Cote Terra

Overview

There's not a souvlaki in sight at this Oakleigh eatery, which is a pretty rare occurrence — the area is generally dry of non-Greek eating options. Instead, Cote Terra is a beautiful café, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the southeastern suburb's Eaton Mall.

The establishment serves breakfast all day, with dishes coming in the form of chia and quinoa pudding with stewed apples ($12), and the hearty twice-cooked French toast with peanut butter mousse ($17). Not savoury enough? Then maybe the roasted button mushrooms with goats' curd, radish, dukkah and poached eggs on sourdough will satisfy you ($16).

If you make it in time for lunch, you'll discover things such as a soft-shell crab burger with chips ($17) among other sandwiches and salads. And before you ask, serving sizes are generous here, so don't even think about having a bite beforehand — you'll regret it.

As for coffee, the cafe serves pour overs of Proud Mary beans and also does a filter coffee using the AeroPress. If you've exceeded your caffeine count for the day, alternatives include Prana Chai, Dutch cocoa, juices and milkshakes. The cafe is also (surprisingly) licensed, serving beers and wines from both Europe and Australia.

With a pared back fit-out — including cosy banquettes and warm lighting — and a relaxed vibe, Cote Terra lets the food speak for itself. On a beautiful day, you may want to relocate to the courtyard out back. It's also a stone's throw away from Oakleigh station, making it a prime option for a pre-commute meal or takeaway coffee.

One thing to note before visiting though — the kitchen closes one hour before closing each day. So make sure you leave enough time to order. You don't want to be stuck with sub-par souvlaki.