turning point

let’s turn it around!

we all have so many struggles in our little lives. but you can always do to turn things around. and maybe if you were go to for brunch, you wouldn’t complain, right?

i finally visited turning point and what a turn it was! the venue is ideally located next to the tram station which makes it very accessible to reach. it stands out straight away by its large windows and if you look attentively, you can even see the big neon lights from the inside inviting you over - literally! - because the letters say ‘meet me here’. once i got inside the venue i could feel the energy and positive vibes straight away and that was promptly confirmed by the staff who welcomed me with a smile and provided great great service from there start.
the whole place is undoubtedly the spot to get your coffee and brunch fix with friends and families, and even that cheeky date!

the decorations are impressive and not only do they have some tree and floral inspired paintings on the walls but there are cute little jars with a small bunch of flowers throughout the whole space. it is the true definition of ‘tropical modernism’, bringing an elegant and clear natural landscape touch to the space!

after my vegan friend arrived and going through their winter menu that had just launched, here’s what we decided to have:

- matcha porridge with beetroot poached pear and coconut soy matcha milk: it’s their new addition to the autumn menu and trust me when i say that it will be a winner and crazy popular 👏 it is so well achieved and the words that caption it are truly: nailed it 👌 seriously. i cannot even start to describe how delicious it is but trying to make it short (😏 although we know it won’t be short 😂) in terms of presentation it is outstanding and i really like the green and red contrast - i think it still represents very well the autumn traits and at the same time stands out from the usual brown and yellowish tones. very satisfying portion size. regarding the oats, they were perfectly cooked and i have to congratulate the chef on that - we all know that sometimes porridge gets too runny and other times too thick and it can become too dense and slightly unpleasant to eat but here it was perfectly achieved. plus, even though i thought it was unnecessary in the beginning and i didn’t really see the point of having milk on the side to pour, i really appreciated it and i do understand why it’s there and the benefit or can bring to the dish! even though i have nothing to add to that perfectly nailed consistency, and it was delightful to eat without any extra milk, the option to have more liquid and to be able to manipulate and add some little twists to the mix is notable and very thoughtful to appeal all palates. taste is outstanding - the matcha flavour is not overwhelming and doesn’t leave any aftertaste - and the coconut soy blend is exceptional! 👏 never thought it would work so well! one final tick of approval goes to the beetroot poached pear that is not only a brilliant idea but also gives an even more glorious look with added natural sweetness to the meal. 100% recommend - 👏 it is without a doubt an 11/10!

- piña colada granola bowl with two popsicles - i have to admit that this is a meal where people would think that adding an extra popsicle is somewhat ‘too extra’ or even ridiculous, right? well... it really isn’t! not at all! those little popsicles are made of pina colada and they are the highlight of this magnificently presented meal! the flavour is not excessively intense and they are not watery either (definitely very different from the taste of the usual sorbet!). they are not excessively sugarish either and in fact i wouldn’t mind at all even having more! the meal is very instaworthy and the coconut bowl is a masterpiece indeed but one thing i have to note here is the size of the meal - the bowl itself is quite small and portions of either of the components of the dish are lacking in quantity. also, it’s important to highlight that the ‘granola’ itself is not your usual granola, which might confuse some people - i personally was very happy with the ingredients (with buckwheat and coconut) which creates that pleasant crunchiness to the meal and again is different from other meals in other venues. the coconut cream is splendid and it’s neither too thick nor too liquid, and consistency is similar to a pudding but lighter - very pleasant indeed and i would say that what lacks in quantity gains in quality here (although more of it would be immensely appreciated by many costumers without a doubt!). i really i just wish that the portion of this meal could be twice as much! 😂👌 this is a gourmet meal in every sense of the word!

- warm pumpkin salad - quite an interesting combo. the meal itself is very aesthetic and again, stands out from usual meals from other venues. i am a huge pumpkin lover and i must say that not only was the pumpkin wedge is ofgoodportion but it was perfectly roasted, not oily or salty, with a more soft inside and slight crispy skin - just the way it should be 👏 the pesto flavour is not very intense and while it blends well with buckwheat and almonds, i think it could be stronger or slightly improved by changing the almonds by cashews to give a more interesting flavour. it is a meal that more savoury people will enjoy and although i had the vegan version of this meal, i think that adding poached eggs to it will make it more wholesome and delicious - i will definitely do that next time and even add some smoked salmon to it!

- coco mango smoothie - i asked the smoothie to be made with coconut water instead of coconut milk, for that extra sweetness, and i also asked for extra banana for thickness and it turned out a verygoodcombo. i was surprised by the colour of the drink - i thought it would be more yellow with a base of mango and banana but i am sure that it is the mint blended in that gives a light greenish colour to it. actually, the mint touch is very smart of the chef again and gives a touch of freshness to the drink! really liked the special touch with shredded coconut on top too.

