A stunning little patisserie/cafe.
This place tucked away in St Kilda is a great find. I only had coffee and croissant here, but it was really nice!
The pastry cabinet looked incredibly delicious but had to restrain myself.
The coffee was pretty good, however the barista was very crabby today.
I didn’t eat a meal here but the food on the tables around looked fantastic!
Will be back to try some more
Finally some interesting and tasty vegan options at a non vegan cafe! Love the Hellofriends cheese. So glad I got to finally try it. Highly recommend their protein bowl. This filled me up and had plenty of flavour.
I also tried the chai. It was quite spicy! not hot, but a big hit of spice which was quite good.
Looking forward to trying some of their sweets :)
The place serves amazing food and coffee. Great creation, great service. Staff has food knowledge of their food, and explained them well. Loves this place.
This Brekkie place has been on our list from the time we shifted to St Kilda, and after almost 6 months we managed to be there. Bustling with crowd, we managed to find a table and called for 2 hot chocolates, a Jack-fruit Cubano and their famous chicken Sandwich and a muffin. Chicken Sandwich and the muffin was the best from all that we ordered. We usually like our sandwiches moist with delicious dressing that does not overpower the taste of the chicken, and it was exactly how we like it. Muffin was crumbly and perfectly sweet. Jack-fruit Cubano could have been yummy if it wasn't too sour for our taste. Service in this very casual cafe was quite quick.
Great place! Beautiful decor and table service which is the best. Some of the best sourdough ever. Perfectly cooked eggs. I found the miso and avo hollandaise a bit weird but other than that I can’t fault this spot
We accidentally stumbled across Il Fornaio last Nvember when we'd got off the Spirit and looking for breakfast. I had the seasonal fruits, ganola and yogurt and it was stupidly delicious. So I'd remember I took a pic of their sign. As Im back in Melbourne this coming June Im making a big effort to take my daughter there because it was so fabulous. It really is worth a visit! (Im not vegetarian or vegan, just like good food :-) )
I came here to celebrate my birthday with some friends. I had been wanting to try out this place for a while and am glad I did. The cafe itself was open, spacious and minimalistic, good for a large group. The waiting staff were so lovely, we all ordered sangria, however they informed us they had run out of vodka but were going to quickly run to the shop to grab some more which I thought was a lovely gesture. The food wasn’t too badly priced either. I ordered the plant based avocado miso hollandaise toast and was very impressed. I had never had vegan hollandaise sauce before and was not disappointed! The main reason I wanted to come here was because I heard they did vegan pastries! I also ordered a plant based croissant which blew my mind! It was so tasty! If your looking for a lovely brunch place in St Kilda, you should definitely add this place to the list.
Came here for brunch on Saturday. Love the new menu and the chilled out vibe. Everything is so fresh and delicious. The pancakes were light and fluffy and the gluten free bread amazing. The staff accommodated our every request with a smile and a laugh when we kept ordering because the food was so good. Coming back next weekend for sure. Thanks for the great feed.
This is a great place for a brunch. I wanted to start my new year with a great brunch and after scouting St Kilda for a decent open restaurant I stumbled on Fornaio and thank God I ventured further. The menu is extensive and loads of vegan and healthy options. I am a non vegetarian but I felt like going for a plant based meal. I really enjoyed my meal. It came with avocado mash on bread, plant based mozzarella cheese, tomato basil and balsamic reduction. My only complaint; the bread was a bit tough, it was a workout trying to cut through the edges but otherwise great flavours and a real joy to eat. Iced latte was good too. Highly recommended for non guilty indulgence or otherwise too..
Good food and good coffee! Waiter was a dud though... didnt give us a share plate after he asked us if we were sharing, and didnt offer a bag for our baguette which we later bought from the counter...😅
Best service! I went on a busy Sunday morning and our food was out super quickly! I had the green breakfast bowel and it was delicious ! I wouldn’t definitely be back again to try out the rest of the menu. They have a lot to choose from and it’s so well priced and so affordable which I surprised about due to it being in St Kilda ! Yum! Excited to go back
Great range of plant based pastries, my favourites are the coconut chocolate croissant and the almond croissant. The coffee is also quite nice, but its the pastries that brings me back. Winner.
