Best cafe Caulfield: Las Chicas Balaclava, Carter Lovett Elsternwick

Locals have flocked there daily for more than a decade but it’s what’s in store for the future of this Balaclava cafe that’s bound to get people really excited.

Las Chicas cafe in Carlisle St, Balaclava, has tied for top spot in Caulfield Glen Eira.

Two popular brunch spots have tied for the title of Caulfield-Port Phillip’s best cafe.

And with a loyal following of clients amassed over the past 15 years it’s easy to see why Las Chicas is one of them best cafe by our readers.

The Carlisle St ‘institution’ — which has some exciting plans for the future — prides itself on its friendly service and community connections.

Owner Todd Skeggs said some customers had been coming in for the coffee fix “every day for the past 12 years”.

“There are people who come in and order the same thing to eat day after day,” he said.

“We have dishes on the menu that have been on there for more than a decade that we can’t ever take off of there’d be an uproar.

“I’d say it’s about a third of the menu.”

The breakfast burrito is a standout favourite at Las Chicas in Balaclava. Picture: Instagram @laschicascafe

Mr Skeggs said the most popular dish was the breakfast burrito (folded eggs, bacon, aioli and rocket in a toasted tortilla, topped with crushed avocado, tomato and coriander salsa).

Other must-try dishes include the Bikini Blowout Benedict (crushed avocado, bacon, two poached eggs and hollandaise on a bagel), which has been known to cure many hangovers, and the Moroccan baked eggs (garlic and thyme roasted portobello mushrooms, harissa chickpeas, tomato sago and crumbed Yarra Valley feta, served with plain roti and optional chorizo).

In the early 2000s Las Chicas launched a Free Coffee for Ambos campaign, donating more than 35,000 much-needed caffeine hits to hardworking paramedics.

The cafe has also been a supporter of St Kilda Primary school fetes.

Mr Skeggs said Las Chicas’ focus on fresh, local and sustainable produce had been a hit with customers.

And while the loyal following means the team have certainly done something right in the past, it’s what they have planned for the future which is bound to get people really excited.

Mr Skeggs said he hoped to be welcoming people to the rooftop bar by the end of the year.

“We’re just finalising plans to submit to the council, which should be done within the next coupe of weeks,” he said.

“Ideally it’ll be open by the end of the year but realistically we’re probably looking at the new year.

“The plan is for people to be able to come and grab brunch downstairs then head up to the roof for a rosé in the sunshine.”

Mr Skeggs said there’d be casual food on offer in the bar too.

Carter Lovett chef Brett Hobbs, owners Jim Marinis and Mary-Jane Daffy and chef Lachlan Williams. Picture: Rebecca Michael.

Meanwhile, Elsternwick’s Carter Lovett has also snared top spot in the reader vote, thanks to its olde-England inspired fare.

Dishes include corned beef, barley risotto and ham hock terrine.

There’s also fuss-free breakfast and brunch options like chilli fried eggs, wild mushroom omelette and eggs Benedict.

The charming Glen Huntly Rd espresso bar and cafe doubles as a wine bar and bistro on weekends, making it an ideal place to while away an entire day — from that first sip of coffee in the morning to wine or cocktails in the evening.

The Leader received hundreds of votes for the Melbourne-wide competition, showcasing the best of the best when it comes to brunch.

We partnered up with Matt Preston and Delicious Local to help drive support to food business hit by the economic effects of COVID.

“It’s clear from the vast number of nominations and votes we saw come in that local communities are rallying around their favourite eateries … supporting those food businesses who have done it tough over the past 12 months,” Preston said.

“That is exactly what we set out to achieve.”

“And this is just the beginning. Our local cafe winners are soon to appear in a statewide battle of the postcodes where the cream will rise to the top – as it always does! Don’t forget to have your say by checking out your state finalists and voting for your favourite.

“Make sure you keep following this fantastic search and supporting your local winners – next up we’ll be on the lookout for best pizza, so get thinking …”