Occasionally a post-ride breakfast can eclipse the ride itself.
Here is a list of some of Melbourne’s best places for a reinvigorating breakfast.
Favourites
(Based on 3 criteria – Food, Coffee & Bike parking facilities)
1. Lawson Grove Milk Bar (South Yarra)
A perennial favourite with locals and almost guaranteed to be packed on the weekends. Genuinely has some of the friendliest staff going around who make you feel warm & comfortable with their welcoming smiles. Terry & Ben have converted what used to be an old communal kitchen into a charming local food store and cafe.
Eat: LGM do probably the best toasties in town. Thick velvety chunks of sourdough smother hearty fillings such as gypsy ham, tomatoes & provolone cheese. The similarly rich BLT is also highly recommended.
Perfectly boiled eggs & vegemite soldiers reawaken childhood nostalgia.
To top if off crunchy yet doughy Belgium Waffles with clotted cream and strawberries complete the perfect post ride meal.
Coffee: Gravity beans
The coffee machine takes centre stage inside LGM. A blackboard sits neatly beside it with a hand scrawled message reading,
‘The bitterness of cheap coffee lingers long after the cost benefits have been realised’
Bike parking: Not an issue if you manage to get a table outside. Otherwise can lock your bike to the numerous street poles that line the tiny cul de sac.
Overall – 4 out of 5
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2. Crue (South Yarra)
Primarily a coffee lounge but serves up some hearty and decadent breakfast options. Warm and friendly service and very good coffee.
Eat: Ranges from Omelettes with goat cheese and smoked salmon to a unique take on French toast with honeycombe, hazelnut mousse & banana.
Coffee: Wickedly good specialty blends.
Bike parking: One of the baristas rides in every day and parks his ride just outside. Ample space available.
Overall – 3.5/5
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3. Turtle Cafe (Elwood)
The best hash browns in Melbourne. Enough said.
Coffee: Reasonably good.
Bike parking: Spacious outdoor section out the front is perfect for riders.
In addition to the crunchy hashbrowns with soft inner pillowcases of potato & chives the attentive & friendly waitresses make this a perfect post ride destination.
Overall – 4 out of 5
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4. Jerry’s Milk Bar (Elwood)
Just short of St Kilda and caught in a deluge of rain? Jerry’s in Elwood not only offers warm refuge in a snug section out the back but also an excellent, ‘Eggs La Mer’.
Perfectly poached free range eggs served on toast, topped with generous layers of smoked salmon and bechamel sauce.
A Redder’s favourite.
Soft and crunchy toasted croissants with ham & cheese are a bargain at $5.50, as is the bircher muesli with fresh fruits or a berry combination for only $8.50. Not to mention the excellent smoothies.
Coffee: Good (hot & strong).
Bike parking: Ample space out the back.
Whilst groups of more than 6 may struggle to find a table, smaller groups are perfect for a post ride coffee and breakfast. Patient and friendly staff are instructive without being impolite. A reasonably priced and well diversified menu puts Jerry’s at the top of my breakfast ride list.
Overall – 4.5 out of 5
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Where are they?
Lawson Grove Milk Bar – 1 Lawson Grove, South Yarra
Crue Coffee Lounge – 194 Toorak Rd, South Yarra
Turtle Cafe – 34 Glenhuntly Rd, Elwood
Jerry’s Milk Bar – Barkly Rd, Elwood
The workshop 