Cool location, cool interior. Cool menu.
Menu items are sustainably focused with plenty of vegan options, including quite an impressive range of pastries. It was a rather quiet Saturday lunch time, but that meant the staff were able to be extremely helpful and nothing was rushed (but still efficient!). The buckwheat and chia pancakes are delicious! With three toppings to choose from, the honey glazed Brussel sprouts and tomato chutney was delectable. Also had a size of the chickpea fries which were accompanied by a coconut yoghurt tzatziki - yummy and generous. Definitely recommended!
Had the big breakfast with a side of spicy pulled jackfruit. Really liked the truffle roasted mushrooms and the roasted tomato relish was delicious, they should sell that in jars!
Also had a strawberry and cacao pastry which I should have asked to be heated up, cos that would have been next level.
Love the range of vegan pastries from Mr and Mrs Banks, especially the plain croissant.
Delicious vegan baked goods, would like to return and try more things. Great service. Maybe a little overpriced. Nice and clean, good atmosphere.
After struggling to find somewhere open on Boxing Day for lunch we luckily stumbled across Il Fornaio. The service was efficient and the food was excellent. I ordered the crushed avocado with pickled pumpkin, halloumi and caper dressing on sweet potato toast with a poached egg and added bacon. A delicious and unique combination of flavours. I was especially impressed with the sweet potato toast which was incredibly soft and light.
My breakfast was excellent, the service was alright, I was unsure what to do when I arrived, wait to be seated or find my own table, so I just found my own table. The acoustics are not condusive to a quiet or relaxing time, they play loud music, but you can sit outside to avoid this.
My new favourite place in Melbourne for breakfast/brunch!!! :) On a weekly basis I go out for brunch in Melbourne and am often disappointed by busy cafes serving below-par food. Il Fornaio however shocked me in the best way with the most delicious breakfast I think I've ever had and impeccably friendly and helpful service to match! The interior of the cafe is a little dark but the food certainly shines! I had the avo, beetroot, goats cheese on toast - highly recommended.. but everything looked amazing! Will definitely visit again soon :)
Best coffee we've had in Melbourne. Poifect. Flat white, extra hot, like people used to make coffee before the hip beards took over. Excellent friendly service. And strong without having to ask.
OH EM GEE this is brunch food done right!! So happy with the food we ordered today - we ordered the "keen wah bowl" and the "brioche willis" and of course my usual matcha latte.
I can't even describe the quinoa bowl, it's a bowl of vegetarian GOODNESS which tastes EVEN BETTER. The brioche willis is plain cheese burger made perfectly! The beef patty is so juicy and moist and just melts in your mouth... Goosebump moment. I might even say it's probably the best cheeseburger I've had in Melbourne. Oo la la...
Now the matcha latte is very milky with only a tiny hint of matcha. I don't really mind it but definitely could do with more matcha flavour. Might just have to choose some other drink next time!
Here's hoping it stays consistently good because I definitely would come back and order both of those dishes again. So. Yum.
P.S. their menu is different from the one uploaded here and on their website. I've uploaded their current menu in my photos.
Seemingly one of the only places still open for brunch in the late afternoon, we stopped in and were pleasantly surprised by the menu. Plenty of unique drinks on offer if you feel like mixing things up. Lots of different food options to satisfy any appetite. We look forwarded to trying other menu options in the future.
Il Fornaio serves breakfast, hearty lunches and snacks from their extensive selection of baked goods. We absolutely adored their soufflé matcha pancakes. Served with wonderfully tart dehydrated berries, these pancakes are to die for. A Melbourne food and travel blog. Gastrology proudly supports CARE
We came here on st kilda festival day and the service was 10/10. We actually only came for a drink but ended up having a drink, the special of the day - fish tacos and a donut each (custard and raspberry) We think the owners name is mark and our waitress was Hayley and they were both amazing. We'll be back for sure highly recommend it.
Great menu - witty and scrumptious. Service whilst busy can be a little slow but we had an awesome waitress Bailey who went above and beyond to meet our requests. Definitely recommend the waffles in whatever you can get them in!
