivered and eat.

Alyciaa

Charming CBD Cafe. Love this place! Great service and lovely food. I found it to be priced very well - so cheap & affordable, especially considering it's in the CBD. Will return!

I S2 Food

Tried this cafe as it was listed in the hottest in Melbourne category. I had the pulled pork burger. It was quite disappointing to be honest and was not tasty at all. Broiche didn't seem fresh and the chips was over cooked/ dry.

Mr Killer

Trepidation becomes delight. I am always concerned in some ways when we attend a venue everyone gives a big wrap to and you are worried it will not live up to expectations. What a waste of emotion that was.Great quiet location, friendly staff, great coffee in a huge cup and the yummiest breakfast. All the reviews were correct.This place IS brilliant. Do yourself a huge favour and pay a visit.

Hydomel

Enjoyed my pumpkin piadina today, was very fresh and healthy. The soy hot choc was yum too. Lovely sunny vibe. It'd be great to see more vegan and vegetarian options though, the menu falls very short on this. What I had was yum tho :)

Triangleshoe

Incredible brunch. Gorgeous food coupled with hipster chic decor and incredibly friendly staff. would recommend to everyone. small but good menu. the hot cakes and fresh juice are to die for - we went back for seconds the next day!

Emmar.xxo

I'll be back!. Pulled pork roll with coleslaw and chilli mayonnaise was amazing, with a side of the best sweet potatoe chips! Yum! Great staff and service!

Pastry Fong

Delicious Start of the day!. Operator25 ...OperatorYUM ! I always enjoy visiting this neat, not overly done breaky/ brunch joint. The food is always well presented, the flavours are well matched and best of all... it's always cooked right. I have had their most recent lunch menu of the Beef dish, the grain salad and pork sandwich and non disappointed. It helps the coffee is made right too!

Shmez

Love this place. I come here about once a month and it is always great. The food is tasty and the sweet potato chips are to die for! I also really like the coffee, I normally get a long macchiato and my husband gets an espresso so I can't comment on their lattes or flat whites but we enjoy what we get. It's usually fairly easy to get a seat too unlike some cafes we go to and I've always found the staff to be lovely.

Xander

Pretty coffee that tastes like frothy water with milk. Sorry but yuck. Another pretty place focused on branding and image rather than product.

Purple Bear

Lovely breakfast. We dined here as a group of 6 and enjoyed good coffee and breakfast. Slightly overpriced but set off by good location and good food. I had the Benedict with Salmon and the flavours were lovely and eggs well cooked. Serving size is small - not for those who are starving. Mr P had the pork brioche roll and it was beautifully flavoured. The sweet potato chips are crunchy on the outside but nice and soft and moist on the inside and a must try. The coffee here is very well made and creamy. Can't fault the service either. Just be prepared for slightly overpriced meal for the size.

Almeida

FLAWLESS!! Coffee is mil.... FLAWLESS!! Coffee is milky and hot with great art it went down so smoothly I had to order a second. Food is absolutely exqusite. Devine!! I was blown away! I'm amazed how fast the food came out too ridiculously fast service without comprising quality one bit. It is in a bit of a weird location, as in, very easy to miss it! However please scout this place out it is really a hidden gem one of the best breakfast cafés in melbourne well worthy competitor to the hardware societe and potentially even better!!

Fish

Super spot. Operator25 is an absolute ripper. Located in a section of the CBD that I wouldn't usually frequent, I made sure headed here after hearing good things. The fitout of the space is awesome. Exposed brick walls, great lighting, plenty of bench table aswell as the statement round tables - there is know question they have created the perfect place to relax. Staff are nice and service was quick which is always a good sign. My large cappucino came in a bowl which looked great - exactly what I needed. A big caffeine fix. Coffee was spot on too. The food looked great even though I didn't eat there. I will definitely head back for breaky and I'm pretty sure this will be added to my favourites when I do. Get there!

Ann

A gem. Been there a few times, The food that me and my friend have ordered were both yummy. Especially the suckling pork burger! Didn't wait for long for food to come even when we were in a hurry! Friendly and helpful staffs when we asked about how long is the food gonna come they come on time as they mentioned. Coffee were creamy and nice. Will definitely go again!

