BBL has had a facelift since the previous review in 2011, but its presentation continues to suggest…read morean inoffensive but unimpressive suburban cafe offering focacias and plastic wrapped muffins. Turns out this is actually a Vietnamese cafe serving pho, rice paper rolls and banh mi. Its an enticing offering in a village that is surprisingly lacking in good asian fare considering two of Melbourne's Chinese cultural hubs exist only a few kilometres away. I tried a takeaway beef pho for $12 instead. It was still steaming hot back at the office, with good bite from the fresh chilli, crunch from the bean-shoots, and full of flavour from the fresh herbs and nicely seasoned stock. The biggest drawback was the mess on my desk, but that was from my clumsy combining of soup, noodles, herbs and bean shoots. The service was efficient and friendly, with easy payment by paypass. If there's a drawback to this place, it is their highly ineffective and misleading decor and signage. Even inside, it took a couple of minutes to locate the pho menu which is not referenced on the main menu board and with no other signs of pho being on offer. So they've got the important things right. All that's needed is an update to the signage, a new name (try 'Dark MoPho' or 'Best Pho Forever'), and a 'Springroll September' give-away, and I reckon they'll be on the way to doubling the turnover by summer.

In the early mornings I often find myself in a strange location on the look out for a coffee. One…read moreworking morning I found myself near my childhood home with time to kill before a train, and discovered that while things do change, part of them stays the same, to the point where you cannot believe you didn't see them before. People told me that Blackburn Brunch and Lunch did in fact exist during my years here, but I don't remember it. This surprises me, as I'm not one to forget a coffee this good. It may have been the context of the morning and the need for such a beverage, but they got it just right. For those looking for more than just coffee, it's not called Blackburn Brunch and Lunch for no reason. They do everything from fry-ups with bacon and mushrooms to hamburgers and steak sandwiches and all manner usual takeaway goods for those on the run. Prices are reasonable and the vibe is nice, the frosts glass blocks whatever busy traffic you may encounter, or the street tales are are great in the warmer months.

Selene's Chocolate Bar is located just outside of the Box Hill Station, it's a nice place to get…read moreyour morning coffee or an after work delights. the chocolate was rich with highest quality

Met my aunty here for a catch up and we both enjoyed the chocolate fondue (which was plenty to…read moreshare). I got the hot chocolate mocha and it was delightful! The hazelnut pralines were divine. Not much atmosphere but bear in mind it is situated in a busy Box Hill shopping centre. Service was friendly.

Super cute cafe but coffee wasn't the best, fresh chai was delish lots of yummy stuff to eat but…read morenot many seats Cute cups

I jumped off the train at Blackburn for some random reason and immediately saw this place across…read morethe road, so I decided to check it out. A part of me thought that I might have been a little to far out from the city to find a hip coffee bar, but it turned out that I wasn't because this place pretty much delivered. The staff were friendly, and the coffee was pretty good. It seems to be one of those places that people visit before catching the train, as opposed to when they arrive in the city. However, as a coffee spot, it's pretty cool, and certainly worth checking out.

I had the Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and spinach on potato rosti. The "Hollandaise sauce"…read moretasted like it was made from processed cheese. I'm not sure if they make it themselves but it was not Hollandaise sauce and tasted disgusting. The eggs were poached and perfectly done. The salmon was mostly ok but I had one bite that tasted very strange. Couldn't finish it.

I've eaten here a few times now, and this cafe continually impresses me…read more The food is great. Beautiful Dench sourdough breads (also available to purchase in whole loaves), perfectly poached eggs, and an interesting menu with beautiful presentation make it a delight to eat here. The coffee is veneziano, made well, and there is usually a single origin coffee available. No filter coffee menu, but the single origin espresso option is usually fresh and enjoyable. And available! Which is spectacular in the outer eastern suburbs, where I am usually met with a blank state when I ask if there is a single origin coffee on offer. They have Larsen and Thompson teas available, but if you like to be specific about how your tea is brewed, be prepared, as they serve them without brew timers. The space is nice, with an outdoor table out the front, some tables inside, and space out the back. It can get busy! Especially on the weekend. The staff are great, though, with service being prompt and friendly, and chatty when it's not too busy. *TL;DR: currently the best specialty coffee cafe in the outer eastern suburbs, so visit!

Super nice staff, and good coffee.... haven't quite mastered the iced latte but the hot coffees are…read moregood!

We got a Iced Chai Latte and it was absolutely beautiful. Spiced just right. Making this a regular…read morespot for those days where you don't mind a trip out of town.

Nice and simple. Enjoyed the coffee. Small selection of pre made focaccias, but found filling…read moreingredients to be good quality. Would return. Quick and friendly service. Great spot for a quick lunch.