Café Quince (Melbourne, Australia)
Apr 11th, 2008 by Rosanne
Quince is an unassuming café in Clifton Hill but away from the main clutch of cafés in Queens Parade. A few years ago, the café changed owners and the new family — owner Jan and her business partner, daughter Rachel — have embraced the alternative side of the neighbourhood while still providing the staples for the weekday lunchtime mothers’ crowd who delight in the toy corner and the babychinos.
Jan’s overhaul included introducing organic fair trade Jasper’s coffee, organic foods where possible, free-range eggs and, delightfully, an awareness of gluten-free cooking. At first, it was just gluten-free toast but the kitchen now ensures most flours used in items like the corn and zucchini fritters (served with slow-roasted tomatoes, bacon and avocado salsa) are gluten-free too. The gluten-free bread is the thick white loaf from local bakery Silly Yaks, so it works brilliantly when used in such dishes as French toast with poached spiced pears (or the special variation, caramelised French toast with sweetened ricotta and poached berries).
Unfortunately, recently it’s been harder to guarantee gluten-free items are available and specials are less likely to be gluten-free than they used to be. We’ve downgraded the café to three stars as a result.
As a bonus, the coffee is also excellent, thanks to the efforts of barista Carly, whose latte art includes mini-Mona Lisas you have to see to believe.
Rating: 
Café Quince,
43 -45 Spensley St, Clifton Hill 3068
Melbourne, Australia
+61 3 9482 4180