Review Pope Joan - Melbourne

Brilliant Breaky. Lovely breakfast, served by a gorgeous waitress. Great experience. Very nice coffee. Cold day so we sat outside next a heater and had a great experience.

We had a delightful experience at Pope Joan’s yesterday. After unsuccessfully trying to find somewhere to eat in Fed Square, we ended up here and so glad we did. The service was impeccable, the menu had plenty of options - allowing you to spend a little or a lot. We both had the pita with ratatouille & hummus & it was delicious. The ambiance was great- jazzy music played in the background & the place looks good with leather booths, white tablecloths & greenery around. Very relaxing & enjoyable experience.

Yesterday, while having coffee with a colleague, I was a little hungry so I asked if it was possible to get 2 scrambled eggs 'without toast'. No problem they said. Eggs arrived (with toast) and were as expected. I was in a hurry to leave and just paid the bill. $39.74. I didn't have time to argue. They charged $30 for 2 scrambled eggs. On the bill, they called them an omelette. That is ridiculous- even for post pandemic prices at the Paris end of Collins street.

The Melbourne breakfast scene needs more cafes like Pope Joan. It’s increasingly hard to find a good, well cooked breakfast that doesn’t rely on stupid gimmicks or dump a truckload of gratuitous ingredients and flower petals on top to distract from the poorly-executed basics underneath. Thank god this place knows what really matters: Produce, flavour and soldiers to dip into perfectly runny eggs. Pope Joan is a consistently brilliant option for delicious breakfast. The service is warm and the interior feels comfortable. I love the portraits of the ducks!

Perfect service, good coffee and lovely location. Loses points for food unfortunately - the Reuben I ordered was a little bland and chewy.

Went here for a quick bite at lunch, nice venue with old styling. Had the gnocchi, portion of chips and chicken roll, no complaints, everything was cooked to perfection. The food is on the pricey side for a quick lunch but can understand why with the quality of the venue, wait staff and chefs. Plenty of intimate seating inside (some booth style options) and outside.

So good. Great food, didn't take long after ordering to arrive, excellent service and knowledgeable staff.

Had a delicious brekky here, very chic, great coffee. Hidden in the valet parking courtyard of The Sofitel Hotel, indoor & outdoor dining. Open lunch and dinner, not open weekends during the day, so check times.

Pretty common fair for the inner North these days (saw Mif Warhurst, so strengthens this view), the usual hursuit/tattooed staff offering minimalist menues with minimalist hospitality..Was introduced to PJ 12 months ago and had raved about their gnocchi dish since - best ever! Visited yesterday though and the dish is no more sadly, so hard to not be critical when that dish was the epitome of my experience...definitely worth checking out if you're in the area though

Pope Joan was the absolute perfect venue for our Spring wedding ceremony and reception. The courtyard setting is extremely beautiful and has a very relaxed vibe, the food is 100% top shelf and the service is impeccable! All of our guests raved about the food and service! Not to mention that the venue was outstanding value as an all inclusion package. Would recommend without hesitation! Special thanks to Morgan and James!

Amazing, was visiting from Perth and only had one night to take my mum for dinner and chose Pope Joan which was was perfect. Great selection of drinks, beautiful fresh food and awesome deserts. Couldn't recommend more. I used to live in Brunswick and this would have to be the best dinner I've had there. Really cool venue and the staff are super nice creating a great atmosphere.

Pope Joan was an amazing venue for my friends wedding reception. Food was amazing & drinks were cold, refreshing & plentiful. Staff went above & beyond, nothing was too hard. 5 stars. Loved it - highly recommend �

Coffee was amazing. Staff were lovely. But, unfortunately the 1 hr + wait for food was a massive disappointment. For the price, quality & wait for food- there are other places in Brunswick that will too easily compete. Will keep coming for coffee though!

We celebrated a friend's birthday here today. The food was so delicious and the staff were gorgeous and friendly and went out of their way for us. Such a lovely, relaxed atmosphere. Thank you for a great lunch.

Aside from the nice American waitress, this once great place has gone waaaaay downhill. Poached eggs were rocks, and attitude of people behind the coffee machine was rubbish. Also- just split bills. Second also, it's overpriced. Won't be coming back.

Food was good, atmosphere nice and relaxed. Loved sitting outside enjoying good company, food and service.

We're really going to miss you guys! Always a 10 out of 10. Food, coffee and service is exceptional. We've shared a lot of good times with you all. Thank you.

Delicious Pope Haveos!!! The chorizos were out of this world! Great location, friendly staff and delicious coffee, drinks :) (ps, please add choc fish, marshmallows to your hot chockies)

Food was good but a little bit try hard. Cash free restaurant but doesn't split bills! Hardly customer focused

I just love the Ruben sandwich. Better than one I had in New York! And the Bloody Mary is my favourite too. Thanks

Beautiful cafe, great service, great food and coffee. Fabulous experience

Nice food, good coffee, friendly staff, Matt is really interesting with his food choices...like it a lot x

Will come back for:<br/>+ Fried eggs with hummus<br/><br/>Use to go to Pope Joan in Brunswick East way back when ... and loved it! Great to find it in this new location. Food and coffee is great as usual, and prices were surprisingly accessible given the locale. Service took a while though although this was a packed breakfast service. I can see this being my new “go to” cafe whenever I am in this part of town. Happy days.

