Breakfast, we are told, is the most important meal of the day, but unfortunately very few…read morerestaurants get it right. The Diplomat Cafe in Highett I'm pleased to announce is one of the few. This cafe is centrally located on the main strip across the road from the Highett train station. The cafe itself is really well designed with a small show kitchen pumping out meals to a rather large minimalistic dining room. It really has a great vibe. The first thing that I was impressed with was the staff. Upon arrival I was greeted warmly, and escorted to my table, offered water and a coffee to start with. This in itself seems to be a lost art in today's restaurant scene. I ordered a jasmine pearl tea to start, which, when arrived was presented on a wooden board, with a cup, an iron teapot and a box with three sandglass minute timers. The first one set at one minute, the second at three mins and the third at five minutes. Each timer representing the strength of the tea. A pretty cool concept. The menu looked awesome, but all I really wanted was poached eggs, bacon and mushrooms. So that's what I ordered. Now it's generally at this stage when I ask the waiter if I could have my bacon crispy, but in all honestly I forgot, so I was a bit concerned. My breakfast arrived in a reasonable timeframe, and my first impression was, that it looked pretty good. It wasn't good, not at all, it was awesome. Let's start with the eggs. Perfectly poached, soft and gooey yolks, and perfectly poached whites. As much as the eggs impressed me it was the bacon that wowed me. Crispy but still juicy and full of flavour, just the way I like it. I have to say this was one of the best bacon and eggs I've ever had. The food that was coming out of that kitchen was amazing. So if you find yourself down Highett way check out The Diplomat, it truly was amazing.

WOW what a place! And what a find. The staff are extremely friendly, helpful and nothing was too…read moremuch trouble. Both the breakfast and lunch menu options were varied. I had the smashed avocado and poached eggs and it was absolutely scrumptious. Couldn't recommend this establishment enough. The atmosphere was buzzing and filled with laughter and cheer. A must try if you ask me.

Amazing brunch! Quite a large cafe with space out the front, inside, and in a back courtyard, with…read moretables that can suit two to ten people comfortably. Service was efficient and very friendly! I had the brioche French toast with poached pear and cream fraiche... It was to die for! My friend had the Sipp Sanger and loved it too (although it came on a teeny tiny board - visually pleasing, but left runny yolk going everywhere!) I also had the Sipp Fantasy juice which was sweet and delicious. Importantly, the coffee was perfect. With a lot of other breakfast spots in the area, now we have discovered Sipp it will become one of our go to spots in the area!

Best coffee on Hampton Street hands down! (and I should know, I've tried them all!) - Sipp cafe is…read morealso a solid contender for Hampton's best breakfast menu. The poached eggs are always flawless, white puffy clouds with bright yellow sunny yolks that ooze perfectly into chewy sourdough. You can't go wrong with the avocado and feta smash (with a side of lemon), two poached eggs and bacon - add coffee and you've got the perfect Sunday starter.

I'd always wanted to try Brown Cow after hearing good things about it, so finally came last night…read more It's far more spacious and modernly designed than I thought it might be and great for groups of people or tables for two or if you're grabbing a coffee on your own before work, there are bar stools all along the rim of the restaurant so you can sit and watch people go by while you relax. We got taken to the table and first thing I noticed was my chair had crumbs all over it, as did the table, so I wiped that down myself in front of that staff member who didn't say anything about it. The menu isn't majorly extensive, but there's at least SOMETHING for everyone, i'm guessing, and what we had was nice. Started with the croquettes which were beef and mac 'n cheese. They were good. For main, I had the flatbread with tomato, mozzarella and crunchy basil. The basil was tasteless (just there for decoration, really) and the flatbread itself was missing something. Dessert was a chocolate fondant which was delicious. Overall, the food is average, but ok. Service wasn't too bad. I think it's fairly reasonably priced, and good if you're looking for somewhere casual yet nice. Parking is not too much of a problem. and I would definitely be interested in trying their breakfast or lunch menu once.

Great staff great food fast service I can't think if any complaints just that it wasn't quiet but…read morethat wasn't their fault

Service with a smile, great food selection. I tried the Pulled Pork Benedict, a great twist on the…read moretraditional Eggs Benedict

Great brunch spot after cycling. Friendly, warm service and delicious food, coffee and fresh juice…read more I had lime avocado, poached egg and crispy bacon on sourdough with rocket and feta. Great flavours and extra crispy bacon! All washed down with a lovely latte and fresh apple, orange and beetroot juice. I'll be back.

