Great service, friendly staff, family friendly. Love everything
Great food, wonderful staff a very relaxing place to eat.
The best kept secret in The Rip - the courtyard and the Brekkie Burger!
Stunningly devicious...and consistently good! Thank you.
Coffeegasm! I ordered a magic 3/4 length coffee. It was strong, creamy with no bitter aftertaste. Even the star shaped design in the froth was a work of art!
Great food !!! Friendly staff !!!! Great coffee
love this place, always know what your going to get, food is sensational, coffee is brilliant, service is good. it was our go to brekky place when we lived in Elsternwick, now we're in Bentleigh and we still travel to go there
Great coffee, great owner and great food :)
Just had the Salmon bagel .. absolutely delicious !!!!!! Loved it
Great service ... :))))))
We received such lovely service here today. Our little boy was doted on by the staff, our coffee was perfect and our food was delicious! Thank you, we will absolutely be back!
My fav Place in Melbourne..
Cant wait till I return
Food is awesome and the coffee was absolutely god damn perfect omg this is my favourite place in all of Ripponlea. parm is an awesome barista
Delicious food and good service. What more could you want?
Delightful, artistic, friendly, innovative cuisine
This quiet place is the perfect location to work while enjoying some delightful food. With a interior filled with rubber ducks it will surely make you feel welcome. I decided to sit outside and enjoy the sun
I normally go to one of the other cafes on Glen Eira to grab coffee but lately I’ve been coming back to Follow the Leader because their coffee is so good and they are such lovely people! Great service, great coffee, open super early, what’s not to love?
This café is really unpretentious but very welcoming. They had an average menu but my dish was really good, fresh, a good mix of textures and generous in size. Coffee was good. The place lacks a bit of vibe and, at least when I visited, there were mostly an older crowd and young families. The staff were lovely.
WOW! - I ordered a Soy Latte with 2 Sugars with 2 of their cakes. 1 was a pistachio/rhubarb Tea cake and the other was a Cinnamon Croisant. From Service, to Decor, to the warm happy welcome despite how busy it was, I felt it was going to be good. The first sip was amazing. Coffee was perfectly balanced. Soy wasnt too strong, froth was perfect. The cakes, not sure if they make them on site but they were super fresh. Will definitly return with others.
Follow the leader just launched for dinner with terrific Asian Fusion Cuisine.
Crying Tiger, Crispy Barramundi, Marinated Lamb Ribs and Sticky Pork Belly are recommend. Value for money if you come for 2 persons just only $55 for any 5 dishes from the menu.
Must try it!
Sunday morning; the place was full and they only had a waiter and a barista on and the service was surprisely really good! Friendly and quick service, the waiter was helpful with the menu and made sure we were ok at all time! My Long Black was perfect and our food was beautiful! Good flavors & great service; YES! Food around us also looked really yum too! Will definitely go back :)
Love the name of this cafe. Coffee is great! We had the brekkie burger & the shashuka baked eggs. Serving was huge. Service was friendly. A nice cosy place to start the morning.
fresh food in town , very nice coffee , I order flat white and when u drink it you can feel the layer , staff have good memories knowing customer name , very homey .
Order myself choice , love mushroom and croissant . Must try in town
Love this cafe! Consistently good food and service, great coffee, and their menu changes up regularly to keep things fresh. They don't do anything out of the ordinary here but they slam dunk everything they do so reliably it keeps me coming back.
I had the breakfast burrito which was filling and delicious, however it did get a bit messy, 2 napkins later, from all of the tomato juices! My boyfriend had the eggs benedict which he thought was good. The outdoor area was beautiful and the bathrooms immaculate!
This is a brilliant place to go for food.I have been here many times over the last year.And you can't go wrong.very good every time with no disappointment yet.i would like to see a little more food on the plates but then again the prices are very reasonable.
Been roughly 5 times now and have always found the food, service and coffee to be great.
When in the area we always choose this cafe as our go too.
Thank goodness, finally a cafe that can do avocado and toast right! Also had the muesli with poached rhubarb and pear which was amazing, perfect portions of poached fruit the way you'd like it at home. Friendly staff, cosy place, good coffee. All in all a great neighbourhood cafe..
Nice little cafe in the neighborhood. Had the fritters which tasted good. Decent serve of cured salmon too.
Ordered a skinny flat white, it could be stronger and did not feel like they used skimmed milk but that's my personal opinion. Not bad a coffee though.
The wifi just adds to the whole experience.
I would return!
