Fifteen Pounds

Overview

Fairfield can sometimes feel like a sleepy little town, but it is certainly not starved for good coffee. Fifteen Pounds on Railway Place right next to Fairfield station, is serving up good food and great coffee, as well as providing tired workers on their morning commute with their caffeine fix. White tiles, wooden seating and a charming little courtyard — complete with lemon tree — make you feel at home at once. The crowds that are often circulating waiting for a table, however, may not.

They are serious about their coffee here — as all good Melbourne cafes should be.  Campos coffee is served up for your regular order, and single origin and pour over round off the coffee offering.

The menu dishes up some great Melbourne brunch favourites. The Fifteen Pounds Breakfast Board ($15) is one for those unable to decide on just one breakfast. Some house-made fruit and nut granola sits next to seasonal fruit salad and multi-grain toast with avocado and feta smash. It really is all the good bits. For something a little heartier try The Greek, a mix of house-cut potatoes, scrambled eggs and house-brined feta on organic toast ($14.50).

The lunch menu sticks to salads, rolls and a handful of larger items. The calamari with chilli caramel and Asian herb salad ($18) offers a lighter option, while the Wagyu beef burger with gruyere cheese, caramelised onion, lettuce, tomato and relish with hand cut chips ($19.50) is hard to go by.

The cabinet holds the keys to the sweets like macarons, mini cupcakes and rotating muffins, which are moist and topped with the likes of blueberries and passionfruit syrup. At Fifteen Pounds, dessert is always a good idea.

Fairfield may be a slow-moving suburb, but, just like the rest of Melbourne, it survives on seriously good brunch.