Las Chicas
203 Carlisle St
Balaclava 3183 VIC
Phone: (03) 9531 3699
Public Transport: Two easy options. Catch a Sandringham Line train and get off at Balaclava Station or catch a No.3 East Malvern Tram.
Great location in Balaclava. If you’re on a city bound train when you get off at Balaclava station you’ll walk down the ramp and smell the coffee and toast. A large open window reveals the cafe as you walk onto Carlisle St. This part of the Melbourne is home to the famous Wall Two cafe, which we haven’t yet reviewed.
At 10.40 am the cafe is very busy and has a cheery vibe. I nick in at a small table at the back of the front room. Next to me a larged shared table, and beyond that the large window in onto the train station ramp, light flooding in.
In two minutes I’m aked if I’d like a menu and a large Absolute Vodka bottle filled with water is brought out. The menu is large. All types of bread offered, pancakes, bagles, all the drinks, smoothies, fresh juices, teas. The breakfast options are divided into Vegetarian and Non-Vegetrarian. I order a long black and a scrambled eggs, spinage, bruchetta option.
The long black comes in a small thick white cup. I like these, they seem to hold the heat. The crema is about 10mm thick, one of the best yet. A slip shows the coffee quite good, but not a full bodied rich taste, as the crema had me thinking. The meal comes on a large white plate, a pide type base, spinage, scrambled eggs and a pesto type top with a healthy sprinkling of pinenuts. Quite nice.
The wraitress serving me definately looks an in-the-scene type. Thirties, short hair, friendly, quick. After ten minutes a guy with a mobile phone and newspaper sat down at a table. “How’d you find the party last night?” I heard him ask her.
Balacava is slightly different again to Brunswick and Fitzroy. I found it cheerier than Fitzroy and more dressy than Brunswick. When I paid the guy said, “Thank-you, and now enjoy the sunshine!” The total came to a very reasonable $11.