Great spot with reasonable prices. Very friendly and accommodating service. There's a lovely courtyard out the back. Excellent chai, and you get enough for almost three tea cups.
Just moved to the area and as soon as I walked in I was welcomed by the friendly staff. I ordered a latte and it was served just the way I liked it... nice and hot
For breakfast I ordered the avocado and fetta toast served with salmon. Wow it was fantastic .... make sure you get the salmon its some of the best salmon I have ever had
Been meaning to drop into Follow the Leader for a long time and finally I made it. On a fresh Winter morning the cafe was busy with many regulars coming through the door for their morning caffeine fix. It's nice to hear staff acknowledge their regular customers with a smile and a chat!
First things first, the coffee was quality. My cappuccino in a mug was perfection. The food also looked great.
Overall, this place is warm, friendly, relaxing and somewhere everyone should drop in on.
Nice food, great coffee, cozy place! They have a great menu and friendly staff. I am new in St Kilda East, having just moved here last week, and this place has given me a great first impression of the area. Highly recommended. Thanks, FTL!
Very Tasty Eggs.
Was recommended by a friend of this tasty little place, which turned out to be a fantastic eatery for a Saturday Morning munch & catch up with friends.
The coffee set the scene to begin with, great, smooth and not so hot you loose your taste buds before your meal.
We both ordered the Harissa Scrambled Eggs, while everything on the menu looked tempting with slight variations to the normal Saturday Morning Munching Fare.
Wow.
Landing on the table, the aroma was brilliant and yet the portion was almost perfect in comparison to other venues these days (often way to much food for a relaxing Saturday morning).
Finishing the fare was a pleasure and certainly left feeling satisfied and not ripped off after spending quality time with friends.
Would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a reliable, well-serviced, tasty munch and catch up with friends.
Best Breakfast Spot Ever....... must try the Harissa Eggs... They are the best Harissa Eggs I have had, also the French Toast if your looking for something slightly sweet on a cheat day
Yum!. Had baked egg and big breakfast. both were good.
Fab Breaky! !. Ces and I ordered breakfast and weren't disappointed. Ces had the Big Breakfast, everything you could want and he demolished it heartily with his fav Mocha. I enjoyed poached soft eggs with salmon, tomatoes & mushrooms with delicious sourdough toast. My coffee was perfect, strong hot and excellent flavourful, I had to order a 2nd. Don't miss this gem of a cafe...
Super cute little cafe. Their 'Follow the Leader' theme is reflected throughout the store - from the signage to the adorable display of various rubber ducks along the counters. The cafe is also very clean and cosy feeling.
WOW! great breakfast. Really good food at this café, great friendly staff & excellent coffee!
The scrambled eggs, good quality bacon, choice of toast & the side of chutney supurb. My girlfriend had the
poached eggs,runny inside as she likes, & sides as well. Service just right.
Sitting out the back in a nice area on a sunny morning what more could you want? Plenty of
umbrella's for shade and nicely decorated.
The little strip of shops are cool as well, some interesting gifts shops & an excellent bakery.
Will definitely return to 'Follow the leader".
Great little brunch location, with a short wait time and friendly staff. Good solid selection of your classic brunch favourites with a few special gems like the corn fritters and sweet potato hash, finished with a little extra basil sparkle. I would definitely recommend you visit here if you’re doing something in the area. Not sure it’s a go-out-of-your-way to visit, but if you enjoy exploring different areas in your spare time, here’s a good place as any to spend your hard earned relaxed hours.
The sweet potato hash served with poached eggs, feta and green tomato jam was an easy choice to make. I found these ingredients to be a great combination as they introduced many different flavours and textures into the dish. The crunchiness and sweetness of the hash, the slightly runny poached eggs and the light citrus-y tang of the green tomato jam made the dish interesting and delicious. I was full but refreshed after finishing it. Read what Quyen thought about her corn fritters here . (Spoiler alert: She loved it!) It was a great start to our day, so if you are ever in the area, drop by for yummy, relaxing meal!
Go there!!! GO THERE!!!!!. Fantastic coffee and food, and absolutely gorgeous staff, who always make you feel so welcome. No faults, great kitchen, lovely outdoor area, happy days!!
Hidden gem. Great cafe with amazing baked eggs. Staff were friendly, service was good, they had tea. May seem strange but eating at most St Kilda cafe's it was odd to find the the Post Office Cafe on Inkerman Street doesn't offer tea, not on the menu.
We'll be back to Follow the leader.
