Review: The Terrace in Piccadilly Arcade

On the menu: A compact but interesting selection of hot breakfast and brunch choices, including a three-egg omelette with bacon, mushroom, spinach, cheese, tomato, capsicum, avocado or onion - choose three ($16.00). Plus there were plenty of paninis, sandwiches, corn fritters, wraps, salads and frittatas to choose from.

Then there were the sweet treats - scones, chocolate bread and almond croissants, cheesecakes and slices... Anyone with a sweet tooth would have a field day here. French toast can be ordered, too. It is served with ricotta, raspberries and original Canadian maple syrup ($15.50).

I'll have: The big breakfast which had beautifully poached free-range eggs, gourmet sausages, crispy bacon, home-made hash browns, tomato and mushrooms ($18.00). If you prefer your eggs a different way, they will prepare them the way you like.

She'll have: The eggs Nova Scotia ($17.50). Eggs Benedict with salmon is what she usually orders when she allows herself the luxury of going out for a late breakfast or early lunch, so she regards herself as a bit of an expert on the dish.

She assured me the eggs were poached perfectly, the sauce was just right, and everything else was to her satisfaction.

We shared: The lemon cheesecake ($6.50). We couldn't resist, but we were too full to finish it.

For the adventurous: For something a little different, give the Breakfast Burrito ($16.00) a go. It has bacon, eggs, salsa, cheese, re-fried beans, all wrapped up in a tortilla.

To drink: Barrista Troy O'Rourke has been selected to compete in the Huhtahmaki New Zealand Barrista Championships 2012 to find New Zealand's best coffee. He certainly knows how to make an excellent cuppa.

I had a cappuccino, she had a mochaccino, and we both had another with our cheesecake.

The staff: It's busy, especially in the morning and around lunchtime when the office workers in Tauranga's CBD are hungry and need their caffeine fix.

Owner Jan Mulder's team is friendly and efficient, and credit goes to the hardworking people in the kitchen.

The food was well presented and tasted excellent.

The verdict: It was obvious the people at The Terrace take pride in bringing quality meals made with top ingredients to their customers. Everything on our plates was either home-made, free-range, or at least of the gourmet variety. We'd definitely like to have another sit-down brunch here when time allows, but I'm glad there is a good choice of things to have at my desk, too. Did I mention the fantastic coffee?

The Terrace

Where: 73 Devonport Rd, Piccadilly Arcade, Tauranga

Phone: (07) 578 9744

Open: Monday to Saturday; 8.30am-4.00pm