Cute little bakery with delicious baked goods and simple dishes (sandwiches, quiches, salad, etc)…read more Everything was fresh and seemed pretty healthy. There is indoor and outdoor seating available, altho indoor seating was a bit limited (especially for tables; plenty of bar/stool seating). Free still & sparkling tap water available. This place is perfect for a bite after a rigorous bike ride or hike. Service staff is friendly (like all of Aus that I've encountered). Not open everyday so check the hours before you go! Ordered the spinach, ricotta and feta pie with a side of daily salad (green bean and a bunch of other veggies in vinaigrette dressing). The pie came with a side of homemade chutney and the serving size was pretty big (for a pie). Even though it was filled with cheese, it didn't feel heavy in the stomach. My partner ordered the sausage apple roll (made from free-range Victorian Pork) and it was the biggest sausage roll I've seen. Jam packed with quality meat and also served with a side of homemade chutney.

Delicious. Eclectic. Quaint. The pastry chef should be commended. The pastries are world class. The…read morebreads, home made jams etc are perfection. The staff baristas can make a good cup of coffee. Highly recommended!!

Small and cozy, the Sassafras Cafe is an unnoticeable building, tucked in amongst the more touristy…read morestores. We had the quiche and scones which were quite nice. The selection of tea is wonderful as well, highly recommend the Tumeric or the Coconut.

Kallista Tea Room has been on my to-visit list for a while and when we decided to drop in, at lunch…read moreon a weekday, I was very pleasantly surprised. Let's talk food: AMAZING. I had the chilli eggs and would heartily recommend: just the right amount of kick and full of flavour. Hubby had the brioche french toast, slightly elevated from your typical fare by the delicious addition of pear compote and coconut custard. A must have for all the sweet tooths out there. The prices were maybe a touch on the dearer side (think tourist pricing) though I personally think reasonable enough for the quality. As far as atmosphere think ecclectic-bush-hole-in-the-wall; a big tick in my book. With a laid-back, chill vibe it's perfect for a long, gossipy cuppa or just a quick bite to eat. Of note and one of the HUGE highlights for me was the picturesque native cockatoo viewing: free with lunch. The interior of the cafe has a section with this glorious picture window showing the local winged residents chilling, pruning and putting on a free show. It was as unexpected as it was delightful. I'll definitely be back: the high tea is calling my name.

Food was very nice, good atmosphere and enjoyed watching the birds…read moreantics................................

So the teas are good. I remember my first visit here about 6 years ago and buying over 10 different…read moreteas because I was so excited by the sheer volume and variance of teas available. But then I took all my tea home and the magic of the store left my body and I was like 'why did I just buy all this tea?!' Don't get me wrong, if you're a tea lover then this place is worth the journey to explore. Staff are helpful and you'll want to spend ages in the shop. But I feel this place has become a tourist trap. Nothing is sacred in the Yarra Ranges anymore and its overrun with bus loads of people coming here to smell some tea. It's easy to get caught up in the hype but in reality, its a tea shop. There are plenty around Melbourne that don't require such a drive and I don't have to brave mass crowds to get some damn tea. On a recent trip to Melbourne I returned to tea leaves and the magic didn't work. I was actually not in need of tea, and with the crowds of people scrambling around I could not get out quickly enough. They've increased in notoriety of the years and it makes me sad for actual tea lovers who just. want. to. get. some. tea. Unless you're willing to fight for parking, wait and hour to get into Mrs Marples and spend that hour squished inside tea leaves, it hardly seems worth it anymore.

Tea Leaves in Sassafras is a treasure trove of collectible teapots, cups and anything to do with…read moretea really. Not to be too tea-obsessed it also stocks a large variety of coffee as well. Winner of nine tourism awards and operating for seventeen years the shop itself is very impressive with items I have not seen anywhere else - definitely a must-visit for any tea lovers out there. You won't want to carry any bags in here because it is very easy to knock things over. The store itself is very cluttered with plain shelving that reaches up to the roof and every shelf packed full with a variety of teapots in every shape, size, colour and even facial expression. My favourite was a little Martian teapot that at $72 was a little out of my price range but was very cute none-the-less. As well as the hundreds of incredible teapots there was also tea, coffee, chocolate and biscuits available for purchase. The chocolates looked absolutely gorgeous and the coffee impressive in big glass jars lining the counter. There was an A4 poster on the wall with tea facts written on it which was pretty groovy - definitely check that out if you want to learn something new. The service here was a little lax as despite the bell ringing to signal my entrance no one greeted me at all. The first time I saw a staff member was to excuse myself as I passed her in one of the narrow aisles. It wasn't very impressive in that regard. Tea Leaves is open from 10-5.30 every single day of the year except for Christmas and is a great place to get a signature teapot for you or for a fun gift for a friend.

