Mietta's Review
Prams can block up this small and cosy shopfront store. It's a great meeting place for smartly dressed Carlton mums to meet for a chat, cake and coffee. But there's lots more on offer here. The sounds and smell of the kitchen are readily visible, creating an atmosphere that's a cross between a cafeteria and the kitchen of a professional chef, when he's lounging around at home. An array of comfort foods adorn the large glass counter with very little hidden from the customers' eyes. Plates, platters and large glass jars groan happily with homemade muffins, biscuits, cakes and imaginative-looking salads all piled up to create a kind of mini "wall of food". It's an impulse eater's heaven. But as well as what's on show, Ricky Holt has a tempting menu of items to be cooked to order. The Rathdowne Street Food Store is relaxed, unpretentious and friendly. Not the place to hurry through unless you are picking up takeaway.

Other published opinions

Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 12.5/20 "You could just as easily drop in for good Italian coffee and house-made Portuguese custard tart as a three-course dinner at Rathdowne Street Food Store, which does a fine job of being all things to all North Carltonians, and has done for nearly two decades"

Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 13/20 "Coffee, food, wine all day' says the blackboard outside this popular bistro/foodstore. The bentwood chairs, the banquettes and the counter piled high with bakery goods (is that muffin a pear and chocolate or a pumpkin, walnut and caramelised onion?) are dead giveaways that this is more cafe than proper restaurant, fulfilling the daily needs of North Carltonians from mums and dads pushing the latest Bugaboo pram to retired academics blowing some super over lunch"

The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 13/20 "With its French bistro looks, cruisy feel and plenty of house-made goodies to go, RSFS has been a neighbourhood favourite for many years - and the affair continues. At lunch, pram-pushing parents and businessfolk knock knees while enjoying sturdy salads with quiche, beef provencale and the ever-popular lamb curry. At dinner, couples cosy on the banquettes up the back as more complicated cross-cultural experiments come to the fore."

Herald Sun CityStyle 26/04/05 Donna Coutts score 17/20 "All class. Tasty, wholesome food made with quality ingredients. Breakfast, lunch or dinner recommended."

The Age Good Food Guide 2005 "OVER the years, this cafe in a revivified terrace has managed to appeal to all sorts. Blackclad academics dissect life over espresso by day, breast-feeding celebrities and couples having affairs of various kinds enliven the cosy dining rooms at night, while at weekends it becomes a thriving brunch spot."

The Age Cheap Eats 2004 "SECURING a nook towards the rear of this dolled-up terrace can do terrible things to your waistline: it's difficult to tear yourself away from the blazing fire in winter and the seats are so cushy it's hard to get up."

The Foodies' Guide 2004, Allan Campion & Michele Curtis,'The Foodies' Guide Cupcake Awards 2004-our pick of the top foodies experience'

AGFG 2004, score 14/20, excellent breakfasts

Vogue Entertaining & Traveller, March April 2003,'All day breakfasts and more.'

The Age, Sunday Life, 9/11/03, John Lethlean

Herald Sun, Sunday Magazine, Eating Out, Sally Fishe

The Age, A2, Food & Wine, 19/7/03

The Age, Sunday Life, Eat Streets, Dani Valent, 25/5/03

Cheap Eats 2003, Breakfast Dish of the Year

The Age, Unexplored Territory, Matt Preston, 1/10/02,

The Age SundayLife 1/10/2000 Best of breakfasts