I've been to Chez Dré now twice, and each time was great. Friendly staff and delicious food. I must say, I prefer the lunch to breakfast, but I'd still highly recommend this gorgeous cafe/restaurant. The decor is definitely French inspired, and funky, and it's always busy which gives it a great atmosphere. If you want a delicious, fresh breakfast or lunch, or simply a stunning cake and coffee, this is for you. The cakes are magnificent and you can taste the quality in them, and know they're not mass produced. My new favourite place :-) read more

Chez Dre - Yummmmm - Bakeries Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

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Great brunch place with a French twist and an amazing advantage of an efficient wait list! Pretty sure there'll be something to cater to everyone's needs given the wide range of options available. Go at 11.30 and both the breakfast and lunch menu will be available to you. So will the range of sandwiches and sweets in the display cabinet. I've heard great stuff about their breakfast menu and was tempted by the brioche French toast with seasonal (spring) fruits and caramelised pecans! On par with those from hardware societe, the French toast was a good combination of refreshing sweet fruits, rhubarb, cream and crunchy pecans. There were some pretty mouthwatering selections on special and savoury options for breakfast too. Think croque monsieur, croque madame, baked eggs etc... Great brekkie staples one would expect to find in a South Melbourne cafe. We also took away some cakes... The cake display cabinet was a work of art! Individual cakes looked as pretty as they were delicious! Can't wait to go back for some savoury options! And unlike other popular hole in the wall brunch locations, chez dre has a huge space, both indoors and outdoors. The queue moved surprisingly quick too given the number of people waiting at the entrance. Two thumbs up! The kitchen probably struggled a little with the volume of orders as we had to wait a fair amount of time before our coffees and food arrived. On the plus side, food and coffee arrived at the same time which made for a good meal..! Will definitely recommend this to anyone who's in the neighbourhood! read more

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One for all the Francophiles out there! Although this seems to be half the population of Melbourne though! Hot chocolate is always a winner at Dre, It uses the real stuff. None any of this fake coco powder malarkey. It's obvious that they've had magicians in. A passion fruit essence marsh mellow is served on the side, which is pure brilliance. You wouldn't know to look at it. All day breakfast is available here,and Lunch is from 11:30 am. Chez Dre has friendly opening hours for the surrounding offices/ businesses. A range of daily filled baguettes are available either in full or half versions. Ham, Chicken, Beef, Salmon, Vegan. Even as things go the Vegan option is quite good; one does need to transcend favourite dining options now and again. I've been here a few times before. Dre has been been open for abut 14 months now. Of course onecan take home or dine in with some macaroons, in a rainbow of colours, of which there is an extensive range. Communal tablestake precedence here, but there are little tables for couples and outside dining/seating available too. Banquette booths for example. Outside provides an area which is covered up in winter with heaters, and a marquee. Its' nice and warm in the summer. Coffee, Tea, Cold drinks, and Hot chocolate are available too. If you like the food take home packs are also available. Decadent croissants on offer; Gruyere cheese being an example. Ham and cheese toasted sandwiches are done, as well as croque monsier or madame's. Great Stuff. Note the mushroom option on these. The kitchen here is large and extensive; even bigger than that in some fine dining restaurants. Chez Dre is a favourite and popular with just about everyone. It's very Vogue right now to have a french flavour to a cafe or eatery, and this is what Dre is about. On weekends it's super busy, and last orders for kitchen close at 3pm. read more

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Great brunch spot in South Melbourne. Arrive early to snag a table, there's great patio seating outside. I tried the Eggs Royale which is smoked salmon with this really unique miso-yuzu hollandaise. Lots of coffee options and one very tasty iced tea option. The desserts are a must! read more

