Volumes

They have the best wedges served with sour cream and sweet chilli! Food is a little pricey but quality is very good!

Approximate cost: $25

A refresher of my earlier review...

While still providing some delicious meal items and scones that seem to have been baked in Mr Burns' oven, they're so freakishly ENORMOUS! (Simpsons reference here) Volumes has lost a bit of its charm for me lately.

The staff are reasonably friendly and the coffees are good. But the prices are a bit high and some of the meals that came out for my recent group visit were a bit disappointing in quantity and quality.

The chairs and tables, while charmingly miss-matched, are becoming rather rickety and I found I had to swap a few chairs at our table as they were rather wobbly and uncomfortable.

But the biggest downside is the acoustics. Volumes is a good name for the place - when its only 1/3 full, you still need to raise your voice to be heard! It is so noisy that I don't think we'll be in a hurry to return.

One of the best cafe's in Eltham. Generally bustling by lunchtime, Volumes serves up a great range of food. Set at the back of the bookshop, with entry off the main road, it's well known to locals. For the warmer months there is also an outdoor seating area overlooking the street (keep in mind this is often occupied by smokers), but if you don't mind that, it can be a lot quieter than indoors which is very echoey.

This place has been a family favorite since it opened (and that was a while a go as I was in high school ;) ) and I have never had a bad experience.

The food is priced very reasonably for where it is and the atmosphere is always great. I quite often forget they sell books also which is good as it is not always easy to find a book shop these days!

We always end up here cause it's a tested cafe and always delivers. They have the best wedges and chips! yummo! and there is always PLENTY to share around which is nice. They are licensed - yayee! have plenty of (albeit dirty and old) high chairs and a $14.95 quiche/frittata or the like with choice of two salads...so that's nice and filling...and it's just a nice atmosphere...

Approximate cost: $14.95

Okay guys I used to work here and the management was terrible and I heard a lot of talk that people didn't want to go do to these certain issues.
I have to update you (in case you didn't already know!) that there is definitely new management and this place is GREAT!
The food was always always gorgeous, very tasty, well cooked by some great chefs and not too bad wait time.
The cafe is actually at the back of the building and at the front is a quaint book store/gift store! There is also a balcony with outdoor seating.
Coffee is really nice here, they always hire a good barista so worth going for a hidden away coffee or some delicious lunch!

This is the perfect place to hide away for a few hours. It is unfussy, there's plenty of space, the food is fantastic (love the buffet options) and I always associate it with a really pleasant time. I have a thing for the yogurt they use. If anyone knows the brand, let me know!

Approximate cost: $15

I was really annoyed when I walked in to get a take away latte and didn't get served. I stood there for almost 10 minutes before a staff member arrived and then started serving someone else who came in after me and was standing at the other end of the counter. I often shop around Eltham and will never ever bother going there again!

Quirky and interesting venue with plenty to keep you amused. Can be rather noisy at popular times and service tends to be a little slow, but the food is always good and if you're not happy, they'll re-make it for you. (My recent chicken wrap was a little cool and they happily re-made and toasted it for me.) Good for kids in highchairs since they've got colouring stuff, toys and books. But can get a little chaotic with the more mobile kids. The book and gift store is quite pricey but still fun to browse.

Approximate cost: $15

Food is ok. Like the fresh juices. They have highchairs. Nice to look at the books and gifts. Sometimes smoke comes in from the smokers on the balcony - yuck!

Volumes is always great food and quick friendly service. I love the book shop and giftware, i would buy everything!

Approximate cost: $5-15

Went in for a coffee and a snack, the place was not busy. Had to wait an excessive time for the coffee to arrive, was served at the same time as another customer at the next table who had ordered his 10 minutes after me. Coffee was lukewarm, and response from staff was unapologetic, never again. Poor service and poor attitude.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere, it's just a really warm environment. A great place to go for breakfast or brunch.

Great food and gorgeous freshly squeezed orange juice. Only thing...I wasn't a fan of the hash browns. I prefer the traditional kind and these were a little too 'healthy' lentil-esque for me!

Approximate cost: $12

We were there with a group of family friends for Sunday lunch. It took one hour for my three year old's bowl of chips to arrive. It was the last thing to arrive even though other meals at our table, that had already arrived, contained chips. When questioned about this, the owner became defensive and rude. Under those circumstances, it was a major effort to prevent a tired and upset child from having a fullscale tantrum. We were very disappointed by that level of customer service and won't be going there again.