Alwayshungry

Room for improvement. Was not impressed with all the hype. coffee was too cool for my liking- had two white coffees to be sure. Waited 40 minutes for eggs Benedict, grain salad and sweet potato chips. although yum, wish there was some bread with the eggs to mop up the yolks and overpriced. definitely has ability to become a favourite if they made some changes.

Phenix

Unimpressed with the coffee - taste and temperature - horrid. It can be said the food is better than the service. Unprofessional, unaccommodating and a snobby attitude. Walked in with for a coffee meeting with work colleagues only to be ignored and have the customers who arrived after us being being seated and attended to first. We left in disgust - never again.

TheDudeThatEats

Ordered the pressed lamb. the lamb was nice but quite disappointed with the dish as a whole. cous cous was different from what i imagined. i thought serving as big as well. there's a watermelon below my lamb and it tastes funky. i don't understand the way of puting sweet fruit with savoury taste. everything can be improved.

Alwayshungry

Good but can improve. Woul.... Good but can improve. Wouldn't visit again unless I was in the area. Coffee slightly too cold for my taste but was very smooth. Waited 40 min for my food which was ridiculous esp how it was not busy. Food came out lukewarm. Had eggs benedict and grain salad. Eggs benedict- perfect poached eggs. Lovely ham and hollandaise sauce. Did not enjoy them on top of my rosti. Made them soggy and no better than frozen ones from supermarket. Also at the price being paid, a slice of bread would be nice. Grain salad was lovely. Really nice flavours although I would not wait for 40 minutes again. Service was very confusing/ dull. I saw about 6 staff members on floor. Waitresses barely smiled and I kept trying to stop one for 10min for another coffee but was ignored. There were other floor staff walking around but would appreciate them wearing aprons so we know. Maybe they were the owners? As I recognise the Asian faces from Facebook photos but it took me a good half hour to realise so without them wearing aprons. If you're going to walk around serving food, take orders, engage in your customers! I really wanted to like this place and had high hopes. Definitely has potential to become a favourite of mine as food ,coffee,atmosphere is nice. But they really need to set a higher standard on service and timing of food.

Neen

Worth the walk up from Bourke St mall. Headed up here for a solo lunch and was not disappointed. The grain salad of quinoa carrots barley etc was fantastic with a somewhat sweet dressing. Good coffee and lovely staff make it a worthwhile walk.

Dani R

Nice but could improve. I don't like hot coffee but the one I had was too cool for my liking. The food was nice, I think having a side of salmon for $7 does seem a bit much. Good serving sizes though!

Sarah M

Awesome cafe! Super friendly staff! Good is sooooooo good! Highly reccomend and kid friendly! Definitely worth a look, get the vanilla sago & rhubarb compote ;)

Gavin

House Benedict. The eggs benedict here is possibly one of the best I have had, if not the best. And the extra sides (2 hash browns for $2) is cheaper than you will find at other brunch locations. Service is great too - This place rocks!

Smb8405

Awesome, smooth creamy coffee, although could of been a touch hotter. Food was super fresh and delicious, ill def be back next time I am in Melbourne

Julycheee

Delicious and beautiful food. One of the best brunch spots in the city. The staff are friendly, and the interior nice and spacious. The food menu changes seasonally (I believe) to include lots of new creative dishes, making it a great place to revisit. Food itself is impeccably prepared and presented, with a great mesh of flavours. Absolutely delicious. Thumbs up!

Picky_eater

Would recommend!. I ordered the buttermilk pancakes with mascarpone and meringue and it was heavenly. The meals were fairly priced and the service was great. Would definitely go back.

Julia Edey

Want to try everything on the menu!. This place can not be faulted! The food was delicious and so well presented. The interior of the cafe was so cute and the menu had so much to offer at such a reasonable price. The staff were lovely and friendly as well. I will most definitely be going back!

FreshBeans07

Lovely café!. Come here quite often. The best meal is the salmon and avocado with poached eggs, delightly prepared with fresh herbs. The staff here is friendly and welcoming in addition to attentive. Definitely worth checking out!

