What a delightful little cafe. Open on Good Friday. No public holiday surcharge. Smoked salmon salad for less than $20... what more could you want? It helps that my mates were regulars and the service was excellent - even on a public holiday and they were busy as not much else was open. The coffee was fantastic (I had a magic). They were very accommodating of our collective unruly children - we were very happy to get a table out the front, and the kids food came very quickly so they were placated. The egg with soldiers was slightly over done - would have been easier to dip if the eggs were a bit runnier. The Huevos Rancheros had a bit of kick... took a point off because their menu selection could be a bit more varied, and if you wanted a cooked breakfast it adds up quickly as each item was charged separately. Overall, a good little spot. Kids and animal (well, just animals then) friendly. Great service and coffee.
Great place with friendly staff. The food is nice. They have outdoor seating as well. Wonderful for families and friends to relax and chit chat or just be with one another.
I absolutely love North - its definitely one of my favourite cafes! The vibe is light and airy and the staff are always helpful and efficient. My favourite dish is the french toast which they also do gluten free! The coffee is also always well made.
Corn fritters were amazing! Am not from here but would definitely come back to enjoy them again. Staff were friendly and efficient. Staff were able to joke with us and recommend items on the menu
Enjoyed, wasn't aware there was an outside back part though. Coffee was good, Porridge was good, corn fritters were better. Lax vibe on the inside
North Cafeteria is my faithful breakfast companion.
The best poached eggs in Carlton North, and great service!
Definitely worth a visit!!!
Enjoyed the toasted olive bread (with avocado) was delicious. I would come more often but the lack of card facilities is so annoying. Come on guys!
This place is local to where I live. I like the layout, staff are friendly food is interesting, they have put effort into their menu, and they do coffee well. A super place to go and relax or meet up with a friend.
Cute place, buzzing vibe, lovely staff and good coffee! I'm a big fan of the menu which has plenty of variety and a good mix of healthy choices and pure deliciousness (the tuna melt was divine).
However, I really don't like that they don't take card payments. Considering smaller, less busy places are able to provide that convenience, not sure why these guys make you trek to an ATM and get charged an unnecessary withdrawal fee, walk back, pay, etc. An unnecessary inconvenience to the customer I think, and for what gain?
Solid, tasty, nicely presented. Corn fritters were a trifle dry, but topped with succulent bacon and accompanied by a lovely relish. Nice, airy, light space.
Great little café, buzzing with locals and families enjoying the food & drinks.
Love the look and feel of the place and the atmosphere which is pretty relax.
I had a chai latte which was very nice with a hint of cinnamon with the french toast which was delicious.
I like North. Great coffee. It's simple, homely and unpretentious. Staff are really nice. Good, simple food (even though I don't think thee u has changed in 3 years!). Great to relax and take in the beauty of Rathdowne Village
Bagels!. Popped my Bagel cherry here. Quite good.
Great little cafe. Good, quick takeaway coffee any day of the week - if I try elsewhere in the area, I am always disappointed. Love the brat bagel on a Saturday morning too.
Relaxed and inviting. Have been heading hear on and off for 5 years always friendly always reliable and easy to get a table.
Thanks.
Love this little cafe. Always come here for a takeaway coffee or the odd lazy lunch. Great coffee and food, something for any taste and the staff are lovely. Love to call this place my local cafe!
Still great. I hadn't been to North for awhile and unlike many neighbouring cafe's which have faded over time, the food and service is still so good here. Fresh food, done well and the coffee is still the best in town. Highly recommend.
This cafe is a happy place. It is a bright and open space that is inviting. They do a lot of things right but a few things that could be better. The breaky menu is a good one and we chose the porridge and the granola. They appeared very quickly which was handy was we were hungry. The granola was top quality. Plenty of nuts, seeds, toasted oats with a good crunch. It was topped with a healthy dollop of labne and probably a touch too much stewed berries. Overall though a great feed! The porridge was a little bland and needed a lift with the honey provided. The coffee did the trick but didn't set the world on fire. Not a fan of the presentation of them, every little bit counts.
I do like the place and the artwork on the wall inside is a real feature.
Too good. I'm at North so often I'm afraid they'll get sick of me! My friends and I have always gone here because of the great service by friendly staff, consistently good coffee and amazing food. A small thing that is an absolute stand-out for me is the homemade jam you get with the fruit bagel, it's so so tasty! Add some bacon to the olive bread/avocado/feta/tomato dish and you have the best hangover cure ever, without the feeling that you've drank out of a McDonalds fryer.