3.5. Last time when I went to this place and had a decaf mocha, it tasted so good that I went back today to get another one. However, I think it's a hit and miss as today my mocha was a bit too sour with the coffee overpowering the chocolate taste. Unfortunately I don't want to finish it and threw half of it away. I am a bit fussy about the balance of both tastes in my mocha and to make it fair, my review score is a balance of my two experiences of the mocha in separate occasions.

Lovely cafe with undercover courtyard seating.<br/>Service was friendly and professional.<br/>My strong latte had a good strength and texture.<br/>Reuben Sandwich ($19) - a little bit pricey but it's well done. Buttered and toasted on the outside, layers of pastrami and the red sauerkraut has a bit of zing and crunch. At the end, a little bit rich though.

It's a pretty expensive cafe, but given the quality of what they do it's understandable. Their chicken roll is as good as it gets. Anywhere. Service is nice & efficient. Would definitely return.

I was so sad when Pope Joan decided to shut shop a few years ago! Their Brunswick cafe had been one of my favourites. Then a few months ago, I heard they had reopened in the CBD and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner! In the perfect location at Collins Place. <br/>Went for dinner tonight with a girlfriend, and we had the best time! Relaxed but cozy atmosphere, food was delicious and very reasonably priced’ perfect spot for mid week dinner or a romantic first date! Make sure you ask for the booths and please order the chicken schnitzel and chocolate and vanilla ice bomb!

We went to Pope Joan for their truffle dinner.<br/>$55 for a snack, pasta and truffle truffle. It comprised a small round cauliflower croquette, a serve of fettuccine with shaved truffle and a chocolate. While it tasted ok it was way overpriced. The croquettes were available individually for $8, which meant we paid $47 for a small dish of pasta and a small chocolate. You could pay an additional $15 for more pasta, which we did, so we paid $62 for an average (normal) plate of pasta with some shaved truffle and a small chocolate. I completely appreciate that truffle is expensive but there wasn’t that much to warrant $60 odd dollars.<br/>It was also, unbeknownst to us, communal tables. Would have been nice to know this in advance.<br/>Service was excellent. Lovely staff. Music was out of control loud, but hey, I understand that I’m getting old now I’m in my 40s :-)<br/>

Yum, yum, yum! Tasty, creative, nutritious food at reasonable prices. Good service, nice ambiance. Book before you go! Today we both had the special - a generous mushroom pastie, with golden, flaky pastry and a delicious radicchio and warm potato salad. Very satisfying on a winters day! Looking forward to my next visit.

Service 5/5. They hit the top score here for lovely warm attentive staff. <br/><br/>Sat outside with the doggo who loved the fake grass so no cold paws! Braziers kept us warm as well. I loved the set out right outside the front entrance of the Sofitel. <br/><br/>I couldn’t really make my mind up food wise. Just kept to sparkling water but chose the salad mixed plate which I wasn’t quite sure about but it was very good and partner had the gnocchi which I wish I’d ordered as it’s nutty warmth was more what I was feeling like. My salads were warm except the cos lettuce with white anchovy but on a cold night I think from a winter warmer POV I should have chosen something else. No complaints at all. <br/><br/>The apple crumble with vanilla bean custard was lovely. Max loved it too! A beautiful place with great food and staff. A winner.

3.5 star ⭐️ <br/><br/><br/>3.5 stars ⭐️ Ever since Pope Joan has closed down in Brunswick I often lament that I have never tried them. So when they put a signage up near Sofitel I had to knock on their door and asked “ Is this THE pope Joan?!” Turns out it was!<br/><br/>Took my girlfriend to lunch there the other day and we had a whipped cheese w kohlrabi and a mixed platter of salad. <br/><br/>I was a bit unsure about the whipped cheese dish. It had a weird taste to it which I wasn’t sure whether it’s the parsley oil with the dehydrated parsley on top, or whether there was something else which tasted a bit licorice / cuminey which I wasn’t a big fan of.<br/><br/>The mixed salad was fabulous. We had a miso pumpkin w seaweed (note to self replicate that!), a cauliflower salad, a modern take to Caesar which is one large cos leaf w one fish sitting on a bed of creamed egg. Everything tasted nice but not sure whether it’s worth $24 for this.<br/><br/>Maybe it’s the location, maybe it’s the name, maybe it’s both but I just found the price is a bit steep for the portion you got, but the quality is fantastic.<br/><br/>

I’ve been coming back to this place for few times now. Great food, coffee, service and cocktails or any drinks after work. Great place to have a bite on Monday night before going to a movie at Kino. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, please get the brownie :) Super delicious

Tucked away down the Sofitel driveway is this cute little eatery. It looks super casual out the front but it’s quite a step up in decor upon walking inside. Came in just on noon and watched as the Collins St corporates piled in. Tables are close together. Service is bright & bubbly. Reuben was huge & coffee was great.

Pope Joan takes up residence next to the Sofitel, it's a remarkable space with prime seating outside on the artificial grass. Inside is classical and dimly lit (where we sat).<br/><br/>The coffee is good. My latte was very creamy and velvety.<br/><br/>For food I get a bowl of their mussels in a thick tomatoey sauce. The mussels were cleaned properly so no issues licking the sauce off them, they were also plump and not withered. Additionally there were some chips with aioli. I soaked the chips in the sauce but really, I wish there was a side of bread to assist.<br/><br/>Pope Joan is not a typical cafe and ideally you'd want to spare some time to nibble on small dishes before you move onto the main dishes. The food is slightly pricier than your average haunt but the locality and quality of the food was top notch.

