Review Tyranny Of Distance - Windsor

Used to love it here but when I came here last for happy hour the bartender staff and the door girl were extremely rude beyond belief, told patrons to get out if you didn’t have a seat and that “it wasn’t a charity”… one of the worst hospitality experiences!

V E G A N deliciousness. A bit of a divey feel but the food is anything but! We had arancini, "duck" roti and nachos. All superb, service outstanding and we will be back very soon! Edit: just read another review about glasses being cleared too soon with drinks left - this happened to us too, so worth taking note of (the only thing though!!)

Had a bad experience here! Some of the most rude and condescending staff including the guy at the bar and the girl at the door! Definitely won’t be back.

Gret food and drink specials, love the duck roti. Staff are very casual, which I like, it feels relaxed

such a nice spot for a drink and dinner! it is always busy so i would recommend coming early if you're wanting to sit down and eat. the happy hour specials are so good and the food is pretty cheap. it is all vegan too and accommodates for people who are gluten and onion free. the location is also really good as you can go to another place afterwards as this place is only open until 1!! highly recommend coming here, its worth the trip. we got the nachos and aranchini balls and they were so good. service is pretty good but earlier in the night we felt we were a bit neglected in the restaurant as it took a while to get menus etc.

Love happy hour but such a rude bartender! Trying to have some nice drinks but mood ruined by female at the bar making them. Lighten up doll 🤍

Phenomenal! Generous portions of food, the staff are incredibly friendly and easy to have a laugh with, and an extensive drinks menu 🙌

Love the "destroy" ambiance and the vegan food is delish! You wouldn't expect this quality in a bar, but it's literally a hidden gem

Went with a big group so managed to try out different things.<br/><br/>The massaman chicken curry was HUGE and tasty. The KFC burger was good too but my favourite was the Korean Bao Sliders. The "meat" tasted so tender and paired really well with the sauce and buns. No one in our group liked the Classic American Cheeseburger.<br/>My personal order of preference:<br/>1. Korean Bao Sliders<br/>2. Masamman Chicken Curry<br/>3. KFC Burger<br/>4. Classic American Cheeseburger

Went here with a vegan friend (I eat vegetarian) and we were going giddy at all the tasty options on the menu we knew we could eat - totally spoiled for choice. Great waitress helped with dish recommendations as we couldn't decide between all the tasty goodies.<br/><br/>And the cocktail of the week was good too!

Went here with a vegan friend (I eat vegetarian) and we were going giddy at all the tasty options on the menu we knew we could eat - totally spoiled for choice.<br/><br/>Great waitress helped with dish recommendations as we couldn't decide between all the tasty goodies. <br/><br/>Cocktail of the week was super nice too!

very rude blonde man w irish/swedish.. (?) accent. drinks watered down. weird drinking rules

Tyranny of Distance was undoubtedly the best vegan restaurant we’ve visited to date. Sporting a a fully vegan menu that seemingly offers no-compromise, we were in for an incredibly tasty experience, closely mimicking their original meat counterparts, which in fact it’s become more and more difficult to distinguish.<br/>Seriously, why butcher animals when the plant based options taste just as good?!

We came to Tyranny of Distance the other day and was shocked that the entire venue was vegan! The space was really cool , one side being a bar and the other a sit down restaurant. <br/><br/>We ordered the eggplant parmigiana, the massman “chicken” curry and the peking “duck” roti rolls. <br/><br/>The peking “duck” was really flavoursome and for the roti to be plant based it was surprising how flakey the pastry was. We loved the hoisin flavour in this dish <br/><br/>The egg plant parmigiana was deliciously crumbed and had a really realistic “ bacon” and “mozzarella” on top, this really plays with your senses as it looks like the real thing . <br/><br/>My favourite dish was by far the curry, there was so much spice and flavour packed into this dish – would come back for this one for sure. The mock meat was not my favourite so next time I will get it without the fake chicken <br/><br/>For dessert we had the raw cheesecake, I was so full but my friend LOVED it ! <br/><br/>Thanks for having us !

Friendly staff and a good atmosphere to hang out with friends. The cocktails were so good and the food was delicious. My non vegan friends loved the food too. Would definitely recommend.

Set up in what was once an old petrol station, Tyrrany of Distance is a quirky cocktail bar with a 100% plant based meal and tapas style menu.<br/>The fit out is uber chilled, upcycled furniture, graffiti walls and a heated, covered courtyard area at the back. We we invited down try their new menu which includes Truffle infused mushroom arancini; Duck Roti rolls - which were lovely but needed a dipping sauce; beautiful sweet potato and snake bean tortellini in a coriander foam; Massaman chicken curry; a classic American cheeseburger; and Duck cooked in master stock with ribbons of pickled carrot and cucumber.<br/>The focus is on fresh local ingredients and the dishes are all well executed. I swear that the Duck looked and tasted just like duck! If I hadnt known, I really wouldnt have been able to tell this menu was 100% vegan :)<br/><br/>If you dont come for the menu, come for the drinks - $4 happy hour every day from 4-7pm!<br/>Thanks for having us team!

Cannot recommend this place enough 🙌🏻 This Eatery and Bar has given vegan food a big THUMBS UP 😍😍😍 We thoroughly enjoyed our culinary experience and are looking forward to coming back 🙈 Thanks for having us 💕 Some of our highlights included the Korean Bao, Roti Rolls and the Massaman Chicken Curry

This is a vegan restaurant, but it has some great dishes! The arancini balls I really enjoyed, along with the curry which I felt was similar to a spicy butter chicken! They should serve it with roti though! They had these roti duck wraps, they were nice but I felt they needed a dipping sauce because it was a little dry. The baos were a favourite, really enjoy these. Juicy and full of flavour and three large servings.

Such delicious vegan food! We had the tacos which had great flavour. We also had Korean pork belly bao which was so good and the bao was so soft 😍 will be back!

Even though the menu was small (due to it being in the process of being revamped) what we ordered was delicious! The ‘duck’ roti rolls were amazing! Staff was friendly and dang, how can you go past $4 happy hour?!

Tyranny owners Tyranny of Distance is an accidental gallery of recycled parts and artisan labour. Think lampshades made from vulcanised fibre stitched together like old boots, gas bottles fashioned into outdoor lamps, tables made from old and a window covering designed in the image of a vintage meat safe. Owners Carlo Colosimo (Lounge, Big Mouth Cafe, Two Fingers Cafe) and George Loukas (Tusk, Blue Elephant, Virgin Mary) have created a truly unique watering hole which has a scrumptious entirely vegan menu to match.<br/><br/>We loved tasting our way through the menu which is ideal for sharing or as a quick bite whilst sampling Tyranny of Distance’s extensive drinks range which includes craft beers, delicious cocktails and a solid wine list.

Great food. Great cocktails. Fast service. Thought food would be a bit processed/deep fried and full of vegan junk food but they load the plates up with lovely fresh ingredients. Really enjoyed the korean Bao and chips. :-)

This place makes the best nachos I've ever had!! Very impressed by those. They're made with deep fried gyoza instead of cornchips.<br/><br/>The duck roti rolls are also really delicious. Though could be a little cheaper or have more in the serve.<br/><br/>The burger is good, not best I've had but I did like it. The chips however I didn't like, they weren't crispy at all or even salty. Also wish it came with a gravy on the side.<br/><br/>Will definitely come back and try more things and get the nachos again! Love that it's all plant based ❤️🌿<br/><br/>Edit: came back and so sad the nachos changed, it's just corn chips now :( but massaman curry is amazing. KFC burger isn't great. Baba ganoosh is okay.

One of my favourite food spots in Melbourne! The most amazing vegan food and so much variety. Highly recommend the duck pancakes, the chicken burger, the ramen and any of their dessert specials (especially the cake!) I am always returning with new friends and they love it too. If you’re vegan or curious about vegan food you NEED to try this place!

