I had a weekday visit to this place and was really pleased with everything.
Very good coffee.
Menu options were a bit disappointing, but the dish I had was very good regarding flavour; perhaps it lacked a bit of finesse, but was yummy nevertheless.
The staff were really sweet and lovely.
Service is friendly and relaxed.
Small premises, intimate and cosy cafe.
Great ambience music.
Relaxed vibe overall.
10/02/2018
Gloria Jean's Coffees (Highpoint Shopping Centre, Maribyrnong Vic)
I love Gloria Jeans flavoured coffees. The shop at Highpoint is really tiny, and not inviting to stay there for long, so perfect for takeaway. Not as nice or complete as other shops of the franchise. The staff are very hard-working and friendly, and service is always prompt, but paying 6+ bucks for a small flavoured coffee is a bit too much and really I doubt that I will go back.
Dumplings Plus (Highpoint Shopping Centre, Maribyrnong Vic)
I prefer this shop on the ground to the one on the 2nd floor in Highpoint.
I like their steamed dumpling baskets; they are generous in size, fresh, and the filling is good. My fav dumplings are the chicken & ginger, and the prawn & chives. My main complain is that they tend to be over-steamed, so the dough gets a bit dry and sticky after being on the hot cabinet for a while. Also, I found big chunks of shell from the prawns inside the dumplings.
Good cheap jasmine tea pots.
Very friendly accommodating staff.
If you cannot finish your dish, ask for a takeaway container!
It has a very friendly staff, quick service and an ample seating area, however, the tables lacked small dishes to put the sauces.
Rustica (Hawthorn, Vic)
I've been here a couple of times, and I like the place.
The menu, to be fair, wasn't that innovative, but if you do well what you offer, then you win me over easily.
I had the Babaganush eggs and wow, I could not fault the dish. All the flavours worked beautifully together, a great mix of textures, the eggs were perfectly poached, and the whole ensemble was flawless. I felt tempted to lick the dish!
I love Rustica doughnuts, they are sweet but not overly so, and full of flavour.
Coffee is good.
Fast service.
My main complaints are the seating area itself, and the fact that the staff aren't especially friendly
