A nice little French inspired cafe in Balwyn that attracted our attention whilst looking for a coffee in the area. Simply wanting a coffee, we were drawn in by the display of home made sweet treats, so were happy to grab a table here.
The cafe is a cosy space, decked out with lots of French memorabilia, and the staff made us feel instantly welcome. This is a lovely, comfortable venue.
We picked a decadent lemon meringue tart, and it was just sublime. A really tangy lemon curd, perfect short pastry and a huge cloud of fluffy meringue. The tart was perfectly balanced, and is one of the best lemon meringue tarts I've had.
It was a pleasant surprise to find this little cafe, and with it's fantastic coffee and amazing pastries, this definitely won't be our last time at Republic of Letters.
All the warmth of the French countryside in suburban Balwyn. The bistro style and attentive friendly service complement the wonderful variety of classic French flavors from a kitchen and chef that is in full view of diners. A delicious and entertaining experience.
The food is good, the service is excellent. Republic of Letters is a french-style cafe in Balwyn with a real French chef! We enjoyed the Vegetable Fritters and Croque Madame. The scrambled eggs were just ok for us. The staff are genuinely friendly and helpful making for a great experience.
Definitely a 5/5 for me . Good quality of tea leaf are used , coffee was great too . We came here today for lunch , had the croissant and sandwich . Delicious food , super tasty chocolate mousse tart . It was so good that I couldn't helped to had another berries Danish to go . Ate it just now and it was exquisite with no doubt ! I can't wait to come back again to try their menu 😍🙌❤️( and sit in their out door dining area , looks fantastic too )
Super friendly staffs by the way .
What a delight! We decided to get here as it was close to where my daughter was playing basketball and because it was in the Entertainment Book. The staff and owner were so friendly and accommodating. We had 3 kids in our group the youngest being 3 yrs which can sometimes mean a hurried meal and quick exit. We were able to sit outside which was gorgeous they even had blankets if you wanted them. There is a big enclosed back area which is great for the kids to roam around whilst you enjoy yourself peacefully drinking your tea or coffee! The food was great and the special quiche of the day was a highlight. I can’t recommend this place enough, do yourself a favour!
Amazing food, from amazing friendly waiters from a jolly and inspired French chef. Love coming back here every week! Never had a bad experience, and all of the staff and chef are more than happy to make any adjustments to the menu, which is particularly helpful to my girlfriend who is vegetarian. The coffee is great, the atmosphere is fun and I’m happy to call this place my local breakfast spot.
Had lunch here today with my daughter and the staff were quite welcoming and polite. I ordered a Caesar Salad, as I’m gluten intolerant the waiter informed me that the croutons were not gluten free so I had to omit them but the chef was happy to make gluten free croutons for me so I didn’t miss out. The Caesar salad was delicious as was the mixed fruit juice I ordered. We sat outside in the back courtyard it was peaceful and lovely. The service was quite quick we didn’t need to wait long our water glasses were always filled. As I love all things French this was the perfect place for me, the staff and service was excellent and the decor was well presented. I would highly recommend this lovely cafe.
Cheers Georgina
I "lived" in an AIRBNB for 3 weeks right around the corner from the Republic of Letters Cafe. I frequented it many mornings for scrumptious breakfasts, coffee, & orange juice. Ronnie & his wife, Lorena, have done a splendid job in a year's time of supplying the cafe, decorating with a Paris theme, & putting together a fine staff of waiters & cooks. I am soon leaving and wish I could take the whole Republic of Letters Cafe including everything back to America so I can have a grand breakfast & !Deliciouso! coffee every morning in Cody, Wyoming. Thanks Lorena & Ronnie and your staff for making my stay extra delightful in this enchanting Balwyn neighborhood. peace, love,woodstock, Norm Ciao, i mean, Cheers!
Fantastic staff, food, atmosphere and the other customers were lovely as well!! Terrific place, would rate it 10/5 if I could. Thanks for a lovely meal and customer experience.
A little touch of Paris in the heart of Balwyn. Fantastic flavorful food and an incredibly warm and welcoming atmosphere. Definitely coming back.
The service was amazing...the food unbelievably good (had the quiche...hands down best one I've had in a long time!!), and a very nice wine list to boot!
Loved this place.
Highly recommend!
4.4. Lovely decor. Great coffee. Very friendly service. Nice to see the rapport with regulars. French style menu. Very tasty crepe of the day too. We went back a couple of weeks later for lunch and had a terrific time again. My cassoulet was a beauty. It was a very generous size and had lovely flavour.
We loved it here and would happily return any time.
Surprise by this cosy French restaurant 💐
Went for a weekday brunch, and their homemade quiche and cheesecake just came out from the oven! Freshly baked goods are the best! Love the decoration and vibe. Very friendly staffs 🤗
Coffee +++; Food +++; Service +++; Atmosphere +++; PriceToQuality Ratio +++
Looking forward to the second visits, highly recommend!
Visited this hidden little gem for brunch and I love it !
5 stars food and coffee - I ordered a freshly baked duck quiche. It was so flavourful, the texture of the fillings of eggs and duck were just perfect, not too hard, not too soft. Perfect match with the fresh side salad.
Cos’ the quiche was too good, so I ordered a small fresh onion soup to try, the cheesy toast is served as an accompaniment. The soup is one of the best ! It was perfectly seasoned, strong in onion taste but not greasy. Very tasty, highly recommended !
Their coffee has a big name in the neighborhood too. Very nice smooth soy cappuccino. Coffee smells rich and taste good.
5 stars services and environment - Welcoming and friendly owner and staff ! We were sitting outside at the garden, it’s cozy and nice atmosphere.
Bolus points that this restaurant is on the entertainment book.
I had a delightful experience. Will definitely return for their dinner cruises.
Great experience! The staff is very friendly and the ambiance is fantastic.
It was a cold day and I had no much appetite. I knew I had to eat for my little bubba growing inside me, so I opted for their Onion Soup. I tell you, that Onion Soup is so good! It is very hearty and feels like home. The bread is so fresh and the way it was toasted - with the cheese on it, so beautiful! I had to munch it little by little. 😅🤣
I also ordered a Mocha, and it is wonderful! Hopefully, I get to comeback and order some of their mains.
Lovely little breakfast and lunch Cafe near the cinema. Theme is French but they have a fairly general mix of foods. We had the chicken and advocate salad and the schnitzel burger - both of which were really good but the description on the menu doesn't quite do them justice. Staff friendly and helpful with dietary requirements.
Great ambience, delicious food and dog friendly!
Feels like being in a Cafe in Paris, friendly staff and French chef Spencer go the extra mile to make customers happy. Wether you are vegan, vegetarian, gluten free intolerant, etc. they always have an option for you.
Lorena and her husband Ronnie have done a great job at the cafe. Service is excellent and they have a courtyard in the back were you can sit al fresco and enjoy brunch with your dog if you want.
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