My new local!. Went into follow the leader for breakfast for the first time on the weekend with my girlfriend, I had the pancakes and she had the breakfast steak absolutely amazing! Expertly cook to perfection. The barista made me one of the best coffees I have ever had, he then waited on our table and his service was tip top. The court yard is definitely worth a look on a nice day. We will be back. Thanks team!
Rippin' it up in Ripponlea. Been here a few times, thoroughly enjoyed my coffee's, and berry crushes.
Staff are great, courtyard and decor make it great quiet spot in summer. highly recommend, and worth driving out the way for decent coffee
Fresh, healthy, quality brekky options. Delicious juices. Generous portions. Very friendly, lovely staff. Little gem amongst other pretentious cafés nearby.
Awe-filled.. I've never been to Ripponlea before but I'll be coming again to visit this cafe. It's cosy yet spacious and the customer service was amazing, right down to making the little kids laugh. The quirky blackboards with coffee and wine descriptions look fantastic and the whole setup is delicious on your eyes. I'll definitely be coming back here, it feels like home.
Great Cafe... FANTASTIC. WOW... What a fantastic little cafe my friends suggested I should go visit. Layout is cute, love the feature wall that runs down one complete side of the place. The food was fantastic.. Had the Corn Fritters, Would be my suggestion if anyone was looking for a suggestion on what to have. The staff were extremely friendly, attentive and the young guy made sure that I was well hydrated always making sure my water glass was full.
I would suggest this place to everyone as a must try place in this tiny little suburb Ripponlea 9/10.....
Really friendly service. Nice atmosphere. Food was pretty good. If I was in the area, I'd go back. Salads were great.
Had breakfast here and was pleasantly surprised, the food is brilliant with nice big portions. An absolute gem!!
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Dinner at FTL. I went to try the dinner at FTL last night because I love dropping in for just a coffee (the best in town) or a quick bite for lunch. The cafe/restaurant looked fantastic. the lighting and table settings made the place very inviting. I was pleasantly surprised to see my favourite cocktail on the menu so I started the evening with a dirty martini. I shared the grilled salt and pepper calamari with my partner, the chilli fennel, orange, almonds, herb salad with the roasted garlic aioli was a perfect balance of flavours. I don't usually order steak when I dine out however the accompaniments of creamy truffle mash and buttered garlic greens won me over. I don't know how they cooked that steak but it was the best steak I have ever tasted, full of flavour, medium- rare melt in the mouth perfection. My meal and wine was so good that I decided to check out the dessert menu. I chose the Banoffee Mille-feuille with the Chantilly cream, grilled banana and ice-cream The pastry was light and fluffy and there was just enough of each ingredient to create the perfect mix of flavours. I finished the night with a long black coffee. The staff were professional and pleasant and made sure we were attended to at all times. Every element of my meal was cooked to perfection. I could not fault the setting, the staff or the food. I felt completely comfortable in the setting and enjoyed the whole experience.
Well done FTL, for me it was a 3 hat experience.
We will definitely be back ... soon.
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Great spot that is not pretentious or packed.. You know when you walk by a location to the station a couple of times a week and not see something - well thats Follow the Leader. But thats because we are usually walking on the other side of the street. I believe from asking the staff its been there around 7 months..but I only noticed it Thursday night walking back from the station just down the road. Nice relaxing atmosphere - none of that smell of burning fat like some places (big tick - why do owners not realise smells like that are a turnoff). Went for a late lunch - at 2pm and only a few tables occupied so got a seat straight away. Good young staff that promptly came to the table and took an order for drinks and left the menu. Menu best described as Australia/International contemporary - no particular genre. From breakfast items, burgers, sandwiches to international items like Banh Mi (basically a sandwich/roll/burger rolled into one). Food was well presented (see pictures) & flavoursome. My burger was well cooked, light on the palate but filling at the same time without feeling a glutton - and none of those fall apart rolls some places use (that if you get any juices on the whole burger falls apart in your hands). It was a nice shiny brioche roll skewered and a couple of mini gherkins on top. My side (burgers come by themselves) was a simple fries that came in a snazzy brown paper bag with the cafes name printed on it and a bowl of aioli. The fries were crisp, I could tell the fat/oil they were cooked in was fresh and not burnt and therefore the fries were not oily nor did they taste burnt. However, they must use, like the Colonel, some secret seasoning on them because they tasted above the normal fries. Impressed. Milk shake came (at my request) with skinny milk but still cold and creamy (don't you hate those places that put ice cubes into the milk to cool it down). And coffee (latte) was hot & milky (which is how I like it without any sugar). They also have a nice courtyard out back for those sunny days.