Service was polite and efficient and the menu is unique. I ordered the cos salad which came with deviled egg and anchovy. Despite being such a simple dish it was actually packed with so much flavour. I really enjoyed it for a light lunch. My friend ordered the Cuban sandwich and was also very impressed.

Lovely 'courtyard' area in the Sofitel driveway. Good poached eggs on toast and I loved the herbed salt. Not a fan of the thick cut bacon though and I was surprised that they didn't mention it on the menu since it is quite unusual. Found the cooking to be quite inconsistent. E.g. one piece of bacon/toast was crispy, one was not.<br/>Coffee could've been stronger and their own brewed chai was weak, like drinking hot milk.

Not impressed. I ordered a club sandwich and chips. The sandwich was all bread roll and not so fresh and a little salad. It was so dry I had trouble while eating and afterwards. Chips were ordinary and not hot.

Today we decided to escape for a long lunch to celebrate a friends 40th Birthday. This wonderful venue was the perfect choice, we snacked on salt and four pillars gin vinegar chips when she dropped the news she is newly engaged. To celebrate we ordered the Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut champagne and perused the menu.<br/><br/>We opted for sharing all dishes for our lunch and ordered:<br/><br/>The Fried burrata, which was so pretty, with a blood plumb and green tomato salsa, it looked like a very white pana cota.<br/><br/>The potato and rosemary bread was just scrumptious, it was thickly sliced and wonderful to dip into the delicious house made earthy humus. <br/><br/>The cucumber, dill & taramasalata bites where very small, but incredibly tasty, i loved the combination of textures and I think I could have eaten 100 of these. <br/><br/>We also chose the mixed plate of all four salads, so we didn’t have to decide on one! I love salads that are so tasty they are a satisfying meal on their own. The combination of all the different flavours are on point, I think the miso pumpkin was my favourite, with a nice level of heat. A real clever presentation of the pumpkin, ie a large wedge and not tiny pieces that I find often get lost in a pumpkin salad, the pumpkin is made to be the hero of this dish and it shines. <br/><br/>Equally delicious is the fig salad with radicchio and house cheese; the Burnt cabbage with a Japanese inspired dressing and the 70s Style Baby cos with the deliciously devilled egg dressing. <br/><br/>Unfortunately we didn’t have room for any dessert but we did sneak in a four pillars gin and tonic which was insanely devilish for a lunch time, but oh so good.<br/><br/>Who would have thought that the lunch could be sooooo tasty, so relaxed and all within an hour and half. I didn’t feel like I was in the city it all. <br/><br/>Im really excited to see this restaurant Pop up in the city and I really I hope it stays for the long term. <br/>KD

Had a real tasty Lunch at the Pope! Food was scrumptious all round. The service was friendly and informative, and the layout of the place was also quite nice!! Will be back for sure

Often drove past the cafe on the busy Nicholson St and decided to stop by. Enjoyed our meal in the cosy relaxing cafe served by friendly staff.

A good brunch place with friendly staff, great coffee and delicious sandwiches. Plenty of seating indoors and outside in the courtyard. However, the toilets are out the back through the courtyard so I find that it can be a bit unpleasant to head out to the bathroom in rainy or windy weather - not an issue on sunny days though!

Went for breakfast, really tasty honest food with friendly staff. Awesome kitchen garden, great coffee, ticks all the boxes!<br/>Can’t wait to go back.

Dropped in for a quick bite to eat after a hard days work.<br/>No parking had to park on Glen Lyon Rd<br/><br/>Checked the menu pretty basic,at 3 in the afternoon would have liked a salad,nothing on offer.<br/><br/>Staff were friendly, so had had a quick coffee .<br/>What really irked me is that they do not accept cash so I had to<br/>Pay by card.<br/>Thought that was pretentious.<br/>Will not be back not worth it!!!!

Love it. Relaxed atmosphere, good quality food and drink, and gorgeous backyard. Perfect for a relaxed lunch, especially on a nice sunny day.

Good service, nice food (a bit overpriced for what you get). <br/>Most disappointing that seeing as they do not take cash that they do not allow split bills on credit card (even for two people!), especially when technology makes it very easy - not customer focused.

Being touted as Saint Ali of the North leads to some pretty high expectations. But they were met very well! The interior is gorgeous; with a lovely blend of timbers and plants/flowers. The little courtyard between the two buildings is also a great use of the space. The coffee was amazing and food super tasty, while the staff were prompt and efficient. The only downside was that it was pretty windy on the day we went to be sitting in the courtyard.

Having lived in the other " inner north " for a number of years there was always talk of this place, how I needed to check it out. Never did visit until recently for a breakfast on the run .after a boozy night .Ordering the full English Breakfast I'd imagined a hearty & tasty serving , instead , on a large plate sat a lonely salty sausage accompanied with a snall strip of bacon , poached eggs and baked beans in a sardine tin #yawn ! Focus on delivering " Full " and not a measly overpriced breakfast with a gimmick on the side. Oh & they tried to upsell a black pudding for another $5.50 ! Yeah I want to pay almost $30 for a mediocre breakfast McPopes ! Pro's _ good coffee

Overpriced, noisy, slow service. Had the Eggs Florentine and it was very ordinary. Muffin was very soggy- not sure if it had even been toasted.

After living across the road and getting my take away coffee from here for a year I finally had Breakfast. It is towards the pricey end but the quality of the produce is what this place is about so I was happy to pay it. The food was delicious without being amazing. The ham added to my eggs florentine was a little to cold, straight out of the fridge cold and I would of preferred it room temp but that would be my only gripe. Will be back for more.