Where do I even begin?! This place was truly incredible and has taken vegan indulgence to a whole new level! I honestly can’t fault anything about last nights meal! We were greeted by the friendliest staff, Jack took care of us all night and made sure we tried the very best of everything. We were treated to the most incredible vegan feast that left us in the greatest of food comas ever experienced! We cannot wait to come back again & cannot recommend this place enough, if you haven’t been you must & if you’ve been then you know! <br/>We ordered and loved the: <br/>- Korean bbq Bao buns <br/>- Loaded nachos <br/>- Eggplant Parma <br/>- Ramen <br/>- Passionfruit and lime cheesecake <br/>- Chocolate cake (YUMMMM) <br/><br/>Thanks for having us !

Tyranny of distance is a bustling bar/restaurant in Windsor. It is full vegan but you wouldnt know it just by looking at the menu.<br/><br/>We started off with the duck roti rolls and they were delicious. The flavours were spot on and it really captured the duck essence. Next up came the nachos, it was mountainous. It was loaded with plenty of guac and beans, one might say a tad too much beans. The super salad was again massive. Packed full of greens, seeds, vegan feta and even dried figs this salad was flavoursome and full of different textures.<br/><br/>The highlight was the Thai ramen, maybe more closer to a laksa. It was bursting with flavours and full of veggie goodness.<br/><br/>Service was great and friendly. Would definitely recommend the experience.

So excited that Tyranny now offers a fully vegan menu! I'd only been here for drinks before and hadn't even considered the food, but the new menu changed the game. I couldn't pass up the "juicy" vegan butter chicken, because how often do you find that made with mock meat? It came with a creamy yoghurt sauce and a roti and was huge for the price. Sauce was a bit thick and lacked as much spice as the original dish would typically have, but was overall a great option to try (and pretty large for the price). I also got to try a bit of my friends' chicken Ciabatta and nachos. The first was good and the second was great, especially given the naturally gluten-free wonton wrapper base. It's a much lighter and airer alternative to corn chips. A round of $10 espresso martinis were the perfect end to a near perfect meal.

Can I just say the menu and food here is absolutely FANTASTIC!! <br/><br/>The whole menu is plant based which I LOVE and I know that non-vegans will love it too. <br/><br/>I’ve tried many of the dishes and some of my favourite are the Eggplant Parma, Cheeseburger, Duck roti rolls, Tacos, Chicken Ciabatta, and the desserts are to die for!! <br/><br/>Cocktails are amazing too. They can make a vegan sour for ya 🥃 <br/><br/>Would recommend Tyranny of Distance to everyone!

Since the revamping of the menu of Tyranny to a completely vegan menu, it is sure to be the hit of Chapel St. With a vegan menu with a comfort food take on it and cocktails to match. With a welcoming ambience, it is a must visit of all vegan and non vegans

Best Vegan food around.  Staff are very friendly.  Fun and comfortable drinking vibe too.<br/>$4 happy hour is hard to beat.  The drinks are well priced, but certainly are not 'cheap' ;)

Very unhappy with this service! The drinks were well over-priced, the service even worse! You’re waiting over an hour for mediocre drinks where there is a $20 minimum for drinks. I go outside to get cash out and get refused entry because I leave the venue just for cash because their minimum was far too high. The staff were very rude; accusing people of doing drugs in bathrooms when they simply would go to the bathroom for the pure reason of relieving themselves. Don’t waste your time with this overcrowded, micromanaging venue, it’s too hard simply legally enjoy yourself without being accused of the latter!

Cheap beer at happy hour, burgers and stuff and pretty good vibe!<br/><br/>Came here to meet some friends one time was just near chapel st so thought'd we pop in!

$10 cocktails during cocktail happy hour and great dishes to share - can only recommend the fried chicken, eggplant and zucchini chips as well as the salmon tacos. Don't get those loaded fries -they were burnt and pretty tasteless. Apart from that very vibrant and hipster place and a great spot to sit in the sun after work!

Met some friends here yesterday. This is a friendly bar, and when we arrived we were the only ppl there. That was before happy hour and by the time we left the place was packed.<br/><br/>My experience was good but a friend had trouble ordering drinks for our table with a blond haired bartender. The bartender wouldn't let my friend buy 4 drinks which was odd given that we all brought a round of drinks earlier. <br/><br/>Other than that, I enjoyed my time there and this would be a great place in summer because it was open bright and breezy. <br/><br/>Happy days lol

Love the venue, it's absolutely beautiful and very open, only ever been here during the day but I'm sure it would be an amazing bar. I got breakfast here so many times during highschool, I have one distinct memory however of getting a salad covered in little bugs, I was honestly shocked and was like oh.. it must be organic (I cry laughing when I think about it). Obviously the salad wasnt washed properly, they offered a refund or asked if I wanted something else but I was hungry and short on time so I opted for an eggs benedict without the salad. Still shocked to this day though, and havent been back to eat since! I got coffee still but the quality of that has gone down in the last 3yrs. I think their coffee guy quit so I try to go else where for my fix now!

Casual rustic place good for drinks. Not a lot of variety of beer available but if you stick to basics it won't disappoint. I have a liking for causal, non pretentious places and it's a pretty good value for money during happy hours. Eggplant chips are good but I have had better. Tyranny of distance is a breadth of fresh air in the upmarket Chapel Street princinct.

Kung Foo Beer on tap gets a big thumbs up. Good selection of happy hour craft beers. I was told that the menu had changed and was quite different to what it used to be - I can't tell if that is a good or a bad thing but the food was decent here and although we sat inside to avoid the rain and loud chatter of the main seating area (filled with band hipsters) we did enjoy ourselves.

I'm going to make a wild assumption here, and say that a lot of the good reviews for this place potentially come from smokers.  Mr B & I lasted 10 minutes of not being served after been greeted politely enough and seated, before we realized everyone....EVERYONE....was smoking in the place.  I'm not necessarily an anti-smoker...but after years of being away from smoking in enclosed spaces, it can be pretty uncomfortable and terrible to sit in.  To be fair, we did see the supposed 'non-smoking' area...which were completely soul less and isolated.  Either way...no one served us for around 10 minutes...we couldn't breathe...and so we moved on very quickly. So a cautionary tale for anyone thinking of going here based on the excellent reviews.  Probably really awesome if you are smoker and crave a place to be comfortable and smoke guilt free, but avoid if you can't handle second hand smoke.

There's nothing more Melbourne than a petrol station turned into a bar. Incidentally I came here to down a jug of pimms whilst waiting for my table at Tokyo Tina. We snacked on delicious eggplant chips and chicken nachos and realised this place is actually well worth visiting in its own right. I'd love to go back and try the tequila salmon tacos and the rest of the menu looks very tasty too, as does the cocktail list (Bali breakfast sounds exactly where I need to be). I'll be back

Has brunch on a Saturday morning. Good spot to chat the morning away with friends especially on a nice sunny day. It's a very unique and open setting and plenty of sunlight. Good good and friendly staff. Had the Spanish sausage omelette. Will be back.

Best place to go to for Happy Hour drinks!!! Spirits, wines, beer, cider and sparkling are all $4 during their Happy Hour specials. They also have $10 cocktails during their Happy Hour as well. <br/><br/>Staff are nice. Only complaint is how could they charge customers $5 to charge their phones? :( <br/>Luckily I always have my phone fully charged before going out and usually have a battery pack with me but my friend wasn't so fortunate :( other places though will offer this service for free.

Pretty standard place. Eggplant chips are 👌 and customer service was good. We ended up ordering two or three bowls of eggplant chips because they were that good, so I highly recommend them. Drinks are pretty standardly priced but if you go during Happy Hour they're super cheap.

Still one of the coolest places to hang out in Melbourne. Tyranny doesn't try to be anything but itself. Food offering has improved greatly since a few months ago. Shame they aren't open for breakfast though :( Miss having breakfast and a coffee here. However their cherrywood smoked sliders are amongst the best in Melbourne. Great craft beer/cider selection on tap and the cocktails are cheeky and delicious! Recommend this place for sure. Will get busy in summer

The food here isn't that great and the decor is something you'd find north side. I don't think I'd go back in any hurry.

