Review Black Squirrel Cafe - Sandringham

Delicious food, good coffee and friendly staff. Great cafe vibes! We ordered cappuccinos, the salmon lovers roll and the oat and chia porridge. The menu has loads of tasty options too, if we lived in the area this cafe could easily become a regular brunch spot.

Really nice café! The staff are very friendly and the food was delicious! The Taiwanese Chicken Burger was incredibly delicious but pricey at almost $20 for just the burger. Thanks for the experience!

Absolutely delicious warm lamb salad bowl. The poke bowl looked amazing too! Lovely staff, reasonable prices.

Lovely welcoming cafe, great coffee and teen was thrilled to find Italian Hot Chocolate on offer. The food was delicious and we look forward to a return visit.

Attention to presentation and quality of food are consistent. Coffee is excellent. The pictures speak for themselves.

Black Squirrel ticks all the boxes. Best coffee thanks to the beans but especially thank to brilliant barista, Monika (I think that's her name). Best gluten free banana bread and gluten free bread. What ever they make is just excellent: Chips, eggs, other beverages etc. On top of it, beautiful ambiance, great background music. They also sit just 3 minutes a walk from Sandringham beach.

blacksquirrelcafe will be one of my top picks for a delicious brekky in the southeast. Beautifully decorated with a distinctive rustic theme, this cafe has a really strong brunch menu, with its best options available, every day so you can visit here any time from 7 am to 3 pm. I was drooling over the idea of a lot of items on this menu, especially their new on menu Oat-Chia Porridge made with fresh produce- cinnamon apple compote, cherries,currant,crumble and roasted Almond flakes . We picked both their benedict plates one with Juicy Teriyaki beef and the other with Smoked Salmon. The Smoked Salmon was served sizzling away in a brisket, gorgeous, it keeps the food warm and I hate when food gets cold while you eat, the portion was pretty decent aswell. Both dishes served on their homemade rosti instead of bread which makes it so much more filling and delicious- What better reason to get out of bed than for a brunch of crispy, potato röstis topped with a perfectly poached egg and dipped in hollandaise sauce. Love their focus on detailing of coffee and you can expect range of pastries and savouries on counter. However what is stocked is delicious and I have no qualms in regarding their house made banana bread to be the best I have Had. Almond Cap here is a 10 on 10 too! So save this one for your next brekky- brunch pick!

I’ve just added Black Squirrel Cafe to my list of favourite places to brunch! We ordered the Smoking salmon (smoked salmon on a house made rosti, avocado mousse, apple and fennel salad with poched eggs & dill hollandaise) and the Saffron Shakshuka with chorizo (baked eggs in tomato and capsicum sugo, cold smoked labneh served with Za’atar toasted bread). When the Smoking salmon hit the table, our server lifted the cloche and a cloud of smoke escaped the dish. Whoever put this dish together is a genius. There was flavour from the saltiness of the salmon to the richness of the perfectly poached eggs, the creaminess of the hollandaise to the sourness and freshness of the salad. The texture came from the crunchy rosti and the salad. It was a very balanced and flavourful dish. The shakshuka was perfect for the cold weather we were having: rich, sour, creamy, comforting - a warm hug (if food could hug you). We mopped up every last bit with the crunchy bread. The greens juice we had was lovely and refreshing and the long black was aromatic the perfect compliment to a satisfying brunch. Put this place on the list if you haven’t already! Thank you to Rank One for organising and to Black Squirrel Cafe for having us. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and will be back to try other dishes from the menu.

They had the best looking eggs benedict and the waiter to match. Eggs benedict with salmon is my usual... but this one tasted healthy with all the veggies and didn't leave an oily after taste. Serving was huge too. Service was great, couldn't fault him, so polite and professional.

Excellent food & coffee. One of the few eateries we have found that can cater for my wifes restrictive diet, and still serve tasty food. Great food, great place, grrat service.

Service extremely slow 1 hour from seating at 11.15 Before order completed Order was not as supplied as requested the waitress was given the order twice verbally had no pen or pad but confirmed she understood On delivery of the said order one at 12.10. Pancakes with maple syrup on the side with bacon No ice cream , received pancakes submerged in maple syrup , bacon and Icecream on the side , 12.15 poached eggs arrive the waitress when asked about the stuff up with the pancakes does eye roll I must say on checkout the manager was most apologetic and compensatory . Gone are the days on arrival at breakfast at any decent venue you would be advised if there was going to be an extended wait and secondly the waitress obviously failed her pencil licence and never progressed to a pen! Food ok but damage already done 12june

Loved the atmosphere with the fireplace. Great food and friendly service and ideal location not far from the beach, it was nice to go for a stroll after a tasty meal.

