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Spoonful
Ph: 9521 5212; 543 High St, PRAHRAN 3181
cafe, $$ -, * for Food & Ambience
Open Mon-Sat 7.30am-4.30pm, Closed 5 weeks over Xmas; Licensed, BYO, Corkage $2.50 person; MC V EFT; No bookings
Chef Robbie Wright (5-12-08) Owner Melly Beilby (5-12-08)
Mietta's Review
Standard (read creative), but high-quality fare available at this eclectically decorated cafe and produce store. The menu changes regularly, and the service matches the quality of the food. Ingredients for the pantry are also for sale, including; lentils, vinegars, oil and pasta. No longer open for dinner.
Other published opinions
Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 13/20 "This busy cafe-cum-bistro with its blondes and yummy mummies is like a private club for ladies who lunch, almost a Prahran institution. High ceilings, aged timber floors and 'Turkish bread'toned walls provide an appropriate backdrop for white chandeliers, vintage Chinese lanterns and artist Fred Ganim's four-panel stencil art across one wall"
Herald Sun Extra Food, Stephen Downes, 22-07-08 "Servings are big and the value for money is considerable"
The Age Cheap Eats 2008 "Bistro chic is the look at charming Spoonful decorative paper cut-outs on the walls, wicker chairs, vases of jonquils, and cutesy lanterns overhanging the busy open kitchen"
Herald Sun Dining Out, Stephen Downes, 6-11-07 Score: 14/20 "I loved Spoonful's savoury A dishes. Servings are big and the value for money is considerable. Fight off the local ladies - many of whom are dead ringers for Prue and Trude from Kath & Kim - and you won't regret it. The wine list is limited, and a white, a rose and two reds are available by the glass."
Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 13.5/20 "Had a belly-full of gastronomic pretense? Relax and grab a mouthful at Spoonful, a gorgeous little store-front-cum-communal dining space in the heart of Melbourne's decorator belt"
The Age Cheap Eats 2007 "A charming fitout (wicker chairs, florid chandeliers, communal tables) and aloof service imbue Spoonful with an amusingly haughty Parisienne ambience."
The Age Cheap Eats 2006 Yes, the barista is brusque. And yes, the less-coiffed among us might feel there's a boho hauteur about the place. It's also true that this cafe in High Street's antiques belt is packed solid all day.
The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 13/20 "Melly Beilby has been treating Prahranians to more than a spoonful of her creative cuisine for six years. She used to change the menu daily, now it's weekly. That's hardly a shocking admission when she consistently delivers challenge-your-senses food."
The Age Good Food Guide 2005 "Generally, the long communal table and its satellite smaller tables are filled with about 80 per cent women, 10 per cent ankle-biters and 10 per cent men-in-the-know. Dinner is no longer an option, so competition to secure a spot for breakfast or lunch is even fiercer. The menu changes daily"
The Age Cheap Eats 2005 "IF we gave an award for most innovative cafe cook, Melly Beilby would be a prime contender. At this laid-back, aubergine-walled eatery, the menu constantly evolves"
The Age Cheap Eats 2004,Good vegetarian options,Somewhere we highly recommend,'The patrons parked at Spoonful's broad communal table would shudder if anyone breathed the 'C' word.No,the fact that the snappy,flavourful food is inexpensive is merely a bonus.Glance around the purple-painted room for a head's-up on what's cooking...And while dinner prices won't require dipping into the trust fund,they're not exactly,ahem,cheap.'
The Foodies' Guide 2004, Allan Campion & Michele Curtis,'This is one of those friendly,casual,neighbourhood cafes that every suburb should have-a big space scattered with tables and chairs of all sizes,including a large communal table.There are books and newspapers to read and shelves of gourmet food to browse through as you enjoy this popular breakfast spot.'
Age Good Food Guide 2004 14/20
Herald Sun, citystyle, 2/12/03,Michele Curtis
Vogue Entertaining & Traveller March April 2003
The Age, Sunday Life, 9/11/03, John Lethlean
The Sunday Age, Sunday Life, Eat Streets, 4/5/03, John Lethlean
Herald Sun, citystyle, Shared Experiences, 25/3/03, Michael Harden
The Age, Epicure, Unexplored territory, Matt Preston, 15/10/02
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