Wall Two 80

Ph: (03) 9593 8280; Rear 280 Carlisle St, BALACLAVA 3183

cafe, $ -, * for Ambience
Open 7 days 6.30am-6pm; Unlicensed; MC V; No bookings

Mietta's Review
Since it opened in 1998, Wall Two 80 has spawned a generation of 'hole-in-the-wall' cafes set in the oddest, most unlikely spots. Owners David Sharry and Keith Shreeve continue doing as they set out to do, within simple surrounds, offering a very basic menu featuring filled pide and coffee, all done incredibly well. It is well on its way to becoming another Melbourne coffee drinking institution.

Other published opinions

The Age Cheap Eats 2008 "It's the sort of place Kurt Cobain might have bought his coffee: a graffiti-ed and grungy (in a 1994 lace-and-flannelette-shirt kind of way) hole in the wall"

The Age Cheap Eats 2007 "Weather permitting, the classic Wall Two 80 experience involves ordering a coffee from a hole in the, er, wall, then sitting on a milk crate to drink it."

The Age Cheap Eats 2006 Staff at this buzzing Balaclava pitstop wage a constant battle against chaos: darting, latte in each hand, from the barista to the bench seat outdoors, and continuously shuffling patrons along the communal table as locals file in.

The Age Cheap Eats 2005 "THIS maze-like lair used to be hard to find due to its no-frills facade. Now you just follow the neoteric crowd and hope they're heading for the takeaway window rather than one of the seats along the outside wall, or hidden in nooks inside."

Age A2 Thomas Hunter 16/10/04 "Since opening nearly seven years ago, people have been gathering on the cushioned milk crates and inventive bench seating out the front for morning coffee, or for a break in daily dog-walking routines. Others order coffee from the hole in the wall before heading to the tram stops or train station. Inside, cosy tables for two fill corners, while the unflappable staff go about the business of taking orders, clearing tables and delivering coffees. The Genovese coffee here, deep and rich in flavour, is among the best in Melbourne."

The Age Cheap Eats 2004,Excellent breakfasts,'There are also substantial-sounding choices such as baked beans or vegetable soup but there's more flavour found in toasted fare,full-flavoured coffee and magnificant Portuguese tarts.'

SMH GFG 2004,'Take two passionate barristas,funky design team Six Degrees,and an old Kosher butcher in St Kilda's cooler sister,Balaclava,and what you get is Wall Two 80'

Herald Sun, Weekend, 10/4/04,Harbant Gill,'This hole in the wall,tucked behind a CD store,is a seriously happening place that spills out on to a side street.But however busy the friendly waiters are,it takes just a few minutes for the to-die treat to arrive.'

The Age, Epicure, 6/4/04,David Sutherland,Postcodes,'is the quintessential coffee haven.'

Herald Sun, citystyle, Shared Experiences, 25/3/03, Michael Harden. Great for communal dining.

The Age Epicure, Under $10, 12/3/02. "keep it simple, stupid. Wall two 80 owners are running hot with this principle."

The Age Epicure, Cheap eat 2000, 2/5/00 'The cheap short list', most bizarre redesign of a cafe that works brlliantly, pilgrims come from all over melbourne to worship at this temple of divine coffee, and hang out in a fashionably grungy space that used to be a kosher butcher shop."

Sydney Morning Hearld, good living, 7/12/99 "Melbourne we love you". Terry durack -"Melbourne does casual dining better than any city I know, its cafe scene is so rich and varied that Sydney's few jems can start looking very lonely. still pumpin old stagers such as the dogs bar etc, have been joined by a gamut of character laden newcomers such as wall 280."

The Age, Sunday Life, Eat Streets, 3/8/03, John Lethlean,'Social, snacky, and still the place for coffee south of the river.'