Ripponlea cafe newcomer Turning Point shakes up breakfast with its own Coco Pops and cornflakes

IF you like Coco Pops and cornflakes for breakfast, you’ll love this new Ripponlea cafe putting its own stamp on your favourite foods. It’s simple and savoury, sweet and playful in a family-friendly setting.

Megan Miller

2 min read

April 13, 2018 - 3:00PM

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A CAFE with its own takes on Coco Pops and cornflakes? Why the heck not.

Ripponlea newcomer Turning Point does simple and savoury for breakfast, but sweet is its spot and playful its MO.

This 75-seater is from the same crew behind Camberwell’s Collective Espresso and Short Straw in Hawthorn, taking over the space opposite Ripponlea train station vacated by Hawk & Hunter.

Opened in early February, it’s a cafe by day and restaurant and wine bar by night, with a commercial kitchen out back also used by Windsor hotspot Mr Miyagi.

Named after a coffee-roasting term, Turning Point aims to put favourite childhood dishes into adulthood and this is prevalent in the daytime menu, before nights kick into more global territory with Spanish and South American-leaning dishes.

FOOD

Cocoa Pops ($16.50) gets some modern love with puffed rice, toasted seeds, nuts and berries sprinkled over banana with vegan chocolate mousse and chocolate soy milk.

Strewn with flowers, it looks the goods and might be healthier than the original, but lacks chocolatey oomph.

Just as pretty and with fruity flair is the Peaches & Cream ($15.50, pictured). It’s where honeyed cornflakes land on three grilled peach halves with generous dollops of whipped ricotta, fairy floss swirls and pipettes of strawberry syrup to daintily daub. It’s a tried-and-true combo that’s been reworked for maximum fun and flavour.

Peaches & Cream for breakfast. Picture: Griffin Simm

Feeling all grown up? Go the very adult Truffle Scramble ($22) with Buxton smoked trout and Yarra Valley caviar.

At night, the menu skews to snacks and share plates such as chimichurri chicken wings ($14), chilli beef empanadas ($14), herb-crusted baked rockling ($26) and asado-style beef rib ($26) with pickled onions.

Also doing the Insta rounds is the Monster Bowl ($17.50) dessert involving cake, churros, whipped cream and upturned ice-cream cones.

DRINK

Coffee is from Undercover Roasters, a local outfit owned by this cafe team, with milkshakes, smoothies and juice also on offer. Boozing? There’s a fully stocked bar with a full complement of spirits, homegrown wines
($9 glass, $39 bottle) and local craft beers.

Cocktails swing to the classics (Aperol Spritz, Mimosas and pina coladas) as well as house specials such as a tempting butterscotch espresso martini ($18).

SERVICE

Staff were personable, bright and breezy this Saturday morning.

X FACTOR

Ubiquitous Scandi-cool cafe stylings with blond wood, polished concrete flooring and vertical gardens, but welcoming and bright. Love the “meet me here” neon sign on the wall.