Brunch: Mimosa, Takapuna

Mimosa Cafe for brunching out. Photo / Richard Robinson.

Herald Rating: 3/5
Address: 460 Lake Rd, Takapuna, Auckland

We came here because we'd heard only good things about this small Kokako cafe. We were even more curious when we had trouble locating it.

Parking was available for only 30 minutes on the main street so we found a two-hour pay and display in a nearby street.

We walked in and immediately thought the interior was cool yet serene with vintage chairs, distressed walls and industrial light fittings. They've worked wonders in the narrow space.

The most unusual thing on the menu is the Osaka rosti - an okonomiyaki-style potato rosti served with hollandaise, fried egg and mayonnaise ($16) from the lunch menu, which I would have ordered except it wasn't available until later. The brunch menu is pretty simple.

We ordered the mixed herby beans on toasted sourdough with chorizo ($12); and the eggs benedict with low-fat tahini hollandaise sauce ($15). Both dishes were tasty and rustic, the bene particularly good with its fantastic butter-free hollandaise. The waitress explained they'd almost run out of herby beans, so Lucy opted to top up her dish with mushrooms (a little bland). We took home an organic apple and date muffin and a massive slice of gluten-free lemon cake. Neither were particularly sweet, which worked for the muffin but not so for the zest-flavoured cake.

The coffee was satisfying, with a good head of froth on my soy latte. They also make an intriguing sounding ginger latte.

The service was a little reticent but it was the first day for one of the staff.

We recommend if you come here spread out by the window if you can, or grab the single table out the back, which also gets the sun.

Overall we thought Mimosa has an inviting atmosphere but it would be great to see more of the Japanese influence in the brunch menu.