They say ‘you eat with your eyes’, and that exactly encapsulates the experience at Double Shot café in Deakin, however your belly will sure be feeling satisfied as well!

Dining at Double Shot is an experience that ignites all the senses – the aroma of roasting coffee, the hustle and bustle of the kitchen and the sheer visual of its colourful dishes will have you in absolute awe.

From micro herbs, edible flowers and the freshest seasonal produce to delicately crushed nuts and the perfect sprinkle of shaved coconut, every detail is accounted for by the Double Shot chefs when it comes to the dishes that they’ve specially curated for the menu.

On a fine sunny day, we made our way to the café where we were first served a Fresh Young Coconut followed by trio of juice and smoothies. At first sip, they instantly made us want to catch the next flight out on a tropical holiday. The Purify Cold Pressed Juice is a refreshing accompaniment to any dish, made with green apple, kale, spinach, celery, lemon and cucumber. Then there’s the Mango Shake Smoothie with mango, passionfruit, banana and coconut milk, which provided a delightful citrus twist. While the Up & At It Smoothie comprising of cacao crunch, raw cacao, banana, espresso, dates and almond milk is the perfect drink to kick start your day.

One up from a smoothie is the Frozen Tropical Nice Cream. You get all the goodness of a smoothie but with mango, papaya and banana slices alongside seasonal fruit, toasted coconut and house-made granola – delish!

The most important meal of the day, breakfast, is well and truly taken care of at Double Shot, with the cafe boasting an extensive menu with plenty of vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options. For the health-conscious, you can dine knowing there are dishes that are light and fresh, but for those after a bit more of an indulging experience (like me!) there are also delicious substantial choices jam packed with plenty of seasonal fruit and veg.

We started our feast with the Chilled Tropicana Pudding, and if this dish was to set the tone for what was to come we’d be in for a treat! The pudding is topped with lychees and raspberries, coconut cream, agave and pecan crumble. While the fruits added a beautiful flavour, the texture of the pudding combined with the crunchiness of the crumble is a marriage that sets your taste buds alight – a must-try dish if you usually enjoy acai bowls or warm oats in the morning.

My pick for a herbivore brekky is the Breakfast Greens, with broccolini, asparagus, kale, Swiss brown and Portobello mushrooms, beetroot ricotta, organic seeds and a poached egg. The perfectly poached egg atop the bed of ingredients bursts with oozy egg goodness which brings together all the wilted textures of the dish seamlessly, leaving a velvety smooth taste that lingers long after last bite.

A stand-out on the menu is the Strawberries and Cream Hotcake, served in a mini skillet with fresh strawberries, berry sorbet, rose white chocolate, vanilla cream and macadamia. This guaranteed scrumptious feed will have you coming back for more with every spoonful. The fluffy thick cake base is a hearty alternative to the classic pancakes we all know and love, and the tower of nuts, berries and chocolate looks almost too good to dig in. Make sure you snap up this Instagram-worthy dish before drenching it in the vanilla cream!

If you’re after a breakfast with all the works, look no further than the Paleo dish. Choose from scrambled or poached eggs with San Daniele prosciutto, roast butternut pumpkin, truss tomato, baby peppers, avocado, macadamia cheese and house-made paleo toast. This popular dish is a guilt-free substitute to your greasy big breakfasts and is filled with plenty of nutrients. Presented organically from producer to plate, the hero is the pumpkin which is cooked perfectly, slicing straight through your knife with little effort.

Best of all the immaculate presentation of the dishes reflect the oh-so-cool fit-out of the space – a stunning feature wall of natural wood, neon signage, cascading greenery, choice of indoor or outdoor seating and an abundance of natural light. To top off your Double Shot experience, grab a coffee to go and a sweet pastry from the cabinet to prolong your Double Shot experience just that little bit longer!