Brunch: Humbug, Glen Eden

Humbug, Glen Eden. Photo / Dean Purcell

Herald Rating: 5/5
Address: 32 Rua Rd, Glen Eden

We came here because my brother-in-law and his wife were housesitting close by and had made this their local for a few weeks. They were big fans, so we came to find out what the fuss was about.

Parking was just a few metres from the door.

We walked in and immediately thought how clever the owners were in designing this cafe. The interior is large, light and airy with mismatched furniture, retro artwork and floor-to-ceiling windows. There are two dining areas - one with a kids' play area; the other allows you to dine free of child-noise.

The most unusual thing on the menu was either the toast with tomato, feta and coriander/cashew pesto ($9.50) or the brioche french toast with bacon and butterscotch banana ($16.50).

We ordered eggs benedict with bacon ($17.50); tomato, feta and pesto on toast (they offer five varieties, including organic bagel); and kids' pancakes with maple syrup. The plates were wiped clean.

The service was terrific. There were plenty of staff on the Saturday morning we were there and they quietly and efficiently tended to everyone, despite it being busy. They seemed genuinely happy to be there.

The coffee was spot-on. The long black arrived on a little plate with a jug of hot water on the side, which was nice. We ordered seconds.

We recommend if you come here take a seat in the main room, away from the family area, if you want a quiet bite while reading the newspaper. There aren't many cafes that offer that choice. And take home a bottle of old-fashioned Foxton Fizz with you.

Overall we thought this large, retro-style cafe is a bright spot in an otherwise rather rundown area of Glen Eden. Terrific food and great space. The owners deserve praise for really thinking about what diners want.