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I feel like I've been waiting for months, no YEARS, to go to Chez Dre! I've heard about it and the times just never been right!!! But everything was right today. So so right! We arrived at the busy cafe just as someone was leaving their cosy table inside! Score! Enjoyed an acceptable hot chocolate and latte before our delicious meals arrived. My avocado & goats cheese with sourdough was presented so cute! And of course I couldn't resist a side of bacon... And roasted tomato. I've been waiting for this a long time I deserved it! My BFF had poached eggs, mushrooms and potato... Neither of us could finish our meals off no matter how badly we wanted to! And for me that was pretty badly! Desperately almost. Of course that didn't stop me walking away with some sweeties as well... For later of course. I'm was super happy with the experience here... Was it necessarily any better than some other cafés around Melbourne, Naah. And if it was super busy I wouldn't wait more that 10 minutes or so for a table. But it's defs up there with the best of them. The friendly staff and atmosphere also add something special. I'll be back again and again... And maybe for lunch sometime... And more treaties for sure! read more

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As chez dre (house of dre) does an all day brekkie menu, I arrived here at 12.30 for my favourite meal of the day - brunch. Entry is through the courtyard and you have to wait to be seated. I was seated within minutes as I opted for indoor rather than outdoor seating (despite the weather in Melbourne being surprisingly pleasant after gray skies for five days). I was seated at one of those long tables for big groups and sort of felt awkward sitting next to my lunch companions rather than across her. We ordered a cappuccino, batch brew, lamb jaffle and French toast. The bill came up to around 42.50 for the four items. Pretty good I say for a hearty brunch as we were both full and satisfied after our meals. The cappucino came in a large cup. Win. However I didn't like its taste. It just had this awful strong taste sort of like had machine coffee and the milk wasn't creamy enough to mask the burnt coffee flavour. My meal companion didn't like her batch brew either. Her French toast came in brioche bread with pistachios and looked yum. My lamb jaffle was deliciously grilled buttered bread with mince lamb inside. The lamb was so flavoursome. It reminded me of indian/moroccan curry flavours. The sumac salad was yummo. The sunny side egg was not required as the lamb jaffle was so good that I felt like I could have it every day of the week. Mouth waters. There was also some creamy condiment served with the jaffle with some black spice on top. I didn't quite like it and it didn't add to the flavours of the meal. I would have preferred perhaps some guacamole, salsa verde or chipotle sauce instead. Chez dre is also a boulangerie and patisserie and the breads look delicious. I sampled some sundried tomato with fennel bread and it was delicious. Love their menu. read more

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Heard a lot of good review from this brunch place. I have been here a few times and it never disappoint me. The Food I ordered Grand Petit Dejeuner, is a basic breakfast with poached eggs on a sourdough, bacon, toulose sausage, roasted herb potatoes, sauteed mushroom, slow rosted tomato, avocado and tomato relish. Everything is as good as it looks and really it taste like a basic breakfast. I love poached eggs on sourdough and the mushrooms is just tasty!!! My cousin ordered the Duck Sandwhich, pulled confit duck, onion jam, red cabbage, grated apple and truffle mayonnaise. Surprisingly, it taste good!!! despite with all the combination ingredients there. I never thought a duck sandwich taste that good! A perfect meal if you want to try something than just a regular egg, bacon kind of breakfast. Dessert For dessert, we ordered the Lemon Tart to share, as it turned out o be a big meal after all! Chez Dre is known for their patisserie, if you do come to eat here; then trying their dessert IS A MUST! I have tried a few of them and it always taste good! People will have different palate but for me, I dont like dessert that is too sweet. The lemon tart just had the right amount of sweetness and sourness. A perfect light dessert at noon! Should you try their choc cakes, they taste light too not too sweet but rich.. Atmosphere The place is quite tricky to find, but if you ask the locals surrounding the area they will be able to direct you to the right place. The place is bright and quite big for a brunch place. They have outdoor seating as well. If you go during the weekends i suggest to come early, as there will be a line. Overall I would definitely come back and recommend people to come here!!! read more