Susan

Hidden Gem. I can not fault the food in Operator 25, all of the 5 different breakfast items order were top notch. It's a gorgeous building too, just a really nice atmosphere. However, we waited a VERY long time. The place wasn't very busy at all, walked in and were seated right away and there were other empty tables. After around 25minutes I asked if our food was almost ready... the waitress responded with, "it shouldn't be long. It's hard when there's a big table" She was referring to me, my partner, my parents and niece. I really don't see 5 people to be a "big table". We then waited another 10 minutes before actually having our plates put down in front of us. Anyway, that aside, I would be very tempted to return to Operator25 because of the quality of the food. Just hope the kitchen is a little quicker next time!

International Food Review

Operator please. Breakfast is often considered the most important meal of the day. Operator 25 take this claim seriously. An array of choices that accommodate all diners and make it a wonderful start to the day. This breakfast was all made to order and looked pleasing to the eye. The big breakfast with its array of bites; or the open steak sandwich which was cooked to perfection and made the taste buds salivate; this small cafe tucked into an alley way had it all. Complex in its simplicity, that's Operator 25. IFR.

Soupisnotameal

Consistently very good coffee. Not too mention a pleasant spot, inside and out.

Daniel Reeders

Almost perfect. I've been critical in the past of the coffee here but they've got it sorted, now. A 'magic' was punchy and well-balanced, with none of the sour notes I've encountered here in the past. The service is terrific -- relaxed, friendly and on-point. The food was great. The spices in a Balinese 'suckling pig' burger were terrific, and the sweet potato wedges were incredible. The only downside is that the food still takes quite a long time to arrive, but it was worth the wait. -----12 Nov, 2013----- Coffee needs work. The food and fitout are spectacular. The service is still kind of tentative. The coffee really needs work, though. A really sour shot combined with insufficiently steamed milk tastes remarkably like vomit.

Afroditi Penko

You know the food will be good when your coffee is perfect! Normally 'weak and extra hot' results in watery and bitter coffee, but not at Operator 25! This would have to be one of the best coffees I've EVER had- that's a big call for a fussy 'weak' coffee drinker. The meals were divine! I ordered the ricotta pancakes and hubby ordered the smashed peas with a serve of hash browns. What can we say- perfect! No oily run offs like most standard dishes and full of flavour. I appreciate the use of local and fresh produce as the favours are reflected in their dishes. The only thing I could fault would be that my hubby would've liked 2 pieces of toast with the smash peas instead of 1, but the hash browns made up for it :)

Andrew Underwood

I've been having coffee and pastries here since it opened a few weeks ago, and I can honestly say that the food, coffee and service is perfect! Honest and friendly vibes in a trendy and clean cafe :-)

Colin Connolly

I'm with Donna, So far the .... I'm with Donna, So far the most impressive breakfast in Melbourne,simple no fuss food that was well prepared and staff were very ..nothing is to hardish..give it a go you judge for yourself. Colin

Donna

Fab! Wonderful, friendly service. Delicious breakfast and tasty coffee. Our party of 8 all enjoyed the food, apparently the 'hang over breakfast' was the best breakfast my friend has had! Modern, stylish interior with beautiful touches and located in a stunning old building. One to add to 'the list'

Mick Surfer

I can't fault this place. The service is great and the food is even better. I love the menu options and the food presentation was stylish. Smoothly run operation here. Loved it!

Greatatuin

What a gem. Great coffee, lunch menu and friendly service.

Miss Nibbles

Suckling pig burger was reaaaalllly scrumptious & different from what I've had at other fusion joints. Wagyu burger was also perfectly done - succulent and juicy. Seems like I've found a new favorite cafe :)

Summer

I love this place, have been back many times. All the food is made by people with a passion for great food - and you can tell. Best egg Benedict in town!

Need To Eat

Now this place is something!. Set in a retired Melbourne telephone exchange on the CBD fringe, Operator25 is one of Melbourne's newest cafes and I was keen to get down there and try it out - and was very glad I did. The verdict...awesome! I had the burger, kids had the chocolate pancakes and we all walked out with a big smile on our faces. The fitout is well done, staff friendly and the coffee spot on. I have been back a few times since my first visit, and I am always impressed. This place is a must try. Well done Operator25!

Momo

Great coffee, enjoyable atmosphere and friendly service!

Bill Clarke

Well worth a visit. Excellent Coffee, tasty and well cooked breakfasts, handy for the CBD. Give it a try, we'll worth it!