I have been visiting Volumes for over 12yrs now and have continued to have great experiences here. From long summery lunches on the balcony to cosy coffees in front of the fire I have always been very happy to come here. The gift shop and book shop make it even better though hard to leave without a purchase!

Love this place. It is a beautiful gift shop and cafe in one. Great selection of food..the display cabinets always look great and very tempting. Plenty of room for kids and they are pretty well catered for with tubs of toys/books to keep them entertained. (although they could be updated) Fantastic range of books and gifts to browse at once you have enjoyed your coffee. Definitely worth a visit and good place for a casual catch up with friends.

Good food and coffee, great atmosphere, fantastic gifts and books. Welcome children and there is plenty of room for them.

This bookshop/cafe is the perfect escape. it has a great range of books for kids and adults alike and its gifts are lovely too. the cafe section is great with good food selections and good service.

Great place for a catchup and coffee. The food is lovely and service always with a smile. Atmosphere can be a little noisy but still very nice.

This is a great place for mums groups to come and spend time together. High chairs, colouring books and large tables make it easier to juggle kids and coffees. The outside balcony is great in summer and the fire great in winter!

Approximate cost: $12

Lovely cafe located within a bookshop/giftshop that has a good range of books and mid range giftware.

The food is nice with a good range of vegetarian options for lunch - something that is hard to find! Their pancakes are delish.

Really casual, busy, noisy place perfect for families and also has a great book an gift shop attached to it. Food is good value and they always have something interesting in the buffet as well.

What a fantastic place to have a long Sunday breakfast by the fire. After a beautiful big breakfast head out the the book shop and wander through the gift some also. Really nice

This is a cafe, a book shop and a gift store all in one. Lots of tables available and large tables for big groups. There are tables outside on a balcony that overlooks the main road of Eltham which can be nice on a warm day. Varied lunch menu with some specials each day. Service is a little slow because it's always so busy. Sometimes i've waited for 20+ minutes for a quick bite to eat which can be frustrating when you're on a short lunch break.

The gift shop and book shop is great for fining that special unique gift you might need. Anything from jewelery, books, stationary, wrapping, toys and kitchen and home wares. Prices are reasonable.

Approximate cost: $12.00

This is not a local cafe for us but is well worth the trip over to Eltham. When in the area we often stop for morning or afternoon tea which is where we first discovered their Banana Bread with spiced whipped butter- very nice with a coffee. Recently we ventured their purposely for a breakfast and thoroughly enjoyed the "big breakfast". Everything they serve looks really fresh, tastes great and is great value for money. Great casual atmosphere. The painting on the side wall at the back of the cafe is great.

Approximate cost: $15-20

I have dined at Volumes on several occasions and am always delighted with the restaurant quality food at cafe prices. You never have to wait long for a hot meal and you can get freshly made juices and yummy desserts. The mural at the back of the cafe is quite amazing and the paintings along the wall change often. It's one of my favourite places to eat mid-week.

This is a lovely cafe in one of Melbourne's most green and beautiful suburbs. The food here is really great, and the atmosphere is cosy and welcoming. The book shop has lots of interesting titles and a few gifts, plus there are some other nice stores sort of attached (like the crystal and aromatherapy shop). They may just make the best milkshakes in Melbourne.

The food and prices are good here. The ambience is great. It's similar to "Borders" here- as you walk in there is a book shop as well as a gift shop, towards the back is the cafe offering delights such as pastries and gourmet meals. The service is ok which seems to be the deal with most places now a days- i don't understand why that is but it just is.

Approximate cost: $20 for lunch

The most defining feature of Volumes is the fact that the cafe doubles as a bookstore, as well as selling other items such as art works and music cds. Overall a rather comfortable and cosy environment, with delicious food and a generally unique dining experience.

Approximate cost: $15

This place is unique. It is a bookshop, musicshop and cafe all wrapped up in a beautiful spacious renovated building on the Main street in Eltham. The cafe serves typical cafe fair and great coffee and in the 30+ times I've been there I've never had anything to complain about. It has a great atmosphere and plenty of room. They are also quite kiddy friendly.

Approximate cost: $13