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When you walk the secret cobblestone pathway that leads down to Chez Dre you are mistakenly lulled in to thinking that you are the only person in the world that knows that this place exists. Open the door, however, and the lovely idea soon evaporates when you hear the buzz of voices and crowds of people. Weekends are especially busy (don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table) but come during the week and you're more likely to find yourself a spot - either on the big communal table, in one of the booths or outside in the sunshine-filled courtyard. Seating areas are 'zoned', so although this place is massive it actually doesn't feel like it. Set your eyeballs on the cake display and you will see the most amazing selection of cakes and macarons made by Dre, a classically trained pastry chef. Flavours change regularly - my personal favourite at the moment is the chocolate and blackcurrant mousse cake. If you're not in the mood for sweet things then check out the brunch and lunch menu. Smoked salmon, avocado and poached eggs on toast are a classic combination pulled off here with precision and finesse. For those who have worked up an appetite, try a platter - the breakfast version comes with baguette slices, a croissant, muesli with yoghurt, cheese and other assorted bits and pieces. The lunch version has more cheese, pate, cured meat and perhaps a savoury pastry and some salad. The coffee here is roasted by Maling room, and for the most part is made well. An interesting thing here is that the bread here comes from Noisette and isn't made in-house. It's good, and perhaps it allows the kitchen to focus on those sweet treats instead - which, honestly, is the real draw card. read more

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Had brunch on a Sunday, we were told that a table for two would be around 20 mins wait, it ended up being around 30. The server who handled the queue was very polite and checked in regularly to either add new names to the list or whisk people away to their tables, so everything ran smoothly. I wanted a Shakshuka without the olives but was told they could not be removed as it was already pre-made. Not a deal-breaker, I wasn't allergic to them or anything, so was happy to remove them myself. The chai lattes came promptly and the dishes followed not long after, so I liked the efficiency on their part. I heard mixed reviews about the coffee hence the reason I went with the chai latte, and I didn't regret my decision. It was nice and soothing - a little on the milkier side FYI. Also, it wasn't as hot (temperature wise) as I would have liked. The shakshuka was pleasant, however I wasn't a huge fan of the coddled eggs. Would have preferred them to be cooked through or baked like the rest of the dish. The bread (crust part) was also a little tough to eat. But still a hearty brunch and I enjoyed it overall, as well as the ambience. read more

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It is not surprising this popular haunt located across from the South Melbourne Markets receives very mixed reviews from our Yelpers. As a "be-seen" destination there is a massive queue for a table weekend mornings which some people revel in, but not me. Next, I observed and encountered some good customer service, a dash of abrupt customer service and quite honestly some pretty incompetent service. Food-wise, portions really varied depending on what you ordered. My french toast was the perfect size, the pork belly was delightfully huge but our male counterparts who ordered specials of the savoury type were left wanting. Unfortunately our waiter stuffed one of the orders up and so we had a very hungry man left waiting 20 minutes for his correct order to come out. Good thing he is patient, I would probably have had a tanty as we had already waited some time. My husband's tea never made it to the table so we scratched it from the bill. Our dining friends are regulars here and they really love it. And the cakes they ordered for elevensies really did look spectacularly good. So a mixed review and from where I was sitting, eating and drinking - two stars and the "Meh. I've experienced better." most appropriately sums up my opinion. On another day, it could probably have been a 4 star review... read more

Chez Dre - Prepare for the sugar rush. - Bakeries Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

I would have never found this place had it not been pointed out to me... thank goodness it was pointed out to me. Ambiance: This is what everyone raves about and believe me, it's no understatement. Chez Dre's architectural coolness does not come from some sort of fancy and complex decorations. In fact, it has a pretty minimal style with wide open spaces - but I think that's the charm of it. At Chez Dre, you never really feel smothered. On summer days the glow of the sunshine brightens up the room with natural light, what a treat! Customer Service: They were pretty attentive and friendly, depending on who comes by. This one guy was really dead in the eyes though - quite zombielike - while another was happy and outgoing. Food: I'm in love with their cakes that are way too cute to eat. I've sampled several of their different cakes and Blood Orange is probably the best and comes highly recommended by me. --- I'm definitely making another stop to Chez Dre. Great atmosphere AND great cakes? I can't say no. read more

