The Corner Store

Local for me. location great.atmosphere great. very noisy but something mentone needed. equally great for just a coffee or a meal. recommended

This place is on our street in Balcombe Road. My wife and I went there once on Friday evening. The venue is decorated in a fairly bohemian fashion, but we found the meals we ordered were most acceptable, not world class mind you, but enjoyable.
What got us was how incredibly noisy the restaurant was, even with fewer patrons. Really proprietors, you need to recognize that soft furnishings actually exist. If we really wanted a noisy night we’d stay home with all the kids.
And then, not your fault we know, but parking was a premium by the Mentone station there. We would go again when not so busy, but we wouldn’t rush it.

The system here is flawed! there is food constantly at the kitchen getting cold waiting to be served! It’s Friday and the restaurant is busy. But not full house. Most tables seem to have no food on. Staff are busy but not efficient! Drinks that I never ordered landed on my table twice. only the waitress serving my area can take my order. I understand why n the purpose but think it only works if there is sufficient staff.
No one seemed to noticed that besides my table there were 2 other tables wanting service.
Foodwise… nothing special. no real selling point or niche. besides a gd locale. ordered Baramundi, Pork Slider and Lamb Kofti with a glass of wine and tap beer… $ 72???
WIR? nope. it has nothing enticing. IMHO

One of the greatest local places.
I really love their breakfast and the live music they organise. The chill out situation at the bar is so great and really enjoy how good is their service. It’s my favourite.
Congratulations and continue the good work guys cause our neighbourhood needs you!??

Went here one Sunday night and the food was nice. I had the risotto and it was really flavoursome. Then I had the lemon tart fir dessert and it was ok but a bit too sweet (and I am a bit if a sweet tooth)
I probably found that the menu was a little restricted for dinner their pasta section did not contain an actual pasta dish. I feel like there is not much variety on their dinner menu and what us on there is all a bit similar.
The drinks variety was good, but I ordered a pot of peppermint tea and it came out as one of my pet hates-​a tiny little pot about ²⁄₃ filled with water-​surely the cost of boiling water is not that bad?
Finally, the service was attentive but almost a little too attentive-​I felt like every time we were in the middle of the conversation, the waiter was coming in over the top asking if we were on for drinks.
The prices were in line with standard café dining these days

I love this place from red wine to lamb shanks and of course you can’t leave without having the chocolate desert !!! Soo yummy and a funky atmosphere :)

If you wanted to describe cafés as burgers the corner would definitely fall into the category of one with the lot. It opens early for coffee and closes late for drinks. It makes it ideal for all age groups and occasions! Like you could catch up with friends for drinks in the evening, family for brunch and grab a take away coffee any other time of the day. The best thing is that some places bite off to much and some times miss the finer details… But the corner hasn’t and that’s why no matter what time of the day they are packed. So no matter what time of the day I would say pop in and enjoy sometime to yourself or sometime with anyone!

I came here for valentines day. The set menu was delicious. $ 50pp for 4 courses and I really couldn’t fault anything. Yes it is a bit pricey but I believe the amount of effort and the overall standard of the dishes made it worth the money.

This is my new favourite place for a weekend breakfast. I have been past a few times but they were usually too busy for me to bother going in but last Saturday I got there early enough to get a seat outside. Friendly staff served us immediately and we ordered. I had what they called a full breakfast, eggs, grilled tomato well seasoned plus mushrooms and chorizo chipolates which I loved. Substantial but not over filling and great coffee as well. All for $ 20. Beautiful place, great staff and great food, a terrific find in beautiful Mentone.

I really enjoy coming to this place when visiting friends. It’s very busy but there is usually one attentive waiter who makes my visit worthwhile. The coffee is wonderful and there is a great selection of breakfast items available with gluten free on request too.

As a newcomer to Mentone I was pleasantly surprised to come across The Corner Store. Located across from Mentone train station, I rendezvoused with friends after the tedious train trip home from the city. Compare this to what else is on offer in the area and you’ll find it hard to beat. Unlike inner city venues it doesn’t have to compete so don’t get too excited as it definitely feels a suburban offer
ATMOSPHERE
seating is in three different zones. The good old fashioned bar area with sports channels on TV’s, the outdoor area heated for winter and the dining area with a large table at the rear ideal for groups and family catchups. The décor is comfortable with a little hint of an inner city vibe battling it out in the suburbs. It’s location gives great exposure.
FOOD & DRINKS
Our favorites have to be The Pork Sliders (trio of pulled pork buns) and the Eton Mess (new take on it with Pistachios and pineapple). The parmigiana seems to be popular on most tables. The burger was pretty good indeed served on a wooden bread board with a side of dare i say «very good chips» There is good selection of beers (try the KungFu Rice Beer on tap) and a «not to bad» wine list.
SERVICE
Staff must be commended. On all five occasions we have eaten there, they have been consistently friendly, relaxed yet professional. Each time they have recommended something appropriate from the menu
THE ROUND-​UP
This is a good establishment by local standards. I will admit I find a tad pricey for the level of food offering but then again they have no competition. Let’s hope the team at The Corner Store hold onto the friendly staff component but work on the food offering to match the price list.

