I ordered pasta which was yummy, very creamy and cooked to the perfection. Place is tiny and gets crowded pretty soon during lunchtime. Overall 4/5.
The Wandering Reviewer
+5
Afternoon tea time or in the case of my friend - time for a Bloody Mary. We came to Eliana Lulu at 2.30pm and it was still busy from the lunch crowd plus being school holidays, quite a few younger people hanging here. They know something others don’t? Yes they do. Centre Place has attracted restauranters who know how to differentiate themselves from the other cafes without necessarily poaching business from them.
Today I had a hot chocolate and poppyseed muffin. Served on a warm plate, the also warm muffin was light but with the deliciously crispy top (always reminds me of Elaine in a Seinfeld sketch). We watched Adonis make the bloody mary and he did it with absolute style and finesse.
Cynthia, was our waitress and was on top of everything. From her invitation to a seat, water on the table, helping me choose what sweet treat to order and then a bag to take home the second half of the muffin I couldn’t eat - she was excellent.
The ambience is interesting with the high stools at a bench that open straight out to the street, plus the tables inside that offer a warm feeling during this cold day.
Menu is simple and seasonal but there is something for everyone. The food coming to the tables looked very generous in portion sizes.
Liked the mural on the wall (see my pic) and who doesn’t love a sunburnt orange coffee machine!
Notes: come early for those busy lunch hour periods, in summer this place is very popular, suitable for vegetarians and vegans, restaurant is wheelchair friendly, kid friendly, takeaway available and close to Flinders Street Station.
This place has generous servings of delicious food, I ordered chicken risotto with garlic bread and it was able to leave my sister and I with full bellies!😁
This place is tucked in the laneway of Centre Place Melbourne, very busy area!!! Love the ambiance of this place, it's like a little Parisian laneway. Food was ok, Chicken Rissotto was really nice omg yum!! However, seafood paella didn't really appeal much, I find it lacking in flavour and seasoning, sadly!.. Aperol spritz was quite strong, which is ok. Service was okay too, we waited a bit but then, they cook as you order so it's understandable and very busy place! I didn't mind waiting as long as they would serve good food which they did!!! Thanks for making our short Melbourne trip memorable! :) wsurely come back again next time!
Best vegan pasta with heaps of flavour and spice.! And very friendly, welcoming staff and super fast service.
Lunch mates raved about calamari, pizza and smashed avo. Highly recommend it!
Great food at a great price. One of the busiest cafes in centre lane but the staff make sure that everyone who hops in for a meal is treated well. The place is clean and airy. Loved the food and the warm and welcoming service. Absolutely enjoyed my visit here.Definitely worth many more visits in the future.
With so many places to choose we finally settled here. Really friendly staff that actually talked to us while eating their own lunch. Found out it was a family owned cafe which shows. Coffee was strong and punchy and served perfectly, all 3!!! (coming from a barista!). Food was great, house tempernillo was good. Will be back next time we’re in Melbourne
Josh Avelino Salvador D'souza
+4
Wondering the streets of Melbourne we came across a very small yet elegant cafe. The place is perfect. Service was also great. We were recommended The Chicken Schnitzel And The Salmon. Both the dishes exceeded our expectations.
I'd highly recommend trying it out if you ever at in the city.
I was down in Melbourne last weekend and went looking for a great coffee in the vicinity of Degraves St. Found my way to Central Place instead and sat down at Eliana Lulu at a table in the alley and ordered a coffee. It was a very good one and I ended up having 2 more before continuing to wander around the city doing some sight seeing.
That's warm & comfortable place to get late lunch, good location near Flinders St. Staff are friendly, I ordered pizza 'That's That'. It is not big portion of pizza, but still enough for two people to get a quick lunch.
It looks very nice which are chicken breast, half avocado, sliced onion on Napoli sauce and with cream fraiche. When I pick up a slice, I can see full of cheese and fraiche. There wasn't greasy and strong flavor.
In general, I highly recommend this place to go for Spanish lunch.
Came here for breakfast on a Sunday morning. I ordered the poached eggs on sourdough with a side of sautéed mushrooms and tomato, plus coffee (of course). Service was excellent and I really enjoyed my meal, Patti the mushrooms which were perfect. Coffee was pretty good too. The total price was $20 which I thought was great.
