La Roche

Great food, plenty of daily specials, generous potions and friendly staff.
Always stop in for a feed when I’m in town.

Came here during St Kilda fest, luckily was able to get a table. But despite it being busy, had a really good experience. Ordered some beers, potato wedges and the souvlaki board (basically a gourmet chicken souvlaki but served on a platter in its separate bits — greek salad, chicken, tatziki, etc). It was all awesome and fresh and a lovely experience.
It seemed a tad pricey at the end, but I’d return for sure

Love this place!
It’s in the heart of Acland Street and always busy.
So long as you don’t mind the loudness, this place is great!
A must is the southern fried chicken. Prob one of the best in Melbourne.
There are food and drink specials each day.
Worth a stop!

During my time in Melbourne, I stayed in St Kilda. This place was recommended to me by my host, saying that it was one of his favourite restaurants because of the deals they have. I came to this place on a Thursday evening, and they had a $ 15 special where they were offering a Porterhouse Steak, doused in a mushroom sauce, with salad and chips (chips as in French fries). Oh, it also comes with either a soft drink, a glass of wine, or a glass of beer. I chose the beer.
One major disadvantage about that deal is that you have NO say on what beer you want in this deal. I couldn’t remember the beer they gave me but it tasted almost like the cheap beer that a lot of really young Americans drink from heaps of barrels not too far from university campuses.
However, that steak was so good. I ordered it cooked medium, and the flavour was pretty good. The mushroom sauce was nice, and the texture of the mushrooms was not bad. The salad was a great balance to the meat. The chips were also good and portions were very generous. One dish should be enough to fill the stomach of a grown man. I walked back to my host’s flat very full and sleepy.
The service that night was not great, so you may have to get a little loud to get someone’s attention. This place is at a great location, on a major street in St Kilda, not too far from the beach and Luna Park. There’s also some outdoor seating, and it’s great for a group of people who want to get some drinks. Expect a loud environment during the evenings. Seating is fairly comfortable.
Overall, if you are chasing for some deals in St Kilda and you want to get a small flavour of the nightlife in this part of Melbourne, this place might not be a bad choice. I have not found a bar back home that can offer a deal that competitive with food that actually tasted good so I feel like I can give this place a pretty good rating.

Great happy hour prices! Parma night was delicious and HUGE, good enough for 2 people to share. The pizzas looked and smelled delicious, staff was friendly and prompt. Downside, no wifi. Outdoor seating was awesome and has heat lamps when it’s cooler outside.

Great beachfront neighborhood went in for the special peri peri chicken. All good until I got into the thigh which was totally raw. Someone is going to get sick here. Breast and wing were fine. I sent it back, didn’t want anything else. Waitress was nice, I didn’t ask for a refund but did ask her to show it to the chef. This could make someone really sick. Other than this it was as nice but I did not get the feeling they understood the danger here.

After passing oodles of cake shops on Acland Street, I decided to avoid cake I needed to stop an eat something reasonably healthy. I popped into La Roche for a healthy avo on toast option. The food was pretty decent and came out quickly.
The toilets were grubby and had a weird smell that I figure were from the night before bar crowd.
Staff were reasonably friendly but I did notice that when they talked to each othere there was a fair amount of f-​bombs dropped. But I noticed this a fair bit in Melbourne? The service industry is definately losing some of it’s shine in some areas.
If it weren’t for the f-​bombs and the grubby toilets I would have gone for 3 stars.

This place has nice food, good portion sizes and it’s reasonably priced if you go for the daily specials. Atmosphere is also pretty cool, kinda like a pub crossed with quirky bar

I was trying to avoid crazy Aussie prices for dinner and found this spot with their $ 15 risottos. Amazingly their seafood risotto (normally $ 23) was included. It was a big portion and was super tasty with plenty of calamari, prawn, and mussels. It was loud in the joint but it added to the experience for me as I was dining solo.

Well priced, above average pub food. Good for a drink and a snack. Good breakfast too!

