Popular Asian themed brunch and lunch cafe in Melbourne area. It is located in the CBD so not difficult to get to. Their most popular dish is the Singapore Chilli Crab Omelette. The omelette is really fluffy and light, nicely made. The crab is fresh and crunchy. It's a little spicy but manageable. Other popular dishes include the Pandan Waffle and Corn Fritters. They also have a number of interesting drinks including the Iced Biscoffee which is recommended. Definitely worth a try if you are into something different than your usual brunch options. read more

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Make a reservation or except long line or sitting in the cold with no heat lamps or blankets. This is a breakfast restaurant so everything was pretty good; but nothing to really rave about. read more

We DO NOT revisit restaurants on vacation. We make our choices and go to another restaurant to support the area and experience more even if there was more on the menu we were interested in. However, we had no choice the food was so decadent so extravagant so beautiful we had to go twice. Beware of the sweet breakfast options they are VERY sweet but so good after and amazing breakfast went back for the soft shell crab omelet and it didn't disappoint. The portions are enormous and it's hard to not over do it because you can't stop eating. We feel like we didn't even scratch the surface with the food options here despite an otherwise small menu because we kept seeing a parade of the most beautiful plating we'd ever seen. Frankly this place should have a 6 month waiting list to even get a reservation but we walked in and we're immediately seated both times even tho it was clearly busy and many servers were running around keeping things moving. read more

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I can't even tell you how amazing this place is. A complete accidental find on my part. I had the miso butter mushrooms and - just come. The service was fast and courteous. read more

Operator25 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Came here for brunch. One of the best things I ate in Melbourne. The soft shell crab omelette was amazing. Added avocado to the omelette and would recommend doing that. The latte art was awesome and the flat white matcha was delicious. Would recommend and will come back again. read more

Operator25 - Soft shell crab omelette with avocado - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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The Miso Pork Benidict had a perfect poach and a wonderful Hollandaise Sauce, but the pork was dry and inedible straw. The Ube Pancakes were incredible, moist, flavorful, with a perfect compliment of sautéed fruits, creams, and ice cream-every mouthful was delicious. The staff was slammed with high demand leading to long wait-times if you wanted to eat inside. On patio you got immediate service and just had to brave the intermittent cool and rainy weather under the umbrella. read more

Operator25 - Une Pancakes- Miso Pork Beni - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Good and unique food. Always fully packed. This is the 2nd time we come for brunch since the first one is long queue. We ordered Chili Crab Omellete, Beef Bulgogi Taco and Peking Duck Leg read more

Operator25 - Peking Duck Leg, Chili Crab Omellete and Beef Bulgogi Taco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Great place for breakfast. Worth the wait! Great ambiance. Would definitely go back.

It was good but almost a bit too unusual. Service was good portions were plentiful. The crab omelette was good. The ube waffle was interesting but not something I would order again. Interesting food and presentation. Hard to describe, worth a try. Almost 5 star. read more

Had to share tables with randoms. Food was average. Service was good but a little slow. Music was good and coffee was good but I would not return. read more

good customer service. The taste maybe was because I had expected too much from them, they didn't seem as good as I thought.

This was a little challenging for me to find. The street it's on isn't a main one and I didn't see that it was marked. There also isn't a lot of signage outside the restaurant. It's a coffee cup with Operator 25 written around it in a way that's not visible when you're passing by. The opposite street did have s sign-Frederick Way. It's a casual place and you can either grab something to go at the counter or sit at one of the (mostly) communal tables. I got the Kaya French Toast and it was very good, but no one checked on me after I got my food. read more

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Great food find! Friendly and helpful staff. Highly recommended for foodies visiting Melbourne read more

Operator25 - SS crab omelette outstanding - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Highly overrated. Operator25 is a popular brunch spot that has been a darling on social media lately. Situated in an old heritage building that formerly housed a telecommunications centre. It's a beautiful venue, but getting to the restaurant, however, was somewhat tricky. Situated on a less travelled path, in a small Melbourne alley way with no obvious signage. I came here on a weekday morning and this place was already bustling. Even for a solo eater, like myself, I have to wait approximately 30 mins to be seated. Once seated (on the counter)... I can't deny the fact they have awesome looking space - just rustic with an industrial vibe to it. As for the food. I ordered their BBQ Pork Benedict; it was a beautifully plated dish consists of Filipino pulled pork on brioche bread, poached eggs, Asian herbs hollandaise and wonton crisp. As much as I wanted it to be good, it was not. The pulled pork was extremely salty and the Asian herb hollandaise sauce tasted just too weird...And halfway in I have reached my peak, I stopped myself to prevent going further into dissatisfaction. For my drink, I had the kaya latte, which sounded like a creative concoctions and I was excited to try them out. Huge disappointment; it tasted just like regular latte and a bit on the milky side *Sad* Overall, my experience here was very disappointing, glad to have crossed this place off my lists, but for the price they are charging, not sure if it was worth it. And if you are wondering about the rest of the food that you spot on their social media... Please see the first sentence of my review. read more