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If weekend brunch is on your mind, plan ahead and try to make an early trip to Chez Dre as the secret is most definitely out on this place. Even on the coldest of days, the outdoor courtyard packs out full of eager diners. The food here is brilliant, the sweets - exceptional. Their hand made chocolate tarts are the most decadent I've eaten. The sweet cabinet looks so good I'd almost skip breakfast just to fit it in. I am not sure if this is still on the menu as I haven't scored a table here in a little while, but the pulled pork with beans and jalepeno briche is one of my fav dishes. It tastes as good as it sounds. The coffee sucks, which is why I have dropped off a point. It is a stone's throw from brilliant coffee however, so have one before or after. read more

Stopped by one morning after hearing great things about this place. We were excited about trying the filtered coffee too. The atmosphere inside is beautiful. Menu is unique and delectable. We saw afterwards that the menu said we could not split bills. When we asked if they could for us since nobody else was around that morning they refused. Was kind of annoying actually. Filtered coffee was very weak and watery. It took FOREVER to get the bill even though we asked twice for it. Our waiter was interested in talking to the other waiters. Almost made us late for our conference. Only saving grace of this place was the beautifully unique pastries. They were very reasonably priced as well. Would go back for pastry but not breakfast. read more

Chez Dre - Bakeries Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Food: Chez dre is a great brunch spot, tucked down the end of a "laneway". Chez dre offers good, solid brunch staples done well. The coffee and pastries are also excellent. Atmosphere/service: It's a popular spot and always has a good atmosphere. It's a fairly large cafe, are there are a variety of seating options, so you can usually find a table away from the hustle and bustle if you like. Service is excellent, highly attentive and super friendly, even though they are usually busy whenever we visit. Would I recommend it: Yes, it's well worth popping in for brunch, and it's location means you can easily combine this with a trip to South Melbourne Market too read more

Chez Dre - Bakeries Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Love this place Always spot on service and great food. I know its just eggs but i love the magic they do. Oh and the cakes.... delish!!! My favorite is the baked egg read more

Chez Dre - Omelette and baked eggs - Bakeries Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Chez Dre, is the worst cafe I have been to in a long time. We went in today for lunch and coffee before visiting the markets as I am sure many do. Given the area and look of the cafe, we were sure we were in for an exceptional dining experience. We couldn't have been more wrong. Chez Dre is apparently some sort of Patisserie who claim to have a Chocolatier upstairs. If they are a Patisserie they have not yet mastered the humble croissant, please refer to the photo I have added of these embarrassing pastry messes- it is next to the sign that says "minimum EFTPOS $20..." I digress, so we ordered our usual double Ristretto latte- the confused looking waiter questioned what this was and it's existence, but trotted off with the order in a friendly enough manner. He returned with two very lovely looking lattes, which unfortunately tasted like dirt after a Volcano eruption. Just in case thats vague- they burnt the beans. For our lunch, I ordered the Chorizo & Smashed Peas, the description was fabulously mouth watering and my gorgeous compadre ordered the Braised Pork Belly, which also sounded great considering I'm not the biggest pork fan. Both cost around $19. During the very reasonable wait for our food, I appreciated a very South Melbourne atmosphere in a very well fitted, contemporary space. Chez Dre ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of people who probably do not care or know better. When my smashed peas arrived, I was very hungry and very excited. I had gotten over the coffee incident and accepted that some people just do not know what a croissant should look like and was blown away by the exquisitely presented meal placed before me. With much anticipation I took my first eager fork full and absolute repugnance! COLD peas, with hot poached eggs, hot crispy chorizo and toasted (stale) sourdough. Boyfriend and I needed to swap knives (he had a steak knife) so I could cut into my sourdough! I nearly spat it straight out, across the table on to my poor boyfriends face who was forcing down over cooked by what could have been a month pork. Mortifying. I didn't finish. It's a shame it was so unappetising because the flavours were right on and very creative. The waiter very clearly noticed I did not finish and did not care to ask why. Unprofessional. After a conversation with another staff member there who so proudly mentioned the Chocolatier upstairs who provides for their beverages, I thought it'd be fair I try this apparent magical elixir before we left as I always aim to write fair reviews. To say the Hot Chocolate tasted like dish water, would be insulting dish water. I can forgive thin, watery hot chocolates, but this one tasted actively bad - I don't know what went into it other than chocolate, but it shouldn't have been in there. Hugely disappointing. We also ordered a Piccolo to try the house blend, to ensure it was truly terrible and not just their poor choice in milk effecting the taste of the coffee.. Nope, it's definitely them..they can not make coffee. I am actually embarrassed about how bad Chez Dre is. It is in such an iconic location, it weighs on me that people that are not from our fair city could be coming to Melbourne for a day, going to only one cafe like Chez Dre and being forever maimed by the experience. Besides it's typical, well to do fit out and attractive young staff, I can not comprehend what anyone actually enjoys about Chez Dre... We even saw the owner (told by the waitress) cringing at the hot chocolate...awkward. read more