The Corner Store is my local. If you’re after an early morning coffee, brunch (until 3pm), shared plates for lunch, afternoon drinks with a Happy Hour 4−6pm, dinner or just cocktails and dessert, The Corner Store can help you out with all of the above making it a local winner. The menu may look familiar if you’ve been to Main Street or Parkers Café because it’s owned by the same team. This trio of cafes is definitely helping to improve the ever flourishing café culture in Bayside. Yay!
As well as the convenience of The Corner Store’s long opening hours, it’s also easy to get to. Located in the same building complex as Genesis Gym and opposite Mentone Station, it’s easy to get there. If you’re driving, park underneath. Too simple! There’s a fair amount of seating outside for warmer weather and the inside section has been divided up into a bar area, tables for dining and a separate area for functions or larger groups. These sections have been divided by a mixture of wood and a rope wall which creates an interesting and quirky atmosphere for a suburban café.
For brunch, I’d recommend the Vegie Patch or the Breakfast Brushetta. In case you couldn’t tell, I’m a big fan of avocado. The toasted Turkish Breads are always a winner but remember that you can only order these 11.30−5.30pm. When it comes to dinner, I usually prefer to order a few small plates to share — take a look at the Salt and Pepper Calamari, Soft Shell Tacos or the Pork and Veal Meatballs. Two Brothers is on tap (yay for supporting locals!) and the coffee is excellent. The Corner Store also offers daily specials which tend to be based on seasonal ingredients and are a little different.
The downside? I find that the dishes can be a little on the pricey side. Sometimes it’d be nice to see a little more on your plate for the price. However, I find that I keep coming back time and time again because the food is just that good! In addition, the menu changes means that a favourite option might disappear but I figure it’s a good chance to try something new.
All in all, it’s great to finally have such a gem locally in Mentone!

My little slice of Main Street, and close to home. Fresh from the boys who brought you Main Street in Moordialloc (check my other reviews), and Parkers Café in Parkdale (don’t check my other reviews, it’s not there, seriously, get back here), comes The Corner Store and myyyyyyy oh myyyyyyy heavens it looks simply delightful.
The décor in here is gorgeous. Artwork, installations, and a great, neat layout make this place a charm to attend. If you feel like brunch, afternoon eats, dinner, or drinks then make this your new local. But seriously don’t crowd the place out. I like it there and I’ve got no patience for you jerks.
The share plates are somewhat of the staple and great for a group of people to gather around over some boozy deliciousness. The big breakfast (Augustous Gloupe) is stomachly satisfying and conversely the cocktails they make are surprisingly solid for a place out in the ‘burbs.
Related: They now do a happy hour on Friday evenings. Need I drink more?

This is your average suburban café trying to be more than your average suburban café.
The menu itself is appealing, but overpriced for the standard and quality of food, and I really hate it when cafes skimp out on the toast — One piece of toast is not justifiable.
The service was attentive and friendly, which is always a winner, but at the same time not completely knowledgeable with the menu, or menu policy.
The interior is a bit random and odd with elegant lighting and a unique wood panelled ceiling, but everything else seemed out of place. The carpet can only be described as ‘grandpa pants’, whilst the wooden panel bar made it feel like I was dining inside a cubbyhouse. The cafeteria tables and chairs matched the ceiling and bar, but the most out of the norm were the huge ropes dangling from the ceiling, which looked like they had come straight off a Navy ship!
I’m still umming and arghing about this one.

The new kid on the block (or the corner) by the same owners of Main Street in Mordi. The service can be patchy when busy but we marked it up as the place being new. The food is good and the beers on tap are from the local team at Two Brothers so bonus points there. There is a bar inside and tables on the footpath with overhead heating for the cool Melbourne weather. Family friendly this place does a roaring trade for weekend brunches where the serves are generous. Parking Tip: there is a parking entrance to underground parking off Swanston street with a lift for those with prams and wheelchairs.