My husband and I regularly visit for breakfast. Always great coffee and very tasty food. Staff are always friendly, only issue I would have is the ambiance of the establishment, it's very loud, when busy.
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Il fornaio is back!. I must start by saying I have not been to this groovy little cafe/bakery in almost a year due to my partner and I moving to Sydney. We frequented this spot quite a bit however towards the end we felt like it had lost its touch a little bit.
We came to Melbourne for a wedding and decided to come back on the 15/5/2015 and were pleasantly surprised, Ive tried my best to remember names of the people who served us!
Upon arrival we were greeted by a handsome young local, Selby or shelby, he looked after us from start to finish. His knowledge of st Kilda and the menu was unparalleled and he also had a great sense of humour and originality!
Our coffee came quickly and were amazing, there was an Italian girl behind the coffee machine whose name escapes me but her coffee was beautiful!
We asked about some menu items and were given a thorough description of each one as well as recommendations, my partner chose the Ryan gosling and I had the health God porridge. The food arrived promptly and was absolutely delicious, the Ryan gosling eggs were so bizarre but so tasty and the porridge was great!
Upon paying we were greeted by bead who was another very lovely young local (great to see locals working at the cafe it really makes it feel extra special) .
The only thing was they were out of spelt loaf and it was only 10:30! But that isn't too important.
Fantastic service, Great coffee, creative food and a great atmosphere.
A must try
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A very enjoyable brunch. I wandered in on a Thursday afternoon to enjoy some brekkie and to do some work. I sat outside and was promptly greeted by a very friendly server within seconds of sitting down. Sometimes eating by yourself can be quite awkward and he afforded me the friendly banter needed to make me comfortable, asking me where I was from and chatting to me about the city in Arizona he once went to just hours outside where I'm from.
Now I have a unique experience in cafés cause I am celiac and very limited as to what I can eat. He went above and beyond what was needed; finding out whether their chocolate powder for the cappuccino is gluten free and even bringing me a hand written note, provided by the chef, of all the ingredients in their chips to see if I could eat them. In the end I couldn't, but I really appreciate the effort that went into not making me sick. I ordered their gluten free burger (I had originally wanted a breakfast but the burger sounded too good to be true) the burger was PHENOMENAL and ended up being too big even without the chips. Oh, and he offered me a glass of prosecco to substitute the chips! What a gem!
An amazing experience, a great atmosphere, and I will definitely be back. Well done Il Fornaio, you have trained your kitchen and your staff well.
Trendy cool place, great coffee, good food, and attentive service. Even though the price is a little bit on high side, it's still well worth a visit.
Start of the best day ever! The sunnies weather lifted our moods up considerably after the few days of grey wetness. Both having gotten used to the tram system by now, it was a breeze to St Kilda, the Melbourne beach. Il Fornaio is on the other side of Acland Street, away from all the cake shops. It was a nice walk along the line of green trees. We passed a cute little church. Wondered why the side walks had cushioning every so often. Was it to protect the tree roots? We had no idea. Happiest of moods! I loved the brunch session in the sun. A random dog joined our morning. Can we please adopt him?! Il Fornaio is a bakery and a pastry shop as well as a brunch cafe. The staff were lovely and so were the customers. Plus, I loved my food. A chose the Bloody Mary Breakfast, without a Bloody Mary. It was Angus steak with horse radish potatoes and bloody mayo. I opted for a sweeter choice: From San Sebastian to St Kilda. With other items on the menu names like 'I wear lycra' and 'Miranda K
Despite the irresistible array of cakes beckoning to us from the counter, savoury wins. And impresses.
After hearing news that Il Fornaio will be closing up for a while and more importantly Philippa Sibley will no longer be executive chef at Il Fornaio, my heart sank in devastation. Her final day of operation would be was Saturday 21st November. There was
Il fornaio opened not that long ago next to The Prince Hotel in St Kilda. Apparently, as all good breakfast places in Melbourne, it is always packed on weekends. Hubby and I had to wait for about 15min to get a table.