Once a service station, Tyranny of Distance open its recycled doors as a cafe to hungry diners in 2009. Good spot for a long overdue catch up with an UK friend!. CHICKEN SANGA. With avocado, tomato, roquette, beetroot relish and mayo. Served with tyranny chips. TYRANNY BURGER. House made beef patty, cheese, tomato, pickles and roquette. Served with tyranny chips.

Went here last night for a few birthday drinks, it was so busy, a tad crowded but we all faired ok, service was nice, and floor presence was good also, I didn't actually eat, but the food looked and smelt really good! I could imagine it is summer with the blinds open chilling in the hipster vibe with a craft ale, this place has a nice relaxing feel to it. Definitely be back to try some food!

Bad pork belly (I think thankfully they might have removed it from their menu)<br/><br/>I like my pork belly, and on this particular brunch I was choosing between a couple of options and I asked the waiter what the pork belly here was like. I even said that I was a pork belly snob and I'ld happily take my alternative menu choice if he didnt think the pork belly was amazing. The waiter said it was really good, it wasn't.<br/><br/>Either the waiter doesn't know his pork belly from mountain oysters, or he lied. The pork belly was tough, fatty, flavourless and the skin was rubbery.<br/><br/>WORTH GOING BACK? - nope, much better places on Chapel street

After hearing good reviews about ToD, I was quite disappointed. The decor and vibe of this place is just very... Strange and mismatched. That might be part of the charm for some, but it just made me feel uncomfortable. Much better places for drinks nearby.

Went here on Saturday. I didn't realize there were still places in Melbourne that allowed smoking in eating areas but everyone here was smoking at their tables - I couldn't believe it! Our order (wedges and gyoza chips) was taken pretty quickly but the food didn't arrive for 1/2 an hour which seemed excessive - especially when you're sitting there inhaling second hand smoke. If I had known it would take so long to get the food I would have left. The food itself was average, the coffee was good.

The staff could try to pretend they care about customers. My GF and I waited about 20 mins to get served- even though there was only 3 other people inside. When we went to pay one of the kitchen staff just looked at us. Didn't think to maybe grab the waitress. After a few mins she came to register and didn't even ask how food was etc. Food was good but nothing to rave about.

Absolutely loved it! We had a coffee around 8.30am and it was empty at that time. Ambiance is great, lived the colors and decoration. Service was good and a delicious latte.

Easily one of my favourite places for food and drinks. The place is always vibing especially thursday onwards to sunday. For something different definitely try this place.

I'm afraid to say I didn't enjoy this place as much as I'd hoped. A little cafe on a side street off Chapel, the staff were friendly but so inappropriately dressed for serving food. I don't think I'm old fashioned, but I do believe that waitress' shouldn't be wearing shorts short enough so they can't bend down without showing the world their bottom. It really put me off my lunch. The food was okay, nothing special and the prices were a bit high for what was dished up. I wouldn't be rushing to head back, but I wouldn't say id never return. The vibe in the cafe was relaxed and it is a nice place to get away from the busy Chapel street noise.

Good food, good coffee, & well priced. Staff are always lovely, good comes super quick and the vibe is chilled out at any time of the day. Definitely a great local hang.

These guys are so lovely. I work down the street and come here for both my morning coffee and afternoon chai, every dang day! I'm not sure if I keep coming back for the delicious coffee and loose leaf chai, or the wonderful chats, but they know my name and order now. Hidden gem.

Long waits for weekend brunch at this busy cafe. It is. Strange semi indoor and outdoor space. Service is a bit slow but that could be due to the business of the place.<br/>Lots of breakfast options done reasonably well. Had the chilli eggs which was nothing special, however I definitely got food envy at dining companion's bacon and potato hash.

Tried out Tyranny of Distance for afternoon drinks on Sunday and was really happy with friendly service and the relaxed vibe. Cant go wrong with $4 wines during happy hour and the menu is tasty and very moderately priced offering both tapas style dishes as well as a selection of mains.

Not the best service I've had and the communal toilet was dirty. I had the steak sandwich a staff member recommended It was horrible. The coffee I had was burnt. There's plenty of other places I'd go on chapel.

Warning for non-smokers – stay away from the open space area on your left from the entrance or you will be surrounded by smokers. When I went there for the first time, I happened to sit in the smoking section and couldn’t really enjoy their food or coffee.  Don't worry, there is a non-smoking section on the right side. Once you sit in the less open, but very cosy non-smoking section, you can enjoy their good food and coffee. Last time I had excellent beef cheek bourguignon. The meat was tender and the sauce was very tasty.

There is no doubt they serve up a great menu of food which is classic high quality and flavours driven by their unique touches. Fabulous poached eggs on muffin. Sadly the venue is spoilt by the the smokers who are encouraged to smoke inside the venue!!  this is not an out door space so how come they provide ashtrays and let these people smoke?<br/>Sorry but it isn't acceptable so we won't be back!

Consistently good. I've been visiting this place on and off for years, and it's consistently great. I hadn't been in a while and went on Saturday, and was amazed at how reasonably priced everything was. Zucchini and quinoa fritters for $11? Ridiculous! 1970's prices! There's a little area that's dog friendly, though you will be near the front door so that's something to keep in mind if it's cold. A fantastic local with brilliant food and service. Can't ask for much more.

This is a great place to study, meet a friend or just read a book. Nice and friendly staff, good coffee. The menu is an egg - lovers menu. Took the potato hash. The potato had bacon and zucchini and was delicious. The toast were good but had a strange (yet good) spread underneath the cheese. Will prob come here again if I'm in the area.

Are you better than a fifth grader?. Yes. It would be terribly hard for the child version of you to not make a better breakfast than this place. We ordered the standard smashed avocado breakfast. In what cafe does sliced bread from woollies with a couple of tomato slices and bega cheese melted, topped with a tablespoon of guacamole constitute as a decent breakfast.<br/>Utterly disappointed.

Here in Melbourne for a week and have already been to this place 3 times. This is easily the best bar in Melbourne that I've been to and better than any in brisbane. Staff are awesome and the happy hour beats any I've been to. Would recommend to anyone that likes good drinks and a good atmosphere

I was pleasantly surprised at how thick the fillets of cured salmon were on top of the rosti as I began demolish my stack. The thick texture and rich flavour of the fish helped balanced the two dense rostis, which consisted of coarsely grated cooked potato, fried to a rich golden brown colour, and with a nice crispy crunch on the outside. The eggs were hard poached, just as I had requested when ordering and served with fresh dill. All in all, the quantities of the salmon, eggs and potato in the dish created a substantial meal.

The birthplace of the bloke section of food temple the eclectic décor and great tunes are welcoming. Loved the stuffed mushrooms and craft beers. A short distance – but seeming far removed – from busy Chapel St.

While not necessarily excelling in one things, Tyranny is my favourite all rounder. A great drink selection, fun and varied food and relaxed vibe have me back time and time again for catchups just like these.

The eggs were perfectly poached. The bacon was perfectly fried. The guacamole had exactly the right amount of tartness to it without being overpowering. The potato rosti was soft and beautifully seasoned. And the serving was enormous. The only problem I had with the food was the fact that it came with slices of tomato that weren’t on the menu, and I don’t like tomato. A minor complaint. It was scrumptious. Everything was so lovely that I rather wondered why all these sour people had decided to eat there.

An affordable and easily likeable dinner menu is on each night as well. The lunch offerings are pleasant too, with many flat bread varieties (can’t get enough of that flatbread). It’s not the warmest inside the Tyranny, so I would suggest rugging up and heading down for B/L or D (breakfast, lunch or dinner). Even the late night beer or wine may take your fancy as well.