I apologise for my review Totally wrong place The one in question is on the Sunshine Coast I could not be more sorry and hope this mistake doesn’t effect your business So very sorry

They do a nice vanilla chai latte and extra large takeaway cups that you can't get everywhere �

New and interesting varieties of coffee always a pleasure to call in and see what's trending in Bayside

Monica = Coffee.... #shejustgetsme

Excellent food , excellent service , friendly staff , family like atmosphere

A great cafe in an area that is really in need of one. Lunch and breakfast menu's both have great selection of normal and interesting items. Coffee was well made, service was attentive and speedy. As a dad with a small child I really noticed the great touches in place for kids.

Staff always friendly. Great service . Good coffee

The food is great and the staff are always attentive and happy Not to mention the great coffee ! 10/10 for sure .

Love this place! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and yummy food!

Love this place. My office away from home .

Good food, chatty cheerful staff and kid friendly.

Ordered a single take-away coffee. Waited 12 mins while the woman on the coffee machine put my keep cup aside and proceeded to make three coffees for the men working in the kitchen be for me. When I politely queried this, I was told "it has been busy today". It's great that you give your staff coffees, but paying customers should come first. I won't be coming back.

Loved sitting in the sun and enjoying a healthy and very delicious lunch here at Black Squirrel!<br/><br/>We ordered the Poached eggs with roasted tomatoes! Great energy booster, high in protein and most importantly delicious<br/><br/>Smashed avocado on toast drizzled with a balsamic glaze, accompanied with some freshly squeezed juices & a take away coffee to go!

Amazing cafe! Consistent and never fails every time I visit! It offers wide selection of modern cafe menu. Friendly service, delicious food and great coffee! Highly recommended!

Had the smoking salmon and was very impressed. Very nicely presented. Tasted fantastic. Only criticism is that it was a bit noisy with a machine behind the counter going. Will definitely be back!

BEST service and coffee in the area. We've made this our local. They remember our coffee order which is super nice. Owners are lovely and coffee is beautiful. The food always has so much effort put into it as well and is always delicious. Keep up the good work guys!

I decided to try this place out and was extremely satisfied. I ordered the breakfast board which gives you a poached egg on avocado toast and a bowl of bircher and some seasonal fruits. It was the perfect way to try a few different items on the menu and reasonably priced also. Over all was very happy and would definitely return.

A cafe that has stood the test of time in Sandringham, all be it multiple owners it was worth a try. A cafe that could feed us on Father’s Day without a wait for a table was a bonus. The food was standard brunch fair with large enough servings at your standard price. The food took a long time to come out, after the almost as long wait for just a drink but it was Father’s Day and busy, although I still think they should be able to keep on top of it in bayside. Will I go back?... maybe if there is too much a wait at other places around

One of those suburban cafes that are well known because they deliver honest earthy food and treat customers with great affection and care. The quinoa salad with pressed rib meat I had was absolutely delicious and filling. I thought it lacked a bit of more sauce and a bigger portion of meat, but I polished the plate. Coffee was good.

Came here for lunch recently with friends. This rustic well designed cafe is just located on the Main Street of Sandringham, few minutes walk to the beach! Food was so tasty, service was great, staffs were friendly. Ample of choices on the menu and reasonably priced. Definitely will visit again!

Had morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea here while visiting the beach. Everything was very good. The quality of the food was good and the service excellent. I was very impressed with the fact they were able to offer me this funny face coffee. They have a good selection of food available to suit most tastes and it is nicely presented along with reasonable prices. Can definitely recommend. Thanks for your complimentary cookies for my sons.

Fresh tasty food. Affogato with hazelnut syrup, vanilla ice cream, crunchy hazelnuts around the rim of the glass, was a nice twist. Refreshing "little dessert". Good coffee, however no coffee art.

A sunny Sunday morning lead us down the coast to Sandringham, where we stumbled across the Black Squirrel Cafe. I have seen a few mentions of the cafe over the year, so thought we would pop in and check out what they had to offer. ATMOSPHERE & SERVICE. Located along the main shopping strip in Sandringham, this rustic style cafe is just a short walk from the beach. I instantly fell in love with their gorgeous decor and stunning rustic exposed brick walls.

