Rhythm - CLOSED

Overview

This little waffle house is a great place to find some tranquillity in the inner suburbs, while eating all sorts of waffle-based treats. We'd particularly recommend Rhythm Coffee for some ultra-guilty indulgence on a sunny day.

Most items on the menu include or are based on waffles, with the same sweet waffle batter being used for all the dishes. While this makes Rhythm a decidedly bad option for anyone looking to avoid sugar, it also makes for some surprisingly delicious dishes. Our favourite was the waffle burger ($17.50): Two quarters of waffle around a beef patty with bacon, salad, pineapple and chutney, served with shoestring fries. This dish is decadence personified as the fatty, salty flavours of the beef and the bacon play off the sweetness of the pineapple, chutney and the waffle. Thankfully they've put some salad in there so that we can pretend that there is some health-value to eating this dish. The menu also includes all the usual breakfast & brunch dishes, incorporating waffles wherever possible, and a huge range of sweet waffles.

The drinks menu keeps the indulgence going with a long list of weird and wonderful Frappé flavours ($6), T2 teas ($4) and a huge range of Monin syrups to sugar up your coffee with. Our favourite was the plain old chocolate Frappé which was rich, thick and not too over-the-top sweet. However, for those with an adventurous sweet tooth you might be interested to know that they also have flavours like mint chocolate and caramel de leche.

This is definitely a family restaurant, the menu looks a bit like a children's book and the ambiance is quiet and mellow, with soft piano playing in the background. The service was accommodating but a little laboured, partially due to the language barrier we had with the waitress. We'd recommend going on a sunny day and finding a seat outside as the courtyard area is lovely - being in the heart of the beautiful and quaint Parnell village - while the interior is a little sterile.

The hours that Rhythm keep are more like a restaurant than a cafe with late (10 or 11am) starts, and late nights (normally 10pm). This makes it a good spot for dinner or just dessert, although you'll want to wrap up warm if going after dark as the outdoor seating area is what makes the ambiance of this waffle house special.