The menu is quite different from the usual brunch fare - no eggs bene in sight.
The look is stylish, with whitewashed walls, glass jars as light fittings hanging from the ceiling and wooden tables line the narrow cafe, their stools topped with squares of sheepskin.
The food was excellentand the interesting options made choosing no easy feat. I went for the bacon, feijoa, vine tomatoes and avocado on spelt ($19), while my companion ordered a combination of several items on the menu, ending up with mushrooms, bacon and a fried duck egg on rye ($20). The feijoa turned out to be a chutney, which offset the rest of the dish perfectly. My friend was more than happy with her combo, especially enjoying the mushrooms and both meals were just the right size. As an afterthought, a white brownie ($4) topped off the meal.
The coffee was excellent - The Origin, from Ethiopia. Another Ethiopian variety is available for those wanting filter coffee. My companion had roasted hazelnut milk (house-made) in her flat white - which a teaspoon-taste deemed to be delicious on its own. We were intrigued by the house-made kawakawa, grapefuit and ginger tea too, so shared a pot after our meal. Tangy and refreshing.
The service was top-notch. All the staff were friendly and helpful, obviously taking a lot of pride in their product and were more than happy to explain menu items and the various coffees and teas. There was no problem with catering for food intolerances, the staff even helped suggest ways to cobble together a delicious meal.
Overall, this cafe, on the border of Ponsonby and Grey Lynn, is a sure-fire hit for a brunch. We'll be back.