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This is a very trendy restaurant that has a warm feel. I came here twice for breakfast. On day one, I tried the multigrain toast with fried egg, greens, and slow roasted tomatoes, and the Teriyaki Benedict. Both dishes were rich and delicious. There was no need for any additional sauce. On day two, I tried the multigrain toast with scrambled eggs and mushroom, and the Cured Kingfish. The mushroom was okay, nothing over the top. The way the eggs were made was very light and buttery, and very different from most restaurants. The Cured Kingfish was delicious (sort of like a poke bowl). I also tried the raspberry rose donut, which was super sweet, but heavenly. The wait can be long and it is not unusual for the hostess to ask people to move seats when larger parties arrive. On day two, a Saturday, it took 45 minutes for my meal to be served. The restroom is located in the back and is jointly combined with men to the right and ladies to the left. Customer service was friendly. read more

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One of my favorite brunch spots in Melbourne CBD, and also one of the first that I've been to here. Delicate flavours that are representative of what is written on their menu descriptions. Waffles - I had their ube and also their matcha waffles before. Great pairings with their seasonal fruits, which enhances the sweetness of the waffle and balances the richness of the batter. Usually they have a nice creamy sauce that accompanies the dish. Additionally, there is freeze dried fruits that gives it a nice textural component to the overall dish. The ube dish I did have the waffle was more to the crispy side which I prefer less of, but overall enjoyable. Coffee here is nice bold and flavourful. Melbourne coffee in general is of high standards and definitely the coffee here is representative of that. Milk is perfect temperature and foam amount is perfect for the cappuccino I got. Overall really enjoyable! Can't wait to come back to try their other dishes too! read more

4.6 We found it hard to fault this place. It's a beauty as there's so much done well. I used to work in this area of town and in those days there was barely any cafe restaurant worth visiting. Operator 25 though absolutely demands to be visited. We loved the fit out and modern decor. They have created such a bright, attractive and fun space here which just feels so good. We started and ended with coffees which were beautiful. Gorgeous faultless brews. As is my tendency these days, I asked the server to suggest what they thought the best dish was. She unhesitatingly said the Pulled Pork Benedict was the top dish, in her view. It was a great recommendation. I really loved this dish. Couldn't fault it. Just the right size, this is a gorgeous delicate number. The pork was fantastic, the eggs superbly done, the brioche was just right, the herbs spot on and the brioche chips a bit of fun with a little different texture and flavour. Great dish in my view. Perfect combo for mine. My colleague too loved his citrus cured salmon, as well. We had the sparkling wine as an accompaniment which was great. We wouldn't have minded a Bloody Mary option on the drinks list as well. A final word about the great service here. We had three servers over the course of the brunch. They were outstanding. They were there instantly whenever you needed them, they always had a lovely nice smile and a good word, and everything - food and coffees - appeared with impressive speed. Service is rarely better. We're progressively working our way through the highly fancied brunch places in Melbourne. Operator 25 deserves to be very high on that list. It is superior on this experience to a few other prominent cafes we've been to. read more

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Loved the French toast here. Low on artificial sugar and high on natural sweeter called honey. The presentation was impeccable as well. Coffee was strong, palatable. Others had toasts, and eggs. Portions were generous and service quick and efficient. I loved the art on the walls. Location is a little off-beat , but short walk from the Queen Victoria markets. Oh yeah, vegetarians will love this spot! read more

There was about a 45 minute wait for a party of 6 when we got there at 10:30. The host taking names was super chill, gave us clear updates and let us know we can explore around but come back in 30ish minutes. We did and when we returned they were preparing our table. I ordered the teriyaki salmon ($21 AUD) with matcha broth. I had some hesitations with this as I'm not too big on teriyaki, but they made it to perfection. It wasn't overly sauced with teriyaki but kind of a marinade. The salmon was grilled and the flavors were really brought out without the need for excess saucing. The salmon wasn't overly cooked and came apart easily. The matcha broth was ok I guess? The server said to pour it right into the bowl with the salmon and so I did. I guess it made the entire meal more light but either way I didn't think it added (or took away) anything. The rest of my party knew I enjoyed it, as I'm usually the last to finish but I was done with it quick. Portions were perfect and everything was fantastic. read more