I've been here on 2 separate occasions, I ordered the eggs Benedict, and lamb cutlets the other time. Food was delicious, prices could be better but I can't complain due to the great service. Waiters are quick, and efficient. Cafe is tiny, and they squash everyone in- but that's just how it is.
The menu is stock standard, the coffee is okay, but none of that is inherently bad. By sticking to the basics this cafe is able to churn out classic options packed with flavour.
Really great breakfast. You might not expect it from the exterior of the cafe, but this was some of the best avocado/feta with eggs I've had in Melbourne. Relatively cheap too.
Will definitely be back when I need a quick, easy breakfast.
Had breakfast here - Very busy but they have seating upstairs as well. There was a fair wait for food, cutlery and drinking glasses (haha) but the waitress was good humoured about it and polite. The food was worth the wait though. Had the bruschetta and bf had an avo, feta and eggs breakfast. Would return even with the long waiting time.
Great place for brunch. Came at 10.30 on a Saturday morning and was pleasantly surprised to find that we had no trouble getting tables. Service was good but had three or four different waiters coming to us within the space of 5 min asking if we want to order which made us feel like they were trying to hurry us up. Food was good but didn't think it was outstanding. I would come back again for the atmosphere and the location though - I love flinders lane!
Vanessa Espírito Santo
+3.5
Nice place in Central Court serving food all day :) We had the shared plate. All was good and yummy! I also had a glorious chai latte
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Eliana Lulu was hidden away from the busy street and located at the famous Center Place among other small restaurants. It was a small Italian restaurant serving Italian pasta, pizza with some Spanish and Portuguese dishes as well. Sometimes, it could be noisey and smokey siting outside. But that's a part of Melbourne, isn't it?
I enjoyed my Sangria, just liked the one I had in Spain with strong fruity flavour and perfect for summer time.
#chicken fatoush#-grilled chicken breast with crispy pitta bread combined with mixed greens. The chicken breast was tender and flavourful. The salad was refreshing with lots of Middle East spices. Not bad to have some light lunch of exotic taste.
#Penne Chorizo#-penne pasta tossed with chorizo, bacon and onion in creamy garlic and chilli sauce. The pasta was great! Penne pasta was cooked well with right chewiness; the sauce was perfect too with smooth and creamy texture with a hint of spicy in it. You can also taste the strong cheesy flavour in the pasta too.
#special of the day-lamb shank#the serving size of the lamb shank was small, looked like it missed a big piece of meat...anyway the lamb was tender. The mash potato was a highlight, full of butter cheese flavour...very addictive!
Actually we had a drop by there because we were on a visit to ACMI.Since it was soooo close,then it's been ages that I did not have a bite of pizza.It was so good to have a reasonable price and good environment.Doubtlessly recommended to my roomies.
Always friendly with fabulous weekly specials and serve the best pizza in Melbourne. Put it on your must visit list for casual dining. Can't recommend them more. X
Adventures In Winterland
+4.5
Despite the odd name, Eliana Lulu lured Mum and I in with its cozy buzz on a chilly Melbourne morning. We managed to snag a table against the wall, which was perfect for people watching. We both started out with fresh orange juices, which came in giant glasses and were beautifully sweet. We also both ordered the same thing, wanting a hearty, warming breakfast – the Spanish eggs ($16.50), with poached eggs in a chorizo, jamon, pea and tomato ragout. Served in an iron pan, the portion was huge and accompanied by two slices of thick bread – perfect for dipping. The eggs were perfectly poached and oozed into the ragout. I was really impressed by
surprising gem of a find in one of the CBD's laneways ... service was fast and friendly ... coffee was really good ... fruit toast with sides of chorizo and spinach was one of the better ones I've tried
Eliana Lulu is the busiest cafe I’ve seen in Centre Place, but I came by a bit before 2pm and since the lunch rush had died down, took the opportunity to finally try out it out. Mislead by Zomato’s outdated menu uploads, they actually no longer do breakfast all day but it’s about time for me to try something different.
Had the Spanish breakfast which was chorizo, poached eggs and (maybe pastrami) in a tomato based sauce.
The food was really delicious and the coffee was also very good. The total bill including 2 x Spanish breakfasts and 3 coffees was $46. Well worth a visit I will definitely go again.
Limited breakfast options. However, waiter was helpful by substituting a menu item. Upstairs offers more seclusion. Value for money. Quick service
Love this place....the service is out of this world.....the food is incredibly fresh and full of flavour.....hats off to the chef....the coffee is the best in Melbourne.....thanks Lorca staff for always making my visit soooo memorable
Great spot for a late dinner on a Friday night, staff were phenomenal and the lamb salad was excellent, great chilled vibes, will def be a regular hangout for when I'm in Melb next.
