Cafe Azul

346 Bridge Rd, Richmond, VIC
Date: 10.9.11

This is one of those places that calls itself a café but you can tell they would really rather be a restaurant. The tables and the dressing looks restaurant like and they’ve tried hard with their menu, but it’s still a café. And not that good of one either. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not awful, just average. There’s no table service, and while the staff were friendly, it’s a hassle getting up mid conversation to order another coffee. The food does seem nice, my friend loved her breakfast and my pumpkin muffin was divine. It was all kinds of delicious. As for the coffee, it was okay. It had a nice taste but was nothing too special. There’s nothing wrong with this place, there’s just nothing that special either.

AMBIENCE:    On a great street for cafes and eating, but doesn’t really stand out. The furniture doesn’t impress but at least the booths were comfortable. 2.5 out of 5.

SERVICE:    Friendly, and they did serve my friend a breakfast even though their breakfast time had finished. It was just damn counter service. They had enough staff on to serve. 3.5 out of 5.

COFFEE:    A little above average. Happily drank two cups, but really wasn’t blown away by the flavour. 3 out of 5.

Chimmys

342 – 344 Bridge Rd, Richmond, Victoria
Date: 11.8.11

Orgasmic. That’s how I’d describe the cakes on display when you walk in. Yum. But then you sit nowhere near them and are told you have to go to the counter to order and carry your own food back to your seat. I just find it poor customer service, is it that hard to take to orders at a table, especially when they seemed to have so many staff on. But my lemon meringue tart was a special kind of divine. Very tart and very refreshing, just like I like my men! Both my coffees, however, seemed slightly burnt. There was a lot of flavour but they were just tinged with that burnt sensation. If you’re a fan of cakes, but not coffee, then this is your place.

AMBIENCE:    Walking in I nearly wet myself, but then the sparse dining area looks a little too like a restaurant. I’m not sure if they know what they want to be, a café, a bakery or a restaurant. That just adds up to inconsistencies. 2.5 out of 5.

SERVICE:    They were friendly, but they just stand behind the counter. Even our first set of empty cups seemed to stay on the table for ages. 2.5 out of 5.

COFFEE:    Muh. Had potential, but a bad job from the barista left it burnt. My mate Amanda loved her skinny latte. My long black, could have been real good. The beans seemed great and full but were just prepared wrong. 3 out of 5.