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Typical to South Melbourne coffee shops Chez Dre oozes with a chic, trendy and mysterious vibe.Tucked away down an alley way of Coventry Street is the trendy Chez Dre is quite a hidden gem. As you walk up the little concrete steps the first thing you may notice is the gorgeous orange stencil work that spreads all the way across the floor is a kind of tessellated illusion. Wandering on in further you are welcomed into to sit down with a full view of the kitchen and kitchen staff preparing your dishes! A little overwhelming for the staff in my opinion, but at least there are no secrets as to exactly what goes on behind the scenes. Renowned for it's french pastries and macaroons, the coffee is equally as fantastic and is accompanied with still water served in camping still tin cups. Chez Dre is often very busy especially on weekends, but there is seating both inside and out and a quick turn over of customers, will hopefully not leaving you waiting too long. read more

Chez Dre - Bakeries Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Cake!! That is all. Well, not really. Although cake is definitely Chez Dre's #1 strength - with their unusual flavour combinations and good quality - they also serve darn good all-day breakfasts and delicious macaroons. My friend and I spent an afternoon of indulgence here, starting with breakfast dishes. They have excellent options for vegetarians like me - the veggie petit dejeuner was not dissimilar to what a lot of other brunch places in Melbourne do, with the poached eggs, potato roesti, mushrooms, tomato, bread etc etc - but I would rank it as one of the very best amongst similar dishes that I have ever tried in this city. Great quality, great flavours, perfectly cooked. We then did a little cake and macaroon degustation of sorts. The macaroons are larger than the average ones you'll find in Melbourne. I particularly recommend the lime and basil macaroon for a hit of gourmet goodness - why go for all the usual "boring" flavours when you can try something like that! All the cakes we tried were excellent, though being green tea fanatics, we had a particular preference for the green tea, black sesame and mango one. Chez Dre has it all really, a cool warehouse-type building housing a thoroughly modern eatery with a well-thought out and well-executed menu. If you have difficulty choosing...which you probably will...just close your eyes and point. Chances are you will enjoy whatever you get! read more

Popped in here for a quick breakfast with a client a few weeks ago. I can't fault it. The menu had some really interesting items. I ordered avocado, goat cheese and spiced nuts with toast. So random for breakfast but surprisingly delicious. Service was quick and friendly. Prices weren't the cheapest but I'm willing to pay a bit more for something a little special. read more

Chez Dre - Avocado, goats cheese and spices nuts on toast. So different and so yum! - Bakeries Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Chez Dre is simply unrivaled in South Melbourne. The service, the atmosphere, the food, the deserts and the coffee are all impeccably delivered. You'll come for the fancy name and quirky, well appointed location. You'll stay for, dare I say, best coffee in South Mel? I'm thinking that it just might be (and that's saying A LOT with Dead Man and St. Ali in the neighborhood). Everything I've had to date has been remarkably tasty, so I'll just add that a few of my favorites are the duck sandwich, the goats cheese salad and the lamb baguette. In regard to coffee and desert, you can't go wrong with any of the selections but one item of special note is the Mac Attack; a short macchiato, a short black and a macaron. The flavor of the macaron is paired with the coffee being served that day, but you can opt for any flavor of your liking. Eating here is a must if you're in the area, or even if you're not! read more