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Nothing says Father's Day like brunch with one of your kids. I'm fortunate this year to get two Fathers days. I had tried to go here several weeks ago but the line to get in was too long. Today we made it and I can see and taste why there was a line. Our meals were very good and the atmosphere trendy. read more

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Great breakfast. Conveniently located to the CBD. I would go back without hesitation.

An inconspicuous establishment located just down one of Melbourne's many laneways, Operator 25 is a super trendy cafe located just of A'Beckett street. Wrangling for my last morning coffee in Melbourne, I first walked straight past this place before having to double back. The interior is really well decorated with an ample amount of tables. Service was friendly and the coffee was amazing. Whilst I can't comment on food, the atmosphere and coffee is enough to make me want to return. read more

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Quick and delicious. Exactly what we needed on a Sunday morning. Coffee is just perfect. Can't wait to come back again! A regular spot for me when visiting Melbourne. read more

Came here right before 7, the waiter let me and my boy in. Awesome service so far - 7:05 groups of people start trickling in. Lovely morning. Ordered Nutella on white and hot choco for the boy, and their best seller - pulled pork Benedict - for me. Verdict is in: Very cute hot choco with a bear in it... my boy loves it. Toasted artisan bread with handcrafted butter cultured by Pepe Saya. This is a new level of Nutella toast! I was skeptical with pulled pork Benedict, doesn't sound normal to me. By the first look, the dish seems amazing. When I taste them, rich of flavors and textures are blowing in my mouth!! Base is toast, crunchy in the side, we'll toast in the middle Pulled pork is adding the saltiness and umami Perfectly poached egg, adding a layer of creaminess Then there's the sauce which provides a hint of sweetness and herbsiness Topped with crunchy chips and garnishment for the crackling and fresh flavors An epic journey for my tongue at 7:30am read more

Such vibrant good group of ladies running this place! Food was fabulous, coffee great! Totally advise this place. Worth checking it out. I would definitely go back to! read more

In Melbourne on holiday - came here for breakfast on a work day. The staff, service, coffee and food were top notch. Seated right away and quick to order. Food and coffee both came out quickly. Definitely worth a visit, if you're in town. I will definitely be back again in a future visit. read more

Discovering Operator25 is like hitting the jackpot. There are few places in the CBD that a) have great coffee b) have innovative and varied brunch items c) have enough space for you to spread out, read the papers and relax a little and (now here's the real qualifying factor) d) are open weekends. The coffee, from Code Black, is really quite good. There's a single origin to try if you're going black and the blend works well with milk based coffee. The food is beautiful. A smoked salmon, creme fraiche, piccalilli and rye toast was a light way to start the day. It was beautiful on the plate and some may argue there was far too much of the home-made piccalilli but I'm a pickle freak so really enjoyed it. The rye toasts were thin wafers of bread - great if you're trying to avoid carbs - and perfect for scooping up bits of the dish, cracker style. A special of zucchini fritters with smoked salmon, smashed avo and hollandaise was great. I thought the hollandaise sounded like over kill on the menu but when it came, presented in a tiny beaker on the edge of the plate, it was really well made and added a great contrast to the rest of the dish. Win. Smashed peas with ricotta, poached eggs, dukkah and trufle oil? Sounds like too many things going on if you ask me, but WOW someone has really worked hard to make this dish so perfectly balanced. Yup, I'm a fan of the food and can't wait to keep working my way through the menu. The only thing I don't LOVE about this place is the decor. If you score a spot on the round table then it's really quite lovely - the ceiling is lower above the table, the bricks surrounding create a nice "nook" and the feel of the space is a little softer. The remaining tables are long (great for big groups) but feel a little stark and cold. Some fabric sound proofing panels on the walls above might make this section feel a little more comfortable. read more

