Replete Providore Café in Hawthorn

I would like to be known one of those ladies who lunch – I really do. It’s one of my greatest fantasies. Replete Providore, it seems, is totally the place for the ladies from leafy Eastern suburbs who lunch. And I discovered that by accident.

(inside Replete after the late lunch crowd left)

Josh and I rocked up there due to the Age Cheap Eats recommendation. Cheap Eats. Ladies who lunch? Who would have thought? But that’s where we were there one Thursday around 1.30pm.

The place was absolutely packed! We were very surprised because it wasn’t anywhere near a popular strip. It literally stood on its own near mostly residential areas and schools. But we did score the last little table. An oh-so-cute waiter (‘he-was-oh-so-cute-I-stayed-for-dessert’ cute) gave us menu to ponder (for quite a while). They served breakfast dishes well into the afternoon (this is what I love about Melbourne café) but I decided I wanted a lunch dish.

(Genovese Chickpea Faritana – $15.00)

I ordered (and I wrote this down because the name totally didn’t make sense to me) Genovese Chickpea Faritana ($15.00). It was basically savoury pancake made with chickpea flour (and other things) topped with sautéed zucchini (with rosemary and garlic, I liked it so much I came home and tried to replicate it), prociutto, parmasan and rocket leaves.

(a bite of my lovely pancake)

It was very yummy. I was very hungry! Our food did take a while, but then again, the place was packed.

(Deep Dish Pie – Chicken, Spinach and Pesto – $15.00)

Josh decided on the Deep Dish Pie – Chicken, Spinach and Pesto ($15.00) which came with side salad (which was a bit overdressed and oily) and some sort of tomato chutney (‘yeah it’s nice’).

(inside the pie)

Because my lunch wasn’t so big and I hadn’t had breakfast, I decided that I could do with a bit of cake and coffee (that, and the waiter was oh-so-cute. I really should stop talking about the cute waiter. Josh did spend two hours listening to me gushing over the cute waiter. I think that may be the end of his tolerance). The dessert choices were mostly slices and only two types cakes – orange flourless and chocolate and coffee torte. Josh detests anything coffee so we went for flourless orange.

(caffè latte and orange flourless cake – $8.00)

I have to admit I was quite confused about the pricing. The menu said the cake was $4.00 and 50 cents for cream or yoghurt. We weren’t asked if we wanted any cream or yoghurt on the side but it was served with cream anyway. I didn’t know how much the coffee was. But it was either $4.00 for the coffee (steep by Melbourne standard? or maybe I have been away too long and things have gone up since) or we were charged 50 cents for the cream we didn’t ask for.

(flourless orange cake with cream)

Either way, the cake was delicious and the coffee was fantastic! It was my first cup of coffee since I came back to Melbourne and boy do I miss good Melbourne coffee! Most of all, have I missed the whole relaxing Melbourne cafe vibe.

I did feel like a lady who lunches, even though I went with my husband. Close enough. Mission accomplished.

Replete Providore, 302 Barkers Rd., Hawthorn