Had a great experience! Food was pricey but good, i am happy to pay a bit more if the quality is great and this was the case. Great vibe, stuff was smiling and took really good care of our table, frendly but not over friendly, very professional. It was busy but we got our food on the table in 10 minutes. The garden at the back is cool and the veggie patch is cute too. Menu looks awesome I'll definitely go back to check the rest out. Very happy customer :) keep up the great work guys!

The coffee here is excellent. The food is definitely worth trying even though it's pricey. The specials are always changing and I've never had a bad experience with them yet. The service here is good, but it fluctuates, which is disappointing with an establishment of this calibre. On the whole though, I don't think you can go wrong here. Definitely a boon for Brunswick

Good menu, great coffee, nice atmosphere but there is always a surcharge when paying by card. Its definitely not cheap enough to warrant the surcharge and won't be returning on principle.

Can't fault the coffee, it was spot on 👌. I was a takeaway, but the place was rammed with a great vibe, so I'll be back to eat the food soon....all the food judging by the plates whizzing past me!

Amazing food. Local, fresh, seasonal. Excellent wines. Convivial and relaxed atmosphere. <br/>

Nice little coffee shop. Busy and yet serving you good coffee with a smile. Friendly and welcoming atmosphere all around. Service is fast and the laying happen right in the open for everyone to see, nice!

Over priced & over rated!! Only good thing about this place is the coffee. Staff were more interested in conversing with each other then attending to customers.....is it called the HOSPITALITY industry for a reason???

Had lunch here with friends. My cuban sandwich was served in a burger bun, which was fine but unremarkable. I felt that everything we ordered was a little more expensive than 'Melbourne usual'. I have to mention THE CHORIZO though... it was by far the best fresh chorizo I have had in Melbourne. I don't know if they make their own but they are on to something good there if they do, because it is better than the chorizo I have had at latin or Spanish restaurants around town.

Coffee was great, Staff were friendly. Menu is very overpriced.. I had the bacon & egg roll & was expecting great things - was very average.

I have waited years to visit here and I now ask myself WHY, why did it take so long to visit? The staff are great, the food was even better. I had the jerk chicken (yummy) and my wife had a pumpkin tart which she enjoyed.<br/><br/>It won't be years before we return.

Have been meaning to visit dear Pope Joan (I was raised a Catholic) since moving to Brunswick and did so on Sunday. As expected, really good food, great service, Brunswick-style setting. The menu is compact and interesting without being challenging. <br/>We were very impressed with the service. And I quickly realised this is would explain the prices being at the high end. Plus 10% on a Sunday (and public holidays). We decided to share, as cafe-style meals are often hearty and really, we don't need the calories. Our wait person agreed this was a good plan and provided plates and cutlery with no fuss. We asked for a slice of gluten-free toast and butter. Very good g-f bread but $5 a slice was a surprise. The sardines on toast was gorgeous and just adequate as a shared plate. Coffee was great. <br/>I think it's is pricey and I really don't like surcharges on my day off. Why not spread the costs across the year?

Our visit here was completely and utterly underwhelming. Ordered the big breakfast and the pumpkin tart. Not only was it completely overpriced, both dishes were bland and quite frankly disappointing. For $22 I expect 2 slices of toast on my big breakfast. Pumpkin tart was average - no flavour, but textures were nice. Coffee was very average. Breakfast menu needs revitalising...nothing jumped out and it was quite frustrating to choose something. <br/><br/>On the plus side, decor is nice and staff were lovely. Wouldn't recommend for breakfast. Perhaps lunch is better...

Booking functions are hard but Morgan made it a breeze. Sadly the actual event left me disillusioned at best. Having been a long held customer of the venue I was confident it would be a success. It was not. Service severely lacked and essentially ignored in a room with no music till everyone arrived. Food was good but had better during standard service. My friends bought in a cake and were quoted one price but charged substantially more. I feel it's fair to note the kitchen ended up kepping half of it. I was overcharged by $66 but only asked for a $54 refund. When I raised the issue in a very polite manner I was only offered a $30 refund and an apology by a 3rd person I had never met. Service? it was always so good, what happened? It is sad to realise money-such a small percentage of such a large spend- is more important than reputation or the return patronage of 18 guests.

Pope Joan is probably one of the best brunch places in Melbourne, not to mention the lovely staff members and good coffee. They really have interesting food choices and I'd like to recommend their Omelette with smoked salmon, miso dressing and shaved bonito, topped with coriander leaves. It was...

It was a cold & sunny Melbourne morning that brought me to this hipster haven for brekky. It was everything a hipster haven should be: handlebar moustaches, rolled up jeans, tatts & beards. <br/><br/>There were plenty of tables at 9 in the morning. The coffee hit the spot - huevos and chorizo was a great mix of tastes, textures and spices. The English breakfast plate was good. Fantastic sausage work by these inner urban uber foodies. Compared to other places I don't think it's too pricey, and it's worth it for the quality.

A tad pricey for the main dishes but still lovely! Paris, our waitress was amazingly kind, interpersonal and relatable. She attend every question we had with no fuss and was great to chat with. The hot chocolate was rich and moreish, coffee like most other places and tbh the chai latte was a little weak. <br/><br/>The chocolate brownie was scrumptious and the big breaky was a standard, a small serve for the price, yummy treat.<br/><br/>The salmon croquettes were lovely themselves and the greens on the dish cut through well. The cauliflower sauce they sat on was creamy, smooth and balanced the oiliness of the croquettes. We did however find that the large pieces of almonds didn't add to the dish as it made the dish denser than needed. If there was a lemon dressing or smaller lemon toasted pumpkin seeds, it would have been lighter to balanced the heaviness of the dish.