I went to try some instagrammable hot cakes and they don't have it on their menu anymore then I asked for pancakes that I saw here on Zomato and same...not anymore I wanted something different but couldn't find much.Food was nice and a lot, not many healthy options or juices but it's a nice place

I stumbled upon this place when out with a friend and was thankful that I did. The menu is diverse and full of haloumi! I had the fritters, which were served hot and delicious with perfectly cooked haloumi, tomato and avocado. The service was also very accommodating and friendly - we will definitely be back!

Black squirrel café is a very pleasant and welcoming place to enjoy some brunch or lunch. It’s located along the main shopping strip in Sandringham and within walking distance to the beach. The food is generous in size, great in quality and the menu options can to any tastes. Everything was fresh and delicious. Would recommend trying out!

Used to be one of my favourites, last couple of times, food has been average, service not so great. Disappointing to say the least. Will not be returning anytime soon.

What a great little cafe walking distance from the beach. Loved the styling in the cafe the timber and industrial. Service was good. Coffee was good and a great menu with heaps to choose from. Loved the presentation of the dish I ordered. Flavours all worked well together.

I got the squid salad and my friend got the burger with a side of chips, service was polite and calm, didn't feel rushed at all, great warm inviting atmosphere :) food was amazing and coffe was smooth :)

It's always nice to go to Sandringham for breakfast. The calmness, the sun, the friendly people and cafes like this. Bright, modern and open, full of light. <br/>I came for a quick breakfast and had smashed avo and cured salmon. I know it's just the classic avo on toast but the cured salmon really made that little bit better. Great coffee too. I was also served by the most caring and smiliest young lady, wish I got her name so I could thank her. It always makes the experience that much better when you're greeted with such happiness.<br/>Please thank the lovely, young waitress who works at 8:30am on a Saturday :)

My husband and I went there for brekky the day after our wedding night. The staff were very friendly and made it special for us. They added complimentary champagne with strawberries. Amazing food and awesome coffee 👍🏽 Would highly recommend 😀

Great coffee here and my favourite dishes are the pan fried mushrooms and grilled halloumi with chicken. The staff are friendly and when they're not super busy serving customers they are always happy to stop and have a chat. Keep up the good work everyone!

The constantly busy local gem that serves delicious, wholesome food and treats. <br/><br/>As I regularly visit the peninsula beaches, we come to the black squirrel a lot during the summer for a glass of wine and a appetizing meal. <br/>Highly recommended: the haloumi salad with chicken which is one of the healthier option and is surprisingly full of flavour. <br/>The place is always full so it may take awhile to get attention, but once you do they are always friendly. It's a bit on the pricier side but still good enough to attract a constant crowd.

Love this cafe staff are very friendly and the food is delicious highly recommend, I will definitely come again soon coffee is very nice and great location

I was lucky enough to win competition on Instagram for brunch at the black squirrel! My friend and I both ordered the scrambled eggs with Kimchi, confit duck and hoisin sauce. It was all spot on for me. Delicious! My green juice was good too, loved the mint! Also a special note to the staff, a very friendly waitress helped me with my bags when I first arrived, I was having that awful moment when your back starts to seize up. Very kind of her.

A good friend of mine won brunch for two at black squirrel through and Instagram competition and I was the lucky plus one. Nice beachside location and such tasty food! We both went for the scrambled eggs with confit duck, hoisin sauce and kimchi. Delicious! Loved the unusual spin on a standard brunch staple. The coffee was also lovely and they actually made it extra hot upon my request! Big plus!

Nice little cafe not far from the beach, we stopped by for a quick lunch/breakfast (sandwich and poached eggs and bacon), wasn't too busy, ok service, nice decor

We heard that Black Squirrel Cafe was doing a bit of a revamp with their interior and menu so we recently checked it out - very impressed! <br/><br/>Their new menu offers a wide range dishes for people of all kinds of preferences. From simple healthy brunch dishes to tasty pancakes and burgers, you'll have to come back a few times to try what they have to offer. <br/><br/>The standout dish for us was definitely the beef brisket burger - something different that provides a delicious alternative to the classic beef patty. If you're looking for something a bit healthier, their broccolini dish was also quite yummy! <br/><br/>The staff are friendly, upbeat and there's ample parking in front and on the side streets. Once you're finished with your meal at Black Squirrel, you can walk across the road to enjoy the beach! <br/><br/>Check us out on Instagram (@melbfoodbaby) to see more of our reviews!

I like the interior of this place. I know they've been there awhile but only recently had a reason to venture down there. I've only had coffee here - that was good. Staff and service seem friendly and good enough.

