Old Man Drew: a garden cafe in Ascot Vale

We were delighted to find the creative garden oasis in the city at Old Man in December and last month visited again on a gloriously sunny day.  The food is lovely but all the better for the beautiful surroundings.  The above photo is of the space with umbrellas suspended above a green house.  It would have been a wonderful place to eat but there is a tyranny of choices of amazing spaces.  Each feels lush with greenery, thoughtful with details and a complete delight.

Even the walls are green and the fence is full of greenery.  The garden is so full of life that it can barely be contained by the wrought iron railings.

This ceramic pumpkin is one of the sights to greet us on our first visit.  When we later peeked inside we could see a little fairy in a tiny bed.  The garden is strewn with such adorable details with the presence of wee fairies, and clever hands have crafted something magical out of found objects and historic detritus.  On our second visit, we saw the pumpkin again but the bed had fallen down. Like all gardens, the place is constantly evolving.

In the midst of the garden is a rusty old truck.  It is like discovering a secret garden with an intriguing history.  The plants and tables are arranged around it as it if was always there.  We thought we might sit at this table on our first visit with my parents but decided to move to a more shady space.

Moving meant leaving this cute little insect hotel.  One of the signs says "fly in, fly out".  It is so clever, and thoughtful and beautifully arranged.  Moving also means more discoveries.  It seems like every time we turned a corner we would find something else to delight us.

This was our new more shady, and more distressed, table.  On a warm summer day, all the greenery makes it feel cooling and calming.

I had a Cranberry Spritz ($10.00) of fresh fruit, mint, cranberry juice, and lemonade.  It was lovely and refreshing.  I liked how this spritz was included in the cocktails with non-alcoholic next to it.  Who of us who does not want an alcoholic drink has not read the cocktail list just for fun!  Sylvia had a Soy Iced Coffee, my dad had a Cold Pressed Pink Juice of apple, strawberry, lemon, mint, and pear, and my mum went for a flat white.

I ordered the Avo Toast ($24.00): smashed avocado on toasted sourdough with grilled roma tomato,
asparagus spears, capsicum jam, crumbled feta, dukkah and fresh lemon.  I was pleased that the egg was an optional extra rather than part of the meal because when you don't like egg, it seems to be all over breakfast and lunch menus.  Sylvia loved eggs and had the poached eggs on toast with an edible flower garnish.  My mum had a chicken and brie sandwich and my dad had the Moroccan lamb salad.  We were all very pleased with our meals.

On my second visit, with Sylvia and E, we again started at a small round table and decided to move to a bigger table.  We welcomed the autumnal sunshine as we ordered drinks.  Sylvia had a Summer Peach Iced Tea, E had a Latte, and I had a Cold Pressed Green Juice ($9) with apple, kale, pineapple, cucumber, mint and spinach.  My drink was a lovely combination of sweetness and earthiness.

On my first visit I had been tempted by the OMD Green Fritters.  I didn't resist the fritters on this second visit and ordered the OMD Veggie Fritters $25.00: corn, zucchini, kale, and sweet potato fritters, with
smashed avo, tomato and herb salsa, and house made capsicum jam.  Again I was pleased that the egg was an optional extra.  These were vegetarian and gluten free.  I really loved these fritters, perhaps more than my smashed avo.  E had fried eggs on toast and we ordered a bowl of chips to share.

Sylvia had the Brioche French Toast ($24.00) with berry infused mascarpone, decadent chocolate fudge
sauce, fresh berries and Canadian Maple syrup.  It was indeed indulgent and she loved it.  It is so easy to enjoy a meal in such beautiful surroundings. 

After we finished out meal, we walked through the gardens and buildings, enjoying exploring the spaces.  I wondered at how much work goes into tending all the plants and craft.  There are succulents and flowers and ferns everywhere.  Little fairy nooks are filled with miniature lives.  Colourful toadstools vie for attention among ceramic chooks and frogs.  Brilliant orange fish swim in an old bathtub.  An old trough with a mangle is decorated with mosaic tiles.  Old floral plates are glued around mirrors.  Flowers are made out of old glass plates and cups.  There is no end to the creativity and beauty.

Not only is the garden amazing but there are many wonderful spaces inside the old brick building that was originally a 1868 grocery store servicing miners en route to the goldfields.  It took on different uses over the years and a century after being built, it was purchased by the Drew Family where they ran Vic Drew Used Trucks.  (This explains the old truck in the garden!)  The business remains elsewhere today but the Drew Family have renovated the building as a cafe that is both a memorial to the old days and a beautiful cafe that appeals to instagrammers capturing the zeitgeist.

A glass-ceilinged patio that leads from the garden to the counter.  If you head in to pay, you are most likely to be distracted by so much to see.  Mirrors, statues and draping vines adorn the old brick walls.  There is a balcony here, though we were not quite sure if there is a public space upstairs.

By the counter are displays of food.  Cakes and slices are on display in the refrigerated cabinet.  Did I mention that they also do high teas?  Beside thee fridge are plates of croissants, scones, biscuits, chocolates and more.

An abundance of choice is available around the counter.  When we were there in December, there were lots of Christmas foods, old fashioned Santas and decorations for the tree.  There is plenty of temptation when it is not the season for gifting.  Opposite the counter are shelves of teapots, cups and saucers, jewellery, hanging decorations and all manner of marvels that are all for sale.

In December, as in this photo, the inside dining area was rather full.  It is lovely with old fashioned pictures, a dresser of crockery, an ancient cash register and plants aplenty, including in an old scale.  In May, it was fairly quiet because most of the customers were making the most of the sunshine outside.

On one wall is a little history corner of the Drew family, especially Victor Drew, World War I veteran and founder of the truck business.  Victor, who ran the business with his son Bill, is the eponymous Old Man Drew.  It is worth stopping by to read about him and look over the old photos and documents.

Downstairs is the cellar that would have seen a lot of items come and go from groceries to the drinks from when it was a wine bar. It has what must be the original old stone walls which can be admired from an old couch or a long table with what looks like an old church pew.  It looks like a place for a large family or a group of old friends to gather with glasses of wine raised in a toast, big shared plates of food and much laughter.

By the main dining room is a smaller more private room with another lovely old leather couch and a stag's head over the mantelpiece.  A room for gentlemen and cigars!  Not a place for vegan gatherings!

Then it was back outside to continue exploring the garden.  We admired the upcyling of items such as old nails used as stamens of metal flowers, old purple bottles made into hanging flowers, a bird cage filled with flowers, and tea cups catching the sun on a string of pearls.  There are many places we would like to sit next time and I am sure there are yet many other delights to discover.

Old Man Drew
359-361 Mount Alexander Road
Ascot Vale, VIC, 3032
Open 7 days a week 8am-3pm
www.oldmandrewcafe.com.au