Best brunch I've had in Melbourne! I had the Care Bear with a side of Halloumi and my partner had the spiced tofu scramble with avocado and both were so delicious. Top friendly service too, we would highly recommend :)
Simple but delicious breakfast. The filtered coffee was great!
We arrived with our dog and the three tables outside were all full, as we noticed four men leaving we sat down to be asked if our names were in the list. Realizing a few people standing around must also be waiting... well the table sat empty for another 10 minutes before waitress popped a pot plant in the middle separating it into two tables and then called our name... apart from this weird slow system they have, the service was good. I did however give them a high rating as the food was fabulous and the options were better than many breakfast menus. Coffee was great but need to be much hotter.
Always a great feed here! Love their poke balls! Although not conventional they are very delicious! The place has a really good ambience and a great outdoor area
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Northcote is filled with a range of cafes but “Poke The Bear” caught my eye straight away. Loved the decor of this cafe including the cute seating, colourful bench and running bear theme within all aspects of the cafe.
Started off with a lovely soy flat white. All coffees are accompanied by a quote which is such a nice message to read when having your drink.
The menu is super cute with all dishes being linked to bear themes. I selected the “Papa Bear” which was like an eggs benedict with apple cider hollandaise, potato and cheese hash, and fennel salad. You have the choice to pick the accompanying vegetable (mushroom or spinach) or poultry (salmon, pulled pork, bacon and ham) with your dish. The pulled pork was definitely my choice and had a lot of flavour, it also went lovely with the salad and the hash. The poached eggs were super soft and the yolk drizzled straight out. This dish overall was super tasty.
Definitely recommend visiting this cafe for lovely service and a great meal and coffee!
totally bear-able to say the very least. this cafe is absolutely adorable!! the cute names of all the dishes and drinks on the menu made for an instantly wonderful first impression, and the staff were fantastic. even though it was busy, every accommodation was made for a table and never made to feel rushed or pressured for turn over. the waitress was attentive without being annoying and the baristas on the coffee machine worked magic!!
the serving sizes were extremely generous with lots of options and suitable for all dietary requirements. everything ordered was delicious and the ambiance was relaxed which made for such a terrific brunch outing.
goldilocks would have definitely been thrilled with this little place that was "not too big, not too small.. but just right" in every single way!!
The cutest little cafe on a leafy side street of Northcote, Poke the Bear is a fantastic place serving up fantastic coffee and amazing food. This small space is cute and cosy with lots of natural light, wooden touches and fresh greenery.
The wait staff are generous and friendly and really make you feel welcome. We had an amazing mushroom and egg dish which was absolutely delicious, but my heart was stolen by the Goldilocks...Poke the Bear's signature porridge.
This huge bowl of fantastic porridge was heart warming and generous. The perfect temperature with a mass of syrup, buck wheat, nuts and bananas. As Goldilocks would say, it was just right. The kind of dish I could eat every day.
Our brunch was extremely enjoyable and we were extremely satisfied with the friendly service, lovely ambience and great food. Rounded out with fantastic coffee, Poke the Bear is a favourite of mine for very good reason.
Really good food, good cafe. There's not much to fault, and the space is a little quirky. Like the nice touch of little notes that come with your coffee. Would definitely return.
Service was warm, friendly and fast. Coffee was great and was served with a few words of wisdom. Had soup of the day which was cauliflower and dahl and it really hit the spot. So good it was all sold out by 1.15pm.
Went here basically because the menu looks interesting. But the place is a lot more. And we love the food !! It was a quiet time of day as well, nothing too challenging, our orders arrived promptly. Will definitely come back !
Great service, lovely and unique atmosphere and decor, really loved the food and feel of this cafe! Would highly recommend and will definitely be back to try some of the other dishes ✅
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
I couldn't resist hitting up this café just on the basis of its name alone. On the outset, poke the bear sounds like such a playful thing to do, but in hindsight, poking a bear is quite the death wish, no?
Well, I didn't get to poke any bears here, but I did had the pleasure of devouring a most delicious burger, one that my partner couldn't stop raving about to this day. It was all very unexpected, as it came on a ciabatta and, usually I prefer a soft and fluffy bread. However the ciabatta worked because it was dense enough to absorb all the heavenly sauce and the juice trickling out from the beef patty, thus being able to achieve softness, yet holding the burger together Top this off with an incredibly juicy and meaty patty, an overload of oozy cheese, and a rich smoky sauce, and I had a winner in my hands.