Came here on a Monday. I Usually avoid it, as it’s so busy. I’m glad I made an exception this time! All mains (on monday)$ 15 porterhouse $ 16 (from $ 32) I could not fault the place. Big serves, great service and a nice funky ambience. Not a place for a quiet meal though. :-)

Backpackers and a friendly vibe is La Roche.
99 Review’s and a problem ain’t one!
This place is usually teeming with people at most times of the day and
throughout it. It usually has quite a friendly vibe, so you always feel at home here.
but it’s also has a «in your own secluded world» feel to it as well. When it’s busy
one doesn’t really get to talk to the other tales as there some divide between
them. It’s a sit down joint, no a meet and mingle exactly, but you’ll still have fun.
The further in you go in, the more it’s like a bat cave; in fact quite far in, it’s very
dark. It nevertheless retains a good atmosphere and energy. So hanging about
is easy. But it isn’t the classiest joint either.
The food here is your favourite grub standard winners. Good pizza’s and all
manner of other dishes/​menu offerings. Drink and beer specials are usually
on offer, and hence it can become a bit of a drinking scene. But not to the point
of ashamedly drunk.
La Roche is right at the end of Acland street, and is almost a last stop for your
busy bars/​night spots. While it’s not really a bar nor a pub, but more so a cheap
and cheerful restaurant/​place to eat. Yet, it doesn’t need to over complicate itself
with the fancy-​schmancy game either. Plenty of punters are happy here.
Leroy Coffee and an awesome bottle shop (acland cellars) are nearby too.
Almost attached even. These are some good spots. It’s a friendly place
but it’s packed nature does not make for convivial meeting of others, most times
at least nor conducive for doing so. But its good for simple no fuss drinks and
foodwhere you can get some reasonable priced food.

If your after some cheap drinks then La Roche is the place to start. We weren’t there for a meal, but did grab some chips and a pizza. I would have to say both options were not the most satisfying I’ve ever had.
But the place was packed and most people seemed to be enjoying their eats.
Great place to start a night out

Verdict: St. Kilda is pretty stocked on bars, all of which cater to virtually the same clientele. While La Roche dishes up some good grub and provides a great group atmosphere for either kicking back or watching a match, I wouldn’t make it my first stop if I were simply looking for some drinks.
Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere?
Easily one of the larger bars in the area, La Roche somehow manages to dish up prompt service even when it’s packed. While you shouldn’t be looking for a server who asks your names and remembers your favorite colors, they’ll get the job done without a doubt. Star Granted.
Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?
Calm down. Yes, those are mid to high double digit prices that you’re looking it, especially if you’re thinking food, but fear not, because when I say these portions are big, I mean it. Even the chicken Caesar salad is enough to feed two comfortably, and the same goes for virtually every dish on the menu. While this is great if you’ve got a large group, it’s not as great if you’re looking for a small bite to eat. Either way, you’ll get what you pay for and then some. Star Granted.
Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?
This really is a tale of two orders. On one hand, the food at La Roche really is excellent. On the other hand, drinks are weak, as in… REALLY weak. A buddy and I decided to split a full jug of Red Bull Vodka for $ 25, and that ended up providing us each with about 3.5 glasses of Red Bull Vodka. While I’m not particularly a lightweight, 3.5 Red Bull Vodka’s in a period of about 30 minutes should be enough to at least get me a buzz of some sort. Not the case. While the food is excellent La Roche’s drinks are weak. Stick with the beer. Single Star Granted.
Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?
While the food is excellent, it really does cater specifically to larger groups, and you won’t get nearly as much value if you’re heading in here solo. In combination with weak drinks, you might only hit up La Roche if you’re fitting to catch a match with a group of friends. No Star Granted.

My friends and I were cold, hungry, and looking for a place to eat near St Kilda that wasn’t absolutely crowded (*cough* Vineyard). Luckily enough, we stumbled upon La Roche and what a great decision to come here it was.
Ambiance: It was still crowded at around midnight, which makes a lot of sense because when things start closing and people don’t want to go home, they flock to whatever’s open. I’m pretty sure you’ll still be able to find a table though because our party of 4 was seated immediately without a problem. Unfortunately, it did get a bit too loud with everyone struggling to talk over each other.
Customer Service: I’m only mentioning this because it was pointed out to me by the two lecherous fiends I was with (hi Michael M. and Tom R.), but for the men of Unilocal I think you’d really like the attractive waitressing staff. Especially their uniform of really small shorts. But besides that, it was actually alright — everyone was decently polite and food came out fast. Could be a bit friendlier though.
Food: We ordered Fish & Chips ($ 22) and Potato Wedges ($ 9). The Fish & Chips came with a small salad and tartare sauce and the potato wedges came with sweet chili and sour cream. Both of the meals were fantastic and I definitely do rate their Fish & Chips. The prices were a bit steep, but they made up for it with the quality.
My recommendation? The Fish & Chips, probably going to be one of the best Fish & Chips you’ll have down Acland Street. The Fish was tender with batter crunchy on the outside, but not overdone. The chips were thick and soft — yum!
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I’d definitely come here again. Quick service, great food, and dependable opening hours for those late night tummy grumbles in St Kilda!

