Chill vibes and sunny days are on the menu at Armadale’s Moby 3143.
As Armadale’s Moby 3143 comes into sight as you amble up High Street, you’d be forgiven for thinking the on-trend slate grey exterior and muted pastel and deep teal decor hinted at a stripped back, minimalist approach to brunch. But a quick glance at the menu – awash with inspired flavour profiles from home and abroad, indulgent delights, and nourishing superfood mash ups – shows a playful and creative side that does not hold back when it comes to serving up some great food, and awesome coffee.
From the team that brought us the beachy Albert Park fav, Lenny 3206, Moby 3143 continues its seaside sister venue’s chill vibe and creative approach to cafe fare, but with an inner suburban attitude that has seen it become one of Armadale’s favourite brunching destinations.
Housed inside a 1970s gem of Australiana that would please any Wes Anderson fan, it’s desirable corner locale ensures the venue’s three floors are flooded with natural light, making Moby the perfect place to read the paper and get your caffeine hit on a gorgeous Spring morning.
Street level features an outdoor seating area that is popular with pooches and their people, as well as a bustling ground floor dining area complete with table and bench seating. With wide, arched windows that open completely for a gorgeous indoor/outdoor feel and refreshing breeze, the bench seating is in hot demand, so sneak in early! Head upstairs to relax and unwind on the quieter mezzanine level, or keep venturing skyward to the highly sought after spots on the outdoor deck. With wall-to-wall windows separating the mezzanine and deck levels, light reaches every corner at Moby, and even in Winter it feels invariably brighter than its contemporaries.
Serving breakfast until 3pm – which means there’s no rush to roll out of bed at the crack of dawn on a Sunday – Moby 3143 has plenty of options for the most important meal of the day. Whether you’re eating clean or looking for something totally indulgent, you’ll find it amongst Moby’s extensive brekkie offerings.
Nourish yourself inside and out with the Breakfast Salad which is a tumble of fresh, raw seasonal greens & herbs, tossed with roasted pepitas, almonds, chilli, and buckwheat, then topped with crispy halloumi, avocado, honey dressing and a poached egg. Or indulge in the comfort of the as-goood-as-it-sounds Apple Pie Porridge, a vegan friendly, richly flavoured bowl of soaked oats and chia seed porridge, stewed apple, coconut cream, almonds, cinnamon, and an oh-so-delicious peanut butter crumble.
When I visited Moby, I couldn’t resist the cauliflower and halloumi fritters. Served alongside a rainbow of red and gold beets, fresh green herbs, a zingy spicy avocado mash, and a delicious beetroot hummus, the fritters were the perfect, filling start to my day.
Moby 3143’s lunch menu will also satisfy, with my personal favourite, the Chicken Katsu Burger, which is a huge hit with diners. The Japanese inspired burger sees a deliciously moist and crispy sesame and cornflake crusted chicken breast sandwich between a fresh and zingy apple and cabbage slaw and a generous heaping of sweet and savoury cult favourite, Golden Curry sauce, and finished off with a mild wasabi mayo. Served all together in a lush and fluffy bun, and you have the ultimate in East meets West comfort food.
If you’re wanting something a little on the lighter side, hit up Moby’s Poké bowl. Eat well and feel good with this nutrient rich sticky black rice, served with fresh salmon, ginger and sesame greens, edamame, kewpie mayo, avocado, chilli for a little kick, and a luxe sweet miso dressing.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to Moby’s hand cut chips with aioli. I know what you’re thinking: with all of these gourmet delights on offer, I’m raving about the chips? If you are a lover of the humble fried potato – and, really, who isn’t? – then Moby’s chips need to go to the top of your bucket list. Super thick cut, and perfectly cooked with a crunchy, seasoned exterior and a light and fluffy interior, Moby’s chips are amazing. Served with a rich and creamy aioli that perfectly balances salty and a li’l sweet, these beauties could be a meal unto themselves. The addition of charcoal to the aioli adds a slight touch of an earthy flavour, and creates a colour palate that matches perfectly to the slate grey cafe exterior – and I love a consistent aesthetic!
If you’ve got little ones in tow, Moby 3143 also had a kids menu featuring classics like a cheese and Vegemite toasty and eggs with soldiers, as well as pancakes served with vanilla bean ice-cream, fresh berries, maple syrup, and hundreds and thousands for the burgeoning junior foodie.