Review Banff - St Kilda

This cozy little Italian restaurant situated in St Kilda was a huge surprise! We were looking for a place to have lunch today around the area when we came across this amazing restaurant, and oh boy! What a great choice! I can't get over the mouth-watering flavours! 🤤 And the cheap prices! If you are looking for an affordable gastronomical delight, this is the place for you! My only complaint, is the wine served in a common water glass. Everything else, 10 points! Ig exploringmelbourne_gastronomy

For a warm day, you have salads: Smoked Salmon, as it appears on the menu board. Light on the tummy, not drowned in dressing, with capers trying to hide (I always find them!) and plenty of salmon. Delicious. Afterwards, blueberry muffin (warmed without asking, lovely) and flat white coffee, for the special price of $6. Yum. Lots of soda water with ice, much-needed. Young Tom, who was on his own when I arrived, provided great quick service with friendly banter. If you like a cosy, yet airy, environment that reminds you of your aunty's home in the country, and lots of the locals turning up as we speak, then this place is for you. I will go back to find out what the Paper bag pasta is all about. Wheelchair dining only in the outdoor footpath dining area.

Cute, cozy place with nice decorations. Lovely pizza and wine for a fair price. Nothing fancy but super delicious. I had a lovely lunch with my family there and super recommend.

What a great find ... vintage build, quaint and eclectic. Happy Hour from 21:00-22:00, that's unbelievable. The ambience, not the most refined, but plenty of good food on the menu. Yes, value for money too.

Great food, amazing gluten free variety, and great service. I’d of given this place a 5 stars for the food, price and atmosphere alone, however I’ve also got to mention that I made a mistake on my order (forgot to say gluten free) and they simply fixed it for us by doing the pizza again! Thank you!

Unassuming Street frontage leads into a cosy bar that's worth an hour of your time. In middle of Winter we walked in to a cosy fire and the aroma of mulled wine which was equally tasty. The pizzas were quick and well cooked. My only wish was that there was more feta on the pumpkin pizza as it lacked the balance of a salty flavour. The service was awesome as was atmosphere.

Amazing food! I come here often. Love the Moroccan lamb pizza #17 and the chicken avo focaccia #29. Everything is reasonably priced as well so that’s a double win for me

Stopped here for a quick brunch today. A little disappointed that the breakfast menu wasn't available later on a Sunday but that didn't really matter. The staff are friendly the service was a little slow, but they where really busy. Our menu selection was more than satisfactory and we can say with confidence that we will be going back.

I came in search of a money exchange shop so that I could exchange my last £20 into dollars and instead ended up in a cafe spending money I can't afford to spend but I don't regret it. I got a bowl of salad and at first I was disappointed because it had hardly any smoked salmon on the top but then I found that the salad was in layers and there was actually loads of everything. It was really delicious and the cheapest salad I've seen in Melbourne that consists of more than 1 ingredient and more than 7 leaves. I got to the end of the salad and felt frustrated at the difficulty of eating the last bits of salad from the bowl with a fork but alas, the cutlery worked on a self-service system. I'd taken a knife and fork at the beginning. The issue was my own and I was free to fetch a spoon or use my coffee spoon. The coffee was nice, the food was nice and the staff were nice too. I would highly recommend this nice place.

Saturday morning. One waitress. 8 customers. Ordered 2 food items for breakfast. Part 1 arrives. No cutlery. Mumbles something. I wait, wait, wait. I get up, try to locate cutlery. No spoons just knives and forks. Bearded Barista mutters something. Said spoon arrives. Still waiting for milk for cereal. Part 2 food never arrives. I'm done, very underwhelmed. Barista more interested in talking with Italian customers at counter than finalising bill. Overall unimpressed by both staff. First and last trip to this place.

As a new St.Kilda resident it's so amazing to find such a hidden treasure like Banff. The fireplace and warmth makes it feel like an extension of your lounge room. So homely!!!! You must try the Almond porridge for breakkie and the coffee in a cone is delicious!

Wow loved this place,it's a hidden treasure! Amazing staff gorgeous food and atmosphere one of a kind,I will be back for sure on my next visit to Melbourne

Been living in Melbourne for more than a year and I really think that Banff is one of the best or even the best Cafe I've been to. The staff is always super friendly and most important the food and coffee's / my hot choclates were the best I've had in Melbourne. Take your time and enjoy the good vibes with some awesome people, food and drinks! :) Thank you Banff!!!!

I am an infrequent but also consistent customer as a great spot and normally great value for money but I do agree with previous comment for a gourmet lamb pizza it did not have enough lamb for 1 piece let alone a while pizza - sorry guys but don't drop the bar as I love it there xxx

Great funky, cosy place to have a meal and a drink on a cold day

Terrific breakfast, really enjoyed the Breakfast burrito. If there was to be a small issue they had run out of Chai at 11am Sunday morning which seems to be a bit o an oversight. Other than that, it was faultless.

Unfortunately, the meals ordered were lacking considerably in flavour and quite 'tasteless'..... a 'Pulled Lamb Pizza with Rocket' was ordered and absolutely no Lamb meat on the Pizza at all..... I felt like I was just eating Pizza dough with Rocket leaves on top! The Pasta which was eaten by my Italian friend, was flavourless also...Lacking in Depth of flavours, no Parmesan cheese & quite bland. It's a shame, as we would not be convinced to go back, unless more quality was offered in the areas mentioned.

Took 20mins for a takeaway coffee. One person serving, making coffees and managing the register. The waiter kept interrupting as he couldn't get his orders right. Other staff sat at the table and ate

As a regular I wouldn't change Banff for any other place on Fitzroy St. Even Andy and Deb went their own way after so many years, Alessia is now doing very good job. Some people don't understand that you get good treatment when you treat staff the same way as you expect from from them. I am always looking forward to have my morning coffee at Banff. Good job guys!!!

