Jacqui Alexander and her father Sasha Krivitsky, whose family emigrated from Russia following World War II, bring a warm, old world sensibility to Common Ground L.E.S, their new cafe located in the heart of Carlisle Street in Balaclava.

The cafe follows the duo’s first store, also called Common Ground, a roastery, cafe and coffee retail shop in Ormond. In the Carlisle Street cafe, the duo seek to recreate the warm feel of a New York-style Jewish deli, with toasted bagels and traditional Russian savoury treats like pirozhki (doughy dumplings) and blintzes (Jewish crepes) doing a good job of evoking this atmosphere.

And unlike the characteristic mayhem of Balaclava, the interior of Common Ground L.E.S is a peaceful and personable space. This is a place to take your time, find a moment of reprieve from the chaos of the outside world and rediscover a bit of that old world comfort.