Cafe d'Orsay

Mietta's Eating & Drinking in Melbourne 2000

Contributors' Choice
Page 90

A cosy and welcoming cafe on Collins St, good for those alone or just two for a sit down or a quick coffee. It is used quite a lot by business people at lunch too. They don't seem to sit long enough to need toilets, there are none at the cafe but very close by are those at the Town Hall down the road. The cafe itself is tiny - seating inside is tight for 30 - but the stools looking onto Collins Street are great for seeing and being seen. Pleasant and relaxed professional staff. The small wine list is carefully chosen with a good selection of wines by the glass. Owner Kenneth Meere has a long history of inner-city establishments, he was behind The Metropolitan and Punch Lane. He has a good sense of what city residents and workers need. He prides himself on a small but quality selection of products and believes that his clientele appreciate this, they are "an aware and well-informed crowd after a boutique environment". The regulars have "good cafe and wine knowledge." Bit of a mutual admiration society going here and why not. Couldn't think of a better place for it to happen than in Collins Street.

184 Collins Street
Melbourne
Melways reference 1B:P7
Phone: 9654 6498
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7.30am-late, Sat-Sun 9am-late
Licensed
Accepts credit cards
Seats Inside: 30, Outside: 10
Closed: Most public holidays
Features: No smoking
Favourites: Linguine with prawns, scallops and mussels, Roma tomatoes, garlis and parsley $16.50, Pea & duck risotto $15.50, Eye fillet with mashed pototo $18.50 (great cut of beef)