West 48

West 48, located in Footscray’s backstreets, is something of a local hang out. Regulars gather around the pockmarked old workman’s bench that serves as a communal table, perch on bright yellow stools and sip Allpress coffee from the cafe's distinctive orange cups, eager to support another example of Footscray’s foodie renaissance.

The dishes featured at West 48 are refreshingly simple. Breakfast, which is served all day, features an agreeable balance of sweet and savoury options. The salad of poached and dried fruits with fresh ricotta is a heady burst of autumnal flavours, while the heirloom tomatoes, avocado and feta on toast is a tremendously pretty dish with halves of yellow, red and green tomatoes set against creamy feta.

Lunch is served from 11am and features a variety of toasted ciabattass. There are Cuca sardines with tomato and watercress; roasted eggplant with peppers, feta and mint; or most intriguingly, tiger prawns with coriander and aioli options among others. The menu has plenty of gluten-free and vegan options and there is no extra charge for soymilk (although the cafe is cash only), a touch that brings soy drinkers flocking.

West 48 caters to families and discerning foodies alike, it entices with affordability and culinary skill.