Hardware Societe

Written by Melbourne food blog on 15 May 2012.

Hardware Societe 120 Hardware Lane CBD - Food 9.5 Coffee 9 Ambience 9

Hardware Societe is a food lovers' haven and a great place to go for a Sunday morning lazy breakfast in Melbourne. It captivates with French sophistication and charm, and a high quality dining experience. Hardware Societe is arguably Melbourne's best cafe as it feels like an occasion every time you visit. It is consistently good, oozes style, has a menu where you want to try everything, boasts an eclectic ambience (always packed) and the service is attentive while maintaining a certain cool.

If you’re looking for a cafe/restaurant that’s able to offer something more than the usual brunch options, with a certain je ne sais quois, then Hardware Societe is the place for you!

The counter is a visual feast with brightly coloured tarts and macaroons, extraordinary brown chocolate creations, crème brulee and a host of amazing French sweets. Resistance is almost impossible.

All eyes are on the white uniformed rock star chefs with awesome tattoos who perform wonders in the kitchen for all to see... Each dish has amazing flair and bathed in TLC. There is a French attention to detail.

Hardware Societe offers some of Melbourne’s favourite dishes such as Baked eggs served in a French pan with chunks of chorizo and cheese. This is a cacophony of taste and flavour. These kinds of dishes warm the stomach and leave you with a feeling of pleasantness for hours. Oo la la! But a recent menu change means the restaurant now offers another two great Baked egg options including Merguez sausage and almond pistou as well as amazing mushrooms with crème fraiche, gruyere and sage.

After a big night out you may prefer the Banana bread with caramel and crushed nougat. Or Fried brioche with nutella, strawberries and toasted hazelnuts.

Even the sourdough fruit toast is sensational, served in a pretty arrangement on a wooden board with an extraordinary amount of butter. And it comes with a cute butter knife…

The quality of the food is undeniable. Everything is well cooked, great flavour profiles and the freshness (including the bread) stands out.

Be impressed by the communal table and chic plastic chairs. Where space is at a premium they’re functional but also can be fashionable.

The décor has a cool factor to a sublime degree including damask dark wallpaper imported from Germany and interesting lighting arrangements with naked bulbs. The whole place has an upbeat colourful feel to it...

Coffee here is also great and sometimes underrated. The crema is velvet, and the coffee showing superb consistency, flavour and strength. A nice touch is the small round donut that comes with each coffee.

Ordering tea is an occasion with your selection coming with artistic tea cosy flair. Even the hot chocolate comes with great presentation and is not made to feel the poor cousin of hot drinks.

As gourmet trendsetters Hardware Societe are embarking on selling up market produce from other countries such as France, Spain and Italy. Come here to grab some Spanish rice for your paella, some cuttlefish or sardines (white meat), exclusive Simon Coll chocolate and Italian Turron.

Ambience is great being a vibrant bright restaurant – conversation is loud and atmosphere warm. The fact that it’s on the vibey restaurant strip of Hardware Lane adds to the ambience.

Service is fantastic with hipster staff wearing aprons to set a French tome. They are both engaging and attentive. Open for breakfast and lunch but not dinner. Popular and a talking point around Melbourne. Rightly so.