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Amidst the daily hive of activity at Macedon Square’s shopping strip, one café quietly serves up some of the best hot meals this side of Templestowe Lower. Outside, things often seem deceptively mild in tempo, but the reality is quite different inside. On any given day, owners Ken and Olive Lo welcome a stream of regulars and locals, trooping in for their fix of ONA coffee. Once through these doors, visitors to the café enjoy the sort of experience that turns many one-timers into regulars.
The story of Salted Caramel Café began as a post-Covid pivot for this former maths-tutoring couple. Ken’s healthy disdain for the digital universe saw him resisting the gravitational surge in online interactions. Eventually, he and Olive decided to trade polynomials for poke bowls and pasta. They took over the existing business and augmented the menu with a dash of Asian classics. Today, one can expect anything that exits the kitchen or drink station to be treated with the same mathematical precision required of their former discipline.
At Salted Caramel, truffle lovers are in for a treat. Right at the top is the umami-laden Truffle Mushroom Pasta, a good choice for those who love rich and creamy textures. The Black Truffle Fried Rice is another winner with a lighter mouthfeel – Olive’s deft touch in the kitchen transforms humble fried rice with this decadent ingredient. The result is perfectly tasty, separated grains of rice – a far superior rendition to the stereotypical oily and gluggy versions available elsewhere. Rounding out the couple’s tribute to their favourite ingredient are the popular Truffle Scrambled Eggs and Truffle Chips.
For those who love hot fried chicken, prospects are rather juicy. The Hot & Spicy Chicken Waffles and the Crispy Chicken Poke Bowl deliver tender chicken thighs encased in sweet, spicy, and crunchy exteriors. Speaking of poke bowls, the Smoked Salmon Poke Bowl is the ultimate in comfort food, with its generous toppings and well-balanced flavours of mayonnaise and goma dressing. Sweet tooths are not overlooked. The brioche-style waffles or pancakes served with berry coulis, pistachio crumble, maple syrup, and ice cream hit the intended mark. Meanwhile, the French Cube with ice cream is calling: individual French toast squares drizzled with syrup and topped with berries – yum!
This café is truly a friends-and-family affair, with Ken and son Andrien running the barista station. From the nowhere-to-hide Long Black to fancier treats such as the Espresso Shake, there are no disappointments. Besides a commitment to using good-quality ingredients, Ken does not use artificial syrups in his beverages. It is also worth noting that tea is not just an afterthought at this establishment; Ken has chosen to go with SOMAGE, a highly regarded Victoria-based curator of organic and ethically traded teas and drinking chocolate. Fans of their range of Chamellia teas and the gluten- and dairy-free KALI hot chocolate will find them constantly stocked here.
Not inclined to hawk their wares on social media, Ken and Olive have nevertheless found their café’s reach growing steadily thanks to recommendations from friends and neighbours. Even its all-black shopfront seems to step back from an otherwise colour-infused strip. Much like the couple, its aura of quiet reserve sheaths a bright, welcoming refuge inside. Although the black theme persists on the floor and ceiling, a large communal table leads the change to a lighter palette with a strong timber-finished presence. Pastel grey walls and soft cushions complete the café’s aesthetic to create a destination described by some as relaxing – “a nice place to slow down” – and (hint!) perfect for lazy afternoons.
The café also has a large back section that is ideal for private parties and large groups. This space is especially valuable for families with young ones thanks to a small, dedicated play area that is well-lit and visible for chatting adults. Stay long enough and one can catch glimpses of neighbourhood camaraderie of the gentle kind. The café’s customer base cuts across all demographics. Strangers converse, old friends bump into each other. Young, old, and everyone in between – people of all cultures and professions seem drawn here for the simple things done well.