Good coffee. Rubbish bacon and egg roll though! Flaccid and undercooked bacon, undercooked egg, hardly any sauce - surprising they could go so wrong on such a simple meal. My friend had the granola which tasted quite nice, at least. Service is ok, can be hard to get a hold of someone when it's busy

Expecting big things based on the reviews. Couldn't find anything on the menu that 'jumped out'. Went with the English Breakfast which could have been better for $22. I did like how the beans were served in a can.

A lovely cosy cafe on a wintry Melbourne day! Unfortunately I missed Pope Joan's famous breakfast and instead had a coffee and a Cornish sandwich - a very warming combination still, but perhaps a little pricy compared with its breakfast options. Either way, it calls for a return visit.

One of my favourite cafes in Melbourne. I love that you can get two items for breakfast for $20 - I always get the boiled eggs and soldiers w bacon and a rhubarb rice pudding ❤️ the service is fantastic. Sandwiches are great too! Just wish I hadn't moved to the other side of town now!

Awesome place! Had the big breakfast today and a few coffees, great combination of delicious meats and some of the most perfect scrambled eggs I have ever eaten! Highly recommend! And awesome service too!

Popped into this amazing cafe on a cold Friday afternoon with my sister and was beyond impressed. Pope Joan does not look like much from the outside but upon entering I was blown away by the modern interior, humble staff and unique atmosphere this cafe offers. We sat out the back in the large courtyard that encompassed a contemporary setting perfect for a cheeky beverage or two. We where attended to promptly as the lovely waitress brought out the special's board and menu's displaying a diverse array of dishes destine to satisfy ones palate. Ordered my usual long soy mac that was well brewed but could have been slightly stronger. After much analysis of their fabulous menu with recommendations from the more than helpful waitress we settled and ordered the Pumpkin & haloumi tart with fried egg, grain salad and cripsy onion as well as the Porridge with stewed prunes, mandarin and rhubarb with an anzac crumb. The tart was more of a pie consistently with thick pastry that once cut oozed with creamy Moroccon flavours in a pumpkin soup like mixture. It was stacked upon a generous serving of mixed grains and chickpeas, topped with a perfectly fried egg, lashed is crispy onions adding crunch. The porridge exceeded expectations delivering a humble pot of creamy thick luscious oats, sweetened with poached prunes with subtle spiced aromas present from the clusters of Anzac crumble. The tender stewed mandarins and rhubarb added acidity, and the combination of the Anzac crumble made the dish not too sweet rounding of a perfect bowl of old-fashioned porridge with modernistic flavours. Pope Joan is a masterpiece of cafe offering filling diverse dishes delivered by professional kind hearted staff. The overall vibe and and mystery hidden behind Pope Joan’s door will draw you back for numerous visits.

I had my 21st function in Pope Joan's garden room and my family and I were beyond impressed. The food was absolutely superb, I couldn't have complimented the chefs enough on their amazing efforts. The vegan options were enjoyed by absolutely everyone (even my very narrow minded father haha!) The staff also were absolute superstars - the kids loved them. I'd like to thank those staff for being so patient and understanding as we had some family fail to show up without notice. Also a special thank you to Morgan who was an absolute gun with helping me put my special evening together. <br/>Loved the venue, the food, the drinks and the excellent service. Would definitely recommend Pope Joan for events and functions! <br/>

After watching the movie, Chef, starring Jon Favreau, Scarlett Johansson and Sofia Vergara, Which follows the adventures of an out of work chef and his son, opening a Cuban sandwich truck, I was very tempted to try a Cuban sandwich.<br/>They looked amazing! Crispy golden bread filled with meats such as pork, ham, cheese and pickles. I had to have one!<br/>I then searched places that have these Cubanos, in Melbourne. I found Pope Joan’s cafe. Owned by chef Matt Wilkinson, Pope Joan’s is a cafe by day, restaurant by night and also a bar. Also next door, there is Hams and Bacon, where you can find the produce used by the chefs at Pope Joan’s. The menu at Pope Joan’s has a great variety of breakfast, lunch dinner, desserts and bar snacks. But mum and I were there for the Cuban sandwich. Served on a bread roll with shredded pork, pickles and cheese. It was so yum! A bit spicy as the pork was cooked with chilli, but still very enjoyable, packed full of flavour! A great first Cuban sandwich experience. We also had crispy crinkle cut fries on the side and a ricotta, zucchini and squash salad, very lovely.<br/>I then finished off with their special hazelnut and chocolate cake, the perfect ending to a lovely meal.<br/>I will definently be back to Pope Joan’s, maybe to try out the dinner menu, or even another Cuban sandwich!<br/>Really recommend Pope Joans

Amazing, was visiting from Perth and only had one night to take my mum for dinner and chose Pope Joan which was was perfect. Great selection of drinks, beautiful fresh food and awesome deserts. Couldn't recommend more. I used to live in Brunswick and this would have to be the best dinner I've had there. Really cool venue and the staff are super nice creating a great atmosphere.

Found this place to enjoy brunch, the interior decor is antique and unique. I ordered a juice with my smashed avocado with feta. The juice took about 5-10 minutes then the wait for our food took nearly half an hour which was the downside .<br/>We did enjoy our food a lot. Flavours was nice, appearance and quality were al amazing!