Waited an hour for breakfast (people who arrived after after I'd ordered got their food before I did) then they gave me the wrong meal. I'll stick to my regular, The Pelican, just down the road. Great food and fantastic service. Avoid The Banff!

I loved it. It was quiet on the night I went with some friends and could not choose what I wanted. So much and all so good. The beer could have been colder in the bottle but it was like 40+ C outside on that day I went. Meal was beautiful and staff great

4.5/5<br/><br/>How have I only just discovered Banff?! The interior is reminiscent of an intimate Canadian Ski lodge (hence the name; Banff), with its timber panelling and cracking wood fire. There’s also a strong community feel with the walls plastered with upcoming local events.<br/><br/>I highly recommend going at Happy Hour, where the already reasonably priced pizzas ($11-$14) are dropped to $7, with $4 pots and $5 wines/spirits also available!!! <br/><br/>We ordered:<br/> #11 (roast pumpkin, feta, red onion, rocket and Napoli sauce w/ mozzarella),<br/> #14 (tuscan spiced roasted vegetables, spinach, pumpkin, zucchini, onion, olives, pesto and Napoli sauce w/ mozzarella) and the<br/>Smoked Salmon Salad (smoked salmon, spinach, capers, red onion, feta, dill and creamy white wine dressing). <br/><br/>Generous, excellent quality and moorish pizzas. We were very happy indeed!! <br/><br/>Overall, a definite must-visit for well priced quality pizza’s in an intimate setting. You won’t be disappointed!!

Ordered spaghetti marinara and spinach fetta pizza for home delivery. Both were delicious. The pizza crust was thin and crisp. The marinara sauce was really good but they pack it butter paper and carton, which is good in a way, anti plastic but that also means that sauce gets soaked and a little dry by the time it gets to us. Overall satisfied with the food.

Went here at the suggestion of someone else. I never would have thought to come on my own but am so appreciative of th suggestion. This may be my new favourite spot in St.Kilda. It's so cute and cosy with lovely service and great coffee and rustic Italian fare. Good for family dinners, drinks or soy flat whites.

I ordered eggs with tomatoes and fritters and it was definitely one of the most basic breakfasts I’ve had in Melbourne. Everything was dry and overdone, no relish or anything. Was so underwhelming I was so disappointed. And as we were hungover we just wanted some fries to go with our lunch but they didn’t have any- almost sacrilege! Only go here if you are desperate!

They have got great deals for pizza and beer especially on the weekends and it is a good outdoor space. The pizzas could have been a little better with more options but for the given price they were of good taste ❤️

A very agreeable (and extensive) happy hour policy, great pizzas (that are also very friendly on the wallet!) and polite and attentive service. Casual and relaxed dining/drinking space and good selection of food and drink on offer.

Needs improvement. Don’t be fooled by the high average rating here. It’s got potential but the pizzas are just so average with no flavour and hard bases, I’m all about simple with nice ingredients but the pizzas are disappointing. Cheap, yes, but small so two pizzas is not enough for two. Paper wrapped linguine carbonara pasta is really nice. But place is un clean, lots of flies on tables, staff just chatting with each other. It’s self serve for cutlery etc but they didn’t tell us. Maybe just a bad night! But there were also smokers at the outdoor dining tables to top it off.

Banff has replaced a historical galley used by soldiers to cook their meals during world war 2, and that bit of history is enough to fascinate any history lover to be there.<br/><br/>Ordered an Orange Juice, Lemonade, Cold Coffee Latte, Mexican Baked Eggs, Pesto Chicken Toasties and Bacon, Egg with Rocket leaves Foccacia and their famous doughnut.<br/><br/>Bacon and Egg and Pesto Chicken were clearly the dishes of the day. They were fantastically cooked, flavored and very very filling. Super mout fillings with enough flavors always make us happy.<br/><br/>Baked Egg came close with beans bacon and everything that was there in it....Yummy but could have been enhanced with a bit of spicy salsa or something.<br/><br/>Absolutely loved the Cold Coffee Latte and Doughnut. Doughnuts are the most traditional and perfectly sweet.<br/><br/>One thing that Banff does that not many restaurants do is Glutenfree and Vegan Pizzas. They have so much to offer to Vegans, Vegetarians and Patrons who are on Gluten free diets.<br/><br/>Portions are big for the price you pay, and it's definitely worth every morsel.<br/><br/>Service, although friendly, is little laidback so don't expect fast service. Enjoy the ambiance!!<br/><br/>Definitely going again.

Surprised at the size of the pizza, was hoping to get more sausage, more dough, more everything else. The carbonara and matriciana that came in a paper parcel were delicious!! Massive chunks of bacon so I was happy. I recommend the pasta over the pizza

Stumbled across this quaint cafe on a lazy Sunday morning and fell in love with its character. The staff were cool and accommodating. The smashed avo was pretty good but I had to ask them to retoast my bread. The smash to sourdough ratio was perfect!

Banff is a truly one-of-a-kind establishment, combining the look of a bar, atmosphere of a cafe and cheap and tasty Italian goodies; all while keeping it casual. I was seated next to a lady working away at her laptop and a group of friends having beers which I think says it all. <br/><br/>My partner and I came for dinner and ordered 3 dishes: Pesto Chicken, Bocconcini & Red Onion Pizza; Spinach, Feta, Olives & Mushroom Pizza and Paper Bag Pasta, which was … pasta served in paper bag material and a basket. Specifically we had the linguini carbonara with bacon, onion and mushrooms to share between the 2 of us. The linguini carbonara infused with the bacon and onion flavours made the whole dish so tasty. While the pasta itself was delicious, the paper material really accentuated the grease that had accumulated and becomes quite noticeable as you approach the bottom. This did not stop me from scoffing the pasta all down though. <br/><br/>The pizzas were of the smaller, thin-crust variety that you often find at pubs and bars. The bases were a little too thin for my liking, resulting in slightly floppy slices that are unable to support their own weight when held from the crust. The flavours and ingredients however, were an absolute delight, I could’ve had the entire two by myself on another day. The garlic base although noticeable, does not overpower the rest of the ingredients, and makes the pizza that much more enjoyable! <br/><br/>The place can be cramped or cosy depending on how you look at it but the confined quarters definitely add to the character of Banff. I will be sure to pay a visit during happy hour in the future.

