Gas is found just off South Melbourne's main drag. Slip down Coventry Street — past the bookstores, paper stores and boutiques, and you’ll find it. After 10 years of business, it's one of those places you can depend on for good quality breakfast and lunch, seven days a week. Born from a need to step out from behind their mother's food store and do something on their own, sisters Nicole, Kate and Samantha Maskiell manage the eatery's family charm and bustling atmosphere quite nicely.

During summer, Gas salads are talked about and replicated across South Melbourne — think couscous, feta, beans, eggplant, almonds, raisins. But, come the winter months, it's their soups that keep people warm. Forget the days of boring soups your mum used to make you eat, at Gas they've taken a few oldies and made them good again, as well as bringing some new choices to the table.

Roasted pumpkin soup is served with leek, sage and pancetta, topped with a chive and ricotta dumpling ($11 eat in or $8 take away). For something a little heartier try the Beef shin soup with spelt, topped with gremolata ($11 eat in or $8 take away) or the potato, leek and cauliflower topped with ham ($11 eat in or $8 take away). Or, for quinoa fans, there is the chickpea, tomato and quinoa soup with salsa verde soldiers ($11 eat in or $8 take away), and soups also come in a bucket now — yes, a bucket (2-3 people $15; 4-5 people $30). If you're not feeling like a bowl of the hot stuff, there are other meals that will tempt you, including kofta balls, baked meatballs, and mouth-watering savoury pastries.

Breakfast time is not forgotten. For those looking for a savoury hit, the bubble and squeak is not like the one you've had at home. Crisp potato is cooked with corn, bacon, thyme and spinach, mixed with scrambled eggs served with Dench multigrain toast ($16), and the exotic the middle eastern eggs is a mix of tomato, eggs, haloumi and paprika served with Turkish bread ($16.50). Sweet lovers can also get excited with the salted caramel and banana porridge ($12.50) and a Vovo French Toast ($15), an incredible take on the Iced Vovo biscuit — think marshmallows and raspberry jam nestled between brioche French toast (we die).

Serving up a wholesome breakfast and lunch, Gas isn't loud — without shouting in your face it's unassuming and lovely.