Sparrow’s Nest
95 Queen St, Melbourne

If you want to find a sanctuary in your busy work day, you should head to Sparrow’s Nest.  For a while it was the best kept secret in Queen St, a small, unassuming shopfront with cute & cheerful potted flowers, it is becoming busier and busier every day.  This is a little piece of haven, you can sit on the powder blue stools and eat Crabapple cupcakes while watching Rana and Sarah race around making hot chocolates with real melted chocolate bits, plating up fresh salads and pies on quaint old fashioned plates.

Sounded like your grandma’s kitchen?  You will be surprised to see that the owners, Rana and Sarah are actually quite young.  That being said, they definitely know what they are doing- from the well thought out  decor to the quality of their food to the running the cafe themselves, they seemed to have it all worked out like a pro.

There are quite a few things I would recommend on their menu, and this is one of them- Shepherd’s pie with a side salad $6.9.  Although it doesn’t seem as the pie has been made on premises, they have selected a supplier that made a mean pie.  I, for one, don’t normally eat pies, associating it with footy games and pub meals, but this pie is fabulous.  Nice crust, beautiful filling and the highlight was the chutney on the side, which has a tinge of ginger flavour in it which is surprisingly great with this pie.  The salad was fresh and crisp, a healthy choice to complement the pie.

Other recommendations include the Gruyere and prosciutto croissant (but it is extremely filling so share it with a friend), the famous Crabapple cupcakes (I love Lemon Blossom the best!) and soy hot chocolate made with melted chocolate bits… YUMO!

Sparrow’s Nest also does a range of organic selection, just look at what’s on the blackboard- you’ll definitely find something you love in there!  8/10