Went here for brunch with my partner, first impression was nice shop fit out and cool staff. We order the banana bread, falafels and dish of the day which was a salad. The Banana bread was average but not worth the money, the falafels were great and the salad was explained to us as "a fig salad with some greens and stuff" to our surprise it came out with a big peice of pork in the centre (us being vegetarians) we could not eat it and had to get a vegetarian one made. The salad tasted great but with all the dishes, the portion size for price was ridiculous we also got desert and hot chocolates and still left a little hungry. We ordered OJ with our food that still hadn't come half way through our meal which had to then cancel but I think we still paid as our bill came to $78. Totally overpriced for the portion size, good tasting food but probably wouldn't return. Also, the staff was a little slow.

The service and coffee were excellent but the food was pretty disappointing. We struggled to find something appealing on the brekky menu, but I ended up ordering the guac/ corn/ piquillo salsa with a side of bacon and my partner the sardines. I would have thought there would be fresh avo/ guac for a $20 brekky but it was a dip guac. We also had to move seats at one stage because the music was very loud. We also weren't provided with water until we asked for it mid way through our meals. That said, the staff were all very lovely and friendly, and there were quite a few nice seating options.

Only ever had a coffee here and they do a good one so that's why I always return but I have to come back and eat, I've heard it's a cracker for brunch but pretty special for dinner too. New menu is out so may have to make that visit sooner rather than later, I take too long to do these things sometime.<br/><br/>4.5 for good coffee, service and a very pleasant environment, I liked...<br/><br/>23/9/2016<br/>Today I went back, for a coffee, although I thought it was closer to where i was so by the time I eventually found it again I was really in need of the coffee. And it didn't disappoint. New St. Ali orthodox roast they have is a cracker, was a great surprise. <br/><br/>Still haven't eaten here, need to sort that out!

When you think of Brunswick and Brunswick East often Sydney Road and Lygon Street are the first dining areas that come to mind. Nicholson Road may be quieter and more residential but it still has some great spots for brunch, like our new favourite Pope Joan.   Pope Joan has a really lovely feel about it. It’s light and airy with beautiful decor that really welcomes you and draws you inside. There’s a feeling of space, a great use of texture and natural tones throughout.   We started our meal with coffees. The first, creamy, rich and delicious with a good consistency and mouthfeel. We promptly ordered a second, equally delicious brew. The constant stream of people ducking in and out for takeaway demonstrating that we were not the only ones who enjoyed their coffee.Our first choice from the menu was a Green Omelette, served with chilli salt and a slice of toast. It was absolutely loaded with broccoli and veggies, a huge serving with creamy eggs. The baked ricotta inside was a delightful surprise, added to the creaminess of the dish. The chilli salt gave it a bit of zing, the ability to serve it yourself meant it was always to taste. This a wonderfully filling but also healthy way to start the day!  Finally, we also order the Full Breakfast, a hearty serving of beans, sausage, bacon and scrambled eggs. The beans were the standout, served in a sardine tin with a punchy flavour and a firm but light texture. The bacon was a classic short cut, smokey, meaty and well cooked. The scrambled eggs were creamy and the sausages were, herbed and juicy. We would have liked a sharper knife with our meal, as well as just a bit of greenery on the plate.

Came here with a couple of friends and their little boy. The restaurant is spacious with a few different dining sections. The outside seating area was nice and relaxing, perfect for a sunny afternoon. Had high expectations of the menu but nothing appealed to us at all. We actually all struggled to choose a dish each. I ordered the fish pie - it was tiny for $22 and was just a bit of salmon mash inside a sweet pastry shell. My partner ordered the salmon omelette - it was very bland. My friend ordered the jerk chicken. It was ok, but nothing special. Overall great atmosphere but disappointing food.

The menu is small but what they offer they quite well. Didn't really expect to find this place where it was but quite glad I went. The mood and fittings are modern and quite relaxing to be amongst. The service is fast and quite good, so if you're thirsty or hungry you won't be disappointed!

Very popular cafe and the setup is pretty cool. The breakfast didn't live up to the hype. Small servings and nothing very special about the experience. Beans served in a can are a novelty but soaked in sauce. The end result was I felt ripped off and still hungry. I must admit though the coffee is done right.

Was really excited to try this restaurant, and I would have given a much higher rating, except the experience was tainted by one waiter and his attitude. We ordered a rocket and fig salad... When the salad arrived, there was quite literally 4 twigs of rocket on there. We requested more rocket and were told by the waiter with a serious attitude problem we would be charged extra. Ridiculous! Such a shame, because the rest of the food was great and the other waiter was fantastic.

Typically Brunswick and full of people too cool for school. Food is tasty without being anything too over the top. Great price and good coffee.

Excellent food & coffee. Upper end of the price range but it's local produce & free range. Service was excellent, ambiance added to the theatre of eating there. Ate inside and then had coffee in the rear garden. Highly recommend a visit. So much to like about Pope Joan.

Very tasty food which is pricey, however the difference is the quality and of course the chef who has created the menu. You are paying for free range and direct from farm produce. They are supporting the farmers and locally produced products.<br/><br/>Good Coffee, seasonal menu - black pudding is always great, I love the Phillippa's corn bread that they use. <br/><br/>Good staff - can be pushy with 'up selling'.  My only gripe is paying $6 for side of bacon and getting two tiny pieces... <br/><br/>It's better on weekdays as the weekends are crazy!