Such a warm and lovely place! Their pizzas are amazing. It’s one of my go to places for a quick lunch. <br/><br/>Food 4/5<br/>Service 3/5<br/>Ambience 4/5<br/>Value for money 5/5

Nice and cheap but I found the pizza base a bit like eating a cracker. I think maybe the dough had been over worked. Good size for one person with good flavours and prices. Pesto chicken pizza didn’t have enough pesto. I’d still like to try the pasta from here.

Went here Easter sunday had a eggs Benedict it was amazing the staff are great the pizza's are amazing its one of my favorite restaurants love eating there

I have to be honest...this review would of got 5 stars. Unfortunately for us we had one of the rudest, angriest and painful waitresses I have ever had the “pleasure” of meeting. She made us feel uncomfortable in such a warm, lovely and awesome cafe/restaurant! <br/>

Great pizza very thin base not greasy our oily very cheap to eat at and great selection of food and drinks 2 of use ate here with food and drink $40 great deal

Great coffee... food and service average. Awesome atmosphere during the winter as there is a lovely fireplace inside.. oh and the pizza is really yummy.

Literally all the staff here are space cadets! <br/>My friend and I walk into this cafe, where we are not greeted in any way, shape or form! So we just found a table. <br/>We had been sitting down for about 10 minutes in this quiet cafe before a waitress came over and asked if we’d ordered, at this stage we hadn’t even been given water or menus! <br/>She then walks off and my friend and I are still sitting there with no menus! Finally I give in and ask the waitress for a menu, believe it or not she got us one! <br/>My friend and I then decide what we would like to order, but yet again we are sitting there waiting for a waiter to take our order, in the end we decided to order at the counter before we died of starvation! <br/><br/>We ordered a pizza to share. <br/>Our pizza comes out and we are left with no cutlery, no napkins and no sharing plates...what the hell! <br/><br/>Pizza was ordinary!

Went to Banff while visiting and staying in Saint Kilda for two weeks from the UK. This seems to be one of the in-blocks with lots of bistros and lots of people hanging out on the pavement on table to enjoy the transition to spring - a lovely atmosphere. We were attracted by the cosy atmosphere and very reasonable prices and the restaurant delivered. they had jazz on which added to the atmosphere-not too loud. Service is very informal-grab your own water and cutlery, but that's fine-all goes with the hustle and bustle and make yourself at home. We thought the food was really really good, the pizza was better than many, the prawn pesto cream in the bag was utterly delicious and the pear and rocket salad was fabulous. House red very drinkable at 20 dollars for a bottle. Portion sizes aren't huge if you're starving, but excellent value. Would hang out here more if we were locals.

Our first option for brunch had a 45min wait time, so with rumbling tummies we wandered along Fitzroy St in search of a replacement. First impression of Banff was it's little dank and dark... The sign posted by the counter told us to wait to be seated although that never happened, we where casually told by the wait staff to find a place where ever. <br/><br/>Our experience continued to roll downward from there - No menus given 2 sets of cutlery for a party of 4. then when it can time to order we were curtly asked "What do you wanna to eat?" While a 1.0 rating may seem harsh to their usual 4.0 rating, I think it's easily justified. Truth be told I don't think I spotted one smile (fake or genuine) on any of the wait staffs' faces a little depressing if you ask me. The food was bland and was very basic, there was a complete lack of pride in all of our meals. <br/><br/>Decor was dark and dirty, seating was uncomfortable and cramped. It largely resembled more of a medieval pub as apposed to the suggested Italian pizzeria. <br/><br/>A return is unlikely. However, others may see something more in what was a bismal eatery.

This is a great place for lunch - a casual, relaxed log cabin vibe and great prices for light tasty meals. Dinner, on the other hand, isn't great. The portions aren't substantial enough to be satisfying for dinner and the pasta in a bag was so soft as to be mush. The casual, locals-only vibe was pretty cool though, but I'm just going here for a casual lunch in future.

I think it's a great little cozy place with a warm and welcoming vibe to it. Breakfasts are good and relatively priced. Monday and Tuesday nights are the cheap $7 pizza nights and def tasty!!! The quinoa and spinach salad is amazing and I usually get that with a pizza, it makes me feel healthier. Paper bag pastas are temperamental though. First time I had the pesto with prawn it was to die for, juicy, full of flavour, prawns were cooked perfectly...however second time I had this pasta it was dry, no oil or garlic and the prWns were rubbery :( let's hope they can keep the paper bag pastas consistently good everytime!

Fantastic atmosphere, beautiful and cheap food, cheap beer and wine at happy hour and the live music was wonderful. Visiting from Perth and stayed in St. Kilda so I recommend a visit for dinner on a Sunday night like we did. :)

Pizzas are excellent and offer good value for money. Wine list is simple and sweet. For affordable Friday night dinner with friends, Banff simply delivers.

The Banff excels as a homely, local eatery that offers very reasonably priced comfort food. While we found most dishes serviceable, nothing was spectacular nor outstanding by any means. The low prices and friendly service definitely makes this a cheap-eats winner though.<br/> The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the Crispy Prosciutto Pizza. The thin base was generously topped with an abundance of fresh rocket. Hiding underneath was a cheesy combination of tomato-base and saganaki. The savoury flavours perfectly complemented by the strips of prosciutto that were roasted to a perfect crisp.