Estagah

Check out this amazing tucked away little cafe. Love how they kept the heritage going and mixed with their own touch into the decoration. The coffee is really good. I had the corn fritters, it just melted away in your mouth. I also had the mushroom and was just perfect. I also love the grilled chicken quinoa, it tasted amazing. Would love to come back for more!!! Nice to see another jewel in Melbourne's coffee crown

AAA

New little gem. Love the comfortable, contemporary rustic interior styling. brick walls, high wooden bench tables and glossy, black bar stools. just perfect. couldnt go past the operator25 burger. non greasy, well balanced flavours (wagyu beef patty, egg, bacon and brioche bun!). also loved the duck ragu with rigatoni (sauce is fantastic) and the fish of the day was cooked well (flavour infused right into that fish). will definitely be back to try other items on the menu

MelbCoffeeSnob

Impressive. Don't be fooled by the young man behind the machine. Coffee was very good. Milk was frothed well, bringing a balancing hint of sweetness to the strength and aroma reliably found in Code Black roasts. Very well poured.

Marty_Miyagi

Great coffee, must try the barramundi!

Johnny Hercules Angelopoulos

Checked this near little place out about a week ago. Tried the wagyu burger and was very impressed (especially coming from a burger cooking background)..Nice ambient feel to the place. Looking forward to coming back

Nambo Gatsby

Great little spot for brunch. Friendly staff, great food, awesome coffee and elegant design. Highly recommended!

Mickey Love

I love brunch!. I was here last Saturday and had the suckling pig burger... Delicious! And the side of sweet potato fries topped it off. Cozy environment, good coffee and great food. I'll be back for those fries!

Foodandwinelover

Superb new place, great coffee, i heard they used codeblack coffee. Food was amazing, specially their burger!! Try the wagyu or the Pork its Killing!! The house cured ocean trout is also tasty, will be back to try some of your food, keep it up the good work guys!

Hung Dong Long

I was excited to see someone take on this site after nearly 8 years vacant. Nice fit out and great use of this challenging space. Unfortunately that's all I liked. The menu is basic and geared towards breakfast but Has some lunch options. Ordered a wagyu burger. $19.50 and 15 minutes later a rank undercooked mush arrived with 5 seedy curly fries. Even the waitress seemed embarrassed to deliver it. Perhaps the owner should focus more on the business instead of hanging out with his friends and family, who seem to fill the place daily. I haven't eaten breakfast here and would like to give it a second chance but I just felt violated by my experience. With all of the great food in Melbourne, it's just not good enough to serve this food with such arrogant service and insulting prices. Spend more time looking after paying customers who will make or break you.

Millie

Walking into am industrial styled cafe with rouns wooden communal tables and long bar tables - you are greeted by pleasant staff. The long blacks weren't too full and had a rich, golden - delicious creamer on top. The food didnt take too long and the eggs were very flavour-some. Definitely good value - im looking forward to trying one of the sweet items on thr menu.

The Food Society

That coconut and tonka bean sago is a cross between breakfast and dessert, and it just works so well. Wonderfully light, with huge hits of sago and crisp citrus flavours from the dollop of mango curd, it’s a

Delightfullytasty

Operator25 prides itself on using seasonal produce, with classic flavours that have a twist to them. They also specialise in a range of coffees, such as espresso based, pour over and cold drip coffees....There's some really great and interesting menu items at Operator25, so despite the sub par service, I'd be willing to come again to try out some of their other things.

