Saturday, April 08, 2006

Coffee Pot Café – Werribee – Modern Australian

Shop 1/70 Watton Street
03 9741 4141

If you’re travelling to or through Werribee, you are unlikely to go hungry. In the last few years, Werribee's Shopping Strip on Watton Street, has successfully re-invented itself. A welcome benefit of the revamp, is the choice between old favourites, such as the belly warming Golden Grill Turkish Restaurant on Station Street and their newer upbeat neighbours.

Winning the New and Emerging Small Business Award in 2005, Coffee Pot Café epitomises the new, fresh voice of Werribee. The décor is modern and the dishes are beautifully presented. My reason for liking the place is not so much for the food as the fact that unlike its neighbours, it offers you the choice to eat your meal on a balcony overlooking Werribee River.

The food is wholesome and generous. For chatting with mates, there are tasting plates and platters of dips. Otherwise, you’ll find a nice variety of focaccias, stir fries, salads and your average pub style meals, like chicken parma and fishermen’s basket. You can get a main for about $15.00.

The Cajun Chicken Salad I had was fresh and tasty although I wasn’t wowed by it. My mother’s Chicken Parmigiana was massive so Mum started off by tutt tutting, 'Oh I don't know how I'm going to eat all of that' afterwhich she promptly demolished the dish. While my mind was still on the food, Mum gestured toward a couple across from us. ‘Those two don’t belong to each other’, she said (in Dutch, thankfully). I’m obviously not the only one who thinks of this is a cosy place to escape.

The service was speedy although in my experience I wouldn’t say it was particularly child friendly. Child size meals are not offered and having asked for one, I was met with lemons.

Having said that, our tastebuds were won over by coffee that is both smooth and aromatic, guaranteeing my bottom at their tables in the future. Come to think of it - the name of the establishment was probably what drew my attention in the first place.

9 comments:

Mel said...

My parents live in Hoppers Crossing, which is next to Werribee - so I was quite surprised to find a review on a place in Werribee, since they pretty much bag the heck out of eateries in that part of the world. My favorite place to get takeaway in Werribee would be Charcoal Chicken at Hogans Corner - the best! And Master Wok does good Aussie/Chinese, standard dumb-down fare but acceptable.
Husky, keep up the good work with reviews from places I thought were dead cuisine wise.

Husky Nutmeg said...

Thanks Mel, Werribee is worth revisiting. It has shouldered a lot of flack over the years so it's nice to see it changing for the better.

One of my first dates was at Master Wok - that was two decades ago! That's the way I remember it too so I guess some things haven't changed.

GS said...

If you are going for a daytrip to Werribee, try and catch the sculpture exhibition in the grounds of the Mansion, which finishes at the end of the month.

Husky Nutmeg said...

Perfect. I wanted a spot down that way for a picnic. Thanks for that AOF.

sublime-ation said...

Oh! A Dutchy! Can you do a review of the Dutch Day Festival? I used to work with all Dutch people (they used to call themselves 'clog wogs', how funny is that?) and they'd bring me their leftovers...I remember croquettes, lots and lots of croquettes...yummm....

Husky Nutmeg said...

I feel like a pitiful clog wog because I don't know about the Dutch Day Festival. Please enlighten me.

sublime-ation said...

It's basically an excuse to eat lots of Dutch food...will find out from my Dutch friends and let you know.

Husky Nutmeg said...

Thanks Sublim-ation. I'll stand in waiting (clogs under arm, spoons at the ready for the dancing)!

From the lion's mouth said...

Mmmmm... Poffertjes... someone bring me some poffertjes!