We were supposed to be trying out another place nearby but were told that we had to wait an hour and a half for a table. Instead of trying to come up with an alternative venue on the spot, we headed over to Banff to mull over our options with some help by our alcoholic buddies, Mr Beer and Ms Cider. The beverage menu wasn't as concise as the food but we weren't after anything too fancy. The Coopers Pale Ale and Little Apple Cider were enough to keep us satisfied until we go to our next location.<br/><br/>We couldn't resist ordering some sweets to share - a sticky date pudding and a chocolate brownie. Both were dangerously sinful, moist and delicious. We were most tempted to order the pizzas and the quirky sounding "paper bag pasta" but we just had dinner. Those will be on our "to-try" list for another day. <br/><br/>Banff was an hour from closing yet us and another two tables of customers were warmly welcomed in. We were even told not to rush and to enjoy our time. Two thumbs up for the accommodating and jovial service. <br/><br/>

My friend took me to this place for lunch and I totally love the vibe of it. We sat by the fireplace, which was really warm. Their menu is on the wall and we decided to share a pizza with garlic base topped with caramelized onions, spinach, cheese and olives along with two red wines (their way of serving wine in this sort of glass is a bit weird). I absolutely loved the pizza and the price was really reasonable as well. A good place for a nice relaxing meal.

My favourite pizza place in Melbourne! Very reasonably priced with special priced pizza most days, chilled out atmosphere and happy hour everyday! Great coffee too!

The coffee was awesome and cheap, the place looked nice but the table and bench outside were about to fall apart. Will come back to taste te food.

Always a busy spot so i decided to try it, coffee and friendly staff, the food was good too, nice and cosy inside and a good spot for some drinks and pizza in the evening..

Really enjoy this place for it's great happy hour menu, prices, as well as it's close proximity to home. The hot chocs and coffee are really great here. <br/><br/>Unfortunately, the breakfast I had was a pretty solid disappointment. The wait wasn't anything extraordinary, but my meal still managed to come out cold to the touch. It was an eggs benny with added salmon. Staff were reasonable about it and attempted to reheat the dish, but it just made matters worse.<br/><br/>Will not be returning for breakfast.

You have to take this place as it is but a great arvo spot with cheap pizza and pastas...and other things.  We had the beef sliders which were very tasty...$10.50 for 2, recommend these, pizzas range from 6.90 to 12.90 which we thought was very reasonable...they are for 1 or 2 sharing, and we had a salad, roasted veg, nice salad but it was full of spinach and only a couple of veg in it...will try the blue cheese salad next time.  They have happy hour 3-6 which we enjoyed 4.50 wine and spirits....service was very slow at the bar, they take their time, chat with people but people waiting maybe just cut down on the chat a little to serve people....that really is the only negative.....will definitely be back to try the pasta and another pizza and salad.

We always come here on either Monday or Tuesday to get their In House Pizzas. Our faves are Saganaki and Roasted Italian Sausage with a glass of lemon lime bitter. A nice cozy place to hang out.

Unassuming little place on Fitzroy Street. They have a great pizza selection (really well thought out toppings/pairings) and they are very reasonably priced. I like the vibe in there - super chill and comes across as a local hangout. Happy hour is also awesome! If I remember correctly, I think all "basic" pizzas are $6 during HH.

I tried the saganaki and roast potato pizza this evening and it was okay.... For the size it seemed a bit pricey especially seeing as I've had tastier $4 pizzas in Prahran. The garlic bread was a winner though! Crunchy on the outside with a soft inside oozing with butter! Was looking at the happy hour specials and they looked pretty decent. Would definitely come back for a drink!

Normally I'd go to Fitzrovia for my local take away coffee but I was in a rush to get home and didn't have the time to wait there. Saw Banff and thought I'd give it a try in hope of scoring a new coffee shop, there was also no cue at Banff. My latte was very weak, I asked the girl if she could make it stronger but it was still weak, my boyfriends cappuccino tasted more like a hot chocolate. So I had to do what any coffee lover would do, went home to make a quick plunger and added that to the coffee's! Much better now. Staff were friendly and cafe itself looked cute but unfortunately the coffee wasn't good.

Nice place with some exciting food. Had pizza which was pretty small for the price. Toilets were filthy. More hole in the wall than foodie-heaven.

Delicious food and excellent service. Also reasonably priced and a great atmosphere. I don't know what else to add to reach the character limit because this place was that good

Don't think the pizza in this place deserves any credit. I was eating it thinking I could do a<br/>Better one at home. Service as pretty good and the atmosphere is nice. Cool place on a sunny day to<br/>Sit outside.. But the pizza is really not great.. At all.

My favourite little hole in the wall pizza spot, it’s not fancy, wine is reasonably priced and served in water glasses, pizzas are less than $10 and the service is easy going. Oh yes!! The garlic, rock salt and olive oil – simple and perfectly done. This is my absolute favourite. Napoli with bocconcini and fresh basil, sensational!

The place is lovely and the food is good, for the friendly price (at lunch)<br/>Good place for catch up with an old friend,<br/>I would definitely recommend it to the others. <br/>

Cheap - yes. Tasty - moderately. Quick - absolutely not. Pizzas are small and nice flavours though the dough is so chewy it hurts your jaw to eat. Top tip: definitely don't order a takeaway pasta at the restaurant. You will be told it won't be long then end up waiting half an hour. So much potential but just not reaching it.

Very cosy and chilled out cafe, perfect to enjoy a warm meal or drink with some friends around St. Kilda. We ate there twice because the food was so great. The nachos and pasta in paper bag (carbonara, and spaghetti with prawns) were our favourite dishes by far. Pizzas were alright but small. The staff is friendly and relaxed.