A north-of-the-river institution, and easy contender for "Melbourne's best breakfast". Snazzy service, friendly feel, interesting brekky options and wonderful coffee

A consistent performer as far as coffee and food is concerned, Pope Joan is named after the legendary female pope who was found out after giving birth during a papal precession. I don't think the team have anything to hide here other than creative food presentation (food cans), a good ambiance and friendly staff.

Visited Pope Joan with a large group and service was quite good. Coffee is ok... I was expecting a little more from the 'kinda' full English breakfast. The menu said exactly what it was, but for some reason seeing eggs, bacon, one sausage and a small tin of beans on a plate was quite underwhelming... Eggs were cooked well though, and sausage was nice. <br/><br/>This is a little bit hipster, so if you're into that, you'll love it.

Our adoration of Pope Joan over the years could be turned into a novel of epic proportions. Of course, like many great stories, it is easy for our trusted friends to brush off the importance of each visit, or the level of dedication to our work. Pope Joan omelette. There is dedication and then there is obsession. While the obsession to see what is going down at Pope Joan on a fortnightly basis has dulled, the dedication to visit at least once a season is still burning bright. Matt Wilkinson’s breakfast creations were the first that stunned me, and ever since I have seen some of them matched, but not bettered.

Went here for breakfast today. Great coffee and friendly attentive staff. The breakfast menu was a bit underwhelming but managed to find something tasty and well executed although portions quite small and expensive. There are better places around....

Not sure what they hype about this place is. Crazy busy and the food left me feeling sick and ripped off. Coffee was mediocre at its best. If staff can't keep up with how busy it is then don't open! Not going back.

Swung past this place for a late breakie on Sunday, we knew it would be busy so we'l called up before hand and booked a table for 7 they assured us was available. Rocked up with the gang and there was no table. They told us to head down to their sister shop and grab a coffee and the wait shouldn't be too long. The wait was long. About half an hour. <br/>The menu was to be expected; wanky.<br/>I decided to hit up the sandwich board, please don't order the 'Ruben' if you go, it isn't really a Ruben and it's one slice of corned beef on deep fried bread. Also don't order the crinkle cut chips, they're from a bag and blerg at best. I paid like $20 for a toasted sandwich and chips. <br/>I give the place two blergs down. Coffe from. Down the street was nice though. Plus I got to laugh really hard at the 'activated' almonds they were selling for an arm and a leg. Hilarious joke you silly buggers 'activated' almonds.

Very good experience! The layout of the premises is fantastic!! It is a massive cafe with multiple seating rooms, inside and out. It still manages to get busy on weekend brunches but given that the staff know how to deal with all the hustle and bustle the queue moves relatively fast. <br/><br/>The coffee was quite nice; bit sloppy on coffee art, but that only matters for photography. Otherwise, my flat white went down smooth with a strong coffee flavour. My smashed avocado with goats feta was absolutely delicious!! From the charred Cornbread to the creaminess of the feta (and avocado) and to the perfection of the poached egg (runny yolk, but firm white) I was pleasantly happy with my choice! <br/><br/>Service was very friendly and relatively quick - highly recommended!!

Went back the second time after a friend arranged brunch at Pope Joan. Going back the second time solidified my opinion i.e. Nice enough place and fabulous on a summers day for drinks. However food left me feeling very underwhelmed and feeling ripped off. <br/><br/>Ordered the fish fingers and honestly the woolies brand fish fingers taste better. Only saving grace was the chocolate brownie for dessert. <br/><br/>Although the staff were very courteous, service was extremely slow. I am not sure what the fuss is about... i will not be going back.

Not sure why a lot of people rave on about this place but I was a bit underwhelmed. I guess they have seasonal menus so the one you see on here is outdated. Quite overpriced for the portions you receive. Two fish fingers with chips and salad is $22. The bubbles & squeak dish (third picture) was okay but a bit bland and they could've included a bit more veg on the side instead of just one spoonful of kimchi. The back garden is pretty nice to sit in on a nice spring afternoon like this. I guess I expected a bit more from all the reviews and recommendations on this place but the food was just standard with nothing exciting to write home about.

Rude and pretentious staff, a menu with barely any options and hardly anything for those with dietary requirements, and expensive dishes that I was glad to have the macrobiotic organic unrefined locally sourced Sea Salt clusters within reach.

Have been hearing about this place for years and finally made my way there today. Had the potato, salmon hash and it was beautiful and the coffees were A++

Overpriced and poor service. <br/>We came to get lunch, however when we approached a staff member to ask them to wipe of the filthy table, he made a dramatic eye roll with a theatrical sigh. The place was pretty empty so it was hardly an unfair request. We ended up not ordering food based on both the service an the discovery that the prices were way above other local places. Not worth the time

This place is such a delight. We are not from this part of town but have gone back three times and had breakfast, lunch and dinner on those occasions. The menu is ever changing as they like to use in season ingredients. Food is super tasty and quirky.

Great "kinda" big breakfast good service great ingredients - will be back for the sandwiches which look fantastic- greasy juices are also very good

Love this place. The Cuban is to die 4. Always one of my hubby angry i fav Sunday morn breakfast and coffee places. It six when it's too busy though.

Cute little place, great decor, gets very crowded but has a good vibe. Given the options in the area, the food is not amazing in my opinion, (though I think I'd be pretty happy with it if we weren't so spoilt for choice.) The coffee is consistently good.