- green goodness smoothie - my friend had this smoothie and she said it was delicious. i do think that from the ingredients it is truly the definition of goodness, because how can it not be with avocado, kale and spinach? the colour is quite beautiful too and again, it contrasts very well with the coconut sprinkles!

turning point has easily won my heart like their sister café, short straw. the team behind these places truly deserves recognition for creating a venue where you can get your usual morning coffee, at high quality, and to try something new, exciting, and be surprised by each and one of their carefully and artistically signature meals! you never know when you get to that turning point what’s hiding behind each corner and that makes life 100% more exciting 🎉 i cannot wait to visit again and be surprised by more of their creations!

this cafe is open and has sooo much space! it’s perfect for those with children. i also love how there is plenty of parking. i enjoyed what was presented on the menu, there is agoodselection to choose from. my favourite dish has to be the peaches and cream!

brunching on weekdays is bliss. the absence of a crowd mean that we get free rein on where we want to sit, the atmosphere is calm and peaceful, and service is more often than not super prompt and attentive. such was the case during our visit to turning point.

as expected, there was minimal wait time for our food to arrive. the truffle scramble consisted of fluffy scrambled eggs, tasty smoked trout and delicious caviar that pop, then melt in my mouth. the slightly salty caviar complemented the creaminess of the herb creme fraiche wonderfully.

the flank steak was ever so slightly tough, but thankfully not dry, and the natural flavours of the meat was overwhelmed by the overzealous use of paprika. the chips and onion rings were faultless though.

the latte was excellent. strong, smooth and full-bodied; it was sogoodthat i ordered another cup. the vanilla milkshake was delicious but would have been more satisfying if it was creamier.

this cafe is situated right next to the ripponlea station, which is highly convenient! love the modern sleek wooden design too - an insta friendly neon sign and all!

coffee is prettygoodand that’s enough to win me over (some brunch places really don’t makegoodcoffee these days).

as for food, we went for something classic and experimental in this cafe. appreciate the kitchen’s flexibility - they allowed us to customise the eggs benedict and pair the smoked salmon with fried kale (because we don’t eat beef).

i loved the fried kale and after sprinkling them on my potato rosti, the dish was quite interesting - the light and airy fried kale texture went well with the crispy potato rosti. quite different compared to other eggs ben in melb!

as for the kimchi waffles, i thought the korean fried chicken was tender and coated with a lot of spicy gochujang sauce, but somehow didn’t quite work with waffles. we wiped out the pickled cabbage though!

all in all agoodbrunch experience and will be back to try the other dishes! kinda wish there were more porky dishes on the menu (we don’t eat beef) so i’m excited for their next menu refresh!
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taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
price: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

nice cafe withgoodambience. food is reallygoodand worth the visit. ricotta pancakes are delicious 👍🏻

loved the food and ambience at turning point! we have been twice in as many weeks, this makes it to our go-to cafe list! on our last visit, my partner ordered the smokey beef burger which he devoured! i had the super seasonal greens which was an interesting version of san choy bow with a sesame cracker instead of lettuce. the cafe owner alice and her team were on hand with verygoodservice. they tookgoodcare of us and we'll be back!

we were invited back to turning point, we always enjoy our visits here and this was no exception. the peanut butter smoothie is still a favourite though i wished i tried the chicken and waffles, one for next time. the coco mango smoothie soundsgoodbut i went for the tried and true favourites today in the crowd pleasing avocado smash

further update
we were invited into tp to try some of their new menu items. we tried the poke bowl and the burrata dish both of which were beautifully presented. the poke for me was pretty spicy as i’m not great with heat but it’s something my partner quite enjoyed. my preference was the beautiful burrata. it was something a bit different and kind of a caprese salad reinvented as a breakfast dish.


update
we headed back into turning point with the free vouchers we received at the launch party. i loved their peanut butter smoothie which was deliciously full of peanut flavour unlike many which are very subtle.

we ordered the avocado toast and the zucchini fritters dish which were both enjoyable. we also tried a couple of sweet treats from the cabinet which is just what the doctor ordered. such lovely staff too!

original review
so much fun at the turning point launch event last night. we celebrated ahead of today’s grand opening with a few espresso martini’s with a twist, the addition of maple syrup. the renovation is lovely and has transformed the venue into a more modern space. food wise we sampled a selection of canapés executed by the head chef, some of which such as the zucchini fritters feature on the new brunch menu.
with such a passionate team and extensive experience behind them (same owners as short straw and collective espresso) this is guaranteed to be a stellar success.

3.5
aesthetic brunch scene.

the place is really nice and spacious, withgoodamount of sun in the back area where we sat. staffs were lovely and our food didn't take long.

started off with choc milkshake and b&b smoothies, both were delish! also got a turmeric soy which i personally liked.

the poke bowl had all the components that worked really well together, and everything was fresh, but the spiciness overpowered other aspects of the dish which was bit unfortunate. would've been yummy if not.

then there's the chicken burger which was okay. flavour was good, chips were fried well. however, the burger was bit too salty, especially the fries. chicken was also too dry.

i did love the last dish. warm pumpkin salad was just sooo goood. i love the texture and flavour of the pumpkin, and the buckwheat salad balanced the pumpkin so well and has this herby flavour. also, with poached egg and added fried haloumi, it was perfect. definitely a must have.

overall, a really pretty brunch place which could use some extra attention to the some dishes but yes to the pumpkin salad! also 10/10 for visuals!
thanks for having me!

