Cafe Amba, South Yarra (by invitation) by Obelix

Situated directly opposite The Jam Factory on Chapel Street, Cafe Amba is well appointed for a quick coffee grab or a leisurely breakfast or lunch.  Its interiors are warm and inviting with exposed brickwork, smoky mirrors, wall mural and even an upstairs dining area complete with chandeliers.  The bouquets of fresh flowers strewn throughout was a fragrant touch (scroll down for photos!).

Ms A and I tried out their lunch menu after a stint of shopping.

Being a cold wintery day, we both started off with a cups of Prana Chai.  So comforting and warming. Then we proceeded quickly to lunch.

Ms A was keen on having their battered flathead tails with chips ($15).  This was a generous plate of four flathead tails, battered crisply and chunky cut chips.  A refreshing bed of rocket gave the dish a lift.

I, on the other hand, was intrigued by their lunch special of the day which were available after 11.30am. Mine was a seafood risotto with prawns, calamari, broccoli and chilli.  It was topped with a grilled piece of Atlantic salmon ($23). It is not often a risotto came also with a piece of fish on top so there was a plentiful abundance about it.  The risotto rice was creamy and cooked perfectly. A little hit of chilli was a clever addition to counter the creaminess.  I really enjoyed it.

As well as lunch offerings, Cafe Amba does the usual breakfast dishes.  I couldn't resist ordering a side of sauteed spinach as I suspected it would complement my risotto very well.

The staff were congenial and service was prompt.  The atmosphere was cosy and inviting as evident by tables of people tapping away on their laptops, obviously planning to stay awhile.  Whilst on the hustle and bustle of Chapel St, Cafe Amba was a little sanctuary within the hectic mile.

If you just fancy a coffee and a sweet treat, Cafe Amba has that too.  Check out their wee little baked goods, almost too cute to eat.

Verdict

We liked it.

Overall

We liked Cafe Amba.  It's a fantastic little find along Chapel and a convenient place to stop off for a meal or a coffee.  We would definitely be repeat offenders.

Find it at

Cafe Amba
497 Chapel St
South Yarra 3141 Victoria
Phone: 9827 6747