Prospect Espresso @ Camberwell - Tuesday with Brekkie

a skynet of tram cables at the crazy intersection at camberwell junction for three major roads

Yet another Tuesday that I have to work till late.
Didn't bother to travel all the way to the city and still wanted some decent breakfast and coffee, so Camberwell it is.

Camberwell, sort of the middle point between where i live and the city. With three tram routes passing through and a major station for Belgrave/Lilydale and Alamein (Train) Line, shops and eateries has grouped around the central area of Camberwell, which offers a trendy eatery area with a great range of choices for the eastern suburbs.

Prospect Espresso, a small little cafe that's tucked away from the busy Burke Rd of Camberwell, among all the eateries and cafes, yet still as busy or even busier than some that located on the main street. And it is one of my favorite at camberwell for its coffee, which it seems to be a popular spot for coffee takeaway for locals.

It is a small cafe with friendly and attentive staff, but be mindful that this place can get very busy, especially on weekends (even more so when the Camberwell market is on at Sundays), not only with diners, but also takeaway.

I was lucky enough to get a small single table, instead of sitting on the communal table or the bunch along the windows, probably cause I got there around 10ish, so passed the peak time. Yet, a fair number of people was coming in throughout when i was there.

Closing at 4pm on weekdays and 4:30pm on weekend, their breakfast is served till 3PM (which the kitchen also close at that time) and lunch menu is also available from 11:30am. So yes, they do cater breakfast for non-morning people as well. Nothing is more annoying than getting to a cafe, wanting to treat yourself with a nice breakfast to start your day and got told they don't serve that anymore,even tho it is 2:15 in the afternoon... 

While I am still deciding what to order from the small yet choiceful breakfast menu, my iced latte has arrived and as usual, it is very enjoyable.
Tossing between a few different items on the menu, the waitress recommended the Truffled Brioche and told me that it is the most popular item on the menu, though her personal favourite is the Chorizo Croquetts and table next to me suggested The Breakfast Roll,which they both ordered the same thing.
 

Truffled Brioche, looks and tastes amazing

Wasn't disappointed at all with the Truffled Brioche. It is very similar to a vegetarian version of egg benedict,but with more layer of taste to it. And I much preferred brioche than english muffins, cause it is softer and not as dry.

The brioche is puffy and filled with the sweetness and scent of butter/pastry and topped with all the other ingredients then covered in hollandise sauce. Im not good with describing taste,but just look at the photo...

quite like the colour of the tea cup

As I said, the cafe is small, nonetheless it still provides a rather relaxing environment where you can have a lovely chat with your friend or set up for a date (pretty sure there's a few couples around me) and most importantly the staff are friendly and not pushy and try to rush you off at all, which I had experienced at other busy cafes, particularly at the CBD before.
Although I wouldn't think it would be too kids-friendly due to the physical size of the cafe, it seems that they are very accommodating for mothers, as I said the staff are very friendly. And for the first time i have witness a little kid consume a babyccino like a grown up with a coffee...

a youngster who enjoys babyccino

the kitchen, where all the food magic happens

As most cafe, other than the food on menu, there's a small selection of sweet and treats at on display at the counter and their muffins is also very nice. I brought one to work for early dinner and it still taste wonderful at 4PM, which it was still moist in the middle. So it is also good for afternoon tea or just a pre-lunch treat/coffee spot.

Prospect Espresso 

03 9882 7359

2a Prospect Hill Rd 
Camberwell, VIC 3124

Tram 70 and 75 also available further down on Burke Rd

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....