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ｘｘ，ｊｏｅｌｌｅ.

this cafe is asgoodas everyone says! 8/10 from me!

first off, food here is delicious! my asparagus and smashed peas were filling even though it was just all greens. the crushed almonds and vinegarette really complimented the dish and brought flavor to the dish.
the ramen bowl was tasty too! the broth was full of mushroom and umami flavor, and the tofu was crunchy yet still soft on the inside.
the kids chicken fingers with chips wasgoodtoo (no picture for this one cause the kids were so hungry they digged in too quick). it wasn’t oily, everything was still crispy when served and not overly salty. the kids finished everything.
dessert here was special but the taste was just okay. the tarts were baked well though i find it a little tasteless. overall it was stillgoodbecause the crust was nicely baked and buttery.
coffee ( long black) here was okay too but the babycino and latte weregoodwith the right ratio of milk!
service here are very friendly and attentive too :) which is the key to every cafe experience. would recommend to come here but the highlight is definitely the food on the menu.

spacious modern cafe located just right opposite the ripponlea station. though the food took a while to arrive, it was a pleasant wait while enjoying the view of the train passing by. food wise, fritters are yum, made withgoodamount of corns, moist, egg is well cooked, pickle cucumbers give out a sharp tangy flavour, combo of all makes it a pleasant dish. however, i reckon the dish is more on the dry side, will be great to have more sauces served. for the burger, thumbs up that the burger is served with crunchy thick hand cut chips. love the crunchy chicken batter. we reckon it’ll be more enjoyable dish if the dish is seasoned with less salt.

modern and bright turning point is in a perfect spot across the road from ripponlea station. staff are always friendly and the menu is agoodmix of brunch classics and more creative dishes that rotate with the seasons. the new waffles are a tasty addition to the new menu, or the glorious greens if you want something healthier or my go to is always the eggs benny.

we were invited to turning point ripponlea to try their winter menu, and we were impressed! a hidden gem just across ripponlea train station and not too far away from the tram stop.

we started off with a soy latte and a calming lemongrass & ginger tea. the tea was perfect for a cold rainy day!

we also ordered the green smoothie and the chocolate peanut butter smoothie - the pb smoothie was bloody good! it was super rich, thick, creamy and the peanut butter flavor was exploding in the mouth, a must-try here.

and for the main meal, we ordered the eggs benny and the warm pumpkin salad. the eggs benny was delicious, and the portion was super generous compared to other places we've been to recently. the beef cheek was tender, full of flavor, and it blends well with the potato rosti and that hint of rosemary.

the warm pumpkin salad was also delicious - soft, sweet, perfectly roasted, and served warm. again, massive portion, which is always agoodthing. the pesto flavor was not too overpowering, and it blends well with buckwheat, toasted seeds, and the puree. we genuinely thought this is really a great menu for winter in this city! perhaps our only minor criticism is the lack of salt on the buckwheat but this is coming from us who are a heavy salt-eater ;)

finally, the winter waffles were incredible! the texture of the waffle was perfect - it was crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy within. the toppings were plentiful and we have to admit all the components work really well together, and it wasn't overly sweet either - great menu for sharing. highly recommend trying their waffles!

overall, amazing visit! decorations on point, the long table is great for a big group! we would highly recommend checking them out if you're in the area or even far!

went here for a sunday brunch. great food, everything was tasty and fresh. service was friendly, seamless and relaxed.goodfood experience, i’d recommend to friends.

finally made it to turning point and thoroughly enjoyed it. it's bright and spacious inside with a beautiful yet simple interior. we were shown to our table quickly and given time to look over their delicious sounding menu. they offer breakfast for most of the day, and lunch from late morning, so there's a lot to choose from, but i decided to go with the two cheese beef burger, but just asked them to hold the brie. the mix of pickled onions and english mustard, gave it a nice punch and a distinctive difference to other burgers out there. the fries with it were spot on; perfectly cooked and tasty. i will say, however, that another reviewer (or two) were right when they said the brioche buns were dry and crumbly. i really wish restaurants and cafes would give you the option of a bun. i don't like brioche buns (mainly because i don't like sweet and savoury together), because they can be dry, and this is the part where the meal let us down just slightly.

with that all said, i really recommend turning point for either breakfast, lunch or brunch. parking can be brutal (it's right outside a train station), though yesterday there were cars pulling in and out of spaces, so you can be lucky. it's worth it though, because the food isgoodand i cannot wait to come back and try other items they have on offer (which can also extend to their cabinet of treats near the cash register where they sell items to go, if you wish ...).

nice vibrant coffee shop in ripponlea. great coffee,goodbreakfast options. service was slow but overall nothing wrong with this place. worth a visit if you are in the area.