Bawa

Grabbed a quick brekky to go here on the weekend. The place was packed but it didn’t take too long to get my take away coffee, which was very nice. I had a problem with the bircher though. It was claggy and flavourless (ok you might argue that bircher always is like that, but seriously, this was bad). It had some yoghurt or something of that ilk on top, but this was also completely bland so not sure exactly. The food here always looks great but they dropped the ball with this dish.

Delicious breakfast, the device was second to none. Very friendly & fast, ordered a cappuccino & OJ both were beautiful with the OJ being really fresh. The food was really healthy & the prices are really good. Overall had a great breakfast

Absolutely delicious, fresh food. Unique dishes at a reasonable price, with a simplistic Japanese inspired interior. The ocean trout was incredible and would have never thought to mix those flavours together. Staff are lovely and accommodating even during busy times, and with the open kitchen layout, you can see the chefs remaining calm and taking pride in your food.

Had a great meal and a coffee tonic (espresso, tonic, lime) here last week.
Parking can be a struggle with all the hardware, bedding, and baby stores nearby… use the Bunnings carpark.
Food and coffees were out quickly and the staff were accommodating towards my wife who’s currently on crutches.
Panko crusted chicken with an apple slaw was nice but the lamb/​eggs/​potato cake combo was the pick of the two. Price for everything was at your standard brunch mark; $ 16 – 20 for meals.
Will be taking people back in the coming week.
Check it out after you’ve got your home improvement on nearby.

Bawa — a menu that delivers exactly what they say.
I was really looking forward to my visit. I hadn’t read any other reviews previously so I had no idea the pedigree involved in Bawa. My knowledge of Bawa was because I had driven by so I spotted a full and vibing café.
My partner in noms and I went to Bawa late morning but on a stinking hot day. Air con check and staff did not see to phased or frazzled by the heat. There was a short wait but given everybody wanted that sweet cold air that was fine. Shortly after we were seated at the communal table.
The communication between staff seemed to be pretty lack lustre as we ordered coffees and literally a minute later asked if we wanted to order coffees. Not a big deal but would expect a little more on the ball alertness.
Anyway — the menu. Knowing post eats their pedigree it all makes sense. Now. But, looking at the menu and selecting something I actually felt like eating was fairly difficult. I ended up with the pork, eggs hollandise and dried (?) Apple dish with a rosti. Their take on eggs benedict. The pork was lovely and the hollandise with zesty but the rest left me fairly underwhelmed. We waited a very long time (approx 35 mins) for those dishes and what was delivered left us a bit flat. My partner in noms was desperately craving a piece of toast or something extra to go with it.
Apart from that — The coffee got a tick from me. It was a cold filter so an espresso or latte will be tried next time. The vibe in the café was pretty flat but I’m going to put that one down to heat and conserving energy.
Not sure when, but I’ll head back one day when I feel like something a bit more outside the standard norms for my brunch.

My local. These guys know their craft. Bawa uses Dukes Coffee pumped out from a Linea PB, food from talented ex-​Barry/​Three Bags Full teamsters, & service that sings of efficiency. People may complain about waiting, but not me. Unlike some other over-​hyped café openings, Bawa actually hits the mark consistently & delivers on its potential. The café is decked out in beautiful woods, leather-​accented booths, and a huge, suspended false ceiling — lit with opaque-​paneled lighting & plants. A true oasis of calm & café culture on busy Burwood Road. Hat tip to Shri on putting together — & building on such a slick operation!

Whatever dish you pick you just can’t go wrong. The design of the place looks great, the plates of food are little works of art and the staff attentive and smiley. It’s healthy fresh food without being too hipstery.

My favourite part of some of melbourne’s Cafes is that the menu might look pretty standard but what comes out is just art and Bawa and it’s sister Cafes really know how to art the flavour out of food ;)
Coffee. Great!
Food. NOM!
Service. Delightful!
Environment. Clean and plants grow on the ceiling!
I really do recommend Bawa and guess what; the signature California super salad is here as well! And with the option of chicken for those like me that don’t add the tuna!
Enjoy it this café is not one to miss in Hawthorn area.

When will they stop? The team and family behind Barry and previously Touchwood and Pillar of Salt, to name a few, have another new kid on the block. Named after a Sri Lankan architect, Bawa is the latest addition to busy Burwood Road in Hawthorn and brings with it the team’s specialty in creative and innovative food and drink.
Bawa takes prime ground floor position in a freshly redeveloped office building and the fit out had taken full advantage of being able to start from new. Their namesake, Geoffrey Bawa, is known for his design mantra stemming from tropical modernism which revolves around bringing the outdoors inside. The café upholds these principles with its scattering of plants throughout the interior and a centrepiece hanging garden built atop the lighting fixtures. Elements of dark timber furnishings, barn-​style rolling glass panels around the kitchen, tiled bar, white walls and surprisingly comfortable wireframe chairs all add to the clean, modern but natural atmosphere.
Seating is a mixture of small tables, raised booth-​style tables overlooking the street and a handful of outside tables in the building forecourt.
If you’ve been to Barry or any of the team’s other ventures, the left-​field food menu should come as no surprise. Black quinoa porridge, chilli scrambled eggs, ricotta pancakes with lavender custard, the list goes on. Barry’s infamous Californian Superfood Salad also makes an appearance.
The pressed lamb shoulder with purple cabbage purée, cauliflower tabbouleh, barberries, pine nuts and harissa was the choice for this visit. Not knowing what to the expect, the juicy, tender lamb pressed into a rosti-​like rectangle combined well with the creamy cabbage purée and the tabbouleh, barberries and harissa providing a nice flavour kick.
The drinks menu is equally creative with two smoothies being the highlights; banana, peanut butter, cacao nibs, honey and almond milk or spinach, kale, green apple, chia, flax and coconut water. Coffee is a blend from Dukes and a guest single origin with choices of espresso or batch brew filter. The «Black Tonic» is the interesting mixture of espresso, tonic water and lime. There is also a range of teas, cold pressed juices and kombucha on offer.
Service was excellent apart from a few of the usual, minor, opening week teething issues which are to be expected.