Friday, February 25, 2005

Leroy Espresso, St Kilda

Apparently beige lino is cool. I just had brekky at Leroy Espresso, 191 Acland Street, St Kilda, Tel +61 3 9525 5166, and it was wall-to-wall beige lino. With matching beige walls and brown trim it all looked a treat. Very snazzy.



For the egg enthusiast, all bases are covered. Settle in for the "Leroy Chow Down" of eggs, balsamic mushrooms, bacon, tomato, spinach and chipolatas, or try the brekky bruschetta topped with scrambled eggs, pesto and smoked salmon. Alternatively, if you're late for an important meeting off Grey Street, grab a brekky sandwhich (eggs, bacon, hollandaise and rocket on pide) and run.

For whatever reason, I was in the mood for benedict, and, despite an overdose of hollandaise, the eggs were well poached (by which I mean "just right") and the muffins well toasted (by which I mean not soft or soggy, as too often seems to be the case).

If eggs don't do it for you, the Leroy menu has some interesting alternatives... corn and zuchinni fritters with mint yoghurt on rocket, "corn bread brekky" with avocado, bacon and beans, porridge with cinnamon poached fruit, and pancakes, to name just a few.

The service was good (no St Kilda attitude), as was the coffee (Merlo), and the price (bang on 15 bucks for my eggs and 2 coffees).

You may have to fight (or wait) for it on a busy weekend, but if you can score a table, this is a great place to chill out, chow down and soak up the sights of Acland Street.

13/20 "so St Kilda"

38 comments:

  1. 'a meeting off Grey Street'?
    hilarious!

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  2. I often eat breakfast/brunch at Leroy and it's fantastic every time, particularly the coffee. The service is friendly and fairly good for a busy cafe. If it's closer to lunch time, the hot chips with wasabi mayo are a favourite.

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  3. Anonymous25/5/10 08:54

    They're hiring trailer trash now. Rather than make customers comfortable, they're chasing them away!!! Yuk!!!

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  4. Anonymous25/5/10 08:55

    Comfort ... I don't think so.
    Where have the days gone with good customer relations. Shame on you 'girls'.

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  5. Anonymous25/5/10 08:56

    Hey George ....
    Do something about your staff ...
    Never replace old with new please!!!
    Classy, I don't think so!!!!
    Customer relations skills 1 out of a 100!!!!
    Sad but true!!!!

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  6. Anonymous25/5/10 08:59

    This is how it's advertised:
    'Relax and come to Leroy’s for the best coffee in Melbourne. Have an unbelievable breakfast or filling lunch in one of Acland St's coolest coffee shops!

    WHAT A JOKE ...THE MANAGER'S TRAILER TRASH!!!!!

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  7. Anonymous25/5/10 09:45

    Come back Ange and crew

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  8. Anonymous25/5/10 10:41

    B ... 's opinion

    A better cafe with less attitude is the Galleon near the Cnr Carlisle and Acland streets.
    Delicious and cheap food with good service and fantastic coffees!!! The only problem is getting past the queue:)

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  9. Anonymous25/5/10 11:01

    S says
    •Create a reputation for reliability by fulfilling their promises to customers
    •Build trust with customers by informing when a promise cannot be fulfilled
    •Surprise and delight customers by under promising and over delivering.
    •Actively look for ways to go the extra mile and exceed customer expectations
    •Understand that neutral or indifferent service loses customers, creates dissatisfaction
    •Make eye contact and smile when face-to-face with a customer.
    •Answer the telephone in a standard way and with a smile
    •Understand each customer is worth the sum total of all transactions over time
    •Recognise every customer touch point is a ‘moment of truth’
    •Enhance each customer interaction with friendliness and go the extra mile
    •Respond to customer requests with a sense of urgency
    •Understand that all businesses are in the ‘relationship’ business
    •Appreciate how their individual effort counts towards the success of the organisation
    •Always welcome a customer with friendliness and a willingness to serve
    •Seek ways to continuously improve
    •Capture suggestions for improvement from customers
    •Actively listen to a customer with a complaint
    •React to a complaint as an opportunity for service recovery and to improve systems
    •Have standard ways to resolve common customer problems
    •Have the knowledge, skills and desire to resolve a customer’s inquiry or problem on the first call.
    •Take ownership of a customer problem; follow it through to resolution, and follow-up to confirm the problem is resolved to their satisfaction
    •Remember to use ‘please’ and ‘thank-you’ and offer world-class courtesy
    •Attract customer compliments that are recorded, recognised and rewarded
    •Create a positive reputation for their department / organisation
    •Enjoy their work more, so customers can feel the ‘love’

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  10. Anonymous25/5/10 11:03

    S ....says

    •loyal customers who buy more, more often
    •fewer complaints and more compliments
    •enhanced reputation because your people 'delight' customers by willingly going the extra mile
    •reduced customer defection to competitors

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous25/5/10 11:05

    Brainpower Customer Service says:
    •Deliver what you promise
    •Under promise and over deliver
    •Exceed customer expectations
    •What makes customers stay, and the reasons they leave
    •How to resurrect lost customers
    •Do it with a smile and eye contact
    •The 80 / 20 Rule - why you should 'super-serve' your top 20%
    •Finding new customers costs five to seven times more
    •Lifetime value of existing customers
    •Moments of truth
    •Responsiveness
    •Developing lasting relationships
    •The value of your Vision Statement
    •The customer is not an interruption
    •Survey customers for continuous improvement
    •A complaint is a gift
    •Empowerment
    •You own a problem until it is resolved
    •Service recovery
    •Courtesy
    •Remember to capture compliments
    •Love your customers

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  12. Anonymous25/5/10 11:26

    Danny says ...
    Management's like the gestapo
    And they're women man!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous26/5/10 13:53

    Becky says:
    You mean the 'big mean' manager? She's got a mouth on her.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous26/5/10 13:54

    Yeah agree
    Galleon on Carlisle is better

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  15. Anonymous2/6/10 09:07

    The place is minus a vibe.
    New staff just do not give the place any credit. Time to move on.
    Vibrations negative.

