Power Plant

Update 18/06/2023: Power Plant is now closed.

March 30, 2019

Power Plant has been developing an excellent reputation for the past few years all the way up in Templestowe. Lisa and I had an opportunity to stop in for a snug breakfast on a drizzly day while Michael and a few of his mates were embarking on the Oxfam Trailwalker nearby.

Power Plant is situated in a commercial building, but it's been fitted out in a casual, comfortable style, with a long arc of windows and bench seating, golden-hued wood furnishings and cheery spots of colour. The menu is entirely vegan, with the requisite novelty lattes and kombucha, and dishes that are arranged with a minimum of six components and a sprinkling of edible flowers. Even if that approach sets off my cynicism, there was a lot that actually looked really good: a Spanish chickpea omelette; a brekky burger stuffed with tofu, a hash brown and avo; a bumper teriyaki bowl...

Ultimately I stayed on brand and ordered the cinnamon French toast ($18.50). Edible flowers aside, it was a charming homely version, squidgy with cherry and apple compote and showered with coconut. I'm not usually looking for icecream at breakfast time, but this little scoop was lovely. Power Plant also served me up the largest, loveliest almond milk chai ($7) I've ever drunk!

The staff were attentive and friendly, and kindly split our bill (though I think they'll divide at most three ways). It's rare that I find myself in Templestowe, but whenever I'm even remotely close by I'll be seeking excuses to pop back in to Power Plant.

____________

Power Plant has received positive reviews on blogs little vegan bear, Veganopoulous and Mamma knows north. 

____________

Power Plant
2-6 Swilk St, Templestowe
8838 1282
food, drinks
https://www.powerplantcafe.com.au/

Accessibility: Entry is flat and furniture is reasonably spaced; a mixture of bench seating and chairs with backs. We ordered at our table and paid at a low counter. Toilets are located outside of the cafe in the main building.

August 7, 2006: Bhoj

In our first homeless weeks in Melbourne we stayed at the Eltham home of Carol, my aunt. We did our best to provide her with grateful dinners but eventually resorted to Indian take-away. Bhoj Templestowe is a sister restaurant to Bhoj Docklands, which was favourably reviewed in Cheap Eats 2006 and we were further enthused by the low prices. We picked up a huge bag of food, including complimentary pappadums and dal.


I chose an appetiser that I’d never seen before, Sounth Papdi. These were small flour shells with a potato filling, topped with a yoghurt sauce and served cold. The shells and filling were quite bland, but fresh coriander and a tamarind tang to the yoghurt gave the papdi flavour. They were a refreshing change from the hot and heavy samosas I usually order from Indian restaurants.

For dinner, clockwise from centre: palak paneer, malai paneer kofta, vegetable korma, saffron rice and garlic nan. The korma was pleasant and mild, with a discernable taste of almonds that I enjoyed. The malai paneer kofta were just cottage cheese chunks floating in overly sweet sauce, not the fried vegetable and nut balls that I expected. The palak paneer, rarely a pretty dish, was my pick of the curries we chose. The balance of spinach and tomato was just right, and it was pungent with garlic. The garlic nan, however, lacked flavour and was a bit rubbery.

If I were staying in Eltham for the long term I might return to Bhoj to sample a few more dishes, but it probably won’t tempt me away from my new Carlton home. If we want more Indian on Carol’s turf, we’ll check out Ginger Garlic next.

Address: Shop 14, 114 James Street, Templestowe
Ph: 9846 7799
Licensed, BYO wine only
Price: $7-$9.30 for veg mains
Website: www.bhoj.com.au

Categories

• Takeaway