Ilovemyfoodlots

Operator 25 is a fairly new cafe in the Melbourne dining scene, having only been open since May last year. It has already garnered a following, seeing a surge in its popularity, witnessed by a myriad of online reviews and publications . Located near Flagstaff Gardens, this restaurant is tucked away in a little alleyway. It occupies a heritage listed building in the CBD fringe serving breakfast, lunch and everything in between including brunch. We arrived early on a weekday morning, the week where most have just returned to work following the long weekend and lucky for us it wasn't busy. The customer base was mainly corporates, but when we went past on the weekend it was packed with a diverse group of people. The interior is modern and rustic, giving off the cool industrial and warehouse vibe. They appear to have two separate menus, one in summer and one in winter. We tried the dishes from their 'Summer 2015' menu. The selection available is interesting with a creative twist on the traditional dishes, and not like items from the typical standard breakfast menu. The 'Cappuccino ($3.80)' was spot on. They use the finest beans from a local producer called 'Code Black Coffee Roasters'. The coffee was strong, rich and creamy. A great way to start the morning. We started off with the 'Coconut Sago Cup ($10.00)', made up of fresh berries, pineapple salsa, coconut chips and mango foam. An interesting option for breakfast as it sounded more like dessert, but it was well received by all of us. The mango mousse was incredibly smooth, and the coconut sago was refreshing. The best way to eat this is by scooping up all the elem ents together and you'll experience that flavour explosion. This was our favourite dish as it was so good. The 'Breakfast Tortilla ($17.00)' is filled with chorizo, scrambled eggs, mixed mushrooms, aged cheddar cheese and green harissa sauce. The mixture of perfectly cooked scrambled eggs, slightly salty chorizo and finely chopped mushroom, all encased in

Good Food, Good Mood

Finally got to try this out Operator 25 some time in July after seeing so many wonderful images on Instagram. My verdict? Amazing. You walk in and feel a sense of home and the waiters are friendly and super efficient. Nothing attracts my attention more about an eatery than excellent service and Operator 25 ticked all the boxes. I strongly recommend this place to any brunch or coffee lover!!! Freshly squeezed OJ - $6.00 The perfect hangover cure, a coffee and a fresh juice. OFF TOPIC: I think it's time to upgrade my phone... my iPhone 4s is starting to shit me. I'm not interested in the iPhone6... tossing between the LG G3 or Samsung Note 4!! Any suggestions??? :) Coffee (latte/cappuccino etc) $3.80 Being a coffee snob, I was very impressed with the coffees at Operator 25. I ordered a latte and it was simp

Joanna Chan

After collecting them all bushy-eyed from their night flight, we hightailed it to Operator 25, a café with eggs benny so legendary that it had travelled across the waters where my sis’ in law (SIL) caught wind of it in Singapore. Staying away from the bleak and sterile Scandinavian look that seems to be the rage of Melbourne, Operator 25 tucks into a little laneway bordered by worn brick walls and grey concrete. Completed with bleached wood topped with bright flowers, the overall atmosphere is inviting and warm. Ham and cheese omelette A high chair is offered for my 18month old niece and once she’s settled the eating begins. Obviously being child-free, it’s never occurred to me to be offered or glance at a kids menu. I always assumed Aussie b

Sheepish

The grain salad was lovely. The pork burger was okay, but it was overshadowed by those beautiful crinkle cut crispy sweet potato wedges. Tonka bean and sago parfait was extremely well presented. I wasn’t particularly impressed by the muesli, have eaten much more impressive granola at other cafes. Our waitress was very friendly and pleasant, and service was attentive without being overbearing.

Thegrazingpanda

Operator25 is great place for lunch and is somewhere I want to come to try breakkie out. The french toast sounds delicious!

Samuel Giles

Brunching with a good friend visiting from Adelaide for the weekend, we opted for Operator 25.

Lil.luu

This place is becoming one of my favourites in the city! It’s situated a bit further out from all the hustle and bustle of the city, so its got a more relaxed atmosphere there. Getting there is pretty simple, it’s close to Flagstaff Station or only a short walk away from Swanston St/Lonsdale St. So far I’ve been twice (only) but I’m liking everything to date. Coffee’s from Code Black Coffee (my review here ) which is one of my preferred coffee roasters in Melbourne; and they make it perfect here too. Food wise, the first time I went I ordered the House Benedict - Potato Rosti, Grandmother Ham, Poached Eggs and Chives Hollandaise ($15). Perfect in every way - the rostis form the base (not too dense so it’s easygoing on the stomach) and the hollandaise is amazing, not too buttery but complemented perfectly. Great portion too. My friend had the Zucchini and Sweetcorn Fritters with mixed mushroom fricassee, soft

Lisa Holmen

Dishes are on the inventive side with brunch treats including Coconut Sago with fresh berries, pineapple salsa $9 and mango foam and seasonal fruit salad in honey syrup served with acai yoghurt. There’s also all the usual suspects too and Code Black Coffe

Brunch Addict

Operator 25 has only been around for six months but has a good menu and strong customer services focus. The venue is quiet and relaxing and their coconut sago leaves you dying to come back. I can’t wait to go back.”