It’s not uncommon to stroll down to Acland Street, St Kilda on a relatively early Sunday morning and find the usually bustling mecca of the seaside suburb eerily desolate — it seems the locals (and visitors alike) don’t like rising earlier than 10am for their standard Sunday morning ‘pick me up’ feed.
Therefore if you are one of the few that can manage to tear yourself away from the haven that is your warm, comfy bed, you’ll be fortunate enough to secure an outside table at the popular La Roche Café, nestled at the Barkly Street end of Acland.
With the warmth of the outdoor heaters providing a surprisingly cosy environment, the tall benches and stools that line the front of La Roche are always in high demand — especially for those that love a side of ‘people watching’ with their bacon and eggs.
If you’re not one, however, to drag your slightly hung-​over self out of the house til midday, you may be relegated to an inside table where, although often crowded, still provides a snug, cosmopolitan ambience where the walls are lined with murals and the smell of coffee lingers.
Weekends are especially popular for those who are either travelling (or have simply spent their last pineapple at the bar the previous night), as the meals are hearty yet affordable. The famous «Big Breakfast», which includes La Roche’s exceptional pied bread, comes with bacon, eggs, baked beans, spinach, mushrooms, a hash brown and sausage, and comes in at a very reasonable $ 11. The Vegetarian breakfast is another favourite, which also includes the mouth-​watering sautéed mushrooms. With a selection of omelettes, breakfast croissants (with cheese, bacon, egg and tomato) and traditional English feasts, choosing a savoury breakfast can become quite the challenge at this venue.
For the sweet-​tooths’, the menu also consists of a selection of pancakes, fruit toasts, French toasts, yogurts, fruit or muesli, again all ranging in price from $ 4-​$ 15.
If lunch is more your thing, regular pizzas are served at the special weekend rate of $ 10, with the menu also consisting of sandwiches, burgers, pastas and steaks, not unlike what you would see on a standard pub blackboard.
If all of this talk of food isn’t appealing enough, La Roche’s main drawcard would have to be the price of grog. A jug of popular Bulmer’s cider stands at a regular rate of $ 10 while beer and spirits are also reasonably priced — easy to see how patrons often find themselves sipping beverages and socialising til sundown.
Usually served by someone with an accent of some kind, the atmosphere at La Roche is casual yet friendly, making it common for neighbouring tables to strike up conversations and bond over a cider or two.

La Roche — Its cheap food in big portions and a great place to pass your time in St Kilda.
I love the outdoor high top tables. They are great for people watching, and really just taking in the atmosphere that Acland st provides. It can be hard to grab a table out here though, so you have to be quick! (Yes, that means I am one of those annoying people who hover over tables, eyeballing the diners in the hopes to make them uncomfortable enough to finish quickly and give me their table)
The food is not the best food I have ever tasted in my life, but as far as burgers snack foods and easy eats go, its as good as any!
Service depends on which backpackers they have employed lately, so its abit touch and go –but this isnt the type of place I go to expecting amazing service anyway, so its not a big deal. Come for the ambiance and the cheap eats

Cheap beer, cheap food, by the beach.
I am a fan of La Roche, if you are after a fine dining experience then perhaps not your best option, but if you are wanting a casual and comfortable place to catch up with friends and have a cheap meal then La Roche is perfect. They have food and drink specials every single day of the week where you can get yourself a tasty parma, fish and chips, burger and fries etc. The servings are always huge, more than I can ever finish on my own and the food quality is decent. La Roche also offers happy hour so you can enjoy yourself a few pints of perhaps a glass of wine with your meal instead.
I have always found the service at La Roche to be efficient and attentive, they do have a large turn over of customers especially on weekends, so there is an element of get you in get you out. That being said the staff are never rude and always willing to accommodate.

La Roche is a nice place to go for lunch but I have a few issues with it.
One: It has always intimidated me a bit with all of the people sitting on stools eating as you walk past. They’re pretty much head height and I’d rather not look at people eating that close as I walk past.
Two: The service there has always bothered me due to it being a little slow and I’ve felt like I’m not being taken care of.
Three: It’s decent but there no excitement or something in particular that draws me to it. The menu is predictable and just… OK.
The thing about La Roche is that it is a fine place to go but I’m a little picky and I don’t walk away from there going «I can’t wait to go back and try something else». I just felt like there wasn’t a spark that enticed me enough to go back.

La Roche caters for people who want food and don’t want to pay much for it. You don’t need to care so much what you are eating as long as you are full by the end of the plate. Every day they do have an amazingly cheap special which does make you consider the quality/​cost trade-​off.
It is always very busy as it is in an amazing location down the end of Acland St and the staff (backpackers) are always friendly, most likely because they are on holidays. I would prefer to eat somewhere else but happy to come back here for the beer and the atmosphere.