Bit overpriced.. Good service.. Thought the avo smash lacked flavour based on how the menu presented it.. Good serving size.. Freshly squeezed juice is always a plus

I've always loved this place, even back when it was the Boathouse. The lads and I shared brekky here on the weeks and it fared well. Myself and a few others had the eggs Benedict which was extremely tasty and ever so filling. Always love the coffee here and the fitout is great, they manage to fit a lot of people in without ever feeling like you're crowded or too noisy!

I took my elderly mother out for lunch. The coffee order was mucked up. No big deal. These things happen. An hour later my mother asked when we could expect our meals... the lunch order had not been actioned...<br/>No big deal. These things happen. But we never expected the rude non-apology and non-explanation, or the embarrassing exchange at the counter as we tried to pay for just our coffees... <br/>Lemincello here we come

Consistent coffee and always a warm friendly vibe from the staff. Black squirrel is one of my locals and a bayside gem for brunch food. <br/><br/>Love the little complimentary ginger cookie to accompany my morning coffee.

4 of us had a very tasty brunch with good service and nice atmosphere.<br/>Variety of interesting dishes on the menu beautifully served and great for your taste buds. A fun long weekend afternoon.

Been here a few times. Coffee is great - love it when your cuppa taste good and at the right temp . In these cooler months I really appreciate when the coffee has warmth still in it. <br/>Food is good - still trying out different items on the menu but love how you have healthy tasty salad options that leave me satisfied. The decor suits the atmosphere of this spot. It's quirky and the staff are super friendly and quick on the orders. Definitely returning for more.

Definitively A place to visit. Great toasts, massive eggs and beautiful coffee. For sure I'll come back.<br/>Seating outside in a shiny day... The best

A group of us were getting together after a big night out, a friend recommended the black squirrel seeing we were all looking for breakfast and lunch. The big breakfast was fantastic, tasty and worth every bite, the sliders on the menu are sensational with all of us all enjoying our meals, coffee was made to perfection. The whole experience was great.

Great spot for a nice little café. The coffee here is great and served at exactly the right temperature. Food was goos enough but nothing to write home about. I had the Wild Mushrooms (needes more mushrooms) and my partner had the Hamloumi Bruschetta (presented well but lacked any real flavour). Service was good once we got their attention, albeit slow. Cost $46 for 2 people which doesn't really break the bank but for smaller than usual portioned breakfasts that are quite bland is on the the more exy side.

Cute little spot in Sandy by the Sandy station! The staff here is very helpful - recommended me the nutella latte and LOVED it :)<br/><br/>I ordered the Israeli baked eggs and my partner ordered the chicken sanga. The portion size of the baked eggs was SUPER generous - and delicious. The chicken sanga was a bit bland though..<br/><br/>I wish the interior of this place was a little prettier. I think it would hype up this cafe a lot more!

The coffee is consistently good, the staff friendly and the vibe nice and unpretentious. Nice outdoor seating. My place of choice when in sandringham.

Dropped in for a quick coffee after taking my dog for a walk. Staff members where extremely unfriendly with unacceptable attitude. If this is how they treat people supporting their service, then there are plenty other places with fantastic service where I will be attending instead.

Nice new fit out and one of the best coffees in Sandringham. The breakfasts are good, they are a bit more generous than some other places, worth consideration.

Love this gem in Sandringham! Had the Arni salad and my friend had the grilled chicken salad with avocado. Both were so amazing will definitely be returning !

One of my favourite places in Sandringham  - the coffee and food are both consistently very good. I regularly get take away coffee from here and there is at least one top shelf barista who knows how to make an excellent coffee. The  food is really eclectic so something for everyone but always great dishes with really good ingredients and the portions are generous too.

What a fabulous cafe! Love what James has done to the place!! Staff are always friendly, and it has a great vibe. Most importantly - esp for a Melbournian,  coffee is gooood!  As for the menu - never disappoints and the Black Squirrel has THE BEST BURGER IN MELBOURNE!! ♥♥♥

Pretty impressive. This place has been set up well in a great location and is very inviting. Busy most of the time there is plenty of seating in and outside in the sun. Inside is a mix of communal tables or smaller ones for groups. The fit out it on trend with exposed brick and plenty of natural light. <br/>Stepping for for lunch i was pleased to see the all day breaky menu was on offer. I selected the muesli and my friend the chicken burger. Presentation was exceptional with both and the burger was definitely a favourite judging by the amount of them that were coming out of the kitchen. <br/>The muesli was decent but not amazing and i wouldn't order it again. Coffees were on the money which is obviously vital.<br/>Overall the place is a winner and i would recommend it for break, lunch or just a coffee!

