When we went on our honeymoon trip in Melbourne, I was extremely excited about checking out the café scene in the city.

I had heard a lot of amazing things about their coffee (of course!) and their delicious brunch options. I love having a good cup of coffee without shelling out a bomb, which unfortunately doesn’t happen often in Singapore’s cafés.

Our first stop after checking in at Dorsett was none other than a café near our hotel: Operator25!

Operator25 is located in a heritage-listed, original telephone exchange building on Wills Street. It was a bit confusing because the front is actually a takeaway store for customers who want to buy coffee on the go. If you want to dine in, you’ll need to go to the door a few steps down.

Not to worry if you get confused though! The friendly staff will let you know where it is.

There was no queue outside Operator25, so we thought we didn’t have to queue. We were in for a surprise when we entered and found the place fully packed!

Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait for too long before the staff got us 2 seats. Be prepared to share seats at a table with other patrons though.

What to order & eat at Operator25

Operator25’s menu mainly compromised of Asian-fusion dishes. Between us, we ordered the Char Siu Pork Benedict (AUD 26), Yuzu Smashed Avocado (AUD 24), and a Flat White (AUD 4.50).

Now this was when their customer service really impressed me!

As I was pregnant, I asked the staff if we could substitute my poached egg, perhaps with scrambled eggs. This was because I’ve been advised not to eat raw food, which include eggs that are not fully cooked.

While I had faced rejections and some level of unwillingness for substitutions in Singapore, the staff was more than happy to help me check on this. She also figured out that I was pregnant (it wasn’t very obvious at that time) and even offered to make my coffee weak!

I was very touched that she had gone out of her way to do the necessary requests and even went the extra mile! I even ended up being able to eat fully poached eggs. I’m not a fan of scrambled eggs, so this was definitely a win.

The Yuzu Smashed Avocado is multigrain toast topped with grilled halloumi, beetroot chickpea puree, honey yuzu dressing, sun dried tomatoes, edamame, sesame seeds and poached egg.

I was amazed by how much avocado was served on my toast. In Singapore, I usually only get small smatterings of avocado from the cafés. Hence, I don’t often order avocado dishes.

It might look like a simple brunch, but boy was I full even before I finished everything!

I think the icing on top was really the honey yuzu dressing for its mild, tangy sweetness. The sun dried tomatoes were also a very flavourful touch that I appreciated.

Unfortunately I didn’t get to try the Char Siu Pork Benedict. It’s described as “char siu flavoured pulled pork on English muffins, apple & rocket salad, poached eggs and hollandaise”.

Is it worth eating at Operator25?

The food served by Operator25 was definitely delicious, but what made this café extremely memorable for me was definitely the friendly customer service.

There were a few other food establishments in Melbourne that also extended the same warmth to us throughout our honeymoon. I’m inclined to believe it’s the service culture in the city, which really made our travel experience very pleasant.

If you’re keen on Asian-fusion brunch, a good cup of coffee, and require some kind of food substitutions, I really can’t recommend Operator25 enough.

Personally, I know I will definitely be back the next time we return to Melbourne!

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INDIVIDUAL RATING

• Menu: ✮✮✮✮✮
• Taste: ✮✮✮✮✮
• Price: ✮✮✮✮
• Ambience: ✮✮✮✮
• Customer Service: ✮✮✮✮✮

OVERALL RATING

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DIRECTIONS

Operator25’s address: 25 Wills St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Operator25’s opening hours: Mon to Fri 7am – 4pm, Sat to Sun 8am – 4pm

Note: 10% surcharge applies on Saturdays and Sundays. 15% surcharge applies on public holidays.

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