19 Squares

Still a favourite of mine, even after they expanded to the space next door and slicked up the café. The outside catches the morning sun and is just off the overly bustling food traffic of Acland St.
Coffee is consistently great if not spectacular. But the chicken sandwich is what you should come for! Also give the one-​pot wonder a try…

The Huxtaburger of south. Seriously. It’s the same guys. But shhhhh don’t tell anyone. It’s awesome.

I must admit I’ve been wanting to visit here for quite some time now,
but I’ve spent more time walking by, and not knowing that I’ve passed.
Much like Souper Burger which is currently closed (Confound you)
19 Squares poses itself as not an easy shop to find. It’s jammed up amongst
a row of similar looking eat street shops. The spot the difference game can be
hard. Then again, once found, you almost stroll in there on auto pilot mode.
It’s worth noting that 19 Squares has been a finalist for Melbourne’s best Café’s
/​Coffee, and it shows; great equipment, good Baristas and an excellent roast
by Supreme.
Open for breakfast, Lunch and on the go run in style pit stop snacks, 19 Squares
provides an excellent space for a quick pick me up. That is of course if there’s
free space available. It gets hectically busy. There’s so many good things to be
said about this place. First off whilst the music is at super background levels,
the play list is absolutely ripper. I struggle to remember when I’ve been to a place
and 13+ consecutive excellent songs come on in a row’ all great one after the
other. I am tempted to have sexy times with the play list, but this would, no doubt
terrify the owners.
Now for the Gnocchi. It’s a special and only been on the menu for 2 days.
It’s pretty much love in a terracotta dish. Much love in fact. I’m on a little high,
especially when combined with the coffee. Texturally, the Gnocchi is great;
soft fluffy pillows espousing all that it should be. Its soft yet still retains a firm hold.
I know a thing or two, perhaps even twenty about god pasta, and more importantly
gnocchi. Excellent stuff. Toasties, Little cakes, Baked eggs, Breakfast items,
sandwiches, specials, as well as much other great food, and of course coffee.
Marvellous. Simplicity executed very well; under promise, yet over deliver.
I’m impressed by the quality of this small space.

There is many a place in the surrounds of St Kilda and being a local I am the first to admit I travel further afield to sample the brunch delights before looking at my own suburb. But after a recent trip to the Gold Coast I wanted to stay local and also impress WordMonkey by taking her to a place she may not have heard about.
That is how we came to find ourselves at N1neteen S9uares on Blessington Street, St Kilda. Basically just off the end of Acland Street but a million miles from the dirty bakeries that line the strip. It is a relatively simple joint getting its name from the number of milk crates stationed outside its front door that make up a good part of its décor.
The small but sussinct menu is found next to the front door and it covers the gamut of traditional breakfast items with a twist, a couple of affordable lunch items (you will be hard pressed to find anything over $ 11) and finishing off with their selection of Sangas.
We hit the coffee first while making our brunch choices. The flat white and Capachino were nicely weighted but the flat white was a tab on the milky side.
I have heard many a good thing about the «World Famous» chicken sanga for which I opted. They really have all the elements in perfect harmony and thus have the right to name it the way that they have. The sanga starts with a chewy sourdough bread, moves into a well mixed layer of chicken, mayo and avocado — perfectly seasoned and portioned perfectly between the bread. And to add a bit more fast and texture a good serve of rocket finishes it off.
WordMonkey was tossing up having the ham, gruyère, semi-​dried tomato and basil toasty ($ 6.50) but opted for the thyme and feta mushies on toast ($ 8.50). A perfect mix of sweet and salty layered onto the sourdough with a large heap of rocket. All was going well until a slip of the knife and fork and the final quarter of her meal fell of the table and onto the floor. Disappointed she was and promised to make a return to try the rest of the menu.
So, if you do find your way down this end of the coast with family, friends or even travellers who want to gawk at Acland St, do them and yourself a favour — give N1neteen S9uares a go — you will find yourself in a edgy part of town you may never have known existed.

A great St Kilda spot on a sunny day, 19 squares is tiny. People cram inside the pokey shop and explode out on to the footpath. They’re currently in the process of extending, so expect a few more seats and a bigger menu.
For now — you’ll get a decent coffee (Supreme), a comfy spot in the sunshine (on a milk crate), a killer chicken sandwich, or (my favourite) raisin toast which they source from Baker D Chirico up the road.

I knew there must be a place in St Kilda that I have not found yet, so today I went on the search. I hadn’t even found a car park and I already spotted where I was going to enjoy the sunshine.
I sat on an old coffee sack stool, surrounded by tables made of bread crates. Not wearing my glasses I was squinting to read the menu and was not sure if I had to get up and order or go inside. I got up to read the menu as I could not see anything when I saw how cute the inside was, all small and intimate.
I ordered the famous chicken sandwich. Finally the chicken was getting the respect that it deserved. It was a dam fine sandwich, the bread — amazing, chicken — poached, blended with mayonnaise, salt and peppered to perfection, avocado — just the right amount, rocket — for that extra little boost.

19 Squares has the best coffee in St. Kilda. This tiny café has to rely on the ‘coffee to go’ mentality due to the seating restrictions and someone has done their homework.
The coffee there is exactly what you want; not too weak but not so strong it’s going to keep you up all night. They just seem to get it right and after living in Melbourne a long time I feel like I’ve become quite the «coffee snob». I’ve been known to now take coffees back if I don’t like it but 19 Squares has a 100% good record. When it’s not raining (as it often is in Melbourne) you can sit out the front on the crates and few make shift tables and enjoy your coffee and have one of the tasty menu items.
Although it’s small the food is still remarkably good and I’m a sucker for the Avo, which is avocado, fetta and lemon on sourdough. Goes great with my good coffee. People do rave about the coffee there and I do see a few «celebs» get their coffee there so it must be a hot spot (by celebs I mean B grade actors and ex-​footy players).
I think it’s great, it’s only small and I feel as though if it were a bigger café they might not concentrate on the coffee as much and that is where they stand out from the very demanding café crowd.