Fordham's Milk Bar @ Camberwell

Fordham's Milk Bar
Sorry for the lack of update, was busy and got a new phone that's not very photo update friendly, meant to update this months ago...

Milk bars are always interesting for me.
They always have that mysterious feel to it with that old retro deco and the usually wooden looking shop keeper with all those contrasting colourful confectioneries and lollies in jars and cheap toys which usually make people wonder who on earth would actually buy them, nonetheless still manage to open for years and remains a popular spot for school kids. However, I do remember getting a cap gun with 20 pack red caps which i never ended up finishing and a packet of water bombs from a milk bar when I was in primary school...or perhaps in high school...but definitely not when i was at uni, dont think I have even been inside one since Year 10 or something....so it is very much a childhood memory.

Yet Fordham's Milk Bar on Fordham Aveunge (dah...) is more than a milk bar, whom offers much more than those horrible sandwiches and old potatoes cakes that you get from most corner shops. They have brilliantly convert an old retro milk bar into a cafe, which the original idea of milk bars did provides some sort of fast/hot food to offer a non-alcohlic alternative to pub, hence the name milk "bar" (yeah learn that from wikipedia)
 It is a bit of an oxymoron: it is a  publicly located hidden treasure: Walkable distance from the tram line (I have proven it is walkable since I walked from the tram) and located right opposite of Hartwell station, yet most people wouldn't know about this place unless you are a local.

 





It is a conveniently located cafe in a small little suburb. At the time I arrived, the outside sitting is full of locals whom appears to be afternoon joggers, old couples and people who finished work early (i.e: me)

 The guys are very friendly, smiling when I was outside, greeted when I got in and general small chat when I ordered and brought me my forgotten sunnies just before I left.

As the kitchen was closing at the time I was in, around 3:30ish, I could only order the food from display shelf, where there was bacon and eggs roll and chicken schnitzel wraps, etc which I ordered a sausage roll.

The sausage roll is great, where the the texture of the meat inside is actually like a sausage where it is not those soft mince meat mix. 

Again another iced latte, but they let you mix it yourself. As you can see from the photo

An old milk bar transformed into a popular local cafe with nice coffee and food, but still sell lollies, soft drinks and milk and oh, yes...you can top up your Myki here too.

Fordham's Milk Bar

116 Fordham Ave  Camberwell 3124

Telephone  
03 9041 0822

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