Do u think this is a cup of hot chocolate ? Nahhhh, ure wrong ! It's Mocha , LOL Read carefully It's Chilli scrambled Egg on their house made flat bread Omg ! Flatbread to die for ~ Coming up next, my friend and me we both had Tyranny stack of potato rosti Another perfect dish The portion is kinda big i would say But we still headed to B&P sweet studio for some takeaway cakes Will have a special edition for cake soon Stay Tuned !

The food here at Tyranny of Distance is actually quite unique – while it does offer the normal poached eggs, bacon and dishes alike, some of the dishes they offer are quite interesting.

 As part of the Good Food Month The Tyranny of Distance is a stones throw away from Windsor train station. Here it is a little quaint old cafe with a 70's vibe to it. The only gripe is that I didn't enjoy the waitress attitude (the one that was brunette, very skinny and with the glasses). She was very unhappy and very rude towards her customers. The other one was fine and smiling and was happy to answer any questions. When the waitress with the glasses came with my meal, I said to her, " I asked for no bacon" and she said "Fuck! I forgot!" Ok these things happen but at least you should apologize. I had the $20 deal which included the house sweet (which was lovely homemade muffins) and the chilli eggs with flatbread. It came with coffee. I love buying these deals as you get to try everything. The chilli eggs had a very subtle hint of chill which I loved. The eggs were done really nicely and for their normal price of $15.50, I was easily full. Bargain! Oh and unlike what one reviewer sai

We ordered two of the much raved about dishes to share; the infamous Tyranny stack , and the chilli scrambled eggs . with a delicious ice coffee to wash it down. The portions of the food here were huge! We were having troubles polishing up the two dishes, and had to go real slow or else we'd be stuffed by the fifth bite. Ice coffee, $5 Tyranny stack, potato rosti with bacon, tomato and avocado, 16.50 Chili scrambled eggs with flatbread, bacon and lemon avocado salsa, $13.50 The eggs were beautifully poached but the potato

The food, when it arrives after a considerable wait, doesn’t really improve matters. I have the “paella”, allegedly slow cooked saffron rice with mixed seafood, chorizo, chicken, capsicum, and peas, ($20), which really is just seafood risotto, and a badly done one at that.

There’s something very Melbourne about Tyranny of Distance. The recycled fit out, casual atmosphere and popular menu options make it a reliable spot for the trendy Melbournian.

I have been wanting to eat at Tyranny of Distance because I love, love, love it's name. Bubs and I shared the "Salmon Eggs, nothing like Caviar".  I loved all the components of this dish, together and separately.  And it made for such a gorgeous looking dish! After the delicious brunch I visited Agathe Patisserie, where the lovely Agathe sells her wonderful baked goods in the little back Alley (best to enter from Artist Lane, just around the corner from Tyranny of Distance).

Food was freezing cold and the 'smashed avocado' is actually cold melted cheese and tomato on toast with a table spoon of avocado. Massively disappointed!

Terrible coffee, Staff are so rude and slow it's remarkable.

Our waitress was so cold and short - couldn't even make eye contact when speaking to us. Waited ages for food, ordered the corn fritters, a hard dish to screw up but they did a good job of it. Was so dry, flavorless and old tasting - couldn't even finish my meal. Not going back ever again.

6.5/10. Simple, easy, cheap, yum and relaxed. All walks of life drink, smoke and dine here

Terrible. Used to be good. Nice space although it seems to be where all the smokers congregate and the space becomes a smoking room, which is pretty gross. But by far the worst part is the disgusting food- at its best is mediocre. So many better options in melbourne... Don't bother

Good coffee and food. The staff were disinterested in us because we weren't in our 20s and not cool. It took 10 mins to order a coffee & get menus, another 10 to order food. We had to ask for extra coffee twice and the bill also didn't come when requested. All this with no acknowledgement of the slips ups nor any apology. The staff clearly prefer talking to each other and their regular patrons to actually serving. We won't be back, despite enjoying what we were (eventually) served. A big pity.

Quirky cool, relaxed. Unpretentious great food!. I've been here several times now (often hung over) and have always had great service. The atmosphere is relaxed, and it's worth noting that the main part of the cafe is semi outdoor, so you can smoke (although I don't).<br/>The food is great, some traditional Australian cafe items with a twist, and a few more off the wall dishes. The portion sizes are generous but not huge (perfect in my opinion) and the sides are well priced. They make a good cup of coffee and the teas are good quality. <br/>Lunch is great here, the tyranny burger being a standout, and their drinks list is really good considering the size of the place, and affordable. Don't miss happy hour!

My favourite place to go at any time<br/>Of the day! Staff and music are great, good is always good and tapas environment is great for a big group of friends! <br/>Love love love

Does not live up to the hype that surrounds this venue. After catching up with a friend, I found out that it is common practice to water down the drinks. In such a competitive street, this is poor practice.<br/>Definitely changed my view on this establishment.

Rude staff, average food and coffee. I came here with a girlfriend through the week for a lunch date and will not be returning. The staff have serious attitudes! We even got an eye roll when we asked for a few more minutes as we hadn't had a chance to look at the menu yet. They also didn't split the bill correctly, when my friend and I pointed this out the lady at the register was rude... my friend and I had been polite and smiley the entire time but apparently it's too hard for the staff to do the same. Food was OK, nothing special - I ordered a burger and my friend got a breakfast dish, both were average and definitively not worth the attitude we received from the staff. With so many great places to eat on chapel street that ALSO have great customer service I personally wouldn't bother going back to this place. <br/>Decor was nice though, it's just a pity about the service.

Oh wow, I'm not sure if it's chefs or wizards in that kitchen because that food was magic, and with drinks that cheap how could this not be good

Service so bad we were laughing. Went with my friend on her birthday. Waitress mucked up our order and we said we'd just eat what she brought us anyway and she was still incredibly rude, blaming me for being unclear with my order. I don't know if she was just having a bad day but she brought down our whole morning. Food was great

Festivus - Great Coffee. Been here a few times now<br/>They do great coffee and breakfast options a plenty<br/>I have had it three different options all good<br/>Staff friendly and great ambience

Steven. One of the most comfortable places to hang!!

4 words. Tyranny Burger - HOLY CRAP!!

NEVER RECEIVED MY FOOD.. Went for lunch with a friend. She ordered coffee and it came within minutes. I ordered a bowl of chips, and 40 minutes later they never arrived. Although our food/drink was under the same order mine never came. It was a fairly quite morning and we were 1 of 3 tables occupied. Poor service, and when I was leaving and informed them that I never received my chips (and not obviously paying for them) the waitress seemed so unbothered, and replied with 'oh the order must not have gone through!' and laughed it off. Well I wasn't laughing. When I order food I expect it to come, especially when it's so quite, you could basically see me sitting there without chips I asked for earlier.

Great atmosphere & food. The lamb salad and tapas selection were top notch. Awesome vibe and reasonably priced. Perfect for dinner or drinks!

First time and not the last. I celebrated my birthday last sat and decided to come here on recommendation of friends,the waitrese's were amazing,took care of every need,were friendly and dealt very professionally with my large group of people that attended on a busy night. We ordered tapas and unexpectantly ordered mains which all tasted wonderful via friends comments. I would like to thank the staff at tyranny for making my birthday special,to sam who was the the main waitress on the night. Thankyou thankyou thankyou,i will recommend you guys to others

I had the gluten free french toast with bacon and caramelised banana. It was fresh and sweet, and the service was excellent.

Wow what a great vibe from the staff here ! The staff are dancing through busy service ! I think it's SAM . Wow such an energy . I feel welcome .