Amazing coffee and baked goods. This place still amazes me every time I go there. Absolutely packed on the weekends but when you go during the week you can always find a table and take your time to browse. Highly recommend trying something new each time, as every single dish is a voyage of discovery. read more

I don't think that many people would argue if you said Chez Dre made some of the best desserts in Melbourne, they must be in the top 3! Your jaw will drop and eyes will pop when you see the selection of macarons. Then you'll get really indecisive when you see all the other sweets next to them, including eclairs, cakes and lots more. So now it gets better because with all those amazing choices, you can still get a great coffee as well! Okay maybe I'm underselling because brunch/lunch is amazing. The choices are supreme, from pasta to eggs, it is all cooked scrumptiously! Some of the little things just make it that bit better than your good lunch/coffee spot! Things like it's a large space that is well set out so you can get a seat most of the time without much of a wait. A beautiful little court yard that invites you to relax and enjoy sometime to yourself. The booths are spacious and just what you want when it comes to lounging and enjoying a coffee! Chez Dre continues to deliver in every capacity. read more

What can I say about this place, it's amazing it's a hidden gem had a friend introduce me to this cafe and I'm addicted. The food is amazing, atmosphere is stunning and coffee is good what more could you ask for. read more

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Six months ago, prior to the big menu change, Chez Dre was the best breakfast/brunch cafe I knew. Great food, great coffee and some of the best deserts anywhere in the city. The only hassle being the long wait for a table if you arrived after 10am. Then, inexplicably they changed the menu. Overnight, the wonderful slices of herbed polenta changed to a slab of sub-par gluten free 'bread'. The fantastic mushroom croque monsieur has vanished entirely. Prices have been bumped and food has been simplified, presumably to increase kitchen throughput. We've tried going back several times since the change to see if it was a temporary slip, but alas not. I gave two stars as the coffee is still well above-average and their deserts are also still exceptionally good. For those without a sweet-tooth, I'd steer well clear. read more

We haven't been here a while and the last time we thought it was OK, but today it was very nice! Since they have opened up their pastry shop, Bibelot, last year, the service is so much better and there was no line. We got a table in less than 15 minutes and the waitress checked on us multiple times. Wow that was a nice surprise! The filtered coffee was perfect and the coddled eggs with creme fraiche and spinach was out of this world. You get a nice loaf of crusty bread for dipping and I was in heaven! read more

Chez Dre - Spinach coddled eggs with cream fraiche and crusty bread - Bakeries Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

I have heard about Chez Dre for a long time now and after living in South Melbourne for 18 months I finally made a visit with a friend with an intention to show her exactly what Melbourne is about! This busy cafe certainly proved just that! A 'secret' cobble stone street and a (sort of) hard to find entrance, a gorgeous selection of fine foods for brunch and lunch and decadent sweet french treats. It was a great atmosphere once we arrived on the Saturday morning and to admit we were a bit dismayed by the 25 minute wait for a table. As we were quite hungry we made the decision to go elsewhere but came back the next day knowing that we would have to wait. We were seated at a large wooden table which was shared among other groups. I quite enjoyed this setup, but for someone who is not quite understanding of the Melbourne culture or little French cafe's my friend was a bit un-easy with having to face other people you don't know. I chose the breakfast bruschetta which was absolutely mouth watering.You know your food is good when not a word is spoken for the next 10-15 minutes! Overall a fantastic place to mingle over a warm drink of choice and brunch. I will be back again soon! read more