Snuck in to the sister cafe Hams and Bacon. By far the best long macchiato I have had in yonks. The staff were very cool and friendly as I waited for my table<br/><br/>Matt - www.breadwinethou.com

Lovely coffee and good customer service. Ordered the Cuban sandwich, the filling was absolutely delicious; however, came on a roll, not sandwich. Queried this and I was told I had to ask for the sandwich to come in bread. Ahhhh, say what?

Great food , friendly staff, coffee is awesome and other hot beverages are nice also. Is it hipster, yes, does that matter no. I don't mind if the baristas have beards and funky glasses as long as they make good coffee and the brunch options are great and they're friendly, makes you want to go back again.

Cute little cafe. Has 2 sides to it, side on the left as you walk in looks more homely with the wall mounted gas heaters and dark timber floors. <br/>We ordered strong soy lattes - really good - and poached eggs with sides; eggs were great. **Cafe does not have egg options on the menu** you have to ask for them. The toast came cut in triangles and stacked (minus .25 of a point for that), bacon and sausage were really good. <br/>Cafe also has a little window of macaroons, brownies and other yummy looking biscuits. Staff are friendly and accommodated our off-the-menu order.

Stopped by here for a quick lunch and coffee with a friend of mine earlier today. Had the Cubano sandwich, which gave a great flavour in the pork whilst retaining its simplicity in the serving. Coffee was pretty good and the service added a casual and friendly vibe to the enjoyable experience.

Lovely and charming brunch place. We love the ambiance, the food and of course coffee! We haven't seen soldiers in brunch menu for a while and Pope Joan has done it right! It was so cute and delicious.

Pretentious overtly expensive for what looks and tastes like what a preschooler would do to a hipster pantry. Cruelly, a 4 year old might do even better and only change you pocket money at the least.<br/>This place is a perfect example of what a 'Brunswick breakfast' has become, and nothing of what Brunswick breakfasts became famous for. I love my hipsters, but I hate being taken for a ride. <br/>What happened to good simple natural food that tastes good for a price of what it is worth? Definitely skipped this place, that's for sure.

Nice design but the food was over priced and far too rich in the worst way. I tried the risotto and the baked fish, both of which were too rich and lacklustre for the price

We use to love this place but unfortunately the service we experienced was below average and the food & coffee was average.

Amen! Get thee to Pope Joan for great food and ambiance. While I may have skipped most of my religious education classes at school, I do support women rising through the ranks in organised religions and, with that, I whole-heartedly support Pope Joan. A glorious Saturday morning found us at Pope Joan for brunch.  We got iced coffees to kick things off. The Lawyer and I shared a serve of Pope Joan's "kinda" full English breakfast.  I loved the creamy curds of the scrambled eggs, while the Lawyer loved Joan's baked beans.  Delicious, too, were the proper bacon and Cumberland sausage. And because I couldn't resist, we got a side of herbed crinkle cut chips with the thick, deeply tomatoe-y Mr Wilkinson's red sauce. Verdict: we loved it

No imagination, overpriced, V plain breakfast<br/>Thin stingy bread serving, undercooked bacon, on the English breakfast. V poor, no style, imagination, for $20!

Pound for pound, this is the most hipster place on Earth. Putting aside the almost comical 'Portlandia' vibe - I'm sure these folks are genuine in their delusion - it's an "okay" place to eat.<br/><br/>Coffee is decent, not great. The food was all "nice" enough. The menu was unnecessarily messed around with, but hey - they've fully committed to the beards, wooden frames and quirky bric-a-brac.<br/><br/>Go if you are in the area, but it's not really worth a trip.

I'm a first timer at the Pope & as soon as I get here, the staff are very friendly and advised me what's what. Brunch was tops. Will definetly some back in the near future

Good food & drink. Nice Place.. I really dig the atmosphere. It's homey, with cool staff and an interesting range of drinks. Food is solid: I stick to the simple stuff (eggs with toast, or a sandwich) and it's always decent. The sauce in the Cuban is particularly stellar. Good coffee too.

We decided to go back to Pope Joan as it had been quite a while. Always remembered it as quite a nice place for brekkie or lunch. Easy enough to find a park and it was busy inside. Sadly, this time around we found the food a bit average. We had: Crumpet, pumpkin, figs, whey caramel (AU$7) - Texture was more bread than crumpet. Tasted a little weird; was it supposed to be savoury or sweet? Black pudding, chestnut polenta, fried egg, fig anchoiade (AU$19) - Black pudding was dry and quite bland. Not the best quality we have had. A sweet fruity element would have gone better with it. The polenta needed more seasoning. All in all, a bit of a let down. Service: :star :star :star :star :star Quality of food: :star :star :star Value for money: :star :star :star Type of venue: Breakfast Worth a return visit? No. Address: 77-79 Nicholson St, Brunswick East VIC 3057

My coffee came fast with an oh so pretty Rosetta on top.

Nope Joan. Time and time again I try to like this place. It feels a bit grotty as soon as I walk in and am not greeted. And the coffee is foul, it took me a little over an hour to get the taste out of my mouth. People, you are spoilt for choice in the area, move over to Wide Open Road on Barkly St at least!

It's easy to see why the Pope has such a great reputation. Quick, attentive, friendly service. Delicious food - I had the heirloom tomato and Welsh rarebit and it was beautifully presented, flavoursome, with the perfect portion size for brunch. There are lots of options from cheap and light up to $20 for the hungry hungover brunchers. Coffee (Allpress) is excellent, tea is looseleaf and there is always water for the dog! Highly recommend.