St Ali
Editorial
St Ali, a sort of garage cum barn tucked away down an innocuous side street of South Melbourne, is a well-hidden but immensely supreme fortress of caffeine goodness. The name apparently derives from a mystical Middle Eastern hero who introduced the coffee bean to holy men as an aide for stimulation during long prayer sessions. In aiding our own spiritual stimulation, St Ali has wisely invested in the Slayer Espresso machine, itself a god amongst coffee makers.
The large and airy space, with exposed concrete floor, high vaulted wooden ceiling and tiled walls is chock full of character, as well as a great selection of roast beans to imbibe here or take away. They used to roast on site, but due to space limitations have now moved to a garage down the street. The home St Ali espresso blend is a tasty, full-bodied and fruity roast, and I also took advantage of the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe with a velvety goodness and rich lemongrass kick.
The large space oozes cool vibes with kooky, friendly staff to match, all infinitely knowledgeable in bean lore. The food is simply stunning too, with the menu divided up into hilarious categories, like egg dishes in "from chickens with love" - I had the 'Mexican cousin' with corn fritters, poached eggs, chutney and haloumi - and pricier treat like lobster in "cos I'm worth it".
Stephen Russell, October 2010
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