I keep trying to love Chez Dre but everytime I go, the food just does not flatter me. They're trying too hard. We ordered the 'veggie petit déjeuner'. The only thing I found appetizing on the plate was the roasted potatoes, avocado and the poached eggs. The roast tomatoes, the wild green lettuce leaf thing, mushrooms, relish and bread (the toast didn't know if it was toast or not - either toast it or don't!) was just inedible. It's SO easy to get right. For $20.50 it stung a little. They did offer us a free coffee as a sorry (but this was weird as we didn't feel like having more coffee). Overall was a pretty awkward experience, complete with what seemed like inexperienced staff! Wont be rushing back. x read more

Go visit Chez Dre on a weekday! You are bound to leave a happy customer as the wait is shorter and staff have more time to concentrate on service and food. At first it is a bit difficult to find this spot but once you do, you will find an open kitchen, assorted tables and a courtyard area. They have a wonderful selection of crossaints, fresh bread and desserts and you can also order a creative breakfast from here. The chai they use here is not too sweet so quite yummy, however the price tag is the only thing holding me back from visiting more often. read more

Oh Chez Dre. Just. Thank. You. Tucked at the end of a cobblestone alley in the heart of South Melbourne is a utopian French cafe with awesome brunches, lunches and sweets on offer. I've had brunch here a number of times and cant go past the avocado deluxe -- two thick slices of sourdough toast with smashed avocado, goat's cheese and spicy nut mix. Divine. The coffee is also consistently good. However, what Chez Dre does exceptionally well is sweets. The range of mouth-watering pastries and cakes on offer are amazing. They also have THE BEST macaroons in the whole of Melbourne -- you must not leave until you try the salted caramel one. Guaranteed to make you plunge to your knees and shout 'thank you' to the pastry chef. read more

This restaurant is located down an alley so it's away from the busy streets of south Melbourne. We went on a Friday morning around 10 and for a group of 3, we were immediately seated. The waiter recommended the eggplant ragu so I went ahead with his suggestion and was very pleased. I've never had breakfast before with eggplant and tomatoes so it was an interesting first but extremely delicious. There were so many things on the menu that I need to go back to try them all! If you tend to eat a larger sized breakfast, I would look into ordering something else as well since the portions do run small. Excellent service! read more

Chez Dre - Bakeries Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

It ain't cheap, but when it's good it's very good. I've tried a fair range of the patisserie here and never had a dud - some perhaps aren't quite as good as others (and in my mind if i'm barely getting change from a tenner on a cake it better be pretty great) but those eclairs. Texture and flavor mastered, all in a little choux that disappears far too easily! read more

Breakfast places are pretty common in Melbourne but I do not think they are always consistent regardless of season, with the exception of Chez Dre! This place is the business. You can go anytime and not be disappointed. The food is always fantastic and the service is always fast and friendly. This combined with one of the best iced chocolates around make this pplace worth the Saturday line up for. read more

Chez Dre - Bakeries Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

A very Melbourne entry - outside of Melbourne. Well worth a potential rolled ankle via the cobblestone entry. Coffee here is always spot on. My regular favourite a classic croque madame with carrot side salad. Ive yet to sample the sweets for fear of addiction but they look incredible. Worth leaving the market to check out. read more

Chez Dre is a bit of a mixed bag. And perhaps a bit overhyped. On the one hand, the baguettes and cakes are definitely tasty. The cakes have interesting flavour combinations, are beautifully presented, and are just plain yum to eat (the blackcurrant cake with the macaron on top I had when they first opened was so good I couldn't stop raving about it to my friends). The vegan baguette is delicious - crisp baguette, fresh ingredients, and a great flavour combination. The other pastry items were also quite good. The fitout is cool, with the courtyard, open kitchen, and spacious and airy atmosphere. On the other hand, the cooked-to-order items I have tried were very very average. The moroccan baked eggs were okay, and the stuffed mushrooms (interestingly no longer on the menu, I noticed) bordered on tasteless. Friends who have also eaten there provide me with a similar verdict on the hot food. The macarons were very average (although I do like my macarons chewy on the inside with a crunchy shell). My tip? Come here for the cakes and bakery items. read more

