Glass Merchants - Glen Eira

Best chicken salad I have ever had! So not the typical salad where 85% is lettuce, 2% chicken and who knows about the rest.

The Glass Merchant is located 5 minutes walk from the Balaclava station, there are also plenty of parking space around.

Glass Merchants has the warehouse feel going on Was great for a group of 9 people as we got there at 9am on a Sunday.

Food: We visited for brunch. I ordered the French toast. It was well cooked, with a little crisp on the outside, but soft inside and I loved the crazy presentation. It may be a little sweet for some people, but I really enjoyed it. The elements work well together, but it is a real sugar hit. My other half opted for his usually scrambled eggs and bacon. The eggs were firm, not too runny and tasted nice, but could have done with a little more seasoning. He was impressed with the generous side of bacon. The coffee is nice, nothing too stand out for me – although it did arrive after my food, so I probably wasn’t paying too much attention.Atmosphere/service: Set it an old glass factory, I loved the venue. It’s quite industrial, but there are little additions, like sofas in one corner, to make it more cosy. I liked how you could see the history of the building, and they have lots of glassware and things around to help with this theme. Service was fine. It was quite busy and staff were clearly rushed. Front of house was excellent, and we were quickly greeted, given menus and as soon as a table became available we were seated. Only disappointment was our drinks arriving after our food. I enjoy sipping my latte while waiting for food – possibly offering us drinks in take away cups while we were waiting for a table could have been a good idea here. Would I recommend it: It’s a nice menu and I love the look and atmosphere of the café. It’s not the best option around Carlisle Street, but it’s certainly up there with the better cafes in the area. I imagine it’s much better if you visit on a quieter day too.

Wonderful eclectic setting...great food & great service. Situated in Nelson Street, between the Car park and Balaclava Road this is a "Must Visit" for a yummy breakfast at a reasonable price... PLUS... capped of with Illy Coffee..Strong & Hot ... cant ask for more.