Overrated hipster brunch location. Tyranny of distance is aptly named; the distance from arrival to food in mouth is absurd! Although there were 3 waitstaff and 3 kitchen staff servicing less than 20 people, of whom my group made up 7, no waiter approached for drink or food orders. After several failed attempts to flag down a waitress for coffee, we rushed to get our orders in. Then came the 40mins wait for food! In the meantime, they forgot 1/7 coffee orders and when the mistake was pointed out the waitress informed us the barista was busy with over 50 coffee orders (I wonder for who, cause there were only 6 other new customers in the meantime)... The food was average, chilli scrambled eggs were bland and the bacon tasted off. No one else thought their meals were worth raving about. The saving grace for the meal was the flat bread, Absolutely amazing!! I wouldn't bother visiting this place if you like good service and food, but if the craving for the flat bread strikes me one day I may be inclined to give the venue another attempt.

Cool place - relaxing. Me and mate go here often for a drink and sometimes a meal. the atmosphere is great, love being able to smoke indoors, food is good & drinks are cheap<br/>The staff are super-friendly and all in all a great casual place

I find some of reviews a bit ridiculous. People complaining of smoking? Fair enough, bit don't winge about it. You are given the choice to sit where you want. There is a non smoking area that is air conditioned and quite comfortable. Seriously, you need to get a life if that's your issue.

Terrible experience! Restaurant tired to be accommodating as we had a larger group which was gr8, however let themselves down with the terrible customer service and forgetting that we are their customers that keep their business afloat. Manager had the worst attitude and is not "fit" to be manager if that's the way she treats her customers, On top of this we were served two undercooked meals, which were not charged. Spoke to the manager afterwards and all she could do is keep defending herself and business rather than listening to customers feedback that now will not be returning.

Food is great, atmosphere even better. staff are friendly but sometimes forget they are working which makes you feel your interupting them rather than paying for the service!

Great atmosphere and great food. Best part for me, is that my gf and I can smoke. Such a nice change. Lovely staff :)

Maybe it's you... Having just read the review by anchorsandaeroplanes I was curious to see how they rated other restaurants/cafes as I have always found the service at Tyranny to be pretty good and definitely friendly. Of the three, yes three, reviews of different restaurants anchorsandaeroplanes posted on 3/01/14 they didn't like any one of them. It seems their biggest complaint is service. Either they are EXTREMELY unlucky or perhaps they might need to learn how to be a better customer. Sometimes it really is you.

Blah. We've walked by this place a million times but have never gone in until just a few days ago. The first thing i noticed was that everyone looked absolutely miserable. The manager was stressed out and the floor staff looked like they hated their lives. We grabbed a seat at a communal table, and our waitress couldn't be bothered to even look like she cared to be talking to us. We ordered and observed. At the other end of our table was a group of guys, and as their food and beers got delivered, they were slammed down on the table by a server who was already walking away. Just dreadful. <br/><br/>Our food arrived, and it was good. No complaints really, but it was overshadowed by the poor, POOR service. At one point, i watched a kitchen worker walk in, look at the people in the restaurant and then visibly shake her head in disapproval. Just a poor attitude on everyone, and we will not be returning.

I'm not a fan of the smoking but the food (chilli scrambled eggs) was great, although the portions were huge! It must have been at least 6 eggs scrambled. The Virgin Bloody Mary was good and coffee too.

Such an entertaining place set out by the artists lane. Smokers love it!

Meh. Food is good, but the place smells like an ashtray. Shame they've ruined a nice brunch spot and just around the corner too... :(

Great food and surprisingly big portion for a cafe. Love the bake eggs and the burger! <br/>Good casual service. Love the rustic atmosphere. There wasn't a wait when we were there for a Sunday brunch, lovely! <br/>Will be back to try other food.

Was there a Change of management?. Since moving into Windsor 4 months ago this became my favorite casual eating place. Friendly attentive service, interesting and well priced menu, cool casual ambiance and great music list. Recently however we have been left disappointed. My wife ordered breakfast on the way to work one Saturday, after enquiring 30minutes later she was told her order had been given to another customer (OK that can happen). Then her replacement was inedible, with raw poached egg (she likes her eggs runny). Then we recommended the place to our son as he had visitors down from Sydney. iAd raved about the burgers having enjoyed mine at a previous visit. They ordered them & were really disappointed, they fell apart & were virtually II edible.<br/><br/>I'll give them one last chance as I really like the place, but there are too many choices in this locale not to get it right (try My Little GoGoon Chapel st).

Salmon and beetroot fail. I've been to this cafe a few times now but I have to say that my last culinary experience was a disaster. I had the salmon and beetroot (breakfast option) and I really struggled - after 3 mouthfuls I was done . It was quite bad. Not impressed. I have to say though that the atmosphere at the cafe was pretty cool. Coffee was really good. I would give it a go again just because the staff were really nice and I've had good food from this place before.

After many great breakfasts here, I was so disappointed when I queried whether the diner at the next table was able to smoke (with that smoke blowing all over our breakfast) to be told rather rudely by our waiter that we were dining "outside"... agree with the review from josie47a... my lungs and I will eat elsewhere in future.

I had lunch here today and it was by far one of the worst culinary experiences I have ever had. The staff seemed uninterested and spent most of their time smoking in the table next to us. Our waitress could not be bothered serving us and when she finally brought our dishes out (the kitchen staff rung the bell 15 minutes before she noticed our dishes sitting there) we were less than pleased. My salad consisted of lettuce and beetroot, nothing more, nothing less. It didn't have one bit of dressing it was seriously a handful of lettuce and a handful of beetroot! When we told management they just said we should have told our waitress! I am DEFINITELY never going back.

Don't change the music!. Haven't eaten here but had a fantastic time having drinks because of the lovely staff and music. Bowie, Breeders, Bob Dylan, Cult and on and on. Will be returning for drinks and to eat the food again because of the music.

10 for Atmosphere. WOW - Haven't experienced such amazing service since Babble Cafe was at it's best years ago.<br/><br/>This spunky red head waitress, late 30's (seemed like the manager) made our night but the whole staff had it going on. The awesome welcome made us feel like we were drinking with old friends - and it seemed everyone in the place felt the same. <br/><br/>Food was good - but the atmosphere was electric. Congrats Tyranny, been a long time since I've experienced that kind of vibe. Our plans of a bar hop were canned because we didn't want to leave the place. Coupled with the old school music we'll definitely be back - might have to take up smoking again :)<br/><br/>Only suggestion would be to carry the vibe through the day as I would never have known that the place was rocking from the standard Chapel breakfast experience.

The staff make the place! oh and foods great!. I (being a nonconformist) had ciggies and brunch with friends recently at tyranny lol I laugh because brunch turned to lunch and thus evening had availed and yes we were still smoking while we ate and drank! <br/><br/>the food was great the chefs have to make a heap of meals in a small space. quant isn't really a word i would consider more "squashed" comes to mind. the food was pretty amazing and we had allot to eat! thumbs up to kitchen crew at tyranny.<br/><br/> And also quite entertaining as altho the day staff were scared into efficiency as afternoon change over must of occurred while we laughed. the mood and tempo changed to accommodate the atmosphere.... at first we thought we may be too rowdy for the venue, laughs all round and whatnot, we were instead welcomed and reassured by the night manager and told "if we got out of hand she "Sam" the manager (i think) would keep us in check" Sam is the sporting kiwi chick, huge smile and totally made our night/day/visit! 2thumbs up to sam and her night crew!!!!<br/><br/>lastly be careful of SAMs wild cocktail arm! I may have had a few to many..... I'm sure they keep a miniature john waters....lol<br/><br/>Next time brunch starts at 3pm! ?;-) thanks Miss Sam.....Boonie & the gang!

Great if you like cigarette smoke with your breakfast.... I certainly don't enjoy eating in a haze of cigarette smoke so won't be back. I thought maybe they considered the front section to be 'outside' (despite having 4 walls and a roof...), although they refuse to let dogs in here, stating its 'inside'. Not sure how they get away with this given smoking in restaurants is illegal. The food is good but the staff are vacuous. My lungs and I will go elsewhere.

I found the staff here pretty rude, waited for ten minutes to even see a menu then asked if I could see one, was rudely told someone would be over in a minute but that didnt happen. They were quiet as as well...Left after 15 and won't be back!

