Pillar of Salt

As the Biblical story goes, Lot’s wife turned back to watch Sodom burn and was turned into a pillar of salt for disobeying God’s word. The moral of the story is: don’t look back. Pillar of Salt owner Kostas Zervoudakis has no reason to.

He bought the space from Kael, Matthew and Elias Sahely in 2014 and rewarded customers for riding the transition by overhauling the menu. Chef Jason Kubasek excels at imaginative fare such as the Nordic Breakfast Board: ocean trout gravlax with vodka and juniper berry, served with scrambled eggs, rye toast, dill aioli and Emmental cheese.

Zervoudakis has also worked hard to expand the variety of coffee on offer. While the Pillar custom blend by Five Senses rarely disappoints, try one of the alternating single origin brews, or look out for infusions such as honeycomb or blueberry in summer.

The fit-out rotates loosely around a very stubborn pillar that couldn’t be moved for structural reasons. Covered in white tiles, there it stands – an appropriate gesture to the cafe’s name.

Other details include a recycled Canadian plywood communal table and colander light fittings. A retractable roof and outdoor heaters in the courtyard make it ideal for Melbourne’s temperamental weather.