Edge of St Kilda.<br/>A warm communal hang out.<br/>Made to feel at home.<br/><br/>Long list of pizzas.<br/>Cheap on Monday and Tuesday.<br/>You could order two....

Low key, good atmosphere, ok pizzas at a really affordable price. Conveniently situated right next to Alex theatre and in the heart of St Kilda. Food is nothing special but pretty good value nevertheless and served quickly. And again the atmosphere is great for a night out with friends: it's casual yet warm with a pretty cool/rustic decor.

Risotto was average and very small. The pizza wasn't great either, 4 slices is all you will get too. What a terrible meal that was! Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.

This is one of those really low key back packer hangouts. I live in the area and love coming here as you always feel at ease dining alone. The food and drinks arr tasty and cheap and the place has a real communal feel. I've been coming here for years when ever I can't be bothered cooking or feeling like I want to be around the hustle and bustle and people without the pressure of actually having to interact with anyone. Also has a great book collection!

A little gem in St Kilda. I have to thank Rhonda for this one. Seriously simple pizzas that taste good. Not that hard is it. Simple cutlery, basic wines and some nice quality pizzas. Price tips it off. For value for money awesome;)

A bit of an underwhelming experience. I ordered the smash avocado on sourdough bread but it had quite a few problems. First of all, it came out on multigrain not sourdough. Also, the smash itself was supposed to have semidried tomatoes. I received ONE tomato. The plate was dominated by an overdressed pile of roquette which was less than desirable.

Absolutely loved it. Such a nice place to hang out with friends and chill. There were tables outside. We've got 2 ciders. I tried it for the first time and i liked it. Neighborhood is pretty nice and there is a parking lot right across the street of the restaurant.

I guess "chilli scrambled" is the dish of the season for Melbourne Breakfast? But I no complain! This version was particularly delicious - especially when partnered with the optional chorizo. Plenty of bite to remind you of the chilli - perfect. I think if you're going to call something chilli then you have to mean it - and the people who complain it is too spicy can have the Milo.<br/><br/>Anyhoo .. Topped off with a brute force long black, this is the Melbourne breakfast I expected. The interior is themed without being kitschy - and the staff were the right balance of attentive nonchalance (yeah I said it like that).<br/><br/>Try it out.

How many pizzas would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck pizza?….. Keep up it’s a play on how many pizzas can four very hungry Melbournites eat if they missed lunch and it was Banff pizza happy hour? With $6 delicious pizzas and clean skin bottles of Yarra Valley Merlot at $18 – it’s the happiest hour ever. I LOVE pizza, just in case you have missed that along the way BUT it is my comfort food, my stay home in joggies and curl with a warm pizza box and a TV binge! It takes a lot for me to enjoy eating out but Banff always makes me super happy. It’s completely relaxed, wine in water glasses, order at the bar and help yourselves to cutlery. There is always a friendly smile and one of the best garlic pizzas in town!

Had the egg and bacon foccacia, it was very dry. Not enough aioli, more moisture needed! Bread a was overcooked (hard) and dry. <br/>I crossed the river for this brunch, and I wouldn't come here again.

I was pretty unsatisfied with both the food and service. My poached eggs on toast came served on cardboard-dry toast which was hard as a rock, no butter. Also they were on a plate which was too small to eat comfortably. The worst part was there was an overpowering vinegar taste to the eggs, I think possibly too much was used in the cooking, and so I really didn't enjoy it as that overpowered the whole dish. Coffee was great, however. Couldnt fault that. Service was lacking, as several people tried to line up to pay, a waitress stood with her back to us and blocked the counter to do whatever she was doung, just as soon as it was our turn to pay. She did not apologies, and she took ages to finish what she was doing, then continued to cut in the line in front of us a few times. I could see other areas on the bench that she could have grabbed orders from or whatever, without cutting us off. We were in a bit of a rush to check out of iur hotel, and the line was already quite long. Also, they desperately need to wash the water glasses, they smell really foul like meat or something from being in a fridge or not washed properly, I dont know, and it was really unpleasant as we were very thirsty but didn't want to drink from them.

I love this place.<br/>You order your meal at the counter and then they give you a number and you find a table. The decor is shabby chique and there is a nice cozy fire place so it's nice and warm in winter.<br/><br/>The pizza is amazing and just the right amount of toppings. The chilli oil is a great addition if you like a bit more spice on the pizza (they have bottles of it which you can just pour on the pizza). My favourite pizza place in St Kilda and it is also really good value.<br/><br/>The desserts are equally amazing. I had the oreo and nutella pizza...need I say more. The desserts are well sized so if you've just eaten a pizza I would order 1 dessert between 2 people.

Art deco meets cosy cabin in the heart of St Kilda. Large north facing windows let in warm atmospheric light while a wood fire crackles away at the rear, logs stacked up against the wall. The varied menu offers something for everyone, gourmet pizza's or reasonably priced house pizza, only $6 weekdays 12-5. Staff are friendly, casual and competent, there's a relaxed cosy atmosphere, the sort of place where you might easily exchange some conversation with the next table. The pizza's are thin crust and delectable, lots of garlic but that's fine by me. There's a good choice of focaccia and pasta dishes also. My only criticism is pretty average wine served in a coffee/water glass at white tablecloth prices, there's no excuse for serving average wine at $9 a glass in a bistro in Melbourne. But overall, a great place to meet up with a few friends.

Banff is a great lunch spot to grab a quick pizza. Love all the wood inside making it have a cabin feel. Cool chilled staff and damn tasty pizza with loads of options! Rate it!!!!

What a find! Shhhhhush we need to keep this hushed. Amazing pizza. Toasty fireplace. I think we ordered about 6pizzas but luckily it was during happy hour and made no dint in the pocket. Added a few pints of beers all up was a terrific Monday night.