The chilli scrambled eggs bowled us over too, as this was one of the fluffiest and dreamiest scrambled eggs ever. The sweet onion jam added the requisite flavour kick to complement the bright and sharp flavour of the rocket leaves, while the mild tangy goat curd brought a creamy finish to the dish. A simple dish that was excuted skillfully.
I also couldn't fault the drinks at all. An exceptional cup of skinny latte, and the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Brownie Shake was just as impressive.
In keeping with the bear theme, there's a mural of a bear staring down on diners, bear figurines scattered around the café, and the dishes are named after famous bears, or a play on the word "bear". It's all beary cute, with beary good service to boot!
We love this great new find! The food was amazing and we enjoyed every mouthful! The ingredients were just so fresh and tasty. The ambience is very quaint too. It was very busy so service was a bit slow but we weren’t in a rush so it didn’t matter.
Love the name, love the cafe. Poke the Bear really hit the spot on a cold wet frigid Melbourne day. Come for the coffee alone here, it’s excellent. Pure Melbourne. The bon mot I was given was most welcome too. My little George Harrison one lifted my day significantly. Service was great here too. The menu looked really interesting as well. I’ll be back with bells on. 😍
Purely from eating whole foods, this bowl looked and tasted amazing that I was full for 6 hours after eating this (which is a good thing for me). Poké bowls are one of my favourite ways to make sure I consume healthy fats, proteins and carbohydrates.. just in one sitting!! Found just off High Street in Northcote, go and poke it when you get the chance!
It was great! They had healthy options and lots of choice. They were very friendly and good with our 7 year old even though really busy. I like the coffee too.
The food was fresh and healthy. I liked the poke bowl with grains and veggies. The store was baby friendly so that parents could carry their pram with them. The parking was convenient for people with vehicles. There were many parking spaces around the cafe. Overall, the cafe is good and will come back soon
Very relaxed and eclectic atmosphere with great food, the bowls were on the small side but I’d still say well worth the money. The Japanese inspired Poke Bowl (3) was especially full of flavour. Service was great too, would definitely return to try some breakfast dishes next. Would recommend if in the area!
This place is really cute- loved all of the bear motifs/theme. Food was pretty good- we ordered the Papa bear, the Humphrey and the Hibernation. Everything was really tasty- but we found the eggs to be a little over cooked for our liking. It was really busy so I recommend booking a table before hand and be prepared to wait a while for your food.
Overall we enjoyed this place.
I come here all the time and I love it. Friendly staff (great with kids), yummy food & excellent coffee. I particularly love the little messages that come with your coffee.
My folks stayed near here during their trip to Melbourne last summer. The staff knew who they were by their second visit, and this place became their firm favorite for coffee, lunch and a chat. On top of that the food is really great, especially the bowls. So much so that mum and dad have requested to stay near there again next time they visit!
FINALLY WENT AND POKED THE BEAR TODAY 👉🏼🐻 Now just BEAR with me while i explain my day in puns 🐻 I couldn’t BEAR the thought of not taking a photo 📷 i ate the “paddington” which included bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato on gluten free toasted bread 🙌🏼😍🥓🥑🍅 i also added a poached egg and a potato & cheese hash on the side 🤤 in my hand i am holding a delicious freshly squeezed pineapple, apple, orange and passion fruit juice 🍎🍍🍊i BEARy much enjoyed coming here, super fun joint with friendly staff and good service 🤩🙌🏼👉🏼🐻 make sure you poke the bear soon and not HIBERNATE for too long...it would be unBEARable if you didn’t go 🤷🏻♀️
Jamil The Chai Wanderer
+5
Certainly is my go to cafe in Northcote. Always brightens up my day. Weekends can be a little busy there but I’ve always had great service and a table. I’m always so satisfied with the Papa Bear and the juice menu is delicious. Cute little quote of the days with each coffee. Lovely staff and community vibe. :)
Have only had coffee here and it's been great every time!
Every friendly staff and cool looking venue.
That bathroom wallpaper is wow!
Must try: coffee!!
Looking forward to going back and trying their food options.
Have been a few times
Usually a wait for a table
Food is worth the wait
Coffee is hit and miss
Juices are great!
Specials always changing
Menu is big and accomodate requests
Lovely service and a nicely decorated and welcoming place. The food was good. Some little improvements would make it excellent in my view (for example, nicer bread and more of some ingredients, like feta). Still a great option for breaky and a favourite in the area.
