Mr Tulk @CBD - Tuesday with Brekkie

 

Yes it took me a while to sort this all together and it is a story of my Tuesday.

Having to head to the CBD to get a few things in the morning before work, which means I have to be quick as it takes an hour to get to work on public transport from CBD, Mr Tulk had suddenly became my first choice over the other cafe that morning basically for one reason: its location.

It is right opposite to Melbourne Central, located on the side entrance of the State Library of Victoria. Surrounded by trams and next to a train station (See my map at the bottom), it is conveniently located and accessible for any pedestrian and passenger going to CBD and don't be bother walking anywhere more than 50m from Melbourne Central for a decent cafe/food.

Being honestly with you, I forgot the name of the cafe or maybe didn't even know the name of the cafe till I finished my meal. All i remember was that there's a cafe right under the state library.

The cafe area is not overly big, but reasonable size with a communal table in the middle surrounding by a few smaller tables and a couch at the dining area.

Serving alcohol as well and open for happy hours and dinner on Friday, it has a rather spacious bar/pub like area around the cashier

Being in the center of CBD and early morning just before office hours, there's a good mix of business looking people and people with a I-have-got-something-planned-today sort of face with a number of causal breakfast eater at the cafe. One table with three man in suits were even having a breakfast meeting there.Nonetheless, whether they were staring at their Mac, reading their Financial Review, trying to do the Sudoku or having a post-workout breakfast wearing Lorna Jane, they all seems to enjoying their coffee, which always a good sign.

a business man covered his face so i can illustrate my point
without the trouble of awkward photos

The decor of the place is typical Melbourne cafes these days: modern with some sort of arts around. Though doesn't have that vintage or retro mood that some cafes try to create even though it is attached to the century old State Library. It is also reflected on the menu with a good selection of classic small breakfast treats such as muffins and banana bread to something more unconventional like cornbeef hash (something i had last time) and of course the good old egg on toast with extra sides at your liking

The wall of old books/arts work that
reminded me of The Sedlec Ossuary

The usual deal when get into the cafe: greet by a friendly waitress, asked to sit wherever you like and sit down at the communal table as I am just by myself and get a glass water and order a coffee to start.

The staff are very friendly and generally attentive, but the one who sat me down had forgot to give me a menu after I order my coffee. However, the food was relatively quick once I ordered and that's when the attentiveness was shown, when I got a menu from another staff whom realise i didn't have one.

Not a huge list of choices but a good mix of a variety with one or two unique and special items, which is the way i preferred, rather than having a long list of breakfast items which often are just a mix-n-match of same ingredient combination. Hence at the end, I decided ordered something that I don't usually see at other cafe and which I was glad that I ordered and tried it.

something quick and small and on the go with your coffee

Just the usual Latte with no sugar, nothing too fancy

It is a nice place with decent food and coffee with a comfy environment and a super convenience location, but probably by yourself or one or two friends due to the setting of the table and the size of cafe.





Coffee Price:  Regular $3.7  Large-$4.5

MR TULK
Location:  328 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC, 3000 (enter via Latrobe Street)

Opening hours:  Mon - Thurs, 7am–5pm Friday, 7am–8pm Saturday, 9am–4pm  

Phone:  03 8660 5700
(Yep copy and paste the contact info from their website...)

The thing that I ordered: some pastries thing with eggs and tomato relish plus extra salmon

in case you haven't notice, map is not in scale...but fairly close....