What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Paperbark Cafe
Review
About
Nestled in the scenic foothills of Dandenong Ranges is highly acclaimed Paperbark Café within Kuranga Native Nursery that celebrates the flavours and nutritious qualities of Australian bush foods. Paperbark Café will provide you with a warm and friendly retreat where you can enjoy an indulgent breakfast, lunch, morning or afternoon tea.
Features
CUISINES
Cafe, Australian
Meal types
Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Dog Friendly
Family style
Free off-street parking
Free Wifi
Gift Cards Available
Highchairs Available
Mastercard
Outdoor Seating
Parking Available
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Takeout
Wheelchair Accessible
Location
Free off-street parking, Parking Available
Menu
Does this restaurant serve alcohol?
Reserve a table
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 8:30 AM
Sunday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Monday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tuesday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Thursday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Friday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
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3.7
139 reviews
Excellent
49
Very good
46
Average
16
Poor
16
Terrible
12
Robyn C
Melbourne31 contributions
Apr 2024 • family
Setting is lovely but it went down hill rapidly from there. Food was OK, some better than others, service was very hit and miss. I had put this down to being to being short staffed or someone pulling a last minute sicky but after reading other reviews this may not have been the case. First they ran out of coffee mugs (never collected our used ones either) so we had to have it in takeaway mugs, then we were told they couldn't take our food order as they were catching up with the coffees, then as the final 2 of your table were served food (at least 5 mins after everyone else) we were advised that we had to eat quickly as another group booking had been made and needed our table, we had been previously told we were right until 1,30pm and this was about 12.30. the place was not overly busy as they had stopped taking bookings to give themselves breathing room. Everyone comes unstuck when someone is not at work ( assuming that was the case) but the behaviour of some staff was inexcusable. It was so bad it was funny but also tainted the function
Written 31 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John M
Greater Melbourne78 contributions
July 2022 • couples
This is a regular spot for coffee and cake but we decided to have lunch for a change. We shared the platter and a bowl of chips - plenty for lunch and everything on the platter - pate, cheese, nuts - was appropriate and tasty. Being a Monday there was plenty of space without booking and even though it is winter the enclosed verandah area was warm and pleasant. What’s not to like in these surroundings. Highly recommended
Written 6 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JenW
47 contributions
July 2023 • couples
Good food. The calamari was excellent and the eggs and bacon were yum. Bacon were thick slices and so tasty. Service was slow though but we didn't mind. And they did miss a hash brown and a tea order which were refunded. Lovely cafe. We enjoyed it
Written 17 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jacquelinesw2017
Melbourne27 contributions
Aug 2023 • friends
Very disappointing, food was unappetising (tasted awful) and expensive! No one at my table enjoyed their food and couldn’t even finish the cold French fries - even Macca’s 🍟 taste better.
This cafe used to be great what happened? Won’t be going back!
Written 16 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer C
Melbourne1 contribution
Oct 2022 • none
This place used to be brilliant!!! Unfortunately they have changed, but not for the better. There is a strict cut off between breakfast and lunch times so if you're there by midday, you are limited to very few lunch menu choices (about 5-6 options) and they are all expensive! There are no other pre-made options like toatsies, focaccias, rolls or wraps available whatsoever. We went for lunch and 3 out of 5 of us ended up choosing a cake option because it was all so pricey!! I ordered a beetroot salad because I needed something healthy and substantial and left at least half a cup of bland lentils behind, on the plate so it definitely wasn't worth the price they were charging. No 'specials' board or soups either.
There was no smiling from our waitress and our experience was a let down.
Never again will I visit here. I'll take something from Tram Xpresso next time.
Written 1 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hetty
Tumut43 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
Really disappointed , have been eating here for the last 10 years and now probably won’t go back for a very long time . Food very average and not enjoyable , coffee un drinkable , asked wait staff if they had changed coffee beans or new owners was told “ no barista today floor staff making coffee” ! Not good enough
Written 16 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sallyholmes1950
Melbourne78 contributions
July 2023 • couples
Very disappointed decide to have scones and cream. Scones were flat more shape of a big biscuit and just crumbled had to eat with a spoon. Serving of cream & jam was miserable.