The Official Food Hunters
+5
Such a vast menu it took a while to eventually choose a dish, but staff are so friendly and allow you to take your time in ordering and not up in yo grill. Had the chilli eggs and eggs benny, love the potato and cheese hash! So filling, can’t wait to come back and try some poke bowls. The coffee was also yum, had almond milk and tasted great!
I've been to Poke The Bear twice with a group of friends, both times everyone always says how incredible their food is and the service matches with a friendly smile. The chips here are a must have addition to your meal and the chicken burger was a 10/10 for me being an avid burger lover.
Poke the Bear is an adorable little cafe just off High Street. The menu is full of well thought out puns that describe a varied and delicious range of food choices. I got the Grin and Bear and the chilli eggs were delightful. Decent portion sizes and give you options for large or small dishes. Cute decor and friendly service. A couple of minor mistakes and some slow responses to request would be the main downfall. But it’s bearable considering the rest (pun intended).
Great atmosphere, friendly customer service - very accommodating! The menu is vast with vegan friendly options. I ordered the Bear Minimum Vegan option (scrambled spiced tofu) with mushrooms and spinach on the side. Can’t fault the food. The others in the group tried the Papa Bear and Bear Grylls and both thoroughly enjoyed their meals! It was super busy but we got a table straight away which is amazing! Definitely recommend 😄
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
When I went last weekend (04/03/2018) it was PACKED! Lots of happy customers and dogs actually lining up to get in. I didn't realise that you DO need to book a table before showing up, but thankfully I was early and the kind serving staff found my friend and I a seat at the window. The height of the window bench, while sitting on the chair, was very comfortable (something that some cafes don't always get right - but this one did!). It was lovely to sit and watch the world go by while I waited for my friend to arrive.
Most things on the menu follow the 'bear-theme' of the cafe, so I was thrilled to get to choose between Goldilocks, Papa Bear and Paddington for my brunch. I ended up ordering the Papa Bear (Poached eggs on a potato and cheese hash with hollandaise sauce. I chose to have smoked salmon on top but bacon was an option) and LOVED it.
The 'hash' cakes of mashed potato and cheese were delicious! The prices reflect the serving size so for what I ordered I considered it to be good value. They also accommodate for changes to the order, so if you prefer your eggs scrambled rather than poached they've got you covered. My friend ordered the 'special of the day', which was a chicken sandwich. His report was that it was 'precisely what he wanted', so I'll say that remark was a positive one.
The coffee here was also worth the trek. I got two cups spaced out over the course of an hour during its busiest period and both were excellent. No sugar required! Kudos to the barista for consistent quality every time. Also keep an eye out for the wonderful motivational sayings that can be included with your brew :) When it comes to ambience my experience was that it was 'busy'; the overall vibe was upbeat and pleasant and didn't distract me too much from conversation with my friend.
I highly recommend bringing a friend or two here, even during peak hour, but when you go remember to book your table the night before! Trying to do so on the tram en route isn't always possible, as on Sundays it's already fully booked before 10am.
Amazing little find for this cafe is amazing !!!! service is spot on and always with a friendly smile
Food is delicious cannot fault one bit keep up the great work team
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Melbourne's inner north has some fabulous cafes and as I discovered this morning, Poke the bear is no exception. First impressions walking in the door were that it is welcoming - the tables aren't cramped and I was greeted with a smile. I found a good table and settled in.
The menu was on the table already so there was no waiting for that and within a couple of minutes of being seated a bottle of water and glass was placed on the table - also with a smile. I ordered coffee and perused the menu, which I discovered was loaded with plays on bear references. It was rather fun to read. The hardest thing was choosing what to order! The sign of a good menu can be measured by difficulty choosing and everything looked good.
That said, I kept going to the roasted mushrooms on toasted house made pumpkin bread with pea and spinach pesto and fried haloumi. When my coffee arrived I was ready to order and added a poached egg on top (runny but not raw, thank you). I really enjoyed the chattiness of Ryan (as it turns out) - a bit of dry humour and very open to making sure I was going to be happy with my order.
My coffee arrived with a little tag of wisdom on the side - these things are a love it or don't care thing and it worked for me (was bearable...). Plus it was a really nice coffee. Strong, smooth and just the right temperature. My only gripe is I like flat whites in mugs (I order large) not glasses and this was in a glass. But that wasn't a big deal.