Wandering around the cobbled, bustling alleyways of Melbourne, the sandy streets of its leafy beachside suburbs in the south and the charismatic grungy lanes of the north, it was clear to me over Christmas how much my love of food, and my passion for expl
Fit out is contemporary/industrial and done well. The service is good. My soy cap was curdled & burnt, but the other regular milk coffees were well made. It wasn't a dead breaker though. Food was fresh & tasty with good mix of flavours and ingredients. I had the Jennifer Lawrence (salmon) it was really nice, but a bit too much chilli in the olive tapanade (without warning). I'll cruise back for another meal there.
A taste of european bread. Wow wow! I have spent the last 6 years of my life working overseas baking and was so disappointed when I came back to Australia. A friend in the industry told me to go to il fornaio and try it out as a new Italian baker is baking there. I got one of the croissants and my friend got the uniquely shaped chocolate one, I don't know how they achieved so many layers. It was delicious! After finishing our coffees we both gave into buying some bread. The baguette almost didn't make it home and the multigrain bread was gobbled by my room mate and I. I will defiantly be going back and defiantly recommend il fornaio to anyone who wants quality bread and croissants
Quality. Great sandwiches and amazing bread. Good place to stop past for lunch, but the decor and ambience is a bit cold (literally) so don't stick around for too long.
St Kilda Favorite. The menu here is a fun read and changes regularly enough so you've always got something new to try buy not too often you don't get try everything on the menu (and you'll want to), as the food delicious. Expect service to be slow on weekends coz its just that busy... remember there is a reason its busy.
Keep coming back!. My favourite place in st Kilda to pop by for food. Service has always been great and the staff are always so happy! Great choices and love the quirky menu...the bread and cheese is also to die for and they have a nice range of beers to which I enjoy...it has that local feel and the owners and staff really seem to care about the people that come through the door...certainly one I will keep coming back to.
Amazing coffee delicious food
Porridge. I would kill for the super food porridge. Amazing!
Great. Excellent. Extensive menu, great breakfast options. Good vibe, I will return!
My local. Love it! Some dam.... My local. Love it!
Some damn good coffee!!
Shared a chicken, bacon and avocado baguette with my boyfriend, sounds simple but it was one of the best baguettes I've eaten. Whatever bread they use with pumpkin seeds in it is amazing. Coffee was also amazing. Finished with a decent 'Lick Pier' ginger beer that I had never heard of before, could have drunk ten of them. Waiter didn't seem to happy to be working but she was fast so I can't complain. I will definitely be going back.
An iconic 25-year old St Kilda cafe. Have been here many times in fact the daughter of a very good friend of mine use to waitress here. The coffee was great and always consistent. The food, especially the Bircher muesli and bread (pumpkin toast, banana bread) was amazing. The staff was always friendly and the service and vibe of the place was fantastic. It's sad that it's now closed!
I've been dining here now daily and I can't get enough... Just today they've changed up something as well as furniture so i thought idea revisit my review and ads some pics.... The zero wasts soup is amazing its the perfect organic hearty bowl in a coconut shell. With a f44 smoothie with protein dragon fruit and oh so much more..... I'm getting hungry again typing about it... Go there you won't regret it... Bacon and eeg sesame buna are delicious... Ham cheese crossing on the gourmet freshly cooked that morning
Full spectrum breakfast and 48 hour fermenrated dragon fruit chicken sandwiches and chick peaa fries with tzatziki is a mega favourite... Awesome food and service. Open early closes at 3
Nice place for brunch. Food was amazing had a unique style and taste. Hope they get more staff over weekends as it is busy and few delays in the service.
long standing St Kilda business, incorporates Bakery, Cafe and cultural hub all in one . it's a great place for locals to catch up with locals, Prince of Wales hotel guests to mingle with St Kilda's finest. staff here are friendly, aim to make your experience a pleasant one. get in before noon as this business closes at 3pm. batch coffee, tumeric and matcha add ons available, and on a cold day the Ilfornao signature home blend of chai.
Great food options and good quality coffee. The pumpkin toast (Hall Um Eee) was incredibly however, the plain old eggs on toast was a let down with not even butter arriving with it.
Get here and try their menu... yum
Great food. Good coffee. Casual brekky joint. Better atmosphere than the restaurants we saw further up on the main strip. Plus the menu is funny.
Good coffee and good service. Great long black. Great atmosphere. I would go again if in the area.
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