Earthbound Bolton Cafe, Eltham – Review

Earthbound Bolton Cafe– The Overview…

Food: Turkish Eggs, Blueberry Hot Cake, Tabbouleh and Falafel Salad

Ratings:

Food: 4.5/5
Atmosphere: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Value: 4.5/5

The details…

The rustic dark wood tables and real log fire managed to make this externally modern unit feel ageless and homely. There’s an eclectic mix of tables, catering to both large and small groups. I had to actually clarify they were newly opened as the only thing giving it away is the slightly newness of the signage out front. Staff are prompt and professional, confident with the menu and eager to help. The food was plated beautifully – and honestly you’d think this place had been around for years! We’re so glad the AGFG invited us to check them out. 

We sampled the Turkish eggs and the hot cake from the breakfast menu, and then tabbouleh and falafel salad from the lunch menu, alongside a soy latte from Wild Timor Coffee. Co-owner and chef Luke has headed up many top restaurants in Melbourne over his lengthy career and has clear ideas about the direction he wants to take his first solo venture. Everything, down to the sherbet on the hot cakes is made from scratch, on site. There’s a desire to create something here: a great menu, a business doing things for the right reasons and an evolving community hub. 

“Wholesome, sustainable, ethical” doesn’t just exist as a tag line. The wild Timor coffee gives back to their local community – funding school initiatives and maternity facilities for new mums. Every little detail in this cafe is built to be sustainable, from the hand wash in the bathrooms to the fully compostable take away coffee cups. There’s art on the wall from local artists and even a collection of books that can be taken home for a donation which goes to support a local asylum seekers charity. 

Now, onto the food! It’s not often I find a dish on a menu that makes me really excited to try anymore, but the Turkish eggs did just that. Featuring creamy feta and toasted capsicum with a beetroot hummus on the side, they perfectly combined a range of Middle Eastern flavours to showcase a different side to scrambled eggs. 

The falafel and tabouli salad sounded yummy, yet a little simple and I was concerned on ordering this that I’d set this recently opened venue up to fail as this dish didn’t lend itself to looking nice and there wasn’t much to hide behind! Fortunately, it came out looking stunning. The large crispy falafel were very filling and had just a soft subtle Middle Eastern spice running through them. The salad was crisp and fresh. I’d be excited to see what they do with their other, more complex salads if they’re making something this great with so few elements.

Finally we ended with the blueberry hot cake. The soft fluffy hot cake came well punctuated with blueberries but the real element that makes this dish stand out is the orange sherbet. Dusted largely around the sides of the hot cake, make sure you take the time to dip each bite to add a sharp freshness you won’t experience anywhere else. For an element of the dish that I dismissed as a footnote, it’s the thing that makes this dish go from great to wow! 

Everything else…

Website: https://www.facebook.com/earthboundbolton/

Address: Unit 5, 266 Bolton Street, Eltham, Melbourne

Opening Times: 

Mon         8am to 4:30pm
Tue          8am to 4:30pm
Wed         8am to 4:30pm
Thu         8am to 4:30pm
Fri           8am to 4:30pm
Sat           8am to 3pm
Sun          8am to 3pm

Parking:  Situated in a modern shopping precinct there’s a car park right out front with plenty of spaces.

Getting here on PT: If you’re local it’s about a 5 minutes walk from the 902 or 513 buses drop off about 5 minutes walk away (Adam Crescent). These buses also pick up from Eltham Station on the Hurstbridge line if you’re coming from a little further away.

Disclaimer: We dined as guests of Earthbound Bolton, Eltham. Reviews are honest and based on our own personal experiences. We cannot guarantee things at a cafe won’t change including, but not limited to, menu items and opening hours, so please confirm any details with the venue before visiting.