Food arrived. Two HUGE mushrooms on top of the pesto and toasted pumpkin bread with the haloumi and egg on top of those, along with a sprinkling of rocket. Now I'm a little fussy with mushrooms. I like them very well cooked - soft is good and I was assured these were going to be well cooked. Slow roasted after all. They were wonderful. Perfect. The flavours of this breakfast all worked in harmony, except I thought the pea and spinach pesto was a little odd, but it somehow worked because I ate it all.
I loved the pumpkin bread - it was an interesting, almost crumbly texture and wonderful earthy flavour that grounded the dish. The egg was perfectly poached.
There was only one tragedy about this breakfast - there was just too much for me to get through! Those mushies were huge, filling and rich, so it was a bit wasteful. I mentioned this as I paid and Ryan - whose name I'd just found out and I believe it's his place, so nice work Ryan :) - had a light bulb moment in how the dish could be made smaller. I love this flexible, open attitude and willingness to keep things customer friendly.
It's somewhere I'll happily go back to again either on my own or with friends. Tick.
Tasty lunch all day at 📍 Poke The Bear cafe | MELBOURNE ! 🐻🍔 Are you hungry? We are!!! 🤤😍🍴
What about to try this famous ‘Bear Grylls Burger’ with beef & bacon 🥓, tomato 🍅, cod lettuce, tasty cheese 🧀, onion. + special burger sauce on ciabatta! & side of crispy fries!
Cost $16
💥 @hungrymate
#HungryMate
As soon as my dad an I had one foot in the door we were politely approached and sat down straight away. Amazing food and amazing service couldn’t have asked for a better first experience thank you 😊
Awesome service, delicious, tasty food! The entire family was happy & satisfied! Will definitely return! Love the vegan options. Loved the coffee, one of the best I've had!
So close to getting a 5/5 but the service was slow and $4 for a TINY side of granola was a bit rich. The porridge itself was amazing though!
Cute little hide out in Northcote, just off High Street. Cosy interior, attentive and welcoming staff.
Menu is adorable, mostly named after bear characters you would have grown up with (mama bear, yogi bear, care bear etc.. and your token
Koala!). There are so many options to choose from; you’re bound to find something to satisfy.
I had the Bear Arms - field mushroom, pumpkin loaf, haloumi, pea and spinach pesto, poached egg and coffee.
Will be back to try more 👍🏼
Ive been to quite a few places in Northcote and this one has to be one of my favourites. It's really easy to get to and has beautiful decor. I had the #1 poke bowl and my friend had the #2 poke bowl. i loved it as it was unique and delicious, I like how you can choose what meat youd like in the bowl and their is plenty of options to suit everyone on the menu. The sweet potato, corn and hummus stood out to me and the staff were really friendly and look like they really enjoy working there. The food took a bit long to come out but i didnt mind as the food was worth the wait. I will be back soon
Seriously the best cafe in Northcote, don’t waste your time with anywhere else. Best fresh juices, colourful smoothies and healthy poke bowls. Awesome burgers and rotating specials too. The service is always top notch and coffee is consistently delicious.
Paige Eats New Zealand
+4
This place is super lovely! Great feel and aesthetic to it and the menu has a huge variety of food. This is a regular for us because the food is consistent and the service is usually pretty good. The coffee is really fantastic!
Cute little cafe with a great menu but really disappointed with the service.
I was more than happy with waiting....like most brunch hot-spots these days. However, when I was leaving my details for the table I was told that there was an opening at the bar - I responded awesome! The response I got back was 'and if that's not good enough for you, you can wait like the rest of them'.
When my friend turned up and we snagged a table, we asked for side plates because we were sharing. The same waitress told us 'you're wasting plates'.
It really was a great meal! The food was beyond awesome - aggressive wait staff needs to change
The waitress was honest and very nice. Just ine point, the hot chocolate didn't have enough chocolate in it and tasted like just milk.
The brownie was awesome!
What can I say? Other than fabulous! Coffee 10/10 on point and that's just a start. If you're a'smashed avo' connoisseur I suggest you get the 'Bearable' it's one of the best you'll have. My friend got the 'Papa Bear' and I wanted hers too! I will make special note of the service the staff, were efficient and friendly the owner is brilliant too. This place will not disappoint you, well worth a visit. It's not the type of place that will kick you out to seat another table the second you drop your fork, a HUGE plus. You actually get time to soak up the decor.
Best food ever, great floor staff, atmosphere is really good and great prices on breakfasts. Love the toilets with there 80-90's inspired feel
Great little breakfast/brunch spot. The coffee is good and the menu is just what you would want for breakfast and the prices are reasonable. The service can be a little bit slow when busy, but the staff are always friendly and helpful. Would definitely come back.