Overall, out of 10 I would give them, a solid 7 or 8. Its not a Michelin star restaurant but its not trying to be, its a local cafe in an up and coming strip run by a young, energetic staff with some great little stores opening up and would not hesitate to go again soon (which we will as we only live around the corner). Best of all, no little pretentious 21st century equivalent yuppies couples with kids called Tarquin or Tabatha screaming around (at least when we were there).
It was also good to note that they also do a High Tea for $35 a couple (sandwiches, cakes etc) and plan opening for dinner they told us in the near future. And unlike the mysterious Hudson & Hawke around the corner (which we won't go to as they never have a menu in the window so I have no idea what they serve nor do I like surprises when bills come), at least this place proudly displays its menu in the window.
Looking forward to my next visit. First visit to this cafe and I will definitely return. The breakfast menu had so much to offer. My eggs were cooked perfectly, service was a bit slow but they were all very pleasant to deal with & coffee was well worth the wait.
I had a positive experience at Follow The Leader. The FTL burger was awesome! Didn't manage to sample some of the home baked treats on the counter but they looked really good. My interaction with the staff was v good..
Would definitely return.
Great Lunch Oct 9th. Great Cafe and funky atmosphere. The young guy was friendly, attentive and on the ball. Not sure why people leave such negative feedback I couldn't find any faults and everyone else I noticed was enjoying them self. Service was quick and food delicious. Will definitely be back :) Next time I will need to try the dinner menu
-----18 Jun, 2013-----
Wonderful Cafe. I enjoyed a lovely weekly lunch here today with the girls and the 3 things I most enjoy about this cafe is the Service, the Food and the fantastic value for money. We come on a weekly basis and get nothing but wonderful service from what we have nicked named him "Shorts Boy" rain sunshine or storms he always has his shorts on, makes us laugh :D
Great food with vegeterian options. Friendly service. Cafe has a great vibe. Definately coming back again.
My favourite brunch spot of 2013, but why the menu change? Bring back French toast and FTL greens!
Fab brunch, love it! Coffee bit strong for me, but food was soooo yummy!
Liam Alexander-Quinn
+4.5
Relaxed. Really cool place, super relaxed and great courtyard out the back... lemon slice is amazing
Recommend the haloumi for $5, finally provided me with an idea on how to use dried cranberries. An excellent little dish, coffee vgood too. Service no fuss easygoing. Whatever it is they are doing here they are doing it right so far. Great price points for Melb. Other new local cafes take note.
Fantastic! Was here a few weeks ago on a gorgeous sunny day, sat in the courtyard with my pup. Coffee was good, staff were attentive but easy going. Yum breakfast. Keep an eye on this one!!
As a person who has a taste for really good coffee all I can say is this cafe ticked all the right boxes. I visited this cafe on Monday and was nothing but impressed with everyone from the moment I walked in. The coffee was fantastic, the food was delicious (a must try is the F.A.T) and the service was the best service I have had a long time. It wasn't your normal get in get out service the young guy was really passionate and showed he cared. I can see why this place is going to be the new number 1 in Ripponlea. 5 Stars all round!! Well Done !!!!!
Excellent. The coffee is excellent and so is the food and the service is friendly and efficient.
Love it. Great coffee and meals at very reasonable prices. I have had breakfast and lunch here. would recommend to others.
Great place!. Nice cool, casual atmosphere, warm smiles from staff, but not fake, they were very attentive and welcoming, great food, yum coffee.
What more could you want?
I fancy myself as quite the cafe officianardo! (Frequent cafe user)
This is just the kinda cafe this area needs.
I'll be back there as soon as I can, to try more of the menu.
Congratulations!
Great venue, great staff, delicious food. Sadly my poached eggs were not at all runny but quite firm inside. We both agreed that my breakfast buddy's coffee tasted very much like soy milk rather than regular, not sure if this was an accident or the brand of milk. Lovely atmosphere - definitely try to sit out the back if you can.
Fresh, cheap cafe food with an easy and non-pretentious FTL twist. The staff were courteous and paid close attention - only downside? There wasn't a lot of shade in the outside seating area!
Great staff, awesome coffee and fabulous food.... FTL Greens is the bomb... Have had it twice this week... Alex is a great chef!
