the wooden whisk

every now and then you find a little gem of a cafe that completely surprises you and blows you away – like the woodenwhiskin crows nest/st leonards. [ps: win 2 tickets to taste of melbourne on november 12th-15th! check out my instagram to enter!]. it’s not like the black stars or the bourke street bakeries that you hear about all the time – it’s an understated little cafe on the north shore that kicks butt with its food. it’s on an unassuming street – and of course that means i made assumptions about it. but as soon as i walked into the wooden whisk i knew there was something different about it. first off, the menu was huge, with a whole list of specials on a blackboard as well. the second thing i noticed was how packed the place was – that’s a sure sign of a good place.

the woodenwhiskis another popular cafe in st leonards. i ordered grilled salmon fillet with quinoa & poached egg and soy chocolate. mum ordered the lean & green bowl and cappuccino.

i had been to woodenwhiska few years ago but it left a good impression on me so when my friend suggested we catch up in st leonards - i immediately recommended the wooden whisk. it was almost 12pm on this particular saturday and woodenwhiskwas buzzing and busy. the rest of st leonards is really quiet on the weekend.

woodenwhiskis undoubtedly one of my absolute favorite cafe.

to write the least would be to ask you to make the trek up to st leos for a meal. you would not regret. from everything in the menu to the service is an absolute delight.

the brioche french toast is like no other. and the lamb and quinoa salad never lets you down. lamb is perfectly cooked every single time.

the coffee is to perfection. if there was a way i could give more stars than one this is the place i would rate.

the woodenwhiskis a homely and cozy cafe in st leonards which offers a range of juices and smoothies and popular breakfasts and brunches. the service team were tidily dressed in dark blue aprons and the wooden tables and exposed brickworks held a relaxing atmosphere.

however, the food and coffee could be better. the flat white was served scalding hot with a larger proportion of espresso than milk. the eggs benedict with pulled pork was forgettable too. the pulled pork was dry and chewy and the hollandaise sauce was a little too acidic to coalesce the sourdough, eggs and pulled pork.

we visited the woodenwhiskfor a friday lunch and i was very impressed. we hadn't booked but they were happy to prepare a table outside under the heaters - it was a cold day so we even got to enjoy the blankets. the menu had a good range of options and there were also some mouth watering specials.

i enjoyed a very cute lemongrass and ginger tea and the special pork burger with kimchi and crackling. it also came with shoestring fries. everything was delicious. i spotted a few yummy options to try next time.

we will definitely be back - they even let us pay separately!

the woodenwhiskis lively and vibrant. staff were friendly and attentive. 

i had the corned beef & mash. the dish was delicious and a great combination of flavours. 

the only thing that is not good is that it is very loud inside.

the woodenwhiskis one of the better places to eat in st leonard's that offers a good menu of classic favourites and cafe 'must have' dishes from chick burgs to smashed avo. i ordered the chicken burger, although it was very delicious - definitely wasn't the best chicken burger and could use a lighter and fluffier bun to balance out the generous chicken filling. overall, i was very satisfied and pleased with my meal and was full and craving for an afternoon nap to soothe my food coma urges.

i must say, they aren't too fond of split bill here (it's as though you've inconvenienced them gravely). so if you come in a big group - bring cash to avoid being ridiculed a "cashless gen y".

having heard a lot of great things about the woodenwhiskcafe, i knew it was about time for me to verify for myself. stepping into the bright and airy space on this perky thursday morning, i was greeted by their lovely waitstaff to take a seat...it is one of life’s simple pleasures to sip on strong hot coffee whilst reading the paper. and this is exactly what i got to do for 10 minutes before chuck norris made its grand entrance.

yum yum yum. we came for breakfast. the woodenwhiskis lively and vibrant. staff were friendly and attentive.

i had the corned beef & mash and the flaming flamingo (coconut infused cold drip with raspberry ice). the dish was delicious and a great combination of flavours. the cold drip is really something special for cold drip lovers.

8.5/10 - would come again. would love to bring a group of 5-6 and sit at the large table in the middle on a lazy saturday/sunday morning

first place i've been to in a while that lives up to its reputation for outstanding food and service. we got there and there was a line but their service is so efficient that we were seated in under ten min. suffice to say the corn beef and hash was one of the best breakfasts i've ever had and the juices and coffee are top notch. all in all the woodenwhiskis a must and we will definitely be back. highly recommended for anyone and everyone. 5 stars!!!!!!!!!

{ _anne_with_an_e // review }
the steady stream of people ordering take-away coffee from here is a sure indicator of how good it is. the baristas here are super friendly and surely know how to make one great (soy mocha) coffee! it's creamy, velvety and rich in flavour.

i've dined-in on a few occasions for lunch and there's a good selection of dishes and sandwiches to choose from. i've tried the spinach and ricotta tortellini, our reuben, the woodenwhiskcheese burger and the asian pulled pork sandwich.

notable mention is the cheese burger, with its meaty and tender patty and hints of sweetness from the onion marmalade. but the dish that's stood out most is their spinach and ricotta tortellini, which was rich, full of flavour and cooked perfectly. 

their detox juice is also wonderfully refreshing and delicious! it's to date, one of the best juices i've had anywhere! the asian pulled pork sandwich is also a winner and has a great combinations of flavours and textures.

i need to come here for breakfast! as i hear their breakfast menu is just as good, if not better!

must have // coffee, detox juice, asian pulled pork sandwich, spinach and ricotta tortellini 
pros // friendly service, warm atmosphere, delicious food
cons // can get busy

food: 4.5/5
ambience: 4.5/5
service: 4.5/5

woodenwhiskis located at a convenient location near the station. the first thing i noticed were the polite, friendly and attentive staff, we were served very individually and efficiently. food met my expectations and plenty to choices from the menu. my affogato and breakfast buffito had great flavours. the prices aren't too expensive and the restaurant had a great atmosphere. would definitely come back for more.

the woodenwhiskat st leonards is a cosy little cafe located just a stones throw away from the bustling office district closer to the train station. the cafe is popular and buzzing with activity even on a tuesday brunch time when one would expect it to be relatively quiet. sautéed field mushrooms with garlic, truffle butter, marinated fetta, smoked pork, poached egg and toast

finally got to the woodenwhisk(it's local for me), the place is nicely tucked down a few stairs and is pleasantly bigger than i expected. a great long wooden table in the middle, perfect for a group booking. the baked beans were delicious, could have added an extra egg but tasty nonetheless.