The Hardware Société

Whoever said food can’t bring happiness clearly never paid a visit to The Hardware Society.

Located in between the eateries that encapsulate Melbourne’s Hardware Lane, The Hardware Society is tucked away in a small corner – waiting to lure in city explorers.

The Hardware Society is a slice of France, right in the heart of Melbourne. The cafe’s ambience, passionate waiters and exquisite food all contribute to this.
Though petite, this cafe is a testament to the phrase that ‘all good things come in small sizes’. Like me.

Scrolling through the #TheHardwareSociety hashtag on Instagram, it is evident that this is a brunch hotspot shared by both locals and tourists. And it’s no mystery why. The Hardware Society is open from around 8am to 3pm weekly, which makes it the perfect place for an early breakfast or for a late afternoon date. However, having dined here during both a weekday and a weekend, I noticed that the cafe menu had more of a variety during the weekdays, as opposed to the weekend.

If you want a judge an eatery by its exterior, then the queue of people lining up in front of The Hardware Society will prove to you that this is a place that is loved by all. Every time I’ve visited this cafe, I have had to wait – albeit varying waiting times from 15 to 45 minutes. Whether you’re wanting to kill off time during your Uni break or hoping to spend some quality time in the presence of excellent company and food – The Hardware Society is worth the wait. After dining here thrice, I can confidently say that the waiting times are never longer than the approximate time the kind waiter gives you – and this time always seems to fly by. That being said, if you are tight on time and looking for a quick bite – then The Hardware Society is a place that you will have to visit another day, when you have the time to indulge yourself in all this cute cafe has to offer.

 

Though I have never really been into French cuisine, The Hardware Society does French differently. The chefs here add a French touch to the classic dishes we all love – fusing the French and modern Australian worlds together. The dishes are moderately priced and regardless of the cost of your dish – you are bound to get more than what you pay for in the flavour and presentation departments. It is palpable that the chefs at The Hardware Society take pride in their job because the food they put on the tables are magnificently presented and created. And let’s not forget the customer service. From the moment you put your name down for a table on the waiting list until the moment you pay your bill and leave in a food coma, every waiter you encounter will beam with friendliness and

My ‘chocolat chaud’

enthusiasm. On my first Hardware experience, I ordered a hot chocolate and out came a ‘pot’ and a cup, sitting on a silver platter. Puzzled, I asked the waiter what the correct method of this apparent D.I.Y hot chocolate was. It turns out that this was a chocolat chaud – a real authentic French hot choc – where you pour A (full of chocolate milk) into B ( the cup full of chocolate and cocoa). Rather than just simply telling me so, the waiter grabbed a seat next to me to not only explain the method of fusing the hot chocolate together, but also gave me a brief explanation surrounding the history of the chocolat chaud and the French logic behind the method of mixing the hot chocolate together. When it comes to customer service, it doesn’t get better than that.

 

I usually don’t like doing the same thing over and over, but I can’t seem to get enough of The Hardware Society and the variety of their innovative and delectable menu. I’ve pledged to come back again and again until I have tried all of the menu – and I have a feeling that won’t be for a very, very long time.

Address	120 Hardware street Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000
Phone	9078 5992
Hours	Mon – Fri: 7:30 am – 3:00 pm Sat – Sun: 8:30 am – 2:00 pm

 

BANANA & BLUEBERRY LOAF with pear puree, blueberry & crème fraîche ($15.00)

CHICKEN with almond and chorizo migas, paprika alioli, chickpeas, sherry vinegar, red peppers, eggplant, fine herbs ($21.00)

BRAISED LAMB with potato purée, herbs and red wine sauce ($18.00)

East Elevation – Brunswick

If Brunswick is known for anything, it is its array of cafes. Delectable food and coffee makes up the heart of Brunswick. And if you’re ever looking for a great new Brunswick eatery to indulge yourself in, then look no further than East Elevation. A cafe by day that transforms into a restaurant by night – East Elevation is sure to elevate your senses.

With timber paneling contrasting with brick facades, glass windows overlooking the outside plantations, and nature sprouting from within the café, the relaxed ambience of this unique Brunswick eatery really captures everything suburban Melbourne has to offer.

The last time I visited East Elevation, I took my family with me. It was Mother’s Day and because of all the fine dining I do – the task of finding a nice brunch spot was delegated to me.

OTWAY PORK BELLY & ROASTED PEARS with lentil, cherry tomatoes and apple puree (gf). $21.00

And the first place that popped into my head was East Elevation, of course. Despite having been told on the phone that there was no need to make a Mother’s Day booking and subsequently having to endure a 30 minute wait to be seated, I think it says a lot for me to declare that this was not an issue at all. For starters, my family fell in love with the unique interior design of East Elevation and knew they had to try out the cafe – irrespective of a long wait!

Secondly, the customer service was friendly, prompt and simply impeccable. We were approached constantly during our waiting period and was given updates of our table. We all ordered a beverage while we waited and it was at this point that I ordered a hot chocolate. It’s fair to say that I have absolutely no qualms with East Elevation having won the ‘Best Hot Chocolate in Melbourne’ title consecutively. Their hot choc is indescribably delicious. “We melt pieces of solid chocolate into steaming milk to create the richest and most luxurious chocolate drink you’ve tasted” – East Elevation website.

EAST ELEVATION SPECIAL – Shepard’s Pie

We were given a menu to scan while we waited – which entertained us for the majority of our wait. However, we still had to ask for a few extra minutes to finalise our orders after being seated at our table! There are way too many excellent choices to choose from, and luckily, the very friendly waiters are always more than happy to help you make the very important decision of what to order.

The menu is geared towards seasonal, local produce and the meat served is always free-range and organic. With vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options also available – East Elevation takes the concept of ‘good food’ to the next level.

RICOTTA ROSEWATER STUFFED CREPES with fresh berries, saffron-lemon syrup and hazelnut praline (V) 17.50

Salted caramel sundae
$10.0

 

Overall, my experiences with East Elevation have been outstanding. The customer service is excellent. The food – and especially the coffees – are beyond amazing. East Elevation is very worthy of their ‘best hot chocolate in Melbourne’ award and deserve to win more ‘best in Melbourne’ titles!

 

East Elevation
351 Lygon St, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057
(03) 9381 5575