Like a hidden little cottage in an enchanted forest, Lady Hawke can be described in one word -…read morecosy. While accommodation at the B&B is limited to only one room (and I've not yet tried it so can't offer any recommendation) the cafe is open to all, and he staff/owners are friendly and welcoming. Like your own little kitschy cottage house away from home, the cafe features brightly -coloured walls, open fireplaces and a gallery of original art by local artists. Lady Hawke does all day breakfast - $10 for a big brekkie and a beverage. The venue can also be hired out for events, including wedding receptions (my brother had his there). They decorated it beautifully, and without the usual trumped up cost.

What a place! Well worth the drive and what a picturesque drive it is. The first thing you notice…read moreis the magnificent looking silos. On a wet summers day the mist was rolling in so it made it all the more pretty. Everything about the cafe is thought thru, from the bakery to finishing touches of the decor. Our waiter was efficient and had a great sense of humour. He certainly made it all the more memorable. The drinks came quickly followed by our delicious meals. We were there for breakfast but there is everything from buying a loaf of bread and toasting it yourself, pastries to the purchase of three different sized picnic baskets. And if the salads on display are anything to go by I'll certainly be back to order one and stroll through their gardens. They are currently expanding the gardens. But there is plenty to do! From lawn bowls, children's play areas, picnic area and meet bubble and squeak the residents of the pig sty. I couldn't recommend the Piggery Cafe enough. I will certainly be back. I could imagine that it will get busy on the weekends if during the week was anything to go by - so be prepared. Happy eating.

Really enjoyed it. We had the cheeseburger, a whole grilled trout with a side of rosemary fries,…read moreand a smoked sausage hot and pink from the smoker, a little spicy and served with pickled cucumber and carrot. One of the few places in Melbourne that cooks burgers to order, but unfortunately we ordered medium rare and it arrived well done. Still tasty though! The trout, however, was genuinely AMAZING. Succulent and cooked to perfection on a hot grill. Chips were golden and crispy with a rosemary salt, really good. The sausage and pickles were delicious. There's no phone signal (for us anyway) so it's a rare chance to fully focus without the temptation of peeking at the phone. The meals took a fair stint to arrive, but we weren't there for fast food and the location is incredibly beautiful so it was a nice chance to stop and breathe. Speaking of breathing - we were seated outside, and every time the wind gusted our way there was a waft of .... I don't know what. Sewage? Pigs? Something on the septic side of the scent spectrum (I know, pure poetry). It wasn't pleasant so I removed a star for that.

Poor food,small portions,too expensive,crammed space. Like most new business',you soon learn which…read moreones are keepers and which ones crumble over night. This is a crumbler.

i saw many cops here... food must be pretty good to stop by hey? service + ambiance!read more

I have been to two function at Earthly Pleasures, the second was a wedding…read more This is a beautiful venue. Catering was devine and the staff are very friendly and professional making sure their guest are happy. I will definitely come back and recommend this for small to medium functions

Earthly Pleasures is one of the reasons I live on Mount Dandenong…read more Their food is amazing, and their staff are charming. Unfortunately, they don't change their menu anywhere near enough. What they do is great, and if you're visiting, you can't go wrong. As a regular, things will get a bit boring after a month or so. However, if you haven't been there before, you're mad to avoid it - their offerings are amazing, particularly if you're vegetarian.

Great views and good service. But these days wi-fi is expected and they don't have it. Only thing…read morekeeping this from being a 5-star.

Lovely views, friendly staff and great coffees. A nice spot for morning/afternoon tea.read more

Really enjoyed the atmosphere, coffee and food. Served super fast once we ordered. Trio of dips was…read moreonly a duo which should have been advised when ordering, rather than us having to ask after being served and already eating. Other than that disappointment, perfect. Definitely worth a try.

Nestled amongst the tea shops and clothing stores in Sassafras is a converted old wooden building…read moretrading as "Ripe". We used to come to ripe under the old owners, who departed a couple of years back. Since then my affair with Ripe has dwindled a bit, however I decided to head there for breakfast on my birthday this year. We grabbed a chair at the large share table by the fire, which in a Melbourne June was a very good place in the world to be. Although the menu reads like a bit of an exercise in uppity wordsmithery, the food is what keeps me coming back. As a vegetarian, my choice here is limited, which is a little surprising. However I ordered the Vegetarian platter, and was treated to portions of quiche, a small bowl of soup and other tasty morsels to warm me up. The coffee is always fantastic here, and it's become a tradition of mine to order a boutique beer to have after breakfast, of which they have a small but consistant selection. New owners don't mean a lot of change in terms of the feel and service at Ripe. Both are fantastic, and although our relationship isn't what it used to be, I'm still a fan.