Ora Cafe – Kew

Every part of Melbourne calls for excellent cafes. Suburbs that have not yet been endowed with numerous options to dine at are well behind the eight ball. Not only is it an asset for locals to have their regular spots for a hit of caffeine and brekky, but the business owners can rest easy as they will be very popular if they follow the correct formula. With little to no legitimate competition close by, Ora Cafe has honed in on it’s isolation and made a big impact for a small place in Kew.

Quaint Packington Street was a very quiet street during the drive down, until you notice in the distance the cluster of people spilling out of  a small doorway. As you get close you notice many friendly faces sitting and chatting on the long communal table outside Ora’s window, as well as a line out of the door for take away cafe au lait and the like. For all the queue haters out there, the professional staff move quickly and know how to handle a crowd efficiently and promptly. So Chill.

Above is an example of one of the coffees that the Kew-ers line up for (skinny flat white – $3.50). Coffees are slammed out predominantly by the shiny La Marzocco machine, alternatively siphon and pour-over options are available. I’m also happy to let you know, Proud Mary coffee roasters in Collingwood supply the beans to these coffee gurus.

.

The Bircher muesli with peaches and cinnamon yoghurt ($11.00). All the best cafes know that you must provide a muesli/oats option for the more health conscious customers, which entices the big-time chommers and the small-time peckers through the door. This was a pleasant choice and did the trick for a light brunch.

What a feeling to enjoy a dish that is even slightly different to the ‘Avo-Fetta Mash’ that has taken Melbourne by storm. I was pleasantly surprised with Ora’s smashed broad beans with fresh ricotta, soft boiled egg and basil ($16.00). Did I say avo or broad beans? This was a great replacement from the norm. The broad beans were served whole and shmooshed. The chopped basil leaves provide this breakfast option with a cool sharp taste that lingers in your mouth even after finishing. Lastly, the firmness of the hard boiled egg makes for a cleaner eating session than the standard Melbo-poached.

It appears that many of the locals have solidly followed Ora since it opened up in 2010. On a Sunday morning this place was crowded before, during and after we finished eating. With such hot spots as Ora and St Katherine’s, Kew is well on the path to becoming a  more prominent cafe/restaurant destination in Melbourne. The crew at Ora can take comfort in knowing they were pioneers in truly developing this suburb and providing a great service to the people.

Great Job – Chommery Approved. Ora is hot to trot.

The Important Details…

Cuisine: Cafe

Noise: Medium to loud

Suitable for: All

Dress: As relaxed as you like

Price: $15 – $20 per person

My View: Great food and coffee in a pleasant environment

Address: 156 Pakington Street, Kew

Phone: (03) 9855 2002