Emilia reviews a stylish Abbotsford eatery

Click PLAY to hear Emilia’s full review on 3AW Breakfast 

Nestled in the heart of Abbotsford Convent, Julie’s occupies a space once home to the pay-as-you-feel eatery Lentil As Anything that I used to frequent as a teenager. Well before that, in the dining room in particular it was the Magdalen asylum and laundry from 1863 to 1974. The transition from slinging warm vats of lentil curry to farm to table restaurant is a significant evolution in the convent’s culinary offerings, showcasing the refined yet comforting cuisine of chef Julieanne Blum. Blum, formerly the head chef at Cam’s Kiosk for six years, collaborates with friend and partner Cam Miller. Together, they’ve created a dining environment that is warm, relaxed, and inviting, focusing on familiar and joyful food experiences.

The emphasis on local, fresh ingredients is a cornerstone of Julie’s culinary philosophy. The restaurant’s kitchen garden, managed by gardener Cate Della Bosca, is pivotal to the seasonal set menus offered at Julie’s. They cleared and rebuilt it in 2023, this garden provides a bounty of fresh produce, guiding the direction of the menus. 

There’s two dining options, book a reservation, or chance a walk in and dine with the set menu or sit out on the terrace and dine a la carte off the blackboard. We chose the latter and despite it being an icy winter night where, as we left out the front of the building – we could see our breath in front of us. But protected from the wind, behind the convent and with many a gas heater surrounding us we comfortably ate. 

Starting with scallops topped with toasted fennel seeds and crispy breadcrumbs and cooked in a fennel butter, topped with dill. Speaking of crispy and toasted, the dark brown crumb of the leek croquettes was just delicious, bursting with creamy leek as you cut into it and topped with curried pickled vege.

I was a huge fan of what they called ‘roast beef’ on the menu but it really resembled more of a steak, Cape Grim beef to be exact. Smokey, thick sliced pieces of the beef, topped with chinese broccoli and gravy on a bed of caramelised shallots and fennel seeds. This was the most expensive thing we ate at $28. I was hugely impressed with the value especially after deciding against the $70 set menu inside.

I also tried the Maryland Chicken and the fish and chips. A similar crumb on the fish as was on the croquette, crunchy and deep gold with a homemade tartare with salad, pickled vege and thin chips on the side was only $20. Despite being so simple, the dish didn’t feel unrefined; it still felt purposeful and gourmet. The Maryland chicken had the same sides as the fish with the protein replaced. The chicken was juicy, as you would expect from somewhere like this and the skin flavoursome.

Julie’s presents itself as the stylish, laid-back big sister to Cam’s Kiosk, exuding comfort and unpretentious charm. The menu changes every 6-8 weeks, adapting to the availability of local produce and the creative whims of the chefs. This fluidity ensures that each visit to Julie’s offers a unique dining experience. I loved the ‘pick your own adventure’ style too.

My experience reflected that of so many others when trying to find Julie’s, especially at night. It’s tucked around the corner on the other side of the building from the bakery. So, walk through the front gates and keep right, where you’ll see the large windows that look into Julie’s kitchen. Follow the convent around to find the unassuming, convent door.

Ultimately, dining at Julie’s is an experience defined by its connection to place, history, and the land. 

Julie’s

1 St Heliers St

Abbotsford