Oliver's

Mietta's Eating & Drinking in Melbourne 2000

Contributors' Choice
Page 164

If ever a café reflected the personality of its owner it's this one with the squeaky clean pine tables and bright red and white decor echoing the colours of the Swiss flag. There's even a mini flag as the dot over the 'i' in the logo. Oliver Altermatt's friends have flocked to support him and help out since he put out his red sign and parked his red pick-up truck near Mizuzu's, opposite Albert Park primary school at the end of February. He is an enthusiast who designed and built the fittings for the café and is passionate about healthy food or, as he calls it, cuisine de coeur. His food is based on the traditional food of his land of birth with reduced use of fat, oil or cream. He advocates non-stick frying pans and poaching in stock. He is happy to tell his customers all this and more both over the counter or in his cooking classes. His food is fastidiously fresh - he prefers to cater for a smaller group of people and cook small amounts at a time.

There are tables outside and benches inside for people watching in Victoria Avenue or magazine browsing. Newspapers are stacked tidly, there's a basket of children's toys and the shelves are stocked with quality cooking products. Weekend breakfasts are busy, plus lunches and there's a devoted takeaway clientele.

19 Victoria Avenue
Albert Park
Swiss Cuisine
Melways reference 2J:K7
Phone: 9682 1820
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm
BYO
Accepts credit cards
Seats Inside: 20, Outside:10
Closed: Christmas Day
Features: Restricted smoking, kids encouraged
Favourites: Bircher muesli $5.50, Eggs benedict $7.50, Swiss chicken with rice $6