Two people beside us same problem soon as you tried to cut just broke up into crumbs.
Written 28 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lea Mar
5 contributions
Mar 2022 • none
Our meal took ages to come out and was nothing like what it said in the menu. We wanted to order cake after our meal and was told to- Go and sit down and someone will serve you we don't serve you at the counter! They were abrupt and not at all friendly. We felt dismissed and told off. I said that no one was coming to our table as we had had our meal and we were ignore. They wouldn't even look at as as if we were doing the wrong thing. It was rude and atrocious!!!There was only two waitresses in a busy cafe. Someone eventually came to our table and they were not at all friendly or nice about it. Then it took 1/2 an hour to bring the cake to the table. We went up to cancel this and was assured it was on it's way 5mins later... still waiting. Safe to say that we will never return or recommend it. Very poor service and extremely rude!
Written 10 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan W
1 contribution
Jan 2023 • none
Very disappointing, rude waitress, $17 for Entre sized meal? Of cherry tomatoes/dressing with blob of mozzarella, l thought was a poached egg. No mention on the menu. Revolting. Misleading menu. Will never go back again. So overpriced. NOT WORTH IT
Written 16 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle C
1 contribution
I have been coming to this nursery and cafe as a monthly treat with my mum for over a year, always on a Friday, have loved it and looked forward to it. I have been building a native garden and have spent many dollars on plants here.
However, today we had to change the morning to Tuesday. My mum asked for an extra plate and the waitress told her, in no uncertain terms, that if we wanted to share the two cakes we would be cutting it and exchanging the cut pieces to each others given plates. I know that is logical but the point is my mum asked. We were then asked by the waitress, who by this time was quite obviously annoyed - Would we like any beverages with the cakes. We were so stunned by her tone we did not know what to say, she asked again even more loudly. Please note the other waitress was absolutely lovely.
But needless to say I did not purchase my plants from here today - actions have consequences.
Written 23 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John and Margaret S
Melbourne133 contributions
Aug 2022 • none
We visited the nursery and restaurant for lunch, we chose a grazing platter for 2, which was great. However when we were leaving I did notice a specials board but the wait person, had pointed that out to us, and it was in a position where we couldn't see it.
The sour dough bread was beautiful as was the pate.
Written 29 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl D
Mount Dandenong347 contributions
June 2022 • friends
The two gnocchi meals were barely warm.
The pulled beef meal had an overpowering flavour of BBQ sauce but was at least hot.
The only meal that was enjoyed was the halloumi salad meal.
We were so disappointed with the meal that we left without having a hot drink.
We won’t be back.
Written 25 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brimbella
Melbourne2 contributions
June 2021 • couples
Service was very slow and staff was unfriendly except for one out of the three who were there. Served our coffee first and we had to wait for our scones to come. By the time they came, coffee was cold. We didn’t feel Customer Service was directed to the customer but rather to the convenience of staff.
Written 28 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hylton P
Yarra Valley84 contributions
Apr 2021 • none
I had lunch here recently and I thought the chicken wrap, on the specials board was the most delicious I have had. The wrap was quite a big meal, lots of filling and the flavours were different and delightful. Coffee was, as always, excellent. The setting is just wonderful and a wander through the gift shop after lunch is always a joy.
Written 30 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason K
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • none
We just had brunch at the Paperbark, not having been there for a few years. It used to be good. Not so much any more. The food was okay, and I probably wouldn't have bothered to write a review either way based on that. But the service? It was weird. Rude, like we were annoying the wait staff just by being there. There were three on duty and the first one being rude and snippy seemed odd. Then the second one also seemed annoyed and surly. So much for the two younger ones. And then the third, older lady was the same! It wasn't just rude, it was weird and strange. Considering it's not cheap, I would say don't bother any more, which is a pity because pre-covid we used to eat here fairly often.
Written 25 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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