Panscape on Kingdon Street in Newmarket. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Address: 5-7 Kingdon St, Newmarket
Herald rating:
The menu is a belly-rumbling reading with a Mediterranean twist. All the soft breads and bagels are baked on site - your nose will tell you this as you walk in. The soft and squeaky Cypriot halloumi is also homemade. And make sure you cast your eyes over the array
of sweets and savouries in the cabinet on your way to a table.
The food was so good we can't wait to go back. I went for the Turkish menemen ($18), a very generous baked egg dish with tomato, oregano, spanish onion, arugula and a warm, fluffy bagel. My partner picked the Turkish breakfast platter ($19.50), featuring a spread of some of his favourite things - spicy Turkish sausage, olives, fresh tomato, halloumi - plus jam, honey and a big toasted bagel.
The meals were massive and so delicious we did our best to get through the lot. Next time we'll take a doggy bag. Word has it hundreds of the bagels fly out the door every day.
The coffee was strong, black and delicately served in a small, intricate metal vessel with a lid, traditional for Turkish coffee. I sipped my water, allowing the grounds to settle at the bottom before sipping slowly. Give it a try. (Some say the grounds at the bottom will tell your future.)