Love love love everything about this place! Atmosphere, staff, food! This is fast becoming a local spot for me and my girlfriends.

Better than ever. Me and my friends meet at Tyranny at least once a week to make the most of happy hour ($4 from 4-7pm), and I have to disagree with "Surprised"s comment, as I have never seen the staff acting in any way other than friendly towards customers. Even when we act naughty or get a little too drunk, they find a nice way to let us know to tone it down before we embarrass ourself :-P<br/>Lately they have really upped the ante, with new food specials every day and cheap cocktails of the week - last week I wanted something special and the red head chick at the bar (a Kiwi like me!) created an amazing cocktail, she called it a "Spicy Mexican" or something, oh so delicious.<br/>If you haven't already - you have to try this place, decor is unique, the staff are awesome, drinks are cheap, and food is delicious (plus you can smoke!)

Disgustingly rude customer service. Forget the food and coffee, i find myself questioning what happened to customer service etiquitte or even manners when a boysterous staff member rudely demands for you to "get outa the way" and physically pushes you because the place is somewhat busy and the stress is obviously too high to cope with. Sorry but I am genuinely shocked you would employ somebody with such an irrational and offensive manner.

Guilty Pleasure. Yeah so smoking isn't so cool. But smoking at Tyranny still kinda is. Yes, it's cold, but in winter they'll even give you a blanket. If you can manage to look cool with a lap blanky you're a better man than I... Still, sometimes it's cool just not being cool. The food is great, the prices are right, the heaters are plentiful, Tyranny is a winner!!

Change your coffee!. Love the place, service has always been good. Food is pretty good!<br/>Only problem is they are still serving the kind of coffee that you might find in a greasy spoon cafe only made better! <br/>Seriously get up to date and start selling the kind of gourmet coffee that Dukes supply and get some really tasty coffee going on and then your place will be perfect!

If you're going for breakfast, you have to try the chili scrambled eggs...they are amazing!

One of Melbourne's best breakfasts, especially the chilli scram with bacon and in house made flat bread. TOD very Kool and the Gang.

Poached to Perfection. So yummy! I had the Tyranny stack with lettuce, bacon, poached egg, and potato rosti as they were out of corn fritters. Great flavour and eggs were poached very well. Tried some of my friend's flat bread and baked eggs which were very tasty. Definitely intend to go back for more.

Food good, decor average. Interesting place. Heard about it from a friend.<br/>These guys didnt actually seem very chirpy and I did wonder wether there might have been a recent 'issue' coz everyone seemed miserable!<br/>I really liked the menu, and have heard good things on the food, and so I tried some flat bread. Seriously good. What was to follow was not.<br/>Coffee was pretty average. Surprising because places like this in areas like this, with the competiton they have should be better.

A good friend of mine recommended I try this local place and having not eaten dinner the night before, I found myself in the neighborhood and ready for a feed. Initially, I was a bit surprised how small the brekkie menu was (only 10-12 items). I was a bit worried I wouldn't find something I liked, but the Chachouka intrigued me. Here is the description: sauce of caramelized onion, garlic and capsicum, baked with 2 eggs.<br/><br/>Sounded almost like a stew with 2 eggs dropped in (amazingly close). The skillet came to me with the sauce still bubbling (perfect)! The eggs were cooked over and cutting open the yolks revealed their runny goldenness. I had to take a second look at the menu to be sure there wasn't any tomato, due to the richness of the sauce. It was a delight to eat. The dish is served with a rolled up flat bread, but really, a nice chuck of regular bread or toast would have been lightyears better as it could soak up the sauce, yolk, etc for a very tasty bite.<br/><br/>My first venture into this establishment was a success. Next visit, I need to take my good friend with me to reward her for placing this jewel on my radar.

I use urban spoon often bit this is the first time I've been compelled to write a review. The worst dining experience I've had on Chapel st. Forgot my order, didn't add avocado and charged me $4.50 for avocado. Zero stars.

Close to my heart. Another of my local favorites. The chilli eggs for breakfast, or chicken wrap for lunch, or one of the yummy tapas and a glass of wine in the afternoon/evening. The flat bread sets this place apart. And the coffee and muffins are pretty good too. All for excellent prices - check it out, you won't be disappointed.<br/>The only downside is that smoking is allowed as the main area is indoor/outdoor - generally not a problem but occasionally you can be surrounded which is annoying - there is a non-smoking indoor section if you really want to guarantee smoke free.

Seriously, go there and get some Tapas! <br/>It may look seedy from the outside, I mean you really can't even tell its a restaurant from the outside. But you go in and theres this warm, chilled atmosphere and well price delightful food.<br/>Only thing is the waiters are so chilled/indie that they may forget the odd pork dish or two. Regardless, I've been back about 4 times now.

Your New Spot. If Tyranny of Distance had a bit more of a generic breakfast menu, I dont think they would be able to accommodate how much business they would get. I would love to see an eggs benedict with salmon on the menu. <br/>If you havent tried the paella at Tyranny of Distance, you havent lived. Its a tad expensive but it is enormous and so wonderfully delicious!<br/>Staff here are very helpful, fast, motivated (and good looking). Theres a gorgeous blonde chic and one from the gold coast who serve me every time, and they are just lovely. <br/>Would recommend this spot as a new regular joint for yourself; be it for coffee, a snack, or dinner!<br/>Value for Money 7/10<br/>Service 9/10<br/>Food 7/10

I've been going to Tyranny for some time now and only recently discovered the non-smoking section. It's warm, cosy, cushioned and carefully heated. Now I can take my Mum along. Love the music and the vibe. The staff are great and a new menu is on the horizon. The specials have always been great, adding variety and depth to the menu, but it will be sad to say goodbye to my favourite dishes. The salmon, the paella, the steak sandwich, the chilli eggs. They've become like friends. Still, looking forward to seeing what's on offer next.

Great food. Relaxed atmosphere. Good coffee and service.

Quirky and fun in Windsor. I adore this place, its unique and the food is always pleasant. My friends and I come here often and we love the variety on the menu. It's typically Windsor, but located off the main drag of Chapel Street which is nice. <br/><br/>The coffee is really good and they create dishes that mix strange flavours together but it always works.My favourites are the Chilli scrambled eggs and bacon on house made flatbread topped w avocado and preserved lemon salsa $13.5, as well as the Tyranny stack of potato rosti, baby spinach, bacon and avocado topped with a soft poached egg $16.5.

Great imaginative menu and awesome coffee. A little put off by people being allowed to smoke though.

The Tyranny of ignorance. I find it quite funny how ignorant a lot of the recent "reviews" are here on urban spoon. I have been to this venue on a busy sunday around the time of "azza_nz" and had to wait under half an hour for food - to 1 hour on some busy sundays. This is to be expected on a Sunday breakfast or lunch rush at any venue on chapel street -- have you not ever eaten out before? The fire in the oven heats at the same temperature as your one at home guys, I think you missed mcdonalds on the way over. <br/><br/>What is 1 hour of your precious life really? talk about first world problems. I found the food to be of high standard as opposed to what I previously remember it as (maybe a few months back). As a regular visitor to the venue I tend to notice these things - as opposed to uneducated assumptions of the place. In saying this, the kitchen seems a bit too small for such a large venue and you can admittedly feel this during such big days as sunday. I would suggest visiting on off peak periods for just this reason. <br/><br/>The place seems a bit understaffed at some times however the service still seems to remain on a high note with the upbeat enthusiastic crew that operates out of the place. I am personally more concerned about some of the people that attend the venue over the past few months, their self righteous attitudes are sad. I say this after watching one of the staff members being abused for following staff protocol of not splitting bills -- clearly stated in the restaurants menu.<br/><br/>How would you like it if I went into your workplace and told you to bend the rules to benefit myself? how selfish. I applaud the diplomacy in the issue, as I personally would not be able to deal with such thick headed selfish individuals. Bravo, you deserve a medal tyranny.<br/><br/>Keep at it tyranny, you are a special choice on the windsor end. I just hope people look above the silly remarks in this review section and form their own opinion, the place is really quite a treat! And we all know how everyone is a master chef now, don't miss out on one of the most interesting venues this side of chapel.

