The Old Fire Station Cafe Gallery

I’m sitting here currently after ordering for two people off the breakfast menu. It has been 30 minutes since ordering and we only just got our drinks — one of which is the wrong one. The waitress even double checked at the time we placed out order with her. She was dense anyway so hardly surprised she fucked it up.
Wasn’t at all sure if it was table service or not as there was nothing to suggest one or the other.
Two staff incorrectly gave us other people’s food and drink orders and can’t seem to get it right at all.
Someone at the next table just asked a waiter over to complain that her order was missing the main ingredient — avocado.
First time here and never coming again. Complete lack of organisation and if they mess up my food, there’s no way I’ll be paying for it.

Was excited to come here, do some reading and have breakky — walked in and the noise made the reading (and concentrating) not an option. Sadly I had no idea if it was table service or counter service, no signage or menus coming in the side door — finally attracted the attention of the one floor staff who was running around like a headless chook and sat with a menu, after dubiously ordering a chai to have more of a look before committing to breakfast. Glad I didn’t order — there was a lady who was well established in her seat when I got here who received her food before her coffee (just overheard her order was lost) and the chai tea I received was ²⁄₃ full at best. This place also had so many staff on behind counters, in the kitchen, sorting cutlery. Nice repurpose of the space, unfortunately this is all I have that’s nice to say :-(

Still terrible. They’re sitting on a gold mine and seem to refuse to move with the times. They are in a top location but are still serving food from the late 90s. They use really light and cheap bread with no substance and the coffee is no good. In a time where Melbourne has evolved to be one of the top places for cafes and coffee, this place needs to step into 2014.

Terrible, I’m really shocked that people eat here. I live in preston and eat breakfast out most mornings. My second time back after a year in the hope it improved. It hasn’t. The coffee is average at best, the food is a joke. I order scrambled eggs with avo on the side. The eggs were bland no taste at all, it’s almost as if they some how removed the taste off eggs or anything for that matter. The avo came our in a little dish with bits of fetta, it wasn’t even a quarter of an avocado. What a joke of a café. Why why why have such a great building and spot and serve SHIT.

Straight forward menu with a decent chicken parma on offer. Their iced coffee is worth a try.
The wait staff seemed quite friendly and efficient.

Yup, well, I’m a fan of anything that reinvents a disused space and adds a bit of something new to a suburb. And while Preston has a shit pile of awesome Vietnamese and other Asian varietals of restaurants, there ain’t too many places to get a great coffee and the Fire Station remedies this.
This also brings the only problem with the place and that is exactly that the coffee is consistent and there is fuck all else within cooee so the wait times here can be a little unbearable. Still, the food should keep you happy if you do have an hour or so to throw away on a Saturday arvo. They do cut sandwiches and really hearty ‘fireman’ style lunches with lots of steak and bacon and stuff. It’s an ace place for a hangover, but you’re better off heading there to cure a mid-​week bender.

The Old Fire Station Café Gallery is a great little place in Preston that really makes you feel as if you have stepped back in time.
The décor here is very retro with concrete floors, mismatched chairs and tables and rustic corrugated iron forming the front of the counter. While it looks quite rustic and old it is very clean and well kept. There is a pretty garden out the back with a few more tables and chairs.
The food here is awesome and everything is well priced for what you get. The service varies here but it is pretty standard — nothing to rave about but I have no complaints at the same time.
My favourite part about the place are the iconic fire-​truck-​red red doors that are the entry point to the café. They are in original condition, complete with chipped paint and scratches. I love that.
This is a great place to grab a coffee or lunch. Not so good for dinner though as they generally close around 5. They also hire out the café for private functions. Give them a call for details on this.