Sunday, September 28, 2008

Mart 103 - Melbourne

If Bills is to Sydney, then Mart 103 is to Melbourne.

I read something like that on someone's blog and naturally, I wanted to go and check out the Bills of Melbourne.

I waited in anticipation as my partner and I drove down to Middle Park. One side of Canterbury Rd was a train/tram track. The other side was shops.
And so I counted - 105, 106, 107, 108...
Where's 107a ???
We parked, we walked... and OMGosh! the Bills of Melbourne turned into a dry-cleaning place!!!

and hence we settled for second-rate breakfast at Cafe Domain...

My partner must have sensed my disappointment and so, the very next morning, he CALLed the place - and someone picked up! AND, he heard that the place was very buzzy. Very good signs. Apparently, it was opposite the pub - but we looked there yesterday!!!

Nonetheless, we drove down to Middlepark again. And we walked around again.

And we couldn't find it...again.

Just as we were about to give up, I looked up at the tram tracks. That white station-looking building can't possibly be a cafe... or can it???

People were camping outside this "station-looking" building - and looked as if they were waiting for a tram/train until... someone started bringing chairs out...

My partner could not believe it until we were practically on the front steps!

Tram station look-a-like. No wonder we missed it the first time! Who would have thought?

Mart 103

After 10-15 minutes, we were escorted inside and surrounded by a mix of coffee aroma and delicious smelling... somethings

The cappuccino was my partner's (but when they placed it on our table, they named it a "latte" - which confused us both). No matter, it looked and tasted very cappy.

Cappuccino

And my mocha was all so very mmm and rich and smooth and creamy and very very mmm.

Mocha

After what seems like hours (and probably literally was), our much anticipated breakfast came (and yes, again, it was lunch time by now).

My partner was wowed by his corn fritters with grilled bacon and homemade relish ($15.90).
And I agree - it was quite awesomely yummy. But I guess my partner gets wowed out by most things bacon :)

Corn Fritters - $15.90


And mine. My eggs benedict ($15.90). Look at it! It looks miles above my eggs benedict yesterday. For one, it came with smoked salmon rather than ham. It came with two generous pieces of toast, not just one small one. And, it came with a large pile of spinach (not just two leaves). And, the hollandaise sauce itself was better. It was less thick and glunky tasting, but still creamy and rich.

Eggs benedict - $15.90

Well in all, the food was good.
The coffee was good.
The place was vibey.
But the service... somewhat lacking. Nonetheless, the waiters were always smiling during the little contact we had with the waiters. So the lack of service is probably because they were so incredibly busy.

Ratings:
Food: 9/10
Service: 7/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Value for money: 7/10
Overall: 32/40

Mart 103
107a Canterbury Rd,
Middle Park
Tel: (03) 9690 8831

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Question: "Is gluttony a sin? What does the Bible say about overeating?"

Answer: Gluttony seems to be a sin that Christians like to ignore. We are often quick to label smoking and drinking as sins, but for some reason gluttony is accepted or at least tolerated. Many of the arguments used against smoking and drinking, such as health and addiction, apply equally to overeating. Many believers would not even consider having a glass of wine or smoking a cigarette, but have no qualms about gorging themselves at the dinner table to the point that they feel like they are going to explode. This should not be!

Proverbs 23:20-21 warns us, "Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags." Proverbs 28:7 declares, "He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father." Proverbs 23:2 proclaims, "put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony."

Anonymous said...

Hi Anonymous -

It's very interesting that you should judge our eats on this blog in such a way.
Yes, my partner and I do lash out and eat well.
But the beauty of a food blog is that I only post the times where we eat out somewhere - and neglect all the times where we eat at home and have very simple meals.
If I post what I ate this week (which happens to be the same thing 5 meals in a row), how many people would be interested in reading such a mundane type of post?
So, I pose it to you. Is it fair to judge gluttony based on a FOOD blog? LOL

Anonymous said...

wow anon i think wrath is YOUR sin

Unknown said...

Overall 30/10.

That cracked me up! :p