I can’t believe I haven’t already reviewed this place, being so close to home it’s one of my go-to brunch spots! Miss Alex is situated on Brighton Road, and does a great all day menu and some yummy cakes. It’s a popular brunch spot, but still manages personalised service and a cosy feel.
Miss Alex is another cafe that utilises its space well. By splitting its eating areas into two rooms, and having a mix of communal and small tables enables them to create a lively atmosphere! The space is well used, and while tables are a little close together, the mix of styles stops it from feeling overcrowded. There is also an outside eating area, but it’s next to the busy road and a pedestrian crossing, so I always avoid it. It gets busy though, so clearly it’s just me being grumpy rather than the traffic being an actual problem. The open counter gives a good feel of space when you enter and although the back room feels slightly smaller the large windows help to keep it bright.
There are two things about Miss Alex which keep me returning: one is the menu and the other is the staff. In my opinion, Miss Alex has one of the best menus of any brunch spot in Melbourne I’ve visited. There’s a range of both savoury and sweet options, and these range from the traditional: eggs your way, to the more adventurous, Chilli Jam Frenchy. The menu doesn’t read like a shopping list though, with 20 items per dish; the majority stick to 4 or 5 key elements, allowing the different flavours to stand out. I’ve sampled so many dishes from here, and what keeps me coming back it that I always feel there’s something different I want to try (and that I’d be equally happy reordering something I’ve had previously). Mr Boring loves it, they do eggs, the bacon is crispy and he gets three cups of tea out of one pot (which take him about an hour to drink)!!
Of everything I’ve tried the caramelised coconut french toast has been my fave! It comes with coconut foam, passion fruit gel and home made marshmallows, all of which are yum! The french toast was light and well caramelised. The roasted tomatoes, which I’ve had on the side of my eggs come a close second. The coffee is great and the latte art is on point, and if you need an extra incentive to go, they sometimes have Bistro Morgan doughnuts too.
On top of this the staff are consistently bright and friendly, and happy to answer questions. Before we began going here for brunch we’d often go for coffee and we’ve been treated the same regardless of what we’ve ordered. Staff take the time to talk to customers and remember little details about them or their order. It’s clear the cafe enjoys good repeat business and I’m not surprised.
All in all if you want good Melbourne brunch food this is the place: an eclectic menu, with lots of veggie options, friendly staff and great coffee – what more could you want?