Calia is a modern Japanese cafe, with affordable dishes created by Michelin star chef Francisco Javier Araya. The cafe is located on the sixth floor of the Lonsdale shopping complex in Melbourne, Australia.
With an attached retail store selling premium local and imported products, and an aromatic coffee bar just outside, Calia is a one-stop spot for all our weekend needs.
We visited on a Sunday in March 2018, after Paradigm. The wait was an hour for 4 people.
With an attached retail store selling premium local and imported products, and an aromatic coffee bar just outside, Calia is a one-stop spot for all our weekend needs.
We visited on a Sunday in March 2018, after Paradigm. The wait was an hour for 4 people.
DRINKS
This was their matcha latte. We loved the presentation! In our opinion, this was one of the first cafes to execute latte art well. The extra creativity placed into the cup really boosted their service. They didn’t overdo it on the matcha powder too, something many cafes do. And the coffee was smooth as it went down.
FOOD
I ordered the sukiyaki bowl, with wagyu slices and a 63° egg. I’m a sucker for onsen eggs. I found it had a runny consistency while still retained its shape in this beautiful bowl. The wagyu was thinly sliced, dry and flavourful with the shichimi togarashi. The mirin sauce was really good with the rice.
Mick ordered the crispy roast pork bowl, made of St Bernard’s free-range crispy roast and a 63° egg. The pork was soft and rich with flavour, it just melted in our mouths. The skin had a nice, saucy crunch. Again, onsen egg was perfect with cold, runny consistency. Everything paired well with the rice.
SERVICE
The service was on point for such a busy Sunday. All our dishes arrived in a timely manner. The staff checked on us if we needed anything. They were friendly, despite the crowded vicinity 😊.
REVIEW
We had a great time at Calia. We were aware it would be very crowded if we went during peak hours (weekend brunch times) but we were not fussed about waiting. If it weren’t for personal clashing reasons, we would have gone back a few more times but alas, we have our loyalties.
We’re hoping we can visit again soon.
Happy eating!
We’re hoping we can visit again soon.
Happy eating!
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