Bar Sur Loup is a French styled café and ‘petite patisserie’ in an unlikely location of a shopping strip in Balwyn North, just off the Eastern Freeway.
The café named after a small hilltop Provencal town where the owner once lived and its décor is warm and cosy, with blonde wood furniture accented with French bric-a-brac, posters and bottles of fancy Hansi soft drink from Alsace.
The counter showcases sweets and pastries from The French Lettuce in North Carlton and shiny pozzetti filled with Sicilian gelato, while the menu includes more savoury items such as tartine (open toasted sandwiches) and freshly made crepes.
For breakfast we ordered a simple croissant with ham and cheese ($5.60), a jambon, basil and sundried tomato tartine ($13) and two Belgian liege waffles with vanilla bean ice cream ($12).
The meals were simple and flavoursome though I didn’t love the texture of the croissants or waffles. The former had a shortcrust pastry-like crumb rather than the airy litheness of buttery swirls and the waffles were bready rather than fluffy under the sugar crust.
The frothy hot chocolate was welcome on the bleak morning ($3.70) and every coffee comes with a free babycino with marshmallow. The coffee is made with Italian Illy beans.
During quieter times (for instance, weekday mornings) kids are welcome to go in to the kitchen and watch the crepes being made.
The Nutella crepe ($8.50) is a highlight as the pliant pancake is piping hot and oozing with chocolate – so if you’re after a sweet treat I recommend it over a croissant or waffles.
The café is great for children, with pram access, a booster seat, large bathroom with change table inside and even a small sloping grassy patch in the back courtyard for cartwheels!
The staff were very friendly and welcoming of Lady AB and I too. Experience a little bit of provincial Gallic charm at Bar Sur Loup if you’re in the area.
HOT Tips:
- Pram access;
- Booster seat;
- Change table in bathroom;
- Back courtyard;
- Standard menu suitable for kids;
- Free street parking;
- Close to Heide Museum of Modern Art, Banksia Park playground and Bulleen Library; and
- For other child-friendly cafes in the area try Café Vue at Heide and Little Kitchen on Lilian.