The Other Jess Tuck

There are a few GF options at Operator 25 so I decided to stick in the no-gluten zone as requested and give the salad a crack. This exceeded my expectations 10 fold. It was so tasty, I would have had thirds. Right, not that unusual but so good! There was everything in this grain salad and the flavours were fantastic. Highly recommend! Oh and I added bacon. And I dare say it; it didn’t need it. How could I say suc

Spoonfuls Of Wanderlust

Would I go back? Yes, I think so. The breakfast tortilla was tasty, and so big and filling that I only managed to finish half of it (though I couldn't resist a side order of delicious morcilla, hehe). Environment was bright and spacious, while the service was friendly and attentive. Definitely not a bad way to start the day!

MikhaelfBlue

I had a Cappuccino, which was smooth and very easy to drink. MerlinFan's single origin Finca Las Nubes was much more interesting, with tasting notes of honey dew, jammy currants, floral, pecan and dried tropical fruits.

MikhaelfBlue

With the great coffee, a promising menu and efficient staff, Operator 25 already has the makings for doing well in Melbourne's brunch scene.

DaisyNevertoosweet

Us Melbournians are crazy about cafes and brunching, but you might be surprised most popular cafes are actually in nearby suburbs but not many are actually in the CBD area. I’m not sure why, but I suspect it’s because people want to get away from the city on their days off and explore a new area. I know that’s how I use to feel, when my office was in the city. But now that I’m working in the suburbs, I will find every excuse to go back into town It’s also nice to know that a few more cafes have popped opened lately in the city, and Operator 25 is one of them. I checked it out with my girls Shellie and Lianne last weekend, I had Operator 25 on my list as others have raved on about it. Situated on the quieter side of the city on Wells St parking was a breeze and getting a table wasn’t too difficult either, which is really nice. The cafe has a really modern and chic kind of feeling to it, we sat on the end of the bench on these super comfy high chairs. Not too high that I was going to fa

The World Loves Melbourne

Operator 25 is a revelation cafe set in a former telephone exchange located in the legal district in the Melbourne CBD. The place is pumping with interesting dining spaces full of patrons, featuring an intergenerational crowd. The World Loves Melbourne decided to visit this cafe in a heritage building having heard rave reviews. We were not disappointed.

Kedama

Post contains only photos.

Michelle Leong

Woke up late on Sunday? check. Unexplained hunger? Gotcha. This sums me up pretty well on a weekend, ideally. Although there would be a few days whereby waking up late is not really an option and I would have been too stuffed from Saturday's dinner to even think about food on Sunday haha. I saw a handful of friends upload pictures of Operator 25's matcha hot cakes on Instagram and thought to myself, why not? I don't mind a sweet brekkie every now and then..and so, off I go:) Balinese pulled pork burger with fried egg, cabbage and carrot slaw, chilli mayo served with sweet potato wedges. Due to lack of experience with Balinese cuisine, I do not trust my narration of this dish (and neither should you haha). However, a foodie friend of mine liked it very much as it reminded him of something similar from a Balinese restaurant. Oh and sweet potato wedges were delishhh. Beer battered soft shell crab with Thai style salad, toasted peanuts, tamarind dressing and sesame rice crackers. A really light dish for those not feeling too peckish or if you opt for something less sinful. Or if you are like me who wants to save some tummy space for desserts;) Very refreshing it was. Smoked chicken and vegetable hash with tomato chutney and poached egg. Matcha and white chocolate hotcakes, mandarin mascarpone, toasted hazelnuts, banana chips and cherry coulis ~ was not as sweet as I had anticipated it to be and probably a good thing as well! Aesthetically brilliant and one can taste the individual characteristics of every component. Sour, bitter and sweet in motion.

The Hungry Excavator

Melbourne has been notorious for not having enough brunch places in the CBD so I'm very glad to see Operator 25 fill that hole in the market. Good menu, food and location.

