Ragueneau, CBD, Melbourne

Cafe Ragueneau can be found amongst the short line of cafes along Menzies Alley in Melbourne Central.  It's decked out with french wicker style garden chairs and small round topped tables.  It is eclectically decorated, with country style bread shelves, a retro style 'Coca Cola' refridgerator, open wooden bookshelves (housing books), whimsical food posters on the wall - such as 'Sorelle Nurzia' (renowned for making the best torrone in Italy - nougat confection to you and me).  Ambient beats play in the background and there is even a table full of books for sale, newspapers and magazines for patrons to read and even a mini chess board for those who are after something a bit more engaging.

We ordered a pot of tea, which did indeed come in a nice white pot and a skinny flat white. 

My skinny flat white came in a cutesy daisy patterned cup and saucer, such a homely touch!

No afternoon tea and coffee is complete without something sweet.  So we ordered a Portugese custart tart and a Passionfruit tart to go with our hot beverages.  Both of which came on matching daisy patterned saucers.

The passionfruit tart was sharp and tasted nice enough.  It didn't blow me away, but it was nice and light.

The Portuguese egg custart tart (or pastel de nata) came on a matching daisy patterned saucer.  The pastry was a little chewy and having only ever eaten a Portuguese egg custart tart many moons ago, I'm afraid as a novice taster, I can't make a valid judgement.  

However, I will say that I thought the pastry should have been more 'flaky' puff than 'chewy' puff.  The custard filling itself was tasty, although nothing out of the ordinary.  I think I need to go eat more of these 'Pasteis de Natas.'

I think I would have liked to have tried the waffles or the crepes.  They certainly sounded terribly good on the menu.  And of the few that went out to the other tables, they definitely looked pretty nice too. 

This is a cute, quiet cafe hidden slightly behind the main thoroughfare along Menzies Alley.  It is the perfect place to while away an afternoon to catch up on the papers or as a place to relax with friends.

Cafe Ragueneau

Menzies Alley, Melbourne Central, Melbourne, VIC 3000

Tel: +61 (0)3 9654 3789

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