Healthy Hub Cafe, 100 Bridge Mall, Ballarat
This fabulous little café is a brilliant addition to Ballarat’s growing healthy food culture. Everything is organic and gluten free. Beautiful breakfasts, healthy lunches, daily specials, and a diverse range of beverages keep me coming back.
Promoting recycling and sustainability, the café encourages keep cups, uses no plastic, and even features pre-loved furniture (not all of it comfortable). The beer and wine is organic and preservative free, and I’ve been working my way through the speciality alternative coffees – mushroom latte and beetroot latte being favourites.
There’s also a wellness centre upstairs which offers classes, massage, and natural therapy.
The food servings are generous and everything is prepared fresh on-site. I like the Buddha bowls where you can choose salads and protein to suit from the daily options. I’ll definitely be back regularly to support this great café, and everyone I’ve introduced to it so far has loved it. The only down side is it seems to attracts mums with young children. But if prams and noisy kids are going to bother you, grab some take-away (bringing your own cup and container, of course), sit outside, and people-watch.
diners. There were so many menu choices I had trouble deciding – not usually a problem, given my food issues, which usually reduce the options to one. The servings are huge – so turn up hungry or bring a Tupperware container. I had the zucchini and bacon slice, and eyed off the Thai red curry, and the corn fritters (the size of a plate). The ‘light’ option – soup – came in a large bowl, with bread on the side. All were delicious (I managed to sample a few leftovers when the others couldn’t finish their meals). The staff were fantastic, and they’re open every day, so I’ll be back regularly to work my way through their extensive menu. Contact Bodega Cafe on phone 
I’ve been here a few times now and tried various things on the menu. During summer one lunchtime a friend and I shared a divine roast cauliflower salad with some sort of sauce that had me licking the plate, and the lamb and lentils, which was also nice, but forgetful, compared with the cauliflower. What a shame it hasn’t been on the menu since.
Ventured in for breakfast one morning, on the recommendation of the tourist info centre, and was delighted with the outdoor courtyard. I can’t remember what I ate because I was completely distracted by a well known TV personality coming in for a coffee. He asked me if I’d finished with the newspaper, and I probably muttered something unintelligible as I passed it to him. I then tried not to stare as he proceeded to have a coffee and chat with his partner, and discussed forthcoming work with his agent on the phone. I wanted to go over to him after and say how much I admired his work and how lovely it was to see him in person, but he was no doubt wanting some anonymity and quiet time and I didn’t want to intrude. But my little brush with fame has kept me going to this day. Ahhh – the joys of celebrity.