Cafe Vue - Melbourne - Review

Name: Cafe Vue

Address:
401 St Kilda Rd
Melbourne 3000 VIC

Phone: (03) 9866 8055

Food: ModOz, Cafe, French
Average price: 3.50 - $18

Complimentary:  Four slices of bread with butter.

The bread was cold but soft in the centre.

We ordered: Slow cooked egg yolk, truffle pomme mousseline, and sesame soldiers - $19 (par of two course $35 lunch special)

This was a pleasant surprise, I actually wasn't expecting three eggs, so I kindly gave one to S to have, which she was thrilled with because this dish was absolutely delicious. The yolk was soft with a truffled mousse (?) beneath that was packed full of flavour and stunning with the sesame soldiers (they were a tad greasy but yummy nonetheless). I think the eggshells were sitting upon more pureed potato, but without the truffle. The flavours sung exquisitely and this was a light, but tasty entrée.

Crab salad - $19

S enjoyed this, but thought the serving size was a little small.

Rhubarb trifle - $16 (part of lunch special)

S thought the presentation was cute, but I thought it looked a little clumsy with all that metal and glass. Taste wise I enjoyed this. The rhubarb was tart, soft, sweet and delicious. The vanilla flecked cream lightened it beautifully (there is more cream than both rhubarb and topping combined), but the crumble topping was a little dry and tasteless for me. I still enjoyed it overall but don't think the serving size is worth $16...

Tonka bean fruit salad gateau - $5.50

S was a little shocked when this came out.You see, on the menu, the title is split with the word gateau on a seperate line, so at first glance it appears to be just - tonka bean fruit salad. Therefore, that's what S was expecting, so when she got an actual gateau rather than a bowl of fruit salad she was a little dismayed, but didn't want to send it back just because she had misread it. She only ate the fruit on top.

Cost: $59.50 for 2 entrees, 1 dessert, and 1 mini dessert.

Service: Great. The food came out quickly and the waiters were charming.

Atmosphere: Interesting but casual. The decor is quite mixed with booth seating, tables and then a giant birdcage with yellow chairs - not to mention the wall of mirrors which leads to the blood-red bathrooms. On  a Thursday afternoon it was extremely busy and we had a 20minute wait - the noise level on the communal table side of the cafe was much louder than the birdcage end.

Parking: Ok - there's a decent amount of street parking.

Website: http://www.vuedemonde.com.au/cafe-vue.aspx

Hours: Mon-Tue 7am-4pm
Wed-Fri 7am-11pm
Sat 8am-11pm
Sun 8am-4pm

Would I return: Maybe - might give their lunch a go as they are decently priced.