It seems like many people had an issue with the service here, however in my situation this was definitely not the case! <br/>Wait times were not long at all, service was efficient, knowledgable and friendly. <br/>Ordered a number of tapas to share and could not fault the food in any way!! <br/>Cute place, great relaxed vibe.. Will definitely return! Loved it!

1hr wait. Came here for breakfast on a Sunday place was half full, took 1hr to get 2 breakfasts nearly walked out. When we went to pay and say something to management were told 'you win some, you lose some.' Never coming back.

Great place. We live in Hawthorn and this place has such great coffee and snacks that we walked there today for afternoon tea. We both had a wonderful coffee and flat bread with home made jams. Our return walk is about 15 k so we probably bunt the calories we ate. VERY enjoyable afternoon. We will be back.

I love this place!! Unique and quirky!! A great hidden place to relax with friends and unwind!! My New favorite reason for Windsor!!

Good little venue just off Chapel St. Good open air covered area for the days with some sun and outdoor heating for those with cloud. The vibe is cool industrial with a couple of couches for coffee catch ups or tables for a feed. Slightly different spin on breaky that works well. Try the chilli scrambled eggs in the flat bread. They also have a beer on tap that changes often and is nice to relax and have an arvo catch with friends.<br/>A good consistent Windsor local.

Had Spanish style baked eggs with potatoes, roasted capsicum, smoked paprika, tomato compote & sweet onion. I thought it was delish. Despite some negative reviews, I think the service was good. Great place for brunch.

Great place. Super cute with a really fun, chilled out vibe. Really yummy food. Unfortunately, really slow, lax service lets them down. I'm still waiting for someone to clear my used plates and let me order another drink! I would forgive that if it were busy, but I'm one of 7 patrons and I can count 4 staff. If you are going to do full table service, service your tables properly!

I went here earlier this year and had the roti stack with bacon & poached eggs, was bloody awesome! I then washed it down with 3-4 beers in no time. Funny groovy staff.

Not impressed. We went here on a Saturday morning because it looked cool - unfortunately all of the effort went into decor. Firstly, the coffee was burnt. Then we waited 40 minutes for one breakfast, and decided to just leave when another group who arrived after us was served. The staff were confused and nonchalant.

Very average place. Food not that great for value. Waitress does not take notes and therefore not everything you order arrives. We had a table of six people with only five meals arriving. No discount on the missing sixth meal despite it arriving as everyone else had finished their food. Will not come back here again.

The coffee is always cold, lazy staff, and took 15 mins for first coffee then 2nd coffee never came, I have tried the food several times always bad

Tyranny rosti stack with bacon, avocado and poached eggs. This dish tasted horrible. The rosti's were soft gooey mush that had a strange aftertaste. I wondered if it was 5 day old mashed potato patted into a cake and warmed up for me. The bacon was burnt on one side so it tasted like i was eating the black crust off a grill plate and the oil garnish around the plate clashed with the other flavours on the plate. I was utterly disappointed with this meal and i am hoping it was just a bad day for the chef and that the meal is not usually that bad, although i wont be back to find out unfortunately.

Great atmosphere. I ordered the banana porridge with cinnamon and honey. It was not good at all, tasted like bland, flavorless goo. You could nit taste anything, I had to order some more sides to get some taste into it.

Disappointing. While the service was fair and the staff were friendly I would not recommend the tapas. All dishes we tried bar the calamari were below average which is a shame because I had fond memories of their chilli scrambled eggs when they first opened. Avoid the sesame chicken all together.

Terrible service. We went to ToD at lunch time on a week day. It wasn't overly busy. Although the food was good, the service was terrible. We got attitude from the waitress (including the rolling of the eyes), everything was too much trouble. We're not demanding people so when you're paying to eat out, you expect pleasant service, just a smile and some politeness with your meal isn't asking too much. Won't be going back there for service alone.

Bright and tasty!. Had a lazy lunch here on a Sunday... loved it. Bright, colourful decour and friendly, pleasant staff. We ordered a range of tapas, all of which were well presented and fresh. the Turkish Meatballs were a the stand out. Good value at $50 for two (although we didn't have wine). The place has a lovely casual feel - a great local.

Good food, S*it service! It took well over 26 mins to have coffees delivered, asked waitress to see where they were at and she explained there was a 'back load' however everyone else who ordered after us got there coffees before we did. All honesty I am not one to 'rant' but simple good honesty would have improved my experience

Tried 3x times,and won't go back. first time liked the chilli eggs & coffee. Next 2 times food was gross.. Chilli eggs were sooo salty. Then had the tyranny stack and eggs were way undercooked so sloppy even the whites weren't cooked and the potato rosti was also very very undercooked and mushy. Coffee has gone way downhill too. I think the problem is constant staff turnover.. Very inconsistant.

Won't be able to keep my distance from this place!. Disclaimer: This review may be slightly skewed bc by the time I ate, I was starving.<br/><br/>The Occasion: Sunday lunch on a gorgeous, sunny winter's day with the Husband and Husband's best mate.<br/><br/>First impression and décor: Very hip and very Fitzroy. You know the kind, mismatched future, op shop crockery, etc. I was expecting it to be full of too-cool-for-school folk but there were a mix people and the atmosphere was relaxed. The Husband, who tends to shun such establishments and was reluctant to go here, warmed to the place quickly. <br/><br/>What we ate: The Husband had the potato rosti stack which looked delectable and banana porridge (he couldn't decide between the two), the best mate had a chargrilled chicken on flatbread - the 'safe option' which also looked a treat and I had the seafood pappardelle which was heavenly. There was a generous amount of seafood which was a massive plus. <br/><br/>The serves were a decent size but the Husband and I were still a touch hungry after our meals…<br/><br/>What we drank: Beers, lattes, soft drinks, teas - all very reasonably priced!<br/><br/>The Service: A let down to be honest. The staff were polite but the service was slow and the food was even slower… Shame really.<br/><br/>Surprise factor: The quality of food and how delicious the food was. I guess I wasn't really expecting a lot given the café's somewhat makeshift appearance and set-up. I can't wait to go back.<br/><br/>The Cost: $76

Bad coffee,Not foamy and bitter. rude and judgmental waiters but interesting and delicious food! Good vibe, able to smoke!

Yummy brunch!. I stumbled upon this quaint restaurant-cafe while wandering about Chapel street, and told myself I'd return for brunch after reading some urbanspoon reviews.<br/>So, Saturday morning, we decided to give it a go. <br/>I ordered the heavily recommended chilli scrambled eggs with flatbread + bacon+ avocado & preserved lemon salsa, and my boyfriend ordered the rosti stack with poached eggs + bacon + avocado salsa. I have to say that both were fantastic. <br/>The chilli gave an extra delicious kick to the scrambled eggs, and the flatbread was a lovely alternative to the usual 'toast' accompaniment to eggs. The avocado & preserved lemon salsa was nice and tangy, but may have been a little overpowering for the subtle creaminess of the scrambled eggs. And of course, what's breakfast without bacon? It gave the dish the perfect amount of saltiness. Boyfriend LOVED his poached eggs, and I must say they were pretty perfectly done.<br/>Despite the poor reviews about service, I found the staff to be very attentive, although not exactly the friendliest.<br/>Also, if you like your air smoke-free, beware! Smoking is allowed here, and it's not always the most pleasant of ways to enjoy your meal!

Loved the chilli scrambled eggs with the homemade flat bread. Delicious and didn't need to eat until dinner- huge serving!

Very Cool !!. Love the dining space here, really cool food as well, not pedestrian in any way, friendly staff, cheap prices for what you get, and some good beer on tap as well. Only con is the people smoking around you can be a bit much. Other than that, this place is well worth a visit for any meal of the day-or just a cool drink with mates!

