Cowderoys Dairy

“I’ve just moved almost across the road from this place, and thought I would try it out at 7 am this morning. OMG! I’m in heaven! What a beautiful place and amazing food and coffee right near where I live. Perfect for a big breakfast, lunch, or a coffee and takeaway. I have lots of interesting cakes and cookies too. next to a lovely little park and very child friendly. Highly recommended!”

“This cafe used to serve delicious, fresh food, consistently excellent coffees and have hospitable staff who made you feel at home. It was the go-to for all locals, a meeting place for the community. But under new management it is a complete rip-off, the food is yuk and the place has lost its soul. Expect to pay $22 for stale, cheap white bread and a bit of cheap shredded chicken with a few leaves of spinach, all while dealing with apathetic - bordering on rude - staff who manage to make customers feel like they are an inconvenience just for asking for what they ordered, the correct change…or God forbid, a fork to eat with! They have put the prices up while cutting the quality of ingredients - and serving stale food. I keep going back to give them another chance, thinking they are still finding their groove, but on my latest visit the food was inedible. I never write reviews, but feel compelled to warn other customers not to waste their money. This place used to be the gem of St Kilda West. I’ll now gladly walk to the next suburb over to avoid this place. What a shame. I hope the owners take the feedback many former regulars have shared, and then strive to do better. The only redeeming things are that they have kept the wonderful outdoor spaces, the toilet and the drinks cabinet. This cafe used to serve delicious, fresh food, consistently excellent coffees and have hospitable staff who made you feel at home. It was the go-to for all locals, a meeting place for the community. But under new management it is a complete rip-off, the food is yuk and the place has lost its soul. Expect to pay $22 for stale, cheap white bread and a bit of cheap shredded chicken with a few leaves of spinach, all while dealing with apathetic - bordering on rude - staff who manage to make customers feel like they are an inconvenience just for asking for what they ordered, the correct change…or God forbid, a fork to eat with! They have put the prices up while cutting the quality of ingredients - and serving stale food. I keep going back to give them another chance, thinking they are still finding their groove, but on my latest visit the food was inedible. I never write reviews, but feel compelled to warn other customers not to waste their money. This place used to be the gem of St Kilda West. I’ll now gladly walk to the next suburb over to avoid this place. What a shame. I hope the owners take the feedback many former regulars have shared, and then strive to do better. The only redeeming things are that they have kept the wonderful outdoor spaces, the toilet and the drinks cabinet.”

“This place should be a jewel, but each time we've visited, the staff are apathetic and too cool for school (shout out to the French dude who seemed annoyed to have to clear our table from the previous customers...and then only did half the job.) And then didn't event bother to clear table next door and it stayed like that whole time we were there, and it wasn't particularly busy. Bad management clearly, shame cos should be an awesome spot”

“I knew I'd be visiting on a busy day, at a busy time, with a big group, so I made a reservation at this cute-looking place (which was confirmed). When I arrived at the cafe at my reservation time, as expected, it was swamped, with staff shouting at each other and no one to clear tables or seat new guests. I decided to wait in the ordering line to ask about my table. I was directed to the side and told that someone would be with me soon. After waiting 10 minutes and flagging someone twice, informing them I had a booking, I was finally told to sit wherever was available. Given the busy time, there were no tables available, especially not for a large group. It was only after their EFTPOS machine stopped working that other guests cleared out, and we snagged a table. The coffee was good, and the food that arrived was acceptable. However, not everything arrived. When we asked about the missing items, we were told that the kitchen had forgotten them. Completely understandable, as it was a busy time and the kitchen was under pressure. Our mistake was *assuming* they would either bring out the missing items or automatically issue a refund. They did neither. We had to ask for a refund, which they gave in small change even though they clearly had larger denominations. I understand that cafes are busy on specific days and times, but I take issue with bookings not being honoured, with items we have paid for not being provided, and with not being offered a refund when they cannot provide those items.”