Chez Dre exudes a chic part industrial vibe with oodles of character and outstanding food and coffee to match. It's again that nondescript entrance (off the laneway) that is so Melbourne. In a cool location opposite the South Melbourne Markets this French influenced beauty is currently talk of the town. Chez Dre is unpretentious letting the fresh produce and amazing pastries do the talking. Having ventured there for breakfast on another eFriday (experimentation Friday with my work colleagues to visit a different café each Friday) I was struck by the red concrete floor, the open kitchen with chefs in their white finery, the breathtaking counter with macaroons and pastries, large gourmet baguettes, and the lounges and retro tables. Chez Dre shows what you can do with a warehouse in a great location and a passion to bring a great culinary experience. You can tell this place has an inspiring vision as the marks of excellence are everywhere. It's a great patisserie but more than a patisserie. With several pastry chefs, the patisserie products are out of this world. Yet the coffee is also great and worth talking about. My work colleague remarked this is the best coffee he's had in Melbourne. Then others rave about the baguettes in terms of freshness, quality of bread and gourmet fillings. With the market across the road, there is an awesome accessibility to fresh and seasonal ingredients. Accolades should be given to Andrea (Dre) Reiss who is a skilful pastry chef in her own right, and who has brought this dream to fruition. Melbourne loves an open kitchen, and Chez Dre has one of the best as the pastry chefs go to work. There's some large spaces here at Chez Dre where other restaurants might crowd in some tables. Consideration for aesthetics at Chez Dre appears to be well considered. The roofing with exposed pipes points to an industrial theme. The food is top class with one of the best breakfast menus in Melbourne. Come here for Fruit toast, Brioche French toast, Sweet crepes, Omelette Du Jour, Croque Monsieur or Croque Madame. Or if you're extra hungry there's the Breakfast Platter with smoked ham, gruyere cheese, boiled egg poached fruit, granola and yoghurt, raspberry jam, sweet sable, croissant and baguette. The Grand Petit Dejeuner is a massive but gourmet offering of poached eggs on sourdough, bacon, spicy herb lamb sausages, potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, smashed avocado with goats cheese, and tomato relish. I elected for the poached eggs on sourdough with smoked salmon, which also proved to be a hearty meal, given the generous portion of salmon. The coffee at Chez Dre is excellent, working over the Synesso with coffee roasted by the Maling Room (one of my favourites). read more

The cakes here are amazing. As gorgeous as they are delicious. We went for lunch, and while all our food was good, it paled in comparison to the cakes at the end. As I said, the brunch/lunch food was good, but I didn't order optimally. I had the avocado toast with goats cheese. The portion size is large, and the goats cheese is more like a goats cheese froth with what seemed like dukka. Tasty, but I definitely was expecting and wanted a more creamy cheese of substance to go with my avocado and bread. Next time, we'll go for tea/coffee and cakes as these are clearly their forte. read more

I've been a patron here for many years, and how they make and serve food and coffee, I'll be back for many more years. It's rare that I've tried something I didn't like, food is always served fresh, their meals are delicious, and they're always changing it up with specials and seasonal menus. Coffee is always consistently awesome and so is the service. The weekend gets pretty busy, be prepared to wait for a table. read more

Chez Dre - French toast with seasonal fruit. - Bakeries Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

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There is nothing better than walking down the street with fresh eyes. Sometimes all you have to do is look up and your day will change. That is what happened when I found Chez Dre. As you open the door and walk inside you almost get taken back to the same magical feelings as when you read the Lion the Witch and Wardrobe. All of the little architectural designs make for a great dining experience. My favourite delights here are the éclairs. I have just booked a flight to Paris to find out if they can get better than these ones. I think it's going to be close. read more

Went for brunch on Melbourne Cup Day so it was fairly easy to get seated. Food was really tasty but service was a little slow. Being seated in the far corner probably contributed to that. read more

Chez Dre - Desserts! - Bakeries Near Me - South Melbourne, VIC

Went there for our brunch , it's really fresh and healthy dish but also have so many sweet lovely desert. read more

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