Serotonin Eatery

I love Serotonin Eatery. Love love love. It’s a combination of the plant-​based menu, good coffee, awesome soy chai lattes and happy smiling staff when I stick my head in. And I am there quite a bit.
It’s one of the few places in Melbourne you can get health retreat quality food with a lot of vegetables. Yes it is a little on the expensive side, but I am willing to pay more for good quality local produce. I consider it to be an investment in my health and wellbeing.
I like the way they have combined the concept of the Serotonin Eatery with education and exercise. They have a gym next door and also run regular health, wellbeing and networking events. I’ve met the owners and I love their vision of what they are trying to create to not only improve the happiness levels of patrons but also create a community hub for locals.
When I am here, I nearly always get the Nutrition Bomb. It’s a giant bowl of cold roasted root veggies, kraut, spinach, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, capsicum, alfalfa, almonds, sesame seeds, home-​made hummus and two poached eggs. It’s all the vegetables you need for the day with some protein — throw in a golden latte with its anti-​inflammatory tumeric and ginger and you have a healthy start or nurturing lunch break for the day.
Highly highly highly recommend this place. They are apparently opening for dinners soon — meet you there?

I found it really hard to like this place. I found it hard to pay a minimum of $ 22 for something that I already eat daily.
I found Serotonin to be wanky, overpriced and weirdly cult like.
With dishes like deconstructed sushi and over used adjectives on the menu that want to make you (and I did) go ‘WTF’?
They are clearly aiming at the current happy, healthy and wholesome vibe going around but the menu has no staying power. Especially with the prices they ask of you. $ 10 for a coconut with a shot of espresso. Golden latte — I make this all the time at home and mine tastes better.
Won’t be back.

Here’s the thing about this place it’s based on the mantra of being «happiness/​serotonin dealers» my experience here didn’t make me happy.
I felt the whole place was a «little high on its own supply» maybe that’s because all the staff and people frequenting this place subscribe to happiness/​whole food/​paleo theory.
I like good food, I love individuality & I adore fair prices. I didn’t experience much of these here. White walls, standard potted succulents, they serve water in science beakers, which I guess is their way of being edgy. The menu was very expensive. $ 10 for a young coconut served with a short black on the side didn’t sit well with me. I do understand that ethically sourcing products and ingredients is expensive but this was excessive.
We didn’t eat here. I couldn’t justify it to be honest. I had the «golden latte». It was suppose to be tumeric milk but it just tasted like black pepper.
The thing I found to be confusing is the way the menu reads like a whole food, health conscious eatery, yet it has a scientific attitude. I understand there is a science to happiness as there is every emotion but when you are serving breakfasts and light meals I’m unsure how you can educate people over eggs.
The venue is busy. Very busy yet it’s aim it to create a hub for the community. In sure they will be successful because let’s face it the health movement is well underway but I eat healthy most meals so I won’t be returning to this place, I’ll be staying at home and making my own meals for the the week for the price brunch would cost me here.

Awesome vibe the staff are so happy and helpful with the menu great selection of food hot drinks and juices I had the nutrition bomb and golden latte very good will definitely be coming back !

Melbournians Listen Up!!! There’s a new kid on the café block — and she’s kicking the biggest, most delicious, most exciting goals!!! Serotonin Eatery — «the science of making you happy». This is exactly what they are conquering here — happiness. Simple, balanced, nutritious, delicious food presented to perfection and with so much love. How could you not feel the warm fuzzy happiness vibes here? Whether you’re sitting at the bright window-​side tables, the big communals, or — every big kid’s favourite — the swinging chairs (!!! I know — swinging chairs!!!), you’ll be filled up to the brim with soul-​refreshing goodness. Every dish has all the colours of the rainbow designed into it, so your eyes as well as your stomach, bones, heart and mind are stimulated and completely satisfied. There’s milk for everyone — cows, almond, coconut. Your every dietary need is catered for and respected. Make sure you try one of the incredible raw desserts by Nutrition Darling before you leave.
Can you tell I’m a fan?! Considering how many adjectives I’ve managed to fit into this review, it’s safe to say Serotonin is my new FAVOURITE café and go-​to-​happy-​place in our beautiful city. Just go. You won’t be disappointed.

Brunch here with my mum on Mother’s Day went down well.
It was busy when we arrived, but we were seated quickly.
Food was lovely, service was good, however when I went to pay I had no idea where or who to pay. I think it was because they were quite busy.
Unfortunately they do not do filter coffee yet, however my mum loved the latte.
Will be back again, if only to sit on the swings and have a juice!