Super efficient service - by very pleasant team of people - great coffee!! Enjoyed the olive bread/Meredith Fetta/avocado/poached egg/ tomato... The tomato had the 'homegrown' flavours - perfect Fetta- Green Olive bread thinly sliced - olive oil served in a jug for drizzling and accompanied by sliced lemon. Fruit bagel came setved with a fruity jam! Delicious - Yes - Doing a great job here !!! Next time - Sitting out under the wide verandah in a leafy tree lined street - soon I hope :)
North is by far the best breakfast place on Rathdowne St. Fantastic, well priced menu with all the usual favourites and a few unique ones. Coffee is always good, service prompt and friendly and poached eggs cooked to perfection every time. Lunch menu is also great. This place will not disappoint!
Not too bad. First time being here, it's a small cafeteria, with great atmosphere, great place to reading your newspaper in a sunny day. The coffee that we ordered didn't taste great. I think the trainee still doesn't know how to make a good coffee yet. Should not let this happen. Quite disappointed, the bagel with bacon is ok, I had the tuna melted with cheese and mayonnaise. Very reasonable price too.
Had lunch here the other day, sat outside at the front as it was a lovely day. Started with a lovely chai and had the sardines and haloumi on toast - delicious! Thanks North!
Good messy. Gooey, melt in your mouth and just the right kind of messy. Goats cheese, bacon, poached egg, asparagus and roast capsicum come together in a bagel that has to be in the running for the title of Melbourne’s best breakfast.
Top it off with a velvety, caffeinated beverage, a busy but relaxed vibe and a cool Sadie Chandler mural and you have all the ingredients for a perfect Saturday morning.
Love it. I live around the corner and love my regular. I often pop in for fruit toast (Flinders wholemeal fruit - insurpassable) and a coffee before work or indulge in the BRAT bagel on weekends. Staff are cool and if its not busy you can linger as long as you like.
Great way to start the day. For an easy coffee and a delicious B.R.A.T. bagel, this is the cafe to bring. Its fun style and local quality makes North a great way to start the day :)
Tea taken seriously? Yes!!!. The bloke loves the coffee at North (blend is Cafe Supreme). No need to ask for double shots, which is the standard hit. But the tea ceremony here sends me into paroxysm of happiness. Proper pot, no friggin bags and a decent second cuppa just brewing quietly in the porcelain, with the staff more than happy to do the mini pot of hot water for a top up. Heaven in Carlton where the baristas tend to sneer at those who prefer leaf to beans.
Damn fine poached eggs (near as to perfect as you will find) and no heavy breathing staff anxious for your next order or to clear the table.
Food was great, relaxing and they can actually make a good tea, a lost art.
Nice find via Urbanspoon. Had the Reubens, corned beef has spot on, sauerkraut just right. Great dish. Mrs had porridge which with orange zest and dates was good, perhaps too many walnuts. Will certainly come again
Yes!Yes!yes!. I've read the reviews....scathing about staff. First, food....sensational, coffee.....sensational. I used to live down the street so always there for coffee (almost daily) and sunday heuvos. It is nice to be left to ones devices rather than attacked by bubbly halfwits too early in the morning ...who are trying to distract you from the crap some cafes pass off as breakfast and coffee. All the while being snarled and snickered by the pram brigade because you would like to sit down but they have to maneuvre their precious children for you.....A full meal buying, non-breeder who leaves promptly when finished. Or those people pushy enough to walk in to a relaxed cafe and spread their loud, egocentric, me first policy....a good place breeds patrons where politeness/patience is rewarded with civility, a good cup of joe and smiles, believe it or not!
I miss you, North. I dream of your heuvos. And your staff deserve better online.
Amazing Granola!. North has been a very good little discovery over the last 9 months. The Granola is simply the best and makes me want to return again and again.
However, the staff are cold and seem not to establish eye contact. Although efficient, the staff don't seem to engage the clientelle. Strange really! I must also comment that the same staff are still working there from 9 months ago, so they could be very happy with their jobs?? Maybe?? Despite all this, i will continue to patron North.
Lazy Sunday and those white Swedish tub swivel chairs ...
Food ✔✔✔️✔️ sweet delicacies were enjoyable, yet to try their menu
Coffee ✔✔✔
Venue ✔✔✔✔✔ small, but cozy, and it need a better exhaust in the kitchen ...
Service ✔✔✔✔ attentive
Would we go back?
YES, will check out the menu
Friendly staff & great coffee & cake selection. Outdoor seating in Rathdowne Street great place to chill.
Lovely local cafe, good food, friendly staff, and great coffee
5 stars for fast service from the guys and girls working here. Food always good and if you can work out the not so busy times it can be quite relaxing. The only thing is the OJ might be better with a bit less pulp in it 🙂
The sort of local cafe we all want to have near us. Friendly staff who make you feel welcome no matter if you're a local, or a visitor. Great coffee and sweet treats. Breakfast is also available.
always great service and great coffee. my favourite cafe in the area xx
Lovely meal with great customer service.
Great sardines, great coffee.
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