Tel: (03) 9349 5000
Fax: (03) 9349 1553
Website: www.garagecafe.com.au
Trading Hours:
Mon- Fri 12pm to 10pm
Sat 5pm-10pm
Sunday Closed
Walking or driving by this quiet street you would never have guessed hidden inside this old warehouse is a cafe/restaurant where car enthusiasts hang out.
It has a really warm, welcoming feel to it - the staff are courteous and the owner a cheery, happy fella.
They serve Robert Timms coffee - which I have honestly not seen since about 1997 nor knew they served in a non-instant form. It probably explains why I am up at this hour typing this blog now.
On to the food - their speciality is "true taste of Indonesian Cuisine". I believe them because the dishes are simple, pungent & prepared quite quickly like a homestyle meal.
I had the Garage cafe "Full Penyet" (pictured below): "Steamed rice served with fried chicken, meatballs, soybean, tofu & boiled egg with cabbage, tomato & cucumber served on a cold stone".
Above: On closer inspection - as you can see most of it is battered & deep fried. Chicken is great, meatballs a bit sinew-y, I ate something with curry in it which was nice - but the secret is the sambal sauce - do not be afraid to dip your fry-up in there! It is quite spicy (will cause nose to dribble), and good complimented with a squeeze of a thicker oyster sauce-consistency Indonesian version of Soy Sauce (provided as condiment). Mix the Indo soy & Sambal chilli & viola!
Below: Pecel Komplit - "steamed rice served with fried chicken, soybean, tofu, steamed vegetables, cucumber topped with spicy peanut sauce & prawn crackers". Another mixed plate variation, but this probably doesn't require any additional condiments because the sauce served with it is ample flavour.
I really enjoyed the relaxed vibe of this place, always longed to mix engines with food so this might be it! Thursday nights are the day to be seen, but there is always something happening, whereby some car club will make it their weekly/monthly/annual meet spot.
