Small Victories

Delicious breakfast and lunch, and tasty Wide Open Road coffee always on point. Love the feel and atmosphere of this little venture. Some really interesting options on the breakfast menu as well! Good stuff!

I was lucky enough to practically live next door to Small Victories for many years and, God bless ‘em, there was never an ounce of judgement when I stumbled in on Sunday mornings still wearing my PJs.
Be warned though, this doesn’t mean you can easily stroll in and pinch a table whenever your heart yearns for eggs — there is often a wait on the weekends.
The staff are young, cool and hip and very fast behind the coffee machine. Your flat white or skinny cap are quick off the pass and there’s no going wrong with their mixed juice either (get one with ‘the lot’.)
Their Bloody Mary is what makes my heart sing the most though. Where it is lacking in garnish, it is packing in spice. A highly recommend you try one along with food favourites Poached eggs with smoked salmon, chive quark and pickles or the infamous Small Victories Mixed Grill — don’t shy away from the Black Pudding either!

Small victories is another local fav when we feel like avoiding Brunswick/​Smith Street scene. An inventive menu with consistent coffee and on to it but not intense service. My favourites on the menu are the baked eggs with the lardo soldier and eggs any way with the scrummy sides like pork & fennel sausages, leek & cheddar croquettes and a variety house made cured meats. I haven’t been here for lunch but the brunch rocks.

Delicious pasta dishes and incredible sandwiches. Took quite some time deciding between the rigatoni and the beef brisket sandwich but ultimately gave into the incredible pasta. I’ll be smiling for hours. Inevitable food envy when a table nearby order three of the briskest. Next time!
Great terrace for warmer day breakfasts and lunches

Great and tasty food! Unfortunately need more options for vegetarians! Wide open road coffee, made to taste. Interior quirky and fun! Very busy and a great atmosphere! Staff were friendly. A little overpriced but worth a visit!

The former Rathdowne food store had is heyday, but has been in decline the last few years. Small Victories returns the site to it’s former glory, and in my view, well beyond.
Big call, but I think this is the best breakfast in Melbourne at the moment. The two times I’ve been I went with the eggs and a side of black pudding. The latter of which comes with an apple purée that sets it off perfectly. My brunch partners have branched out further to great success. The mushrooms and avocado appear to be stand-​out favourites.
The service is exceptional. Despite us unreasonably asking to turnaround brunch in less than 30 minutes on busy Sunday (we had tickets to an event) — the staff stepped up and accommodated. Unfortunately this also meant brunch was a little rushed, but no fear, I’ll be back.
This is a nice addition to Rathdowne village, which also has the respectable Café North and Gerald’s Bar. Carlton North really is vying for the place to be at the moment.
Top billing, even though I haven’t tried their lunch or dinner menu. With the way brunch went it’s a dead certainty that I’ll be giving them both a try.
Jump on your bike on a sunny day, cycle up or down Canning Street and duck over. You won’t be disappointed.

Get the naked eggs with smoked salmon for brunch — delicious

My favourite breakfast place. Benefits of living in Rathdowne village is the access to all these awesome eateries. After spending months of visiting different place for breakfast each weekend, we have finally found our place (Yes, OUR place).
Our usual routine: Get greeted, if you are early enough, score one of the tables inside, spend 10 minutes debating the merits of citrus & cheesecake topped waffle vs elderberry yoghurt vs baked eggs vs eggs with sides. Trust me, they are all so good, you need to make a really hard decision.
In sides, Black pudding, mushrooms and croquette are must try (or as I say order).
Lunch is not bad as well. Pork belly sandwich, salads… all are worth a try.

Recently lauded Melbourne’s best breakfast, with a review like that you’ve got pretty high expectations to live up to.
Small Victories doesn’t disappoint. The service is quick and helpful, the coffee is very good and the food is yummo.
Having been for both breakfast and lunch however, I’d suggest that perhaps lunch is where the café really does its best work. Try it on a weekday for a brunch or lunch and I hazard a guess you’ll be extremely happy with the experience.
An extra star awarded for great GF options and sympathetic recipe-​alterations from the kitchen.

Around the corner of my house Small Victories has taken my preference for a sit down breakfast. I like the brightness of the place as for a breakfast dimmed lights don’t make sense. It is the meal that starts your day, it should awaken you like a beautiful sunrise when you just had a 9 hour sleep.
Food wise always up to scratch, I have had soup, sandwiches and the small victories breakkie. Sucker for black pudding and love the way it is served. New age fun with a vintage feel.
The space feels great, always feel welcome and most importantly they tolerate me just talking shit about everything and nothing.
Recommended by me. But then again. Who the fff hell am I?

With friendly staff, chilled outdoor seating and a big pile of newspapers and magazine to choose from, Small Victories is a top spot for a leisurely brunch. I visited on a quiet Wednesday morning and was quickly served a very good Long Black and gigantic bowl of bircher muesli.
Bircher is one of my most favourite breakfasts, yet so many places seem to get is so very wrong. Not these guys. The muesli doesn’t contain loads of dried fruit (something that I find always makes it too sweet) is soaked in natural yoghurt and mixed with loads of fresh and tangy grated apple before serving. On top, a type of nut brittle adds textural contrast and adds just the right the right amount of sweetness to the soaked oats and apples. It’s a massive bowl, yet I smashed the entire thing and didn’t feel like I’d swallowed a box of cardboard afterwards.
I’d like to say that I’ll be back for the interesting lunch and dinner menus, but the truth is I’ll be returning for the bircher time and time again.

I had it on good authority from one of my favourite baristas that this was a place I should be brunching at. Funnily enough, she was perched at the bar when I arrived.
No points for guessing what the coffee is like — excellent! I had an iced long black and it was perfect. Refreshing, without losing any of the delicious coffee notes.
Breakfast was pretty spectacular too. The menu is split into eggs with a big choice of sides, sweet options (bircher and the like), salads and enormous sandwiches.
Both my bf and I ordered the special of pulled pork with corn fritters and green tomato relish. Mm great smokiness from the pork and cut-​through sweetness with the relish and fritters.
Would I come back? Absolutely.

One of my friends had told me about this little place and I was in the mood for a quick beverage and maybe something to pick at. I was craving a sliced meat & Bloody Mary.
The serve was friendly and we were greeted with a smile and shown to the bar.
We ordered a Porter & bloody Mary. The waiter/​barman didn’t know the products very well but was very helpful in the end. They also had to go and get ice so that I could the Bloody Mary. Once I got me drink it was just what the doctor ordered. They didn’t have anything on the menu that I wanted to eat at the time but I will be back to try some food.