Cute little brunching spot that I've driven past 100 times and never looked twice.. new owners have done this cafe up really nicely, staffed it well and created a lovely menu, that is super creative and has everything you could want! The staff were really accommodating to adding extras and taking out things I didn't want. I ordered the pumpkin loaf with halloumi... really generous serving size and flavors. I couldn't finish my whole meal (always better than not having enough) and my coffee was delicious. The cafe put cute little notes with each coffee which I thought was a lovely twist
Will definitely return as the ambience and staff were awesome and there are other options I would love to try!
Erica Roccioletti Laura Simionato Beck Haley
I really liked it here!! The atmosphere was really nice & the staff were great - super friendly and accomodating. I ordered the bearable (smashed avo with feta and cherry tomatoes) it was delicious. The serving size was also really good as it wasn't too heavy! My friends also loved their meals. The only thing I would say was the coffee was quite weak! But overall really liked it & had really nice decor inside as well.
It's the little things that make this place stand out. The inspirational quotes that come out with each coffee. The bear shaped honey pot with the chai. The woods inspired decor.
But the standard selling points also hit the mark. Delicious food. Good coffee. Very friendly service. And a kicking 80s play list. My friends and I will be back.
We loved this place! Great atmosphere, friendly staff, the food was amazing (we had the pumpkin hash special) and the coffee delicious too. Our new favourite brunch spot in Northcote. We'll be back!
Great fit out and friendly staff. Food was great and a little different without being fussy. Recommend the Papa Bear. This place will definitely be on the rotation.
Staff are always friendly, food is delicious and the coffee is always perfect! It has become my regular spot. It's also got a really lovely vibe and the food is always plated beautifully
Has become one of our new local go to cafes. Friendly staff, great food and coffee! Favourite is definitely the 'grin and bear it' chilli scrambled eggs.
Awesome breakky. Spot for my partner and I and our two dogs out the front. Fab service and even better coffee. Definitely recommend the 'grin and bear it' and 'papa bear'. Will definitely be back!
They have great food, great coffee, great selection, nice atmosphere, healthy food, very friendly staff, i highly recommend this restaurant.
Good food, friendly service and nice atmosphere.
Great new lunch spot off the main drag.
Recommend checking it out.
Also has daily specials worth trying.
Delicious coffee, great service and food was spot on. Definitely will be coming back!!! If you're in the area would recommend giving this place a go
Finally something awesome in Northcote that is affordable and not overdone. This place has good food and atmosphere. I had breakfast and went back for a drink at night. The jalepeno margarita was so yum that I will be going back for more.
Have been for brunch and dinner. Lovely coffee. The avocado brunch is delish.
Dinner had amazing chipotle mushroom tacos and the best spicy margaritas. Coming back soon.
I just loved Poke The Bear. We ordered from the Vegan Menu which they also offer. The burgers, tacos & potato skins were all DELICIOUS!! The Cocktails & Coffee were amazing too!! Highly Recommend.
5 stars from me.
It’s always a delight coming here!! The food never disappoints! I am obsessed with the homemade lemonade..soo tangy and fresh. Super sweet staff too. Thanks guys :)
Stopped by after a recommendation from the pathology lab across the road. Still woozy from having my blood drawn, the staff were able to guide me through their menu.
I went with the Bearable, which is their avocado, fetta, cherry tomato, fresh herbs on sourdough multigrain.
The food is delicious and well presented, and the service is great.
I extend that recommendation!
Nichakorn Pongsakornsathien
+4
Enjoyed my coffee here always. I really liked their warm poke bowl. Noting that it is not a japanese hawaiian style but it was packed with healthy, yet yummy toppings! So filling. Other dishes for me were average. Try the poke! *Growl*
Honestly the best breakfast I have ever had. Staff were so funny and onto everything. Can't recommend enough.
Best cafe I have ever been to. I have never left a review but felt I had to. I was in Melbourne for a short time, found this place the first day and went back everyday. Food is healthy and tastes amazing, staff are very friendly. I will come back just to eat here.
We love this place. My husband and I drive a fair distance to come here but it's worth it. Great atmosphere, yummy wholesome food and fantastic staff. Portugese tart is highly recommended!
We love this Cafe as it never disappoints. Great coffee, food and the service is always friendly, flexible and helpful. Today was no exception, can highly recommend the chilli scrambled eggs or the pancakes
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes