Melbourne Food Review: Café No 5, Centre Place, City

Maya had just come back from Raya at home in Singapore and she was desperate for a good cup of Melbourne coffee. So during a lunch time (she had an extra day off the lucky thing).
We decided on Centre Place/Degraves St. area since it’s the closest place where there is the most number of cafés in small areas. We landed at Cafe No. 5 because it looked nice and cosy.

(sorry about the picture, it’s the only one I have of the wall)
The shop itself was rather funky. We plonked ourselves on the communal table. The walls were adorn with paintings and other interesting artwork. Maya promptly ordered a coffee. I believe it was her second one in about 3 hours of landing in Melbourne and since I spent 13 months in Singapore, I can vouch that Starbucks is considered good coffee in Singapore. So enough said about the state of coffee affairs in the little island nation.

(eggs florentine – $12.50)
The menu was relatively limited so I opted for a breakfast dish: eggs florentine, which was two poached eggs, spinach and hollandaise sauce on toast. Boy there was a LOT of spinach and I loved it. I swear there was about a salad bag full of spinach on my plate. The hollandaise was a bit on the thin side and I wish there was more (to go with the plentiful spinach) but I thought it was all right (hey I usually eat the jarred one, so of course it was all right). It strangely reminded me of the instant Ikea meatball sauce.

The eggs unfortunately were a bit over cooked. I personally believe poached eggs must be runny. Am I wrong here? I rarely eat breakfast out (Why would I? Josh makes anything I ask! I am a lucky girl) so maybe I’m not the best person but I still think these eggs were overcooked.

(tuna and corn panino – $7.50)
Josh ordered a tuna panino. I had a bite. It was rather good but there wasn’t a lot of it. And for $7.50, you could get other HUGE sandwiches in other cafe in the area. But then not all of them had such a funky, chill-out interior good for catching up.

(chicken schnitzel – $7.50)
Maya ordered a chicken schnitzel and avocado panino. It was also good but she barely ate half of it. But the poor girl had just landed in the morning and had had two coffees already, she could be forgiven. I’m sure the coffee was good for her just coming back from Singapore though!

In other news, Maya bought me a pack of five Ibumie Mi Goreng from Singapore. I am so freaking stoked about it. It’s sooooooooo much better than Indomie Mi Goreng. Seriously. Does anyone know where I can buy Ibumie Mi Goreng in Melbourne? I have never seen one.
Cafe No. 5, 5 Centre Place, Melbourne VIC 3000





Hey, I’ve definitely bought those here in Melb before, but for the life of me can’t remember where exactly. It is either KFL Flemington (opposite Laksa King) or Indo Grocery Mart on Glenferrie Rd in Hawthorn (opposite Laguna). I’m leaning more towards KFL though. I’ll look out for you the next time I’m there if you’re interested – especially if it’s far for you. Don’t want you to go there and be disappointed!
Sash
21 Oct 09 at 8:03 pm
I have been to Melbourne, it’s a great city. Looking at the menu above, I would go for chicken schnitzel sandwich. Looks mouth watering. Sorry not big on eggs or tuna…
Mandy Grant
21 Oct 09 at 8:08 pm
hehe werent you paige moore last time? im loving how spammers get more and more creative.
Kat @ Spatula, Spoon and Saturday
21 Oct 09 at 8:15 pm
awesome! thanks so much! please let me know.
Kat @ Spatula, Spoon and Saturday
21 Oct 09 at 8:16 pm
Hey, just wanted to let you know that KFL at Flemington definitely have it. Cheers!
Sash
2 Nov 09 at 5:01 pm
[...] over again) and ordered eggs florentine. The eggs were perfectly cooked this time (as opposed to my last eggs florentine) and I enjoyed it. Although still the hollandaise was a bit lacking. I’m yet to find perfect [...]
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WordPress 2.0 « ameliakemister
22 Mar 11 at 6:01 pm
Cafe No 5 is the most expensive place for sandwiches and coffee in Centre Place. And what’s even worse they’re hiding it. All other cafes in the Centre Place have clearly visible prices except Cafe No 5. We thought it’s probably the same as everywhere else, but not, they’re 30% more expensive. Yesterday we paid two sandwiches and two coffees at the place across No 5 $18; today two similar sandwiches and two coffees at No5 $23.
Goran
28 Apr 12 at 12:45 am