#cafeinmelbourne

Located on the corner block of an outdoor shopping mall, Froth & Grinds joins an array of retail, cafe and restaurant storefronts aiming to attract Rowville locals to this relatively quiet suburban area. Overwhelmingly humble in its ambience, this only enhances the laid back appeal that customers experience (and appreciate) when dining at Froth & Grinds.

Rustic wooden furnishings make up a lot of their intriguing decor, which has an old-world farmhouse feel, complimented by beautifully simple (albeit, fake) pot plants sitting on the end of each table. Not just welcoming to humans, this dog-friendly cafe also stocks doggie treats, and has an outdoor playhouse and seating area for owners and their pets to enjoy.

If you’re interested in the non-canine variety of offerings, a selection of freshly made sandwiches, foccacias and sweet treats line the glass cabinet at the front counter, alongside an impressively shiny Synesso coffee machine, which is churning out Single Origin beans from Costa Rica on the day of my visit.

Coffee is supplied by Di Bella, exhibiting a fine balance of flavour and creaminess that appeal to some coffee lovers. The Spicy Chai Latte is also satisfyingly sweet, balanced out by the spices used in their powdered chai. The choice between a glass and a mug for their hot drinks is very thoughtful, however the extra charge of $0.70 for milk options other than regular milk could be considered a little steep.

Spicy Chai Latte (mug) ($5.00) Soy Latte (cup) ($3.80 + 0.70 for soy milk)

The all-day breakfast menu covers the usual variety of Melbourne breakfast/brunch dishes, ranging from a simple granola, to the classic smashed avocado, and the hunger-taming big breakfast. For something in between, the Mexican Breakfast arrives on a lightly toasted, open tortilla wrap, with a filling comprised of chilli scrambled eggs, sauteed onions, red peppers, tomato, zucchini, corn, chorizo, guacomole, hot sauce and sour cream. A subtle kick of spice throughout this dish adds an exciting component, as does the extremely generous serving.

Presenting beautifully on the plate, its open presentation does make it a tad difficult for the customer to eat it as a whole wrap without having the fillings spilling out of the sides. But, it depends on whether the customer appreciates presentation over convenience, or vice versa!

Mexican Breakfast ($19.00) + added Hash Browns ($3.00), Mushrooms ($4.00)

For something to eat a bit later in the day, healthy options include a Veg and Quinoa Salad and Grilled Chicken Salad, whilst Fried Squid and burgers offer a touch of naughtiness to the menu. Recommended by one of the wait staff, the Lamb Sliders arrive in a serving of two, each filled with a marinated lamb patty, mint yoghurt and romesco sauce, 3C spices, lettuce and red onion, sitting inside lightly toasted brioche buns. Tasty and satisfying, the accompaniment of crunchy, well-seasoned chips and tomato sauce is certainly enjoyable. A sufficiently filling meal, the price tag is potentially a little high given that sliders are often considered as a ‘smaller’ meal option.

Lamb Sliders ($19.00)

Although a tad far to travel for those in the inner urban suburbs, Rowville locals are lucky to have Froth & Grinds cater to their daily cafe needs. Friendly service is paired with a comfortably relaxing atmosphere, good coffee and tasty food that is sure to fix your hunger pangs after doing some grocery shopping in the adjacent supermarkets, or when seeking a place to catch up with friends.

Note: I dined as a guest of Froth & Grinds. Thank you to the the manager and staff for their generous hospitality throughout our experience.

Froth & Grinds 1100 Wellington Road Rowville, VIC 3178 Ph: (03) 9755 7964 Hours: Mon-Fri 6am-4:30pm, Sat-Sun 7am-4:30pm.