Yum food!. The food did take a while, but the waitress warned us about that even before we ordered, which is always much appreciated and what i consider great service! the eggs in a pan with tomato and veggie sauce (shakshuka basically) was delicious. my only qualm is that they only serve the one type of bread, and while it's really yum, it's veryyy fattening and oily - i'd keep going back if they introduced another type of bread.

Just like Picnic this is the best breakfast place in Windsor. The chilli eggs are brilliant. The great thing about living in south yarra is picnic on Saturday and tyranny on Sunday.

Great breakfasts.... Met up for a lazy Sunday breakfast with friends today and had the most delicious poached eggs with potato rosti. The eggs were done perfectly and were served with bacon, avocado and the rosti. Friends had the baked eggs and the lemongrass infused quinoa - all were very impressed! Service, which in the past has been a little hit and miss, was great. The waitress that served us was really friendly and flitting around without being intrusive. I'd been for a drink and some snacks before but was most impressed this morning. Get there on the earlier side as it seemed to fill up pretty quickly.

Relaxed atmosphere perfect for a casual catch up with friends. Great yum and healthy tapas. Perfect for a group booking for dinner and drinks. We enjoyed the retro feel and the waitresses were lovely. Been for brekky before too and it was ok, nothing special- coffee wasn't fantastic. I'll def be back for a evening or lunch sitting though.

Their seafood claypot is one of the best meals I've ever had. Incredible rich sauce, absolutely tasty. Paella was also really good. The wait for meals was long, but they did apologise halfway through the wait, so we didn't feel neglected. The waitress was lovely. Will definitely be back, earlier next time to catch the 5pm - 7pm happy hour.

3 strikes, never again! Despite a great menu, cheap prices and an ambient space, ToD has a persistent problem. Unattentive service and horrendous wait times. On three occasions I'm talking 1 hour+! I want to love this place. I want to be a regular, but the tiny kitchen, understaffing and poor processes are not going to change. Sad as this place has real potential.

WOAH BREAKFAST. I know I know. Everytime I come to Tyranny to eat, I bask in the chilli scrambled egg goodness. I actually said it yesterday after thinking it for a while. This breakfast is one of my favourite in Melbourne. Yep. Divine. Chiili scrambled eggs folded with back in thick warm flat bread. Topped with Smashed avocado salsa and lemon juice, with a little bit of rocket for garden appeal. The lunch and dinner menus are delicious. Simple goodness, with not over doing it. We can eat and smoke at the same time if that's your kind of thing and the windows are open. The staff are trendy cool (if you will) and you'll usually hear the smiths or some dirty amazing ninties soundtrack, which i must say, floats my little boat. The 'open air' modern little house on the prairie school playground mixed with grade 6 art class, isn't as overly hipster as one would imagine. It's a great place all week long. there's a few couch tables if that's your thing or plenty of tables and room if there's more than 4 of you. It's nicely tucked away down a cheeky street of chapel, so you can avoid all that chapel stuff. I don't drink alot of coffee anymore, but my friends say the coffee is good. !

Definately be coming back! Went there early Saturday morning. I had an ice coffee and the scrambled chilli eggs with bacon and avocado and preserved lemon salsa... I was a little disappointed as my salsa didn't have any preserved lemon. But otherwise an awesome meal, generous serves! My friend had the muesli with poached fruit and she raved about it. I'll be back this weekend to try the rosti stack! Keep up the good work!

Spanish Baked Eggs. Absolutely A M A Z I N G .<br/><br/>That is all.<br/><br/>But in all seriousness, the place is pretty chill. You don't go there for the attentive service, but for the food and the atmosphere of an old backyard.

Salmon + love = nirvana. I luved it guyz! I had the salmon w anchovies & green beans , I was in salmon heaven! the fish was tender, moist & pink, I loved how the flesh flaked on my fork and melted in my mouth. I havent had that much fun with a fish since I was at the glasshouse. <br/><br/>waitress was a babe, super friendly and attentive. luved the music too

Good coffee. Great coffee, spanish eggs were excellent. Very happy.

On the whole, it was average. We'd heard on the grapevine these guys do pretty good coffee, so my wife and I went in. My long black was a bit dirty. I had the chilli scrambled eggs (not seasoned, but otherwise good, maybe too much chilli for some) my wifes tyranny rosti stack had loads of rosemary, and some weird pomegranite dressing which really didn't work. Again underseasoned, and could taste way too much vinegar from the poached egg water. We'll try them again if they put a little more love in the food. It is strange that people can smoke inside tho. And the waiter didn't wash his hands in between patting a dog and taking some coffees out to a table.

Amazing coffee. Brunch was delicious. Vibe is casual and I'm a fan of this renovated garage (at least it looked like it :)

Casual and relaxed.. I can imagine this place doing really well in the summer, particularly since it opens up into an outdoor space. Went here for brunch on the weekend and enjoyed the chilli scrambled eggs, with flat bread, guacamole etc. My friend had tapas saganaki and prawns. Great coffee and good service! Will probably drop in again if I am in the area.

Yay Tyranny. Casual and friendly, the staff are really laid back but still manage to provide awesome service. Breaky is delicious and there are few unusual option - the baked eggs are fab. Good for a friday night drink too...

Great vibe. Love the outdoor/indoor sitting. Food was delicious, the homemade flat bread great. Coffee also good. Service fast and friendly. Marshmallow with baby cino. Definitely a place worth checking out.

Quite a cool alternative eating space. Service was quick and friendly. We came for brunch but will have to come back and try the dinner menu.

The Israeli cous cous is perfect, lightly flavoured with a great texture combo & it's only the side dish! Service was fast & friendly. If u haven't found this place yet - go look for it.

Awesome lemon tart! Awesome gas bottle lighting and heater feature pieces

Really cool relaxed vibe, awesome covered outdoor area with heaters too! Food is yum, we come every Sunday for breakfast and night time is also good with cheap flat breads and the paella is really good!

Soo delicious! I absolutely loved the dukkah and the babaganoush was just dreamy (But hey, it's eggplant and I'm in love with that vegetable). The chicken itself was pretty good too, maybe a tad dry, but when had with the babaganoush, goats cheese and tha

“This place has really grown on me. After frequenting several times and falling in love with the paella, I had some trepidation on how much attention they would give to a burger. However, I’ve come to realise they’ve given serious thought to each dish which combined with fresh ingredients, makes for really good food. The first thing I noticed was the super crispy rashes of bacon hanging out that added a great salty crunch when paired with the large, juicy beef pattie. The smoked cheese along with the paprika aoili added depth and enhanced the beef and bacon flavours while the crusty roll did its job and held everything together.” - See more at: http://theburgeradventure.com/2013/06/tyranny-of-distance/#sthash.Yi0QePN3.dpuf

Despite the name Tyranny of Distance isn't really that far away. Each time I've been here I've enjoyed myself, because with its generous serves of some pretty decent food, a nice relaxed vibe and a bit of character it's the sort of place I am pretty much guaranteed to like. From the 'Lubritorium bar to the gas bottle chic decoration of the main room, it and Yellow Bird have a grungier feel than most Chapel Street cafes, bringing a welcome touch of Fitzroy to Windsor. The café had been opened up on the warm morning that Snooze and I visited and with the breeze and a bit of moisture from the sprinklers at the nearby bowls club there was almost a beachside vibe happening which I hadn't noticed before. Well, if closed your eyes and imagined the low hum of Chapel Street traffic was the sound of breaking waves I thought there was. The café was less busy than on previous visits but it contained its usual interesting mix of patrons, more cool than too cool for school. Menu wise breakfast is

MTV's poached eggs ($7.50) were served with a huge serving of garlicky mushrooms ($3.50) and again were just the right side of runny. Did I mention that both breakfast servings were enormous and served with addictively good flat bread? Immediately we both started fantasising about actually buying the house around the corner and having the Tyranny of Distance as our regular breakfast spot.