Great place to start the night. Unlike most places in St Kilda, it was value for money and had a real cosy atmosphere. <br/>Weirdly, they served red wine in water glasses....gotta say, I'm not a fan.<br/>I was there with a group of friends and we all shared some great tasting, very cheap pizzas! 👍👍

Unlike many other places in the area, you never feel ripped off at Banff! Their food is simple, but tasty. The portion is not very big, but just enough for a quick bite. Service is sometimes confusing (I don’t know whether it's table service or you order at the counter), but not a big problem.

The pizzas have shrunk! We had to have 2 to feel full. As delicious as they were, their teeny tiny size means we will probably only go back on cheap night

Awesome Breakfast. We stumbled across The Banff looking for some breakfast. Oh my goodness. This place is amazing. Delicious food, coffee. Great atmosphere and the staff were terrific. Looking at the menu for the rest of the day and wonder why we had never heard of this place before. Great prices, great food. Why would you want to go anywhere else?

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Happy hour pizzas? Deal! From 12-5, they do happy hour where pizzas are $5.50, what a steal! But if you miss out on the specials, doesn’t matter because they are all under $10 anyways.

...pasta could no longer be classified as bland and the tomato-some flavour combined with the complimentary spice had me tossing up between reaching for the water glass and savouring the flavours.

Their pizzas are delicious and student friendly (In-house pizzas are $5.50 all day Monday and Tuesday and between 12 and 5.30 Wednesday to Friday, but they're still very reasonably priced at other times. The last two occasions I was at The Banff I had the

Strangely named Banff has been on Fitzroy Street for some time and I can’t believe we have never been, this tiny little pizza house is serving pizzas for less than $10 and they are my new favourites! There’s a welcoming British accent behind the counter and the relaxed approach of grab a table and order at the bar. It looks like there is barely a free seat but some happy pizza eaters make space for us to squeeze the three of us in and we drool at the blackboard calling out the pizzas and pastas waiting for us. We are totally going to be greedy, it all sounds too good, simple garlic, rock salt and olive oil has a generous cheese and herb top and is divine! Bocconcini with fresh napoli and basil is just gorgeous, melting, stretchy cheese with rich sauce and a punch of basil – so good! Saganaki with rosemary potato and sea salt is not something I have had before but I love it! Salami, mozzarella and black olive rich and spicy and all too soon the pizzas are gone?! The rocket, pear and par

But the more popular pizza was of course my good ‘ol pal: the squid and its jolly good friends.

It was a nice breakfast but I was expecting something better from a café on Fitzroy Street in St Kilda, especially one that was getting the ratings and reviews it was. The staff were really attentive and friendly and the atmosphere of the place had a certain charm, but the breakfast was lacking.

Smoked Trout, Caper and Lemon Creme Fraiche, Poached Eggs and Wilted Spinach. For $15 or so, this dish certainly delivers. There is plenty of good smoked trout, and the fresh steamed spinach really freshens the dish up.

Love this place in st kilda...great the chilli scramble with feta just like mums cooking... Place is amazing and the coffee is great...

Banff - St. Kilda, Melbourne. For one last place to go to in Melbourne before heading off back home, it was my duty - assigned by the family - to look around and find a good, local place for breakfast. St. Kilda is an area rich in all sorts of cuisine, and finding a decent place for breakfast is no short order. After an extensive lot of searching and narrowing down the options, it was won out by popular vote to try out Banff. This location has gone through a number of transformations over the years, the latest one being a night hotspot, and brunch landmark. <br/><br/>Hearsay is that the restaurant is often featured in many Good Food Guides around Melbourne, and gets a lot of favour from the voting public. Like some other places in St. Kilda, a bit of uniqueness helps - Banff has many unique idiosyncracies. Fitting as a Canadian place, it looks and feels like a log cabin (mixed with a bar) with most of the furniture being made of bare wood, plus piles of timber in the corner, and a poster for the titular little town on the wall above a fire place. <br/><br/>While there are a lot of the hip and hipster influences inside (particularly with mention to one of the waitstaff that day), the feel is more of a calmer, relaxed kind of hip. There are still plenty of posters for alternative material on the walls, but it is a lot less in quantity and mostly on just a couple of sections. While at breakfast it was cosy and calm, this could well be a different story when pizza is on the menu. Service, though all positive, was varied; some of the people there quite friendly and a few others were going about their job. <br/><br/>At breakfast, there is a selection that is both modest and extensive, offering all sorts of modes of breakfast, and most of them with some exciting, characteristic twist to liven it up. Just looking at the menu, it was somewhat difficult to know what to get. During lunch and dinner time, they convert their focus into making wood-fired pizzas in house; when Happy Hour comes around, these can be gotten for a set price along with all kinds of drinks. There is also what they call "paper pasta" where the pasta is cooked in paper a bit like sticky rice. Adding on to that the sheer value, it is apparent why this is one of the area's most popular destinations for eating. <br/><br/>As it can be predicted, the morning started out with the waitstaff taking orders for coffee. As it also can be predicted, I ordered a double shot cappuccino. This coffee was fantastic; everything about it was done right. The texture was smooth, the temperature was the good balance between warm and hot, and the flavour was fantastic with it all being finished off with a good, creamy head of foam.<br/><br/>Not being a coffee drinker, my sister ordered a chai latte from the menu, which this time around was made from an actual authentic recipe. It was prepared with a nine spice blend, and was brewed for a few minutes before being served in an individual tea pot. I managed to nick a small bit of it, and while not having any big extent of experiencing chai lattes - it was apparent the difference with this one than at most coffee places. <br/><br/>Going back to saying that it was difficult knowing which dish to order, at the moment it was mentioned that it was named after a Canadian town, there was only one dish I knew to order. It was their French toast made with brioche. This dish was topped with pieces of maple-based caramlised pineapple, and adding on to the side was the request for bacon, extra crispy. When it came to getting a side of bacon, this was not just a couple of rashers (as some places tend to do with "extras" for breakfast); but a pile of bacon on the side, about the size of the toast itself - and when it was requested for the bacon to be crispy, they well and truly delivered on that (it was even on the receipt). The toast was thick and buttery, with the sweet fruitiness of the maple syrup and pineapple seeping into it. <br/><br/>My mum's order was the ocean trout on multigrain toast, which was served with spinach, and a lemon-caper creme fraiche. This was good as well, and by far the healthiest option that was ordered. The amount of fish given on the bread was also generous, and the flavours in the creme fraiche were appropriately mild, which complimented the ocean trout very well. The fish was similar in texture to smoked salmon, with a less definite flavour. There was not a whole lot of spinach though. <br/><br/>My dad went for the baked eggs, chorizo, beans, and mozzarella cheese. While that is a bit of a standard option for breakfast, or similar to others, it does not make it any less good. The beans were fresh, big cannellini beans, and the bits of chorizo were massive plus the eggs were plump and well cooked. Coating it all was a good, thick layer of mozzarella cheese. Wholesome and unpretentious are the best words to use to describe this option. Served along side it was a couple of bits of sourdough toast. <br/><br/>Finally, my sister ordered what was possibly the most interesting dish on the menu - a Middle Eastern-inspired breakfast of pulled lamb shoulder, with smoked eggplant dip, a poached egg, and dukka-coated grilled pita bread. This was certainly the winner out of the four dishes ordered. Getting the obvious reason out of the way was the amount of lamb shoulder that was given on the plate, and this was succulent lamb that was slow cooked for a long time. The smoked egg plant dip and pita bread on the side could well have been a beginning dish on its own. It was flavoursome, and well proportioned. The eggplant dip had a nice, creamy texture and a good, smokey flavour to accompany it. <br/><br/>Banff is a place that has more than won me over. Part of it is in bias to being a sucker for all things Canadian, but going beyond that it really the whole vibe and experience. The serving sizes of their meals were generous, and the food is both delicious and wholesome. Service is really welcoming, and makes the place even more what it is. Also, as an added bonus there are several items on the menu that were still shortlisted as possibilities to order for next time - that is a rarity to actively think that. The cafe Banff is one place that I am wholly willing to make effort to return towards next time I am in town; my parents are already planning their next time at this place. All my thumbs are up.