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It's no secret that I am easily pleased when it comes to brunch. HOWEVER, I was quite at a loss when we had some friends stay in Melbourne near Flagstaff and they wanted to go out for breakkie. On the weekend. In walking distance from their hotel. Sheesus. Did I know any place, any place at all that would fit that bill? Of course, I wanted to impress them with Melbourne coffee and some breakfast flair. Enter Operator 25. Two big, round, 7-seater tables in little nooks with some great low lighting. More long tables also suitable for groups. Lovely little tucked-down-a-laneway feel (so Melbourne). Amazing Code Black coffee. Lovely light and inventive brunch options. Seriously, we wandered into heaven. So good that I've come back during the week for a coffee fix before work. As Tresna mentioned, a little light on the decor, but altogether delivers. Definitely worth seeking out read more

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I have often lamented about the lack of great brunch options open in the CBD on the weekend. Certainly makes it challenging for visitors who expect it to still be hustle and bustle out of office hours, who all end up queuing outside the handful of options or missing out on the Melbourne brunch experience. Thankfully Operator25 has come to the rescue to those in the West End of the CBD, offering up delicious breakfast and lunch options 7 days a week. The menu options are much lighter than I expected. I had a salad for lunch and as someone desperately trying to cut down my portion sizes, was delighted at the delicate plate up of roast vegies and grains. Some might find this pretty disappointing however, so if you're expected a big plate or are satisfying an XXL hunger, maybe check with the waitstaff if it's going to satisfy you. The coffee is up to scratch (hooray!) with a selection of singles and filter options. A top pick for a quiet weekday lunch or CBD breaky. read more

Operator25 - Delicately portioned grain and vegie salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

This cafe absolutely fufilled my expectations for Melbourne cafe experiences. Great coffee (serving Code Black), cute interior, and delicous food. I had the matcha waffle which was perfectly cooked and came with a variety of fruits on top and some amazing matcha ice cream. The menu was varied - definitely something for everyone. I had a pour over and a flat white and both were well prepared. Definitely reccomend this spot. read more

I must have been living under the rock of suburbia because I haven't heard of Operator 25 until suggested by a friend for lunch. Once we got here, there is a waiting list and our group waited a while for a table. I think in summer the wait time might not be as long as they do have outdoor seatings. Being a cold Melbourne winter day, no one wanted to sit outside on the day I cici red which is understandable. Inside there's a few bench seatings, and bar seatings, there's a couple big round tables also for bigger groups. I Houghton coffee was good and all the food we tasted were delicious. The cured kingfish is good but only very small serving of the kingfish so not the best value in my opinion. The open omelette is probably the best, with the barramundi a close second. Overall I think everything on the menu seems delicious and there is something for everyone here. read more

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Best of many breakfasts we have had in Melbourne. Very attractive space-on point design with bright natural light. 10 minute wait at 10am on a Saturday morning. Most of the tables are communal, so you'll likely share a table. Chickpea fritter with hummus, cottage cheese and one other sauce was great. (Think falafel but with super high quality ingredients and delicately cooked). Partners egg on toast was simple but really tasty. Coffee was very good as you would expect. Staff was busy but professional and friendly. As busy as they were, we did not have a sense we were being hurried along. read more

Operator25 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Wow! One of the best breakfasts I've had. The French toast was unreal. As was the pulled pork eggs Benedict. Will definitely go back.

Made a special trip out here at the recommendation of a colleague. Well worth it! The decor is well presented and a lot of money has been spent. It is open without feeling cavernous and the shared tables are big enough that you don't feel elbow to elbow with the family next to you. The food is very good. The menu changes seasonally and we just got onto the beginning of the spring version. I had the Dutch choc hotcakes and they're delicious. Nice texture - and not overwhelmed by the maple syrup - which had just enough sweetness to balance the choc. The French Omellette was also beautifully presented and I am told equally delicious. The first coffee u had was typical Melbourne - so I ordered another one with a little extra strength and it was perfect. Robust flavour and perfect temperature. The staff are all very pleasant and accommodating without being in your face - which is exactly how they should be. Excellent cafe, open all week, and worth a visit. Highly recommended. read more

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I nipped here for brunch today with a friend. Got a table straight away which was great. The decor of the place is fresh and we liked how it used to be a telephone exchange and the use of the wires hanging from the ceiling to symbolise this. We order the black rice porridge and matcha almond hotcakes. The little bit of porridge I tried had a good consistency and a nice mix of flavours. My matcha hot cakes had a good flavour without being too strong or bitter and I enjoyed them, however they overpowered everything else on the plate except the pear which was a shame. Coffee was fine but nothing exceptional. I liked how they aren't afraid to try more unusual mixes of flavours and I'd definitely recommend giving the place a try but it's not worth queuing out the door for (in my opinion). read more