I absolutely love Black Squirrel. I recently moved out of the area and still go back every week with my son for breakfast. The staff are amazingly lovely, the coffee is always great and the food is delicious. They've just got a new chef and menu and it's different and still yummy. Lots of new dishes to try and always prepared with love and care.

Great food, great coffee, great service. I come here on a daily basis, have not been disappointed yet! To the previous post I suggest you return to Coles and try the tinned beans and Tip Top bread which sounds more up your alley.

A Good Reason NOT to eat in Sandringham. My colleague told me go to this great cafe in Sandringham next time I had to go there for a meeting, so I met my client at this place. I have only 4 words for it, bad, bad, bad and bad. Bad food, bad coffee, bad service and bad attitudes. My burger was basically inedible. I have to spit out four or five bits of gristle. I've eaten better meat from the discount aisle at Coles. Tried to wash it down with a coffee but it too was truly awful. (It never ceases to amaze me how places that crap on about their different blends can't make a decent cup) And the service, well it seemed that the staff seemed more into themselves than their customers of doing their job. I had a few stern words for my friend only to find out I went to the wrong cafe (no kidding!!). No chance of that happening again as I won't bother stopping for lunch in Sandringham again.

Took over 35 mins for our breakfast to come out and my fritters were burnt and the poached egg was over cooked as well. Very disappointed after wanting to try this cafe for so long.

Sandringham's best! Our new favourite in the area. Something for everyone on the menu, lovely staff, great coffee and beautiful urban decor. A must-try!

Thank you! Finally sandys v.... Thank you!<br/>Finally sandys very own cafe culture can begin with this beauty. Great coffee (almond milk an option ), great good, great staff!

WOW!!!. What a transformation from the boathouse to black squirrel, food has vastly improved, coffee is always good and the service is the best in sandy!

The best food I've ever eatten!!!<br/>Extremely friendly staff great atmosphere. Great Sunday lunch.

Awesome restaurant in the Bayside ! Finally!. What a find ! The Black Squirrel is providing the bayside finally with a world class menu. I walked in today and had The Treme . Awesome jalapeno cornbread and poached eggs . My teenagers loved the caramel milkshake and drey burger . We will definitely be back . Also cheers to the friendly and attentive waitstaff from a former waitress in my younger years .

Not only was the breakfast great, the staff were friendly and inviting. Definitely underrated. A must try. Great atmosphere.<br/><br/><br/>-----29 Jun, 2014-----<br/><br/>Great start go the day. Staff were attentive and pleasant. Bacon to die for. Milkshake was nice and cold. Bit noisy will be back

Best cafe meal I have had!. I went to Black Squirrel during the week for lunch expecting good but fairly standard cafe food. What I had was completely above my expectation. I ordered the Lamb Arni and as mentioned in the title I honestly believe it was the best cafe meal I have had in recent memory. The lamb was so tender that it was falling apart, the eggplant was perfectly smokey so as to compliment the flavours of the lamb without overpowering it, the hummus added to the complexity of the dish as well as providing great textural balance and to finish it off I felt their was the perfect amount of sweetness with the addition of the pomegranate to balance the dish.<br/>The coffee that we had after was fantastic and went perfectly with the Bread and butter pudding that we ordered. I would suggest avoiding this with its decadent ferrero rocher Ice cream otherwise you could be like us and find that this is a reoccurring craving now, endlessly calling our name and no doubt doing nothing for the waistline. <br/>Staff were friendly and efficient and overall it was a fantastic dining experience and one that I will certainly be going back for. <br/><br/>- Kieran

Disappointed this time. Revisited in an attempt to re experience one of the best meals ever 6 months earlier. We were sadly disappointed. It seems to have changed owners/chefs/staff. Whilst the meals we had were passable they lacked the flair of what was experienced earlier. Too much bread and too much cream on what we selected. The menu item we had previously enjoyed so much was no longer on the now extremely limited menu. The service was very friendly but confused. No sugar provided for our coffee', and no request as to if we wanted a glass of wine. We noticed customers meals being left on the server far too long as waiters frittered about chatting. The coffee' was very good as was our choice of wine from the very limited list. The menu in general seemed to have reduced in size. Unlike the previous reviewer we will not be 'defiantly' sic coming back.

Wow! The new menu is amazing! I had "the treme" the jalapeño corn bread Was the stand out on this dish! Well done chef well done. I'll defiantly be back!