Esca Food & Wine

Ph: (03) 9853 6587; 234 High St, KEW 3101

Australian Modern, $
Open mon-sat 7.30am-4.30pm; Licensed; AE MC V EFT, Seats inside 34, Outside seats 8, Kids welcomed

Mietta's Review
A smart, clean-cut cafe with grey bagged walls and a black banquette down the left-hand side. Dark, simple wooden bistro-style chairs and tables. it's a place that suits all types (as long as they're from Kew). Small neat menu and wine list - a place for breakfast, lunch and, of course, coffee. It also does take away and catering.

Other published opinions

The Age Cheap Eats 2007 "Chic Esca fits most people's bill. Women air-kiss and squeeze onto the leather banquette, families gather around dark-wood tables and dig into their big breakfasts, while others swing past for raspberry and white-choc muffins to go."

The Age Cheap Eats 2006

Herald Sun Cafe Culture Donna Coutts 19/7/05 score 17/20 "Well, hallelujah. Here's one that fits the great-cafe bill and it's in daggy old Kew, to boot. Esca is threatening to make it on to my current shortlist of favourites. I'm annoyed I haven't tried it earlier despite hearing good things about it when it opened and after it changed owners recently."

Cheap Eats 2005 "THIS pleasant little cafe in the heart of Kew's shopping strip is perfectly placed for a break from browsing. Management changed hands recently, but esca remains high up the area's food chain."

Cheap Eats 2004 "MONDAY to Friday, well-coiffed Kew ladies make a beeline for the banquettes and dark-wood tables at this High Street haven. They may go lightly by ordering soups and caesars, or throw Atkins to the wind"