Operator25 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Good solid breakfast joint. Doesn't get as busy as the usual trendy cafes around Melbourne but just as good. So its highly recommend if you just want a good coffee and breakfast with out having to wait around with all the other hipster foodies from Melbourne. Great coffee with out a doubt. read more

Operator25 - Bangers, shrooms n eggs. Good solid breaky! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

As it is housed in the city's first telephone switchboard building, this restaurant is very clever in going about the telephone theme. Telephone cords line to ceiling, artwork is ultra modern with clever phrases operators might have used, and the industrial feel is very much present. Sometimes breakfast and brunch menus can be a little boring, but not so at Operator 25. The menu is Asian fusion so it's very unique and ended up being very satisfying. We ordered the drunken chicken congee and Filipino pulled pork benedict and loved them both. The congee was made with maybe a mix of barley and black rice because it was grey in colour and had a nice bit of body. It was pretty underseasoned but it worked out well because of the soy sauce poured over the dish at the end. The drunken chicken was so juicy and flavourful, the sous vide egg perfectly oozy, edamame nice and fresh, and the pickled ginger and fried lotus chips all made for amazing textures and flavour combinations. It was quite filling but I finished what I could. The adobo pork in the benedict was deliciously sweet and savoury, and the kaffir lime hollandaise had a slight sweetness that complemented the whole thing. The thick slice of brioche was a great base for the dish. Great spot for a good bite to eat! read more

Our last yet probably the best brunch had at Melbourne​. Super close to where we stayed after coming back from the Great Ocean Road trip so I actually went there twice in a row. The decor is simple but stylish (I have to admit my obsession with everything that has a wooden texture). Also loved the cute sign on the wall that says "IT BREW MY DAY". It would be lovely to have one in my apartment to start my day with. The food is delicious here. I would recommend the Japanese omelet​ with comes with two slices of toast​. The dish had an interesting​ twist to the traditional​ omelet with the addition of the symbolic Japanese​ sweet sauce (The kind often used on Okonomiyaki​, a Japenese-style pancake). Never thought of that combination before, but they worked surprisingly well together. The chicken and mushroom covered in the omelet both had pleasant texture had the omelet itself was also soft and delicate. The toast on the side was the icing on top of the cake. The bread was toasted to an ideal crispness accompanying by a rich flavor from the butter on top. The only downside with this brunch spot was that the seats were limited so expect some waiting time if you come in on a weekend. read more

Melbourne has so many hidden lanes, alleys and streets and mills st is no stranger. And it houses a modern rocking Asian fusion all day breakfast cafe with so so many coffee blends. It's quite small so expect a long wait. A group of six of us arrived at 12 and waited until 12.40 for a table. This place is definitely not suited for groups and service is quite slow despite having six waiters. The menu is quite interesting with pork belly burger, duck, stuffed chicken leg, deconstructed sushi, Japanese omelette with enoki mushroom and miso bread. I ordered a skim mocha with double shot (no extra charge) and the Japanese omelette. The Japanese omelette tasted like miso, Kim chi, sweet, and with a slight bit of spice. The miso bread was so tiny and bursting of flavour. My friend ordered the deconstructed sushi which came with fluffy wasabi flavoured cream. Service was quite slow and they absolutely refuse to do split bill or even help with change. But Food is definitely worth it. Coffee size is quite small. read more

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I heard so many good things about Operator 25 and saw so many delicious pics on Instagram of Operator 25 that I begged my friends to visit. A little bit out of the way in the city, it still attracts a crowd but the wait wasn't too long. The food though, was a bit disappointing. We ordered a tapioca and potato fritters, broken eggs and satay. The flavours simply didn't match. We tried simply eating the fritters and it was quite bland and gingery. The matcha friand was quite nice, it wasn't very sweet. The menu said its served with grilled pears but it was more like poached pears. It wasn't cooked very well though, it was hard and once again didn't really go well with the matcha friand. My friend's kingfish on sushi rice with avocado and wasabi mousse was delicious though, and we even used her wasabi mousse for our potato fritter which made it taste sooooo much better. I quite like how they have creative drinks menu too, my friends were impressed with the white choc Thai milk tea and te matcha pandan latte, though less impressed with the peanutella melt, it was kinda like hot peanut butter milk but then because there was an icecream in the cup it kinda made it weirdly lukewarm. Overall it was a bit of a hit and miss, depending on what you ordered but I do give it points for its creativity. read more

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