Gallery One Carindale

I’m fond of this place. The mood and the decorations are nice. I’ve always had friendly waiters. Their kitchen is huge. Cakes are pretty but we rarely have room as we like to go there for lunch. The only thing I’ve had there I didn’t like was a squid ink pasta that was all stuck together and I had to cut it into cubes. LOL. They have a coffee loyalty card, tenth one free, and you can use it at any of their four shops.

Gallery One Carindale is the new spruced up version of the former Gallery Café. When I was much younger my mother would always take us here for a cold drink and a cupcake to give our legs a rest during long shopping trips — consequently, I have always had positive memories of this wonderful place.
However, I have noticed a significant drop in the level of service and the food quality in the past few years. In fact, the last time I visited this formerly wonderful little café I was gifted with an incredibly bad batch of food poisioning. I have a very strong stomach (in fact I can handle almost anything) so when I get food poisoning you know there is something seriously wrong with the food.
I am very hesitant to go back as I know the same chef is still working there and I have serious doubts about the cleanliness and hygeine of the café these days due to that experience. It is disappointing as I have such fond memories of the café — but I don’t plan to hug the toilet again anytime soon if I can help it.

31/​01/​2013 — «La Dolce Vita»
Something happened to Westfield Carindale in the last 12 months. Not only did the entire shopping centre get a «makeover» (like some of the Geeks on Channel Seven’s «Beauty & the Geek»), but the the dining scene within the shopping centre has also experienced a renaissance of sorts, with new restaurants, cafes popping up, offering flavours that the United Nations would be proud of. Greek, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Japanese, you name it.
So it was with great pleasure to visit Gallery One at Westfield Carindale, (which only opened in November 2012) to experience «Italian contemporary cuisine». Located near the mall entrance to Myer, Gallery One is a strikingly beautiful café. If Gallery One were a person, she would be Monica Belluci in the movie Malena (the scene where she walks through town, as all eyes follow her).
Stepping inside, everything just looks like a very slick fit-​out indeed. Suave Black. Several hexagonal shaped light fixtures which hang low near the centre of the café, over the rectangular black tables, and underneath, gold seating stools with a happy face. Yep, a happy looking face! One side of the café, Black leather dining booths, behind it a gold feature wall (of intricate looking miniature tiles & flower-​like pattern — the Gallery One logo) Above the booths hang a contemporary light fixture, what looks like a big diamond with a shade of purple. There’s also shiny black chairs at the tables that have an interesting «behind». It literally is in the shape of someone’s behind! I didn’t really notice until much later. Then there’s the Bar, which also doubles as a breakfast bar, with a long display pastry cabinet running end to end, showing off freshly baked cakes and pastries tempting all who lay eyes on them. An Italian «pasticceria» to go, or for enjoying with their own house coffee of 8 different blends. We would definitely have some of that sweet goodness later.
Since it was breakfast we ordered the coffee to start, enjoying the delicate brew which wasn’t bad at all, then ordering the 3 Cheese Omelette, sauteed potato and onions and spinach with a side of bacon on Sourdough. My friend ordered the Eggs Benedict, Country style ham, poached egg, spinach and hollandaise Bagel. Being such a «fancy» café, the prices do reflect the surrounds. Our order was $ 17.50 and $ 20.50 respectively. The 3 cheese omelette arrived in a clay pot on a wooden board. How rustic! The Bagel was also presented nicely, and before we knew it, we were munching down, quiet, enjoying the moment. Both breakfasts were delicious, but in all honesty, perhaps the Bagel (eggs benedict) is a tad too pricey for the size offering ($ 20.50). The Pasticceria was too good to pass up, and we promptly ordered (to share) a mini strawberry cupcake. Absolutely hit the sweet spot! It was that good, I decided to take away a beautiful mudcake and almond croissant, packed nicely in a cake box.
Service was excellent throughout, from the moment we stepped in until we left. Steve, the manager was attentive and very friendly. Gallery One is an amazing addition to Westfield providing the public with even more gastronomic options. The atmosphere was relaxed and the café is a perfect spot for catching up with friends, inside or outside (as there are additional seating options outside the Café).Whether to sip a coffee, enjoy a breakfast, or sampling the delightful pastries, and cupcakes, for a taste of La Dolce Vita.

Nice atmosphere for a shopping center café. Friendly staff. I ordered the mushroom crochets. The crochets them selves were average at best, the meal not helped by the spinach and sliced mushroom that was simply bland. The toast was burnt on one end. Of the 2 poached eggs one came out hard and the other soft, there was also a bit of shell included. Quality mushroom and portion size also left me wondering how the justified their pricing. High end café prices for chain store-​quality food.

Busy café. Good coffee (black). Friendly staff and nice ambience. Not too noisy even though busy.
No free wifi but shopping centre has free wifi, Amex, visa, mastercard accepted.