Corner & Bench, Melbourne CBD by Bureaucrat

I love the name of Corner & Bench.  It always seems popular and full of people during lunch time.  The menu is varied, with typical semi-gourmet sangers for sale, coffee, a nice range of cooked homestyle/cafe-y meals and changing specials. With reasonable prices you're looking at a tasty, healthy lunch.

Ms B got a freshly made vegetarian spaghetti dish.  A big plate of spag loaded with thick meaty mushrooms that's tossed through with fresh tomato sauce, chopped parsley and parmesan.  She loved this.

I went for the soup of the day - minestrone. This was very yummy and flavousome.  This wasn't a mediocre tinned tomato based soup - this was proper soup that's been bubbling on the stove top.  Lots of fresh chunky tomatoes, finely diced root veg and small cannellini beans, topped with parsley.  It came with toasted bread.  Filling but light and very tasty - one of the best minestrone I've ever had.

Verdict: we loved it

Overall
Corner & Bench is a keeper.  It's one of the more popular cafes in the Hardware Lane area.  And unlike most of the places on Hardware Lane, there is no touter trying to get your business.  There's plenty of seating, however, the place is popular so you'll have to be quick to get a spot.  Service is friendly.  Simple, unfussy and tasty - what more can you ask for?