Wasn't terrible but my pizza was horribly oily and the server wasn't particularly friendly.

Simple Breakfast Done Right. The Banff isn't trying to be fancy and obnoxious. Rustic decor with simple well-done food and reasonable prices. Perfect for a good Sunday breakfast when you ain't feeling too fresh. <br/>I had the bircher muesli, lovely presentation and huge portion. My partner had the BLT bap, just comes on its own but said one of the best he has had. Coffees are pretty standard but thats whats good about The Banff. Its not fine dining, but more rustic and comforting.

My local. Best coffee in town, hands down. Pizzas are all amazing too - my all time favourites are #12, #16, #17 - SO good! Their eggs benedict never disappoint (especially on top of the fritters instead of the toast!). And the chicken focaccia is my go-to for an on the run lunch.

Sloppy all the way around.. My wife and I popped into Banff a little while back because we had heard good things from several people. As we sat, we both noticed just how filthy everything was. The table, the salt shakers, etc, all just not clean. Ok, we understand things can get dirty after a hectic morning of service, so we let it go. Our coffees come to the table, and my glass is also dirty with food particles crusted on the outside, and served with a dirty spoon. Luckily i don't take sugar so i didn't have to ask for a clean one. The server comes over, and while I really do not like to ever pass judgment on someone's appearance, I have to mention that she was just very...sloppy. She looked unkempt, her clothing was inappropriate for her body size/shape, and her apron was absolutely filthy. Easy way to turn your customers off. I asked about the Pho they were advertising, and she had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. After we ordered, we watched as both her and another equally disheveled server ran around chaotically, one of them looking to be trying to pry something out of her teeth with her finger. It was enough to just eat our meal and leave, no desire to come back. The only staff who looked clean and presentable were the gentleman behind the counter, and the lovely red-headed server who seemed to be the only one who knew what was going on. The food was OK, but nothing special. It was hard to focus on anything but the dirty surroundings.

I ate breakfast there this morning with two other friends, and all of us were very disappointed in our meals. My mushrooms tasted like had been baked in a dirty pan. Booth My friends eggs were grossly undercooked and the other items on there plate were tasteless. This was so disappointing as the decor is warm and inviting and the service was good. Shame about the food.

Breakfast here was terrible. Bad quality.

I ordered the quinoa, roast cauliflower, chickpea and asparagus salad. The waitress brought out bowl full of spinach, quinoa, capsicum and chickpeas. I can't eat capsicum so I complained that I hadn't ordered that. The bowl disappeared and came back minus the capsicum. I complained again and said I actually ordered the salad with cauliflower and asparagus, neither of which were present. The waitress dug around to the bottom of my salad and said no there's a piece of cauliflower. My mistake! In the end I managed to find two pieces of cauliflower, three shriveled 1cm pieces of asparagus and a half dozen chickpeas. The rest of the salad was spinach, quinoa and mountains of oil. The service itself was terrible. The waitress looked miserable and the manager rude. It's a shame because the menu did look good and the atmosphere and building looks great. But you don't actually get what you ordered. Also the menu says they serve breakfast until 3pm on weekends. I got there at 1pm and people were clearly being served breakfast. But when I ordered I was told breakfast finished at 12. Am I to assume the people at the table next to me were waiting for over an hour for their bacon and eggs? The manager was quite rude about it to but since there's not table service and the menu clearly says until 3 how was I supposed to know? So rude.

