The Galleon

The Galleon
9 Carlisle St, St Kilda, VIC
Di Bella coffee


Update:

I'm not sure whether we had a above average 1st time or a below average 2nd. Maybe it was the St Kilda Festival? I'm not sure why we didn't have trouble getting a table, my mocha was not very nice, the waitress got our order wrong and the pikelets weren't fantastic. But I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and leave it at 4 beans for the time being.

We had the Eggs Benedict with spinach ($11) - isn't that just called Eggs Florentine? Add house meatballs in napoli sauce ($5) and mushrooms ($2.75). Meatballs were still tasty but not as warm and comforting as remembered. The bagel was actually quite nice!

The pikelets were less fluffy (compare pic below), less ricotta-ish and the strawberrys were not cut into thick slices but more like thin slivers.

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We finally had the time to wait for a seat on our 3rd visit there. The waiting list moves faster than they promise. Inside, food takes a while to arrive but the venue is perfect for people watching (the clientele is just about as unique as they come), reading magazines/newspapers and being amused with the surroundings - the mismatched laminex tables, the share-house noticeboard, original artworks and found objects, from a table shaped like the prow of a boat that protrudes from a wall, to the "Philips Schoolroom Map of Australia".

The Gaggia, Galleon's signature vintage coffee machine has finally been replaced with a newer version, but coffee is apparently still as good.

The menu is extensive. We tried the Sweet potato, basil and feta hash browns served with wilted spinach, one poached egg and house made relish ($11.50), add meatballs in Napoli ($5). Who said sides had to be boring? The meatballs were tasty and gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling on a cold morning...
For a sweet treat, we had the Pikelets with lemon butter and fresh strawberries ($8.50) which were actually ricotta pancakes, much to my delight. Boy were they good. We expected them to fail in comparison to Bills but I'm proud to say Melbourne can definitely hold her own against Sydney.

There's also French Toast with bacon and maple syrup ($10.50), rice pudding spiced with cinnamon and served with poached fruit and almonds (5.75), Eggs Benedict ($11), the Drunken Sailor's Big Brekky ($14.50) and the Galleon Style ‘Bubble ‘n’ Squeak’ ($10).

Wonderful - we haven't found a new 4 beans café for some time. I just wish it wasn't so crowded!