Seated right away. Great selection of breakfast items. Perfect coffee to go with my Avo toast…read more Friendly staff. Baked goods were at the counter. Took an almond pastry to go!

Its been a wee while since I have managed to devour the populating Auckland food scene. Looking…read morethrough my list of bookmarked eateries, Sunday called for brunch. Removing myself from the usual spots in the city we tried Crave in Morningside. Situated in a pretty quiet spot, the site itself was light and airy with tall ceilings and is a lot larger than the pictures presented. Extremely busy upon arriving, we added our names to the list, and as accurately estimated by the host the wait was only around 15mins for a table. Between the four of us eating, there were a few hits and misses. Upon being served, two of us received our meals before the other two with about a 3min wait between dishes served which is always a tad awkward watching other people eat before yours is served. Almost after always ordering the Mushroom on Toast dish today wasn't too far from