Oasis Bakery
9/993 North Road, Murrambeena
Opening hours: Sat-Wed 8am-7pm, Thurs-Fri 8am-9pm.
Phone: +613 9570 1122
www.oasisbakery.com.au

I have to admit that Oasis Bakery is very aptly named. For me, this place is a foodie heaven. Hidden away in Murrambeena, this Middle Eastern bakery and supermarket serves up authentic lebanese pastries and shawarmas, stocks high quality, hard to find grocery items, and offers daily seasonally-changing breakfast menu: all at reasonable prices. It’s not surprising that it is always bustling. It is a large, warehouse style space which can be a little drafty, so wrap up on a cold Melbourne day. A large cabinet displays tempting sweets, ranging from home-made baclava and lebanese pastries to cinnamon, salted caramel or nutella scrolls, macarons, brownies, and slices. Unlike the standard cafe format, ordering is at the counter and you are given a buzzer to let you know when your food is ready to collect (normally within 5 minutes!).

The breakfast menu is reasonably extensive and influenced by Oasis Bakery’s Middle Eastern roots. Savoury options include the Lebanese Breakfast of scrambled eggs with soujouk, ful medammas (a traditional dish made from fava beans), olives, haloumi, tomatoes, cucumber, labneh balls and pita, Baked Eggs with house-made baked beans, mozzarella, zaatar crisp and sourdough toast ($14) and Archie’s smashed avocado ($15.9). Those who prefer a sweet breakfast are covered by the Nutella waffle with banana, berries, mascarpone and date syrup ($14), the coconut sago with tapioca pearls, pistachio crumble and a rosewater strawberry salad ($14), and the gluten-free baked buckwheat and ricotta hotcakes with housemade jam, maple syrup mascarpone, halva and sesame snap ($14).

For today, Cathy and I went for the Archie’s Avocado, so named because of the added Archie’s #2 seed blend (think pumpkin and sunflower seeds, pinenuts, pistachios..) smashed with the avocado and feta, which is also available to purchase in the grocery section. The avocado smash was served on a thick, crunchy slice of sourdough toast, with saffron yoghurt and two perfectly poached eggs: a deliciously chunky and flavourful adaptation of the original smashed avo.

We also shared the acai bowl with granola, pistachios, banana, strawberries, coconut and Archie’s blend #1 (think LSA, chia, sunflower seeds..). Although another great healthy option, we felt like the acai to topping ratio was a little skew, being left with not enough berry smoothie  for the amount of granola given. In saying this, the granola was absolutely delicious: not too sweet and full of almonds and other nuts and seeds.

From the lunch menu, I have enjoyed the shawarma plates with hommus and tabouli as well as the Lebanese pastries: think roast pumpkin parcels, lamb and feta pizza, spinach and cheese triangles and more, all absolutely chock full of Middle Eastern flavour. Luckily for us, they also stock these pastries in the grocers (both fresh and frozen), as well as big containers of all of their salads, hommus and other dips – perfect for taking home for dinner.

Speaking of the supermarket area: words fail me to describe how much I love it. Selling a huge variety of gourmet ingredients that are difficult to find elsewhere, let alone all in one place, it makes me wish I was both able to cook for myself (not at college) and not limited by a student budget! From Persian fairy floss, Pana chocolate and frozen acai, to many varieties of coconut oil, co-yo, gourmet ice-cream, a comprehensive deli area, huge spice racks with every spice I had every heard of plus many I hadn’t, bulk bins of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, freshly baked bread, big columns of nougat and turkish delight, and much more. Seriously, go there.

Oasis Bakery is an absolute hidden gem in Murrambeena which I love being in such close proximity to at university. Quick, easy, delicious and healthy: what could be better!

Rating: 7/10
Don’t miss: the chicken shawarma plate with hommus & tabouli, or the take-home options in the grocery section
Pro-tip: the breakfast menu only runs until 12pm – get here before then if that is what you are after!
Don’t: expect Top Paddock-esque prettiness: this is straight up good food.
Features: Lebanese cafe and bakery, outstanding gourmet grocery store

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