Cafe Bulldog Doesn’t Need Any New Tricks

I stumbled upon Café Bulldog in the Footscray Mall a while ago, and haven’t been able to shut up about it since. The decidedly dull décor, cheap diner character and the food sparked something inside me, so I decided to go back on a journalistic mission to expose its brilliance.

O.K., so it’s not much to look at from the outside.

O.K., so it’s not much to look at from the inside either, but there is definitely a homely feeling that is apparent not only when the meal is served, but also when you inspect the prices.

There’s something wholesome and reassuring about having a plate like this placed in front of you. All meals are served on these plastic Arcopal plates, each with a different pattern, along with mismatched cutlery. It felt like I was having a meal that my mum had cooked, which was really charming.

It certainly isn’t gourmet, but does it need to be when they offer the glorious option of all-day breakfast? It’s not showy, flashy or even all that presentable, but neither is Mum’s cooking, and I still love it. The truth is, I’m sick of cracked pepper and goat’s cheese; the lack of pretense at The Bulldog is perfect.

With its ultra cheap prices (who ever heard of a steak sandwich for $4.50?) and the high turnover of customers (mostly the elderly, I’ll grant: they know a good price when they see one), mean it’s rarely unoccupied.

It’s not really the type of place to go out and have a nice dinner with the family, but on a Saturday arvo, after waking up a little seedy and in need of something to fill your stomach with the $10 mixed change in your pocket, you can’t go wrong heading down to The Bulldog. Get the kranskys with a side order of everything else on the mixed grill and you’ll be feeling better in no time.

Cafe Bulldog
91 Nicholson St
Footscray
9687 7155