Top spot!. Love visiting banff....can't argue with such a selection of pizzas and all at incredible value too. Staff are always great and I love the salads too. Certainly will be back

Ordered food and the order came out wrong. The waiter was a little bit frustrated but was apologetic. Waited for about 1/2 an hour. Another waiter came out and apologised again and asked us if we wanted complimentary coffees. Appreciated it's

Went there last weekend and were massively disappointed. We had 3 different pizzas and it was , I'm sad to say, the worst collection of pizzas I have had for a very long time. Everything was bland, the base, toppings, cheese everything... Absolutely no love went into making this food.. I dont know how you could get it so wrong??

Cheap & delicious feed. What's there to say really? Monday and Tuesdays are great for cheap and tasty pizzas. Place was buzzing but not overly noisy when we pitched up for a sunset dinner feed. Great range to choose from. $6 pizzas all day Mon & Tues. $2.50 extra for GF option. There are also pastas on the menu. A pretty popular happy hour too re: beverages. Pizzas are dinner plate sized. Well topped (i.e. not stingy). One pizza each should be enough. Get 3 to share between two people if you want to roll out of there! <br/><br/>A well loved neighbourhood favourite from the looks and sounds of it. They appear to do a crackin' takeaway trade too.<br/><br/>Happy bellies at the end of it all and a bit of spare change in the pockets too. Life is good!

Perfect place for a first time date. I found this place seven years ago and it's always been on top of my to do list when back in Melbourne. Now I eat there about once a fortnight, usually sitting at the big bench table by myself eating a pizza and drinking a beer or soda water and reading the newspapers. It's that sort of place, you can do that easily.<br/><br/>The plate size thin crust pizzas have always been good, the Moroccan lamb and squid, capers and rocket being among the best. Even the simple ham and pineapple with real pineapple and shaved ham hits the spot. Pizzas are $8.90 these days but $6.00 all day Monday and Tuesday and from 12.00pm - 5.00pm Wednesday - Friday. Buy a beer or a wine and you'd got lunch for $10. <br/><br/>Coffee is always excellent.<br/><br/>Crowd is generally locals and keyed in visitors. Two visits ago I watched two young gay boys on their first daytime date try to be cool, and fail, but the waitress treated them like little brothers. Which was kind of lovely to watch.<br/><br/>Staff change, lots of travellers I guess but they are always friendly and service is fast. What I like most about the place, besides the food, is the moody room. It's very Melbourne in winter. On a cold day, duck out of the wind kicking off the bay and inside the warm is warm and cosy. It's worth checking out.

Absolutely Brilliant. This place is just plain awesome.... you normally can't get too much for $10 but the pizza is always excellent (the bolognaise one is my fave) plus cheap drinks and a great atmosphere. Cosy in the winter & heaps of outside seating (great for people watching) in the summer. It's pretty much always packed but can usually scope out a seat. A St Kilda institution.

Value. $3 coffee and amazing. $10 and under pizza, who cares, love it. Happy, obliging staff. Lots of people, like me, staying in holiday accommodation, always busy. Great!! no pretense, like the others down the street with the fancy space and crap coffee, food and service... leave those for the cyclists. Cheap drinks in the afternoon,,

Came here for brekky with my mum. Coffee was hot and quick, we ordered toast with eggs and sides-large portions, everything cooked well, reasonable prices. A cosy cafe. Will stop by again :)

I used to eat here with a friend who lived in the apartment directly above the Banff, and recently popped in again for the first time in years. I was impressed to see prices were roughly the same, and thoroughly enjoyed my seafood pizza. Latte was a win too!

Thumbs down!!!. Local returning home from Dubbo after a ten hour solo car drive. Sweaty and exhausted I mustered enough energy to drag myself to the closest gluten free restaurant I knew. And they said (despite advertised hours) they were closing early. Haha. Apparently because it was too slow. Yeah right, the RESTAURANT WAS FULL. And I'm still hungry and too friggn tired to go look for something else gluten free.

Eggs for breakfast cooked well. Nice and cosy/intimate establishment. I was undecided on the plastic cups though...

...in a bad way. I'm not sure what they use to cook their food, but I've tried pretty much everything from this place (breakfast, pizza, salads, pastas) and after half an hour it comes back up. This is first time when I got food on the table after ages ...Also, I find the staff to be bitchy - yes, even the male ones. It's hard to get their attention when you want something because they just stand around gas-bagging, so you get the feeling they're ignoring you. We also had the unpleasant experience of having one young black waitress talking about us - very audibly - to another staff member. Bogan central, don't evern bother.<br/>I never bother myself to put review for any restaurant...but this time I couldn't stop myself .. Don't go

Highly recommend by friends do finally decided to go there with family first of all not really impressed by customer service pizza were too soggy , mushroom pasta feel like chefs just pour a can of oil into the pasta .. Very disappointed would not recommend

What happened?. People.. What happened to this place? A few years ago you were completely awesome! And now? Sparse toppings, crappy turkish bread, and poor service. As the years pass, this restaurant feels like it has been going down in a steady decline and have finally hit rock bottom... Such a shame really. You guys used to be great before all this change =(

Great spot on fitzroy for a lunch on these cold Melbourne days. The pizza is simple but the combinations are awesome and the pizza base is light. Got to head back for their happy hours!

Really Great Food for amazing prices! Staff are so friendly and food arrives to your table quickly.

Excellent value!. I adore the pizzas here... they are light and not too filling but oh so tasty. My favourite is the pumpkin, gorgonzola, rocket and walnut pizza. And the $6 lunch time specials make it a deal you just cannot refuse. Best value pizza in Melbourne for sure! I'm a regular and highly recommend it!

They operate on low price, good quality and high turnover = good value for money. One person pizzas are about $8 + same again for a dessert pizza. My favourite place to take a date.