Caffe La Via Elegant & Relaxed Dining in Melbourne
Caffe La Via is a compelling Melbourne cafe in Glenferrie Road Malvern; a stylish, elegant and fashionable place to dine and connect, featuring great St Ali Sensory Lab coffee, modern cuisine, killer affordable wine list, and a stunning fit out.
Caffe La Via opens out onto iconic Glenferrie Road to enjoy the cosmopolitan vibe. Owners Anil and Sulekha Chawla, and son Dhruv are passionate foodies and hospitality enthusiasts, and have created a fabulous foodie haven on Glenferrie Road.
Modern Australian dishes with a Mediterranean influence are hitting a chord. Dhruv has created an extensive wine list with quality wines from iconic Australian wine regions, which are kept at more than reasonable prices. Dhruv is loath to hike up the wine prices, which The World Loves Melbourne appreciates and we don't often see. Much thought has gone into matching the wine and the food; Dhruv won't put wine on the list without having sampled a bottle himself. Grab Italian Prosecco or Mt Langi Ghiran Shiraz, for example, to imbibe with simple modern dishes, and it won't break the bank.
Caffe La Via is a hub of elegant and relaxed dining; the look is upmarket but the vibe relaxed. Interesting spaces here to meet up with groups, friends and family (or enjoy a solo dining experience), abound. Caffe La Via is spacious and inviting; with a light and airy feel thanks to a first class Richie Brownfield fit out (long term connection with St Ali brand). Fashionable wall of tiles, chic wooden handcrafted pendant lighting, long thick timber tables and smart chairs adorn. An outdoor courtyard beckons; or maybe dine out the front on the pavement tables.
Head Chef Rajat Suri is a talented chef (ex Crown, The Merrywell) who brings a modern menu that is continually evolving with seasonal changes and new dishes.
The coffee culture is serious here, with one of only a few Gravimetric Black Eagle Machines in Melbourne. This is the Maserati of coffee machines; Gravitech gives users a higher level of consistency and control over coffee brewing with maximum precision. Baristas can set the weight of ground coffee and liquid in the cup for each blend. The display group shows the principal parameters: brewing time and weight in the cup.
The cafe is open during the day and becomes a restaurant at night; with some additions for the dinner experience including stunning shared plates; the famous 650gm Cape Grim Ribeye on the bone, 400gms Cape Grim Tasmanian grass fed Eye fillet, Wild Atlantic Salmon and Whole marinated & slow roasted Jerk spiced Spatchcock.
Individual plates include Marinara : Handmade Fettuccine ribbons with Tiger prawns, Canadian scallops , green mussels, squid, garlic confit and dill tossed in e.v.o. oil and herbs; Surf n’ Turf: 250gm Cape Grim Porterhouse, char-grilled tiger prawns with broccolini, slow cooked mushroom sauce and thick cut chips; and the Gamberi : Linguini with tiger prawns, baby spinach, fresh chilli and garlic confit tossed in e.v.o. oil.
An extensive wine list at affordable prices is a significant attraction of Caffe La Via. We love that it's evolving all the time and encourages customers to try selected wines they might not have experienced.
Caffe La Via is the place to come for a catch up, excellent affordable wine and smart food that caters for different tastes.
Battered Seasonal Zucchini flower stuffed with ricotta and served with mint sauce is a flavoursome dish.
Crispy Mac Squares with homemade bbq sauce is a wonderful dish with wine; gooey Mac and cheese inside while crispy on the outside.
Caffe La Via also excites with the Spiced Prawns, chickpea & baby fennel salad with tahini yoghurt and freshly ground dukkah; a perfect dish over summer. Large juicy spicy prawns are the hero, with texture of creamy tahini yogurt and the crunch of the chickpeas delightful. This refreshing dish is well balanced in flavours and textures.
Feeling like a classic burger? The Wolfer burger is epic: ticking all the boxes of juicy double Wagyu burger with oozing cheese, crisp lettuce, wonderful char, lightly seasoned, soft bun, secret sauce, caramelised onions. Around 300g of patty is generous. The Wolfer is awesome with a basket of thick cut golden chips. Seriously this is one of the best burgers in Melbourne.
With Head Chef Rajat ex-The Merrywell there is high amount of expertise demonstrated in the delivery of this burger.
There's a whole range of burgers to suit tastes including the popular La Via Burger: Activated charcoal black La Madre bun, Grilled wagyu with a touch of spice, crispy cos, tomato, fried egg, caramelised onion and cheddar; as well as Veggie Burger, The Texan and the popular Soft Shell Crab Burger.
Beer and burgers are the way to go here; Asahi fresh on tap!
Breakfast is also a specialty at Caffe La Via with Homemade buttermilk pancakes with Nutella strawberries, whiskey infused maple, honey brushed istra bacon, fresh mascarpone, vanilla Chantilly, strawberry gel and overnight dried raspberry powder a highlight. For those that love a sweet breakfast this dish has everything; elegant pancakes, nutella, fresh strawberries and the whiskey infused maple is decadent, along with the honey brushed istra bacon.
Art on a plate.
Caffe La Via is a welcoming foodie haven with modern smart cuisine, exceptional wine list, engaging service and an upmarket fit out. For breakfast, lunch, dinner and functions, Caffe La Via excels.