Lorca is the place to be for quick service, friendly staff, and the BEST COFFEE. Degraves Street area is ALWAYS busy, but Lorca's Spanish style interior makes you feel so cozy! ALSO kudos to the friendly barista here - loved the teddy bear latte art!
We ordered the jamon desayuno, tim tam cheesecake, and the smashed avo special. Loved ALL of the dishes, except for the tim tam cheesecake. It was a bit too sweet and didn't get the whole tim tam flavor except for the tim tam on top. Other than that, our brunch was perfection :)
Pretty busy as it's a typical draw for tourists looking for a cafe in a laneway and they cram you in a little downstairs. Had a coffee which was nice enough and the poached eggs and side of mushrooms. Quick service and no complaints.
I tried these guys yesterday and I was so impressed. The staff are friendly and hard working (family business) and the food is trendy and delicious. Tucked in the heart of Degraves, you can enjoy all day Breakfast or try an item from the lunch menu. I had the Special which was the Linguini Cabornara and it was great :)
I love this place. I always make an effort to come here whenever I am in the city to get a cup of coffee. They use "All Press", which in my opinion, is the best coffee going around.
Have had lunch here before too, and the slow cooked lamb is pretty damn good!
Great cafe in a great spot in Melbourne. Our food was very tasty and the coffee was very good too. Staff were really friendly and clearly working hard on a busy morning. Nice to sit outside and enjoy the lane too.
One of a few place to choose from in Degraves Street. My one and only stop for some smash avacado. Coffee is also very consistent which is important as I can be a bit fussy!
Great ambiance, great food and great service. Went in over the weekend with my fiancé for breakfast, was extremely busy, but absolutely loved it. The staff were so accommodating and lovely, especially one of the young boys working upstairs. For how busy it was, they do an amazing job. All thumbs up from me! Definitely will be my new breakfast place :)
Amazing atmosphere, terrific service and staff! GREAT coffee and GREAT food! However, due to their high traffic food can take a while to come out of the kitchen. However, if you aren't in a rush it's no problem as the staff are so friendly and it's easy to while the time away over a fresh allpress brew and good company.
Love this place and always visit for breakfast when in Melbourne. Service is good, food is great and the location is excellent. Visited again this morning and happy to report the high bar has been maintained in my absence.
They get an extra point for the lovely service - all staff were super friendly and attentive, but the food overall was quite mediocre. I had the risotto which wasn't really worth writing home about. My partner had lamb cutlets which were "just okay" and our friend had paella which tasted a bit bland. It's a real shame as I genuinely loved the service.
Love this cosy place!! The food was fantastic, the smashed avocado with zaatar was delicious and the staff here are so hospitable and friendly!
My girlfriends and I were looking for a place to eat along Degraves Street and chose this place as it wasn't busy. We sat outside and was greeted by staff right away. The owner was really friendly and made us feel welcomed. I had the Daniel pizza special (you have to asked them the origin of its name), coffee and OJ. The food will not sweep you off your feet but it was good. Only downfall is not being able to take your leftovers home (had two slices of pizza yet). We might come back in three weeks (inside joke with owner).
Stumbled across this place with a friend and decided to try it out for lunch- wasn't disappointed at all! Even though it was extremely busy, service was prompt and efficient- always a bonus. Food was full of flavour and well-prepared. Love the exotic spanish touches. The paella looked amazing, but ordered the salmon special of the day, which was brilliant too.
I ordered the slow cooked Lamb. Food was amazing! Better than fancier places like Cumulus etc. Staff was very friendly and service was great. One special mention goes to the Chef. I never touch on this in any of my reviews but she was an absolute stunner. My fiance' kept pulling me up for staring. And for the girls dont be discouraged the male staff are just as easy on the eye.
Not A Yuppy But Enjoy Food
+4.5
Awesome atmosphere, great food and service. This is why we love coming to Melbourne... great food and coffee and friendly staff that make you feel like a regular from your very first visit.