In general, I am not a fan of cafe food, it always seems to disappoint and fall short of…read moreexpectations while overcharging and under servicing. This is so far from an accurate description of Cornerstone, you probably won't believe the following paragraphs. But as over the top and neurotic as it sounds, it's all true! I go to Cornerstone and have been there many times as my boyfriend lives walking distance away, I even added them to Yelp so I could share their greatness with the community, because I had this unreasonable fear that they were in an unusual location and they were at risk of being unnoticed so I had to help get people in so I could keep going there! I've had many things on the menu, some pictured, some not. All perfection- honestly- and I've looked high and low for the most minuscule faults. I've had poached eggs in countless different dishes and I am yet to encounter a yolk that isn't gooey and oozing with salty, buttery goodness that only an immaculately cooked egg yolk can provide. The side salads they put on your plate, suit the meal you are eating and are creative and perfectly dressed, rather than your cafe style 'green salad' that breaks down your soul with the lack of effort put in to it knowing you paid $22 for a plate you could have made at home. Did I mention I'm in love with Cornerstone?! For meals between $10-$25, you're bound to find something to satisfy you. Deserts are very reasonably priced too. If Cornerstone was open for dinner, I wouldn't go anywhere else. They have a set menu with Italian/modern Australian/Asian fusion dishes and weekly specials that will blow your mind. They use Organic coffee. BonSoy. Their bread from an organic bakery. Their vegan and vegetarian options are plentiful plus their desert cabinet is always full of fresh, new and exciting options that tempt you into submission! The staff are attentive, knowledgable and quick, plus friendly! The owner- Michelle- is an absolute delight, I could just sing their praises day and night. Cornerstone is a fantastic addition to Hampton, Melbourne and in my opinion anyone not up to that standard is officially failing. Next time you're in or around Hampton, try out Cornerstone, there is no possible way this impressive establishment will let you down!

The Italian/Japanese fusion is brilliantly put together and the relaxed atmosphere and ambience…read moremakes for a cracking little bayside style cafe tucked away from the main road shops. We will definitely be back!

I don't know why it took me so long to ever try a meal here. It's always busy, with lines out the…read moredoor at times, and people lining up for take away coffees. Tried it today for the first time ever, and I was glad I did. The breakfast and brunch menu have some different items than the rest of the cafes in Melbourne (who all have pretty much the same menus). While I only chose the Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon, the others in the group had different items, and we all enjoyed what we had. The service is friendly, the decor is lovely, the food is tasty. IF I had to be picky over anything, it would be the pricing. I do think some items were really high, especially for things you can easily make at home. Also, no effort whatsoever to attempt any substitutions with things in a dish. With that said, I'd definitely come back again. It was also a really nice touch that they gave me a complimentary cupcake with sparkler for my birthday. It just made the whole experience that little nicer still.

Such a good breakfast place. The food was fresh and the atmosphere was very laid back and chill…read more The service was incredible and there was no wait to get seated. Scrambled eggs are perfect.

Very attentive staff, good food and fabulous Aperol Spritzs'. The interior of the converted church…read morewas light, bright and comfortable and we could enjoy without feeling rushed.

Excellent all around. Accidentally ended up here when we parked in front intending to go somewhere…read moreelse. The outdoor area looked inviting so we chose to breakfast here. So glad we did. Everything was excellent: the coffee, the fruit bowls, the avocado on toast, the burger (the fries!!). Aesthetically plated. And good value. 5 meals and coffees for $120.

Most definitely the best cafe in Ormond. It shows that the owner has great passion for good coffee…read more Get your coffee fix here on weekends, enjoy the light Jazz playing in the ground, and maybe also get a bag of freshly roasted on-site bean home. On the good side, the lack of substantial offerings shouldn't be a deterrent. What's famous is their bagels and they are good!

Great coffee after a hard game of netball - something to definitely look forward to! Lovely staff…read moreand great vibe. Thanks guys. Absolutely coming back here !!

BRING IT ON! The Parlour is back up and running with great food, great vibes, great coffee,…read moreexcellent friendly staff/service. You cant go wrong with the neighbourhood gem that is back to its former glory and doing really well. I can't wait to go back.

Another success for the Bayside area!…read more The Parlor is a gorgeous cafe located on Weatherall Road that opened at the end of 2011. Since then, I feel this cafe has gone from strength to strength. This local delight is now open Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings (hopefully with more nights to come). Considering The Parlor is almost isolated in a largely residential area, you may be surprised to see how busy it is - especially on weekend mornings! But how can you blame the Bayside population? The Parlor is simply a pleasure to visit. The menu is varied, offering something for everyone and being updated often. I've found the meal sizes to be generous, especially when ordering brunch. The french toast was of a gigantic size. The little touches are cute, such as milkshakes coming in adorable milk bottles. Flowers on the table, friendly staff... you can see why this place is thriving in Beaumaris. The front deck is perfect for catching some rays of sunshine, with the view of the golf course. If the weather is less than ideal, don't forget there's also a back room. The large communal table in front of the kitchen helps to give the Parlor a lovely and warm homely feel. My favourite spot would be the quaint table for two inside, overlooking the deck. Just remember for busy times, you can call up ahead and reserve a spot! The Parlor Milkbar and Kitchen is truly a hidden gem, that has impressed since it's opening.

This place has a pleasant buzz to it, with mums dropping in for coffee and a chat after dropping…read moreoff the kids, many locals dropping to catch up on the news, and a big queue for morning coffee on the go. Coffee is consistently very good as is the service. Breakfast menu is good and the meals are fine. Lunch menu is limited but fine for a casual bite. All in all, a very good suburban coffee shop.