Peach-Water

After you finish your morning’s shopping at the Queen Victoria Market , why not drop by this heritage listed building and enjoy some good coffee and food? Back in the early 1900s, this heritage listed building was used as Melbourne’s first telephone exchange – but now behind these cobblestone walls is Operator25 – a cafe with a modern rustic ambience.

The Bake-a-nista

Mummy dearest is arriving in a couple of weeks - I cannot wait to bring her here! I'm sure she will love it as much as The Boyfriend and I did.

Sophie

Overall, I loved breakfast at Operator25. Sure there are still some kinks to iron out in getting the menu perfect but for the most part, the food is fresh, honest and delicious, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is relaxed. A return visit may warrant trying out the Baked Eggs with Chorizito (chorizo's more glamorous cousin) and the Sweet Corn Fritters. It's about time that some decent food made it's way up to this end of the Melbourne CBD.

Gastrology

The menu, crafted by chefs Valerie Fong and Felipe Pereira Guedes, is modern Australian and makes great use of seasonal produce. All of the dishes we sampled were vibrant, fresh and beautifully presented. This is no surprise given Valerie Fong was the head chef at Bacash prior to joining the Operator25 team. Having spoken with Valerie, her passion for cooking is palpable and this is reflected in the dishes that flow from the kitchen.

Sweet And Sour Fork

... the chunks of sausage were large and rustic, and the yolks a perfect wobbly gold. The slab of toasted cornbread however, was perfect – buttery, light, and crumbling just so.

Eat.Play.Shop.

I ordered the House Benedict, I really like this version with the crispy rosti instead of the traditional muffins. The poached eggs were done well. Bubs loved this so much he ate most of it, to the point I was still hungry after we finished. I must admit I'm glad he a

Fatboo

I decided on a moist omelette with sourdough toast and smoked salmon, it was one of those days (especially after a holiday) where you’d just want the comforting basics.

WenY

If you do not like to queue but have no intentions on sacrificing on quality, where do you go? Frequented by my fellow Melbourne residents, is Operator 25. Coming in closer to 11am, it was barely three-quarters full and we easily got a sit inside. Wow, high ceilings and an airy sitting area too? Operator 25 just seems to have it all at that point. But can the kitchen deliver? Greeted and served with no delay, the menu was soon in my hands. A quick flick and I decided on the Balinese Pulled Pork and Coleslaw on Brioche roll with Sweet Potato Wedges ($19). Why bother with the staples like the boring big breakfast no? Biting into that soft buttery brioche was a familiar Balinese taste. Not it was no Babi Guling or Naughty Nuri’s, instead it tasted like my very own ex-colleague Mei’s Indonesian pork dish with notes of fragrant lemon grass, turmeric and other spices pounded together. The delicious and tender pulled pork made this roll simpl

Melbourne Glutton

Many kudos to J for this fantastic find. Operator25 is housed inside a heritage listed building near the Flagstaff Gardens. The interior consists of exposed bricks, simple wooden furniture with metal accents and big glass bowls of plantation. The ambience is perfect for a bit of weekend relaxation. Away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD, yet still within convenient proximity to public transport (and my apartment), it’s really the perfect escape. Time seems like it could go on forever amongst the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and good food being cooked. Well that is, until that ominous button on my blackberry started to flash incessantly. Service was exceptionally good and so was the food.I was a feeling a bit unconventional and ordered the heirloom tomatoes. It was embellished with smoked eggplant tapenade and adorned with a goats cheese wafer cigar. I really enjoyed the odd/interesting assortment of ingredients and found the dish quite captivating. Other menu items that aroused

Ashley

I'm talking about the tonic bean and coconut sago, citrus curd, mango and pistachio salted caramel crumbs. Oh. My. God.

Libby Margo

the beautiful heritage building now serves some of Melbourne CBD’s nicest cups of coffees and an interesting breakfast and lunch menu.

Eat And Be Merry Crew

Ms W got the very impressive twice cooked beef short ribs, carrot puree, sauteed veg and beef jus ($18). It was meaty, falling off the bone and wasn't gamey in flavour - thumbs up! I loved the vibrant colour of the puree and the array of colourful veg on top. Definitely a very big serve which was a challenge for Ms W to finish - and this was despite the fact that she had shared some of it with us all. I'd love to order this for myself.

Review Operator 25 - Melbourne