Sir And Mlady Dine Out
+4.5
If you've ever seen Diagon Alley from one of the Harry Potter films and wanted the same atmosphere - go here. Lovely bustling place - the scrambled eggs were great
The World Loves Melbourne
+4.5
Lorca is a standout Spanish and Portuguese influenced café in groovy Centre Place surrounded by cafes and more cafes. I’m convinced it’s named after Federico Lorca the Spanish poet, dramatist, and theatre director because his quotes appear on the blackboard. The ambience is excellent here with staff with character, funky music, great open plan café which extends to the lane, and great coffee!
After days of Degraves St breakfasts, it was time to move forward to uncover another laneway. Not many people venture through here, but across Degraves is another laneway of cafes, soup kitchens and sandwiches. After following a lingering smell of coffee, I fell into Lorca. With the thought of indulgence, I opted for the french toast
Consistently good food and service. When we're in Melbourne we always stay in Flinders Lane and always end up at Lorca for breakfast. We've tried other places, but always come back here - the food is just too good and S says the coffee cannot be beat. The service is always really friendly and while it's always packed with people - weekend days and Saturdays (they're not open Sundays, I think) there's always just one last table for two we find.
Love this place!
Great breakfast. Friendly service
Intimate cafe so nice atmosphere.
Good coffee
Amazing French Toast. I always like The French Toast in there! Taste is awesome! Good Staff and Speed is average! I will come again for The French Toast!
Really good service by a lovely euro guy and excellent coffee but my breakfast was only just warm, the toast was made from stale bread and I could taste the vinegar uses for poaching the eggs.
Good service, food and coffee. Great location - love that you can sit up at the bar and look out at the cute, quirky degraves street.
Visiting Sydney. Amazing atmosphere amongst the hustle and bustle of the Melbourne city coffee shops and restaurants - service was impeccable and the food was to die for. We had breakfast and totally impressed. Worth a try!
Super friendly staff, awesome atmosphere, and the food is to die for! When they say big breakfast, they damn we'll mean it. My mum taught me to eat everything on my plate, and I have a big appetite, but the big breakfast put me to shame - I couldn't eat it all!
Yum!. Really lovely food..ordered the poached eggs and salmon on sourdough, very friendly and attentive service and the juices are delicious! was expecting a really small serving of avocado when ordering it as a side but out came a huge half of an avocado so big i couldn't even finish it haha
would definitely recommend
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Our Favourite Lunchspot in Melbourne. Me and my partner come here on a regular basis, because every time we know what to expect and we have enjoyed every visit to Lorca since our first.
On ever occasion and every dish we have had here has been pure and utter pleasure, the dishes are seasoned to perfection and every ingredient used is pleasant on the palate and leaves you wanting more.
Their Paella is a simple and perfect, and we order it every time (along with a special).
The staff are kind and helpful, and I assume the head waiter or manager (young male - italian or spanish) who we see there most times, always makes us feel welcome and helps make the experience even more pleasant.
Lorca is a beautiful little gem in the hustle bustle of a Melbourne alley way and it can feel very much like you are in Europe with the many people walking by.
We will always enjoy coming here every few weeks and trying their latest dishes, always fresh and tasty. Sometimes I wake up feeling like Paella and we rush off the Lorca to satisfy my cravings and to have a really pleasant lunch experience.
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Afternoon tea time or in the case of my friend - time for a Bloody Mary. We came to Eliana Lulu at 2.30pm and it was still busy from the lunch crowd plus being school holidays, quite a few younger people hanging here. They know something others don’t? Yes they do. Central Place has attracted restauranters who know how to differentiate themselves from the other cafes without necessarily poaching business from them.
Today I had a hot chocolate and poppyseed muffin. Served on a warm plate, the also warm muffin was light but with the deliciously crispy top (always reminds me of Elaine in a Seinfeld sketch). We watched Adonis make the bloody mary and he did it with absolute style and finesse.
Cynthia, was our waitress and was on top of everything. From her invitation to a seat, water on the table, helping me choose what sweet treat to order and then a bag to take home the second half of the muffin I couldn’t eat - she was excellent.
The ambience is interesting with the high stools at a bench that open straight out to the street, plus the tables inside that offer a warm feeling during this cold day.
Menu is simple and seasonal but there is something for everyone. The food coming to the tables looked very generous in portion sizes.
Liked the mural on the wall (see my pic) and who doesn’t love a sunburnt orange coffee machine!
Notes: come early for those busy lunch hour periods, in summer this place is very popular, suitable for vegetarians and vegans, restaurant is wheelchair friendly, kid friendly, takeaway available and close to Flinders Street Station.
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