A café needs to be so much: the first morning conversation, the business meeting room, the grandkids outing, the office for the sole trader… and they should serve food and coffee as well.
Mister + Miss seems to have all these roles down pat. Use it as you will, the staff will stay out of your way but professionally give you everything you want. Whilst I groaned at the strained conversation of the business meeting next to me (the boss trying to impress, the employee trying to stay awake and hold her tongue – I try not to eavesdrop, I promise), families at the other end of the café were laughing and playing games with their young kids. This is a space. The deliciousness of what is on offer is incidental.
It was opened in 2016 by Dennis Chronis and Christina Panettieri. Chefs Jim Karagiorgos and Khan Pok created a tempting all-day breakfast menu, with the efficient barristas making rounds of Axil coffee.
The first thing that struck me was the professionalism of the staff. They have a job to do. It is busy. But they have obviously been trained to smile and serve efficiently, no matter what their opinion on the request. The little details count too. The Laguiole knives, the Pepe Saya Cultured Butter, the bread board serving platters… it has all been thought through.
Chai latte is served in a jug to poor through a sieve. It was difficult to add the froth to the cup without getting all the cloves and leaves, but this was the first Chai that has taken me back to India. It was not sweet, but authentic in colour and strength with lots of pepper and spice.
There brunch menu is extensive, with several vegetarian options. Everyone seems to be serving shakshuka in Melbourne these days. The ‘Mister Bean’ is their take on this: cannellini beans, button mushrooms and eggs all baked in rich tomato. This dish is huge. It smelt of fresh sprouts and was covered with fresh herbs. A thick layer of parmesan added a needed saltiness. The eggs were overcooked by the time I got to them, but this was probably my fault as I got lost in the yumminess of the sauce with the long, thin, sliced sourdough.
The French toast and pancakes, are pretty for a keen-eyed sweet tooth. The former can also be done gluten free. Other gluten free options include omelettes, baked eggs, and potato hash. There are also pizzas, salads and burgers for lunch, as well as kids meals for those under ten.
I was here to eat and do work. I left having been productive and well fed. For this it was perfect.
Mister + Miss seems to have all these roles down pat. Use it as you will, the staff will stay out of your way but professionally give you everything you want. Whilst I groaned at the strained conversation of the business meeting next to me (the boss trying to impress, the employee trying to stay awake and hold her tongue – I try not to eavesdrop, I promise), families at the other end of the café were laughing and playing games with their young kids. This is a space. The deliciousness of what is on offer is incidental.
It was opened in 2016 by Dennis Chronis and Christina Panettieri. Chefs Jim Karagiorgos and Khan Pok created a tempting all-day breakfast menu, with the efficient barristas making rounds of Axil coffee.
The first thing that struck me was the professionalism of the staff. They have a job to do. It is busy. But they have obviously been trained to smile and serve efficiently, no matter what their opinion on the request. The little details count too. The Laguiole knives, the Pepe Saya Cultured Butter, the bread board serving platters… it has all been thought through.
Chai latte is served in a jug to poor through a sieve. It was difficult to add the froth to the cup without getting all the cloves and leaves, but this was the first Chai that has taken me back to India. It was not sweet, but authentic in colour and strength with lots of pepper and spice.
There brunch menu is extensive, with several vegetarian options. Everyone seems to be serving shakshuka in Melbourne these days. The ‘Mister Bean’ is their take on this: cannellini beans, button mushrooms and eggs all baked in rich tomato. This dish is huge. It smelt of fresh sprouts and was covered with fresh herbs. A thick layer of parmesan added a needed saltiness. The eggs were overcooked by the time I got to them, but this was probably my fault as I got lost in the yumminess of the sauce with the long, thin, sliced sourdough.
The French toast and pancakes, are pretty for a keen-eyed sweet tooth. The former can also be done gluten free. Other gluten free options include omelettes, baked eggs, and potato hash. There are also pizzas, salads and burgers for lunch, as well as kids meals for those under ten.
I was here to eat and do work. I left having been productive and well fed. For this it was perfect.
Mister + Miss
713 Whitehorse Road
Mont Albert VIC 3127
03 9916 9680