Review: Cafe Gaia

Never judge a book by it's cover. This unpretentious cafe in South Yarra actually serves up some amazing food and the staff are super friendly and polite.  I had actually been here a few years ago but only ordered coffee and cake and didn't really think much of this place. It wasn't one of the "trending" cafes at the time, but the menu has definitely progressed through the years to include some more creative dishes

Earl Grey - $4.50

Hot Chocolate - $4
Lovely Mork Chocolate in a not too sweet drink.

Bacon French Toast
Again small serving size but still filling.
Lovely maple coated french toast and bacon with whipped creme fraiche
 and nuts. I'm usually not one for sweet and savoury but I think bacon is
one of the few ingredients that break the rule for me. I would've preferred the bacon
to be more crispy and develop that sticky glaze but it still tasted good. The cream
also helped cut through that sweetness and the nuts added some crunch.

Lamington Hotcakes - $17.50
Deliciously sweet but needs some freshness to it.
Don't expect a large serving size or to get stuffed full.
It would've been much nicer if the pancakes were actually "lamington"
style. There was just some desiccated coconut sprinkled over the plate,
but to me that doesn't make it lamington hotcakes.
The raspberry mascarpone was  light, sweet and slightly tangy from the raspberries
which contrasted with the dark drizzled chocolated. I would've much
preferred fresh berries to the freeze dried ones.