Hello Friends + Allies

Very happy with the cafe and the food. I’ve never ventured into Epsom and this place was a very pleasant surprise. It looks quite small from the street but there’s heaps of seating at the rear. Parking is on the road which is a little bit of a pain but I scored a good park close by. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options. I went with the French toast, one nice thick chunk of white toast with lots of sweet syrup but not soggy. Particularly liked the tamarilo that came with it.

Great service and friendly staff. This cafe is my everyday visit, best coffee in town! They offer a wide range of delectable dishes, from hearty breakfast options to mouthwatering sandwiches and salads for lunch. The ingredients are fresh, and the presentation is impeccable. Their signature dishes are a must-try. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable culinary experience in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re meeting friends, working remotely, or having a kids play date, this café is a true hidden gem that deserves all the praise it receives.

It has always been busy when I tried to come by on a weekend but managed to come by during a weekday and was able to get a table without a wait. The place is fairly large as it seems to back quite a bit, but we just grabbed a table by the window. After getting seated we were given menus and water. The menu was interesting, plenty of really nice sounding foods. I ended up going for the gnocchi with chorizo, although the red velvet pancakes was a really close second. The gnocchi was incredibly light, almost like eating airy mashed potatoes. The creamy sauce with the mushrooms and chorizo was really nice. I also had the hot chocolate but found it needed a bit more sweetness. A friend ordered the fenugreek potatoes with the sausage and that is the reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars. I found the potatoes a bit on the hard side but the flavour was nice. The problem was the sausage. There was a single sausage and it tasted a bit weird. Wasn't sure if it had gone off, but we did get a bit sick afterward. It is a nice cafe and the food is quite nice. A bit disappointed in one of the dishes but the other food items were great.

Beautiful decorations, decent coffee and very nice food. The first thing I noticed was that the cafe was buzzing with activity. With 90% of the tables being larger than most establishments, Hello Friends + Allies is perfect for groups. It’s not overly styled but is balanced between floral accents and industrial lines. Menu items: Potato Rosti Eggs Benedict $18.50 - Add Bacon $5 - Add Salmon $5.50 Such a good choice. The rosti was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside - definitely in my personal top 5. Extra points for being able to see what it looked like first (just scan the QR code on the bottom of the menu). I thoroughly enjoyed the coffee, and not just because I was desperate for caffeine. I genuinely liked the flavours and it was smooth, as a latte should be. Best parking is located on Dunkerron Avenue. There are two toilets for customers located near the back. There’s also a lovely area with extra seating away from the hustle and bustle. Server shoutout: Shannon. She was so kid and made us feel welcome the entire time. Would I recommend it? Yes! Food: 10/10 Coffee: 10/10 Atmosphere and Service: 9/10