Cute crisp new cafe in Ripponlea. Nice fit out. Good coffee- thanks to St Ali! Give it a try- nice small serves of lunch items. Ideal to combine! Soon to open for dinner.
Great!. Relaxing and great coffee, staff are friendly and its a great way to spend a lazy sunday!
$5 dishes. Who couldn't go past something saying a $5 dish offering.. just what we needed feeling a little bit budget conscious.. and they were delicious and nutritious and not a muffin? Although the muffins are just as yummy at Follow the Leader.. great staff, greaaaaat coffee. What is not to like!!!
Fab new tone on tone cafe with courtyard and friendly staff in an upcoming foodies hood. Baked eggs my favorite. I hope they make the bagel BLT with garlic aioli a standard item on the menu. Great coffee!!!
Wonderful little spot :) fantastic coffee best on the street. Service is fantastic food is wonderful and the service is the best I have had in a long time :) well done guys and welcome to Ripponlea
The snapper was to die for... Top class food
Love the courtyard!. FTL is new and fresh and shiny (not suprising as it has only been open one week and one day!). The staff were friendly and efficient. We loved the courtyard - especially the herb wall garden. Coffee was pretty good. Mum had the French toast - 10/10 with the plumpest raspberries I have ever seen. I had the Bircher muesli which needed some improvement but as my boyfriend said - it was my fault for ordering the Bircher! Look forward to coming back here and trying some more menu items
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Potential to be a Leader. Checked out the newest cafe addition to Rippon Lea Village (Spout and Hawk & Hunter are nearby).
They have done a magnificent job in fitting out the place. There's also a really tasteful and good size courtyard.
Using St Ali coffee. My long mac was enjoyable. So I'm tipping other types of coffee should generally be good too.
Onto the food. The menu sounds really good with a couple of different items to the standard cafe fare.
I ordered the F.A.T- avo, roasted tomatoes, feta on pumpkin toast. Tasty enough dish although for $16 it was a pretty small serve. 1 slice of toast, 1 medium size tomato and a sprinkling of feta. For that price, I would be expecting a more generous serve.
My dining partner ordered the mushroom toast ($17) - rye toast, sauteed mushies, olive tapenade and haloumi. Dish sounds delicious. Again just one slice of toast and a few mushies. So the emphasis of Mushroom in the dish name is a bit misleading,
Service was efficient without being over friendly. Water was continually topped up. Drinks and food came out in good time.
So Follow the Leader has the potential to be a great cafe. I just think the menu/food needs a bit of tweaking - review the pricing, portion size and quality of ingredients.
I would come back. Might just give them a few more weeks to settle in before returning.
Only had a flat white but place looks great, awesome courtyard. Coffee good. Staff could be a little more bubbly but will give them a break as it was 8am on a Saturday.
I love finding new places to eat that are delicious and affordable. Follow The Leader in Ripponlea was definitely that!
However, I opted for the ‘F.T.L. Burger: pure Angus beef patty, tomato, lettuce, cheese, tomato chutney, sesame aioli, pickle with chips’ ($15.00). This was a delightful burger!
Great food, coffee and friendly service!
THE best hollandaise i have had in years. eggs benedict with pulled lamb... OMG simply amazing. eggs poached to perfection, all served hot fresh and with lovely attitude by all staff. coffee was divine too. really impressed will definitely be back!
Best coffee and barista in the Ripponlea - Balaclava area without a doubt. I live locally and I have been at all the coffee shops around, if you are looking for excellent coffee, this is the place.
Very friendly crew, good coffee and food. Reduced menu during the covid_19 shutdown, offering take away only.
Ash helped us to pull together a private function at short notice. He was so helpful, and made it so easy for us to plan. The food and drink served was also excellent, had lots of variety and very generous serving sizes - we truly couldn't have asked for a better place to have our event. Highly recommend!
Coffee and food was fantastic! Cosy spot. Kid friendly. Recommended 👍
One of my favourite cafes! The food, the atmosphere and, of course, the best coffee. Whatever day you come in, they make you a great coffee with unbelievable consistency it flavour and taste.
The staff are very friendly what makes you want to go back. I used to live next door for one and a half years, but even moving out to Chadstone I still make sure I pop in and get a nice smooth coffee and a little chatter every so often.
PS. Try the breakfast burger.
The best coffee in Ripponlea/Glen Eira road since Hawk & Hunter closed.
Service is great and the brunch menu hasn't disappointed so far. It's never too busy or noisy in there so always makes for a relaxed place to sit and enjoy your order and your company.
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