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  16. Anonymous2/6/10 09:34

    Coffee on the run first thing in the mornings sucks.
    Go to Acland Court across the road

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  17. Anonymous2/6/10 15:45

    Better still. Hire some men. Where are the guys?

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  18. Anonymous2/6/10 15:46

    The Redhead's good. Makes a nice coffee with a smile.

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  19. That is so sad to hear..I used to work in Leroys when I was living as a back packer in Melbourne. I worked with Ange and the rest of the lovely girls and i'm still in touch with them and they said they had all left. What the F is George thinking of hiring horrible staff???!!!!!

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  20. I love Leroy now that the new manager is on board. She's fantastic!!! Much better thaqn in the dqays when the surly bitchy lesbians were running the place. Now it's actually welcoming!

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  21. I couldn't agree with you more "J". Finally some phenomenal customer service has hit Acland Street.The new manager has the place running like a "well oiled machine". I generally seek quality food and efficient and accurate service when I go out to lunch, all at a suitable price level. Leroy Espresso more than ticks these boxes. One should not forget that Leroy Espresso is a cafe with quality food, coffee and excellent customer service. For the extremely precious people out there, perhaps a trip to Flower Drum or Vu De Monde will massage those fragile minds.

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  22. Anonymous3/10/10 03:52

    leroy espresso is my favourite place to chill at on a sunday morning, its so much better than what it used to be....its great being greated by the friendly barista everytime i come in or walk past, she knows my coffee and my name and it always brightens my day. the fact that people wait half an hour outside for tables is a statement in itself, which flys by because the barista makes an amazing coffee while we wait. all the staff are such characters which is hard to find in any cafe in melbourne, i highly recommend leroy espresso for anyone looking for a yummy big meal, silky smooth coffee and all round enjoyable experience!!!

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  23. Anonymous4/3/11 11:21

    Pity about this amee chick!!!!

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  24. Businesses always go through changes. I've been a customer for years and seen plenty of staff come and go. Just the industry in general perhaps!? I dont think it's at all lacking a vibe and yes the Manager gas her loud mouth moments. She is definately entertaining though and makes a great coffee! The service has improved now that a young lady believed to be the owners daughter has started. Last week she waited on me and I've honestly never had better service. Very attentive, knew the menu well and had great suggestions, checked on me throughout the time I was there but Didnt pester... Very polite and positive. Seems on the ball. Hopefully she stays and instills the same level of enthusiasm and professionalism to all. Either way the fact it's been chugging along strong for 8 Years + says a lot in itself. It's a blessing they haven't changed the coffee! Love love love merlo!

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  25. Anonymous5/9/11 10:28

    I can't help but feel a little sad about what's happened to this place. It used to be one of my absolute favourites and I would go all the time. Now it's gone to absolute hell with that awful 'manager' and hideous new barista-they've driven away at least five people I know of. It's a shame but she can't last, customers will come back in droves!!!

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  26. Bring Aimee back ... she might have a little humour, be grumpy and sucks where language is concerned, but boy does she make a decent coffee

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  27. George's daughter is irreplaceable with good manners ...bring her back and for Pete's sake, hire a decent barister.

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  28. Abrupt and hideous service
    Can't wait for the coffee shops on that road to be revamped.
    Come on Georgiou ...we expect a bit more.

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  29. Survey customers for continuous improvement
    A complaint is a gift

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  30. Ellie says:

    Bring back the old times/days! and good coffee minus attitude

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous1/1/12 09:46

    Staff don't cope well at Leroy's. They're not sticking to schedule and sweating on the job.
    They complain about being underpaid and overworked and are totally unprofessional.
    Give us back our good coffees and service.
    They say they are being screwed literally?????

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  32. Anonymous1/1/12 18:37

    Georgie .... for Pete's sake get that Melissa girl to smile. What a misery ......

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  33. Anonymous1/1/12 18:40

    Bring Aimee back ... we miss the lady, who makes a good coffee.

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  34. Anonymous1/1/12 18:42

    Bring some character back to the shop and be fair to your chefs, since they are the people who keep the place going. Maybe it all starts at bad management.

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  35. Anonymous4/1/12 09:29

    Tight on newspapers too.
    Yes, agree with the last comment. Leroy's needs to employ staff without attitude. Is Melissa the grump that serves the coffee at the entrance to the shop? Agree, bring Aimee or Angie back ....good coffee and good vibes

    ReplyDelete
  36. Anonymous4/1/12 20:35

    Serg who? The guy's a twit who can't make coffee period.

    Bring Amy back; and please hire staff who do not have superiority complexes!! After all, they aren't even good baristas!

    Phew, Got to run for a tram

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  37. Anonymous5/1/12 16:01

    What a dastardly colour inside the restaurant. Chuck!!!!

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  38. Anonymous13/1/12 14:31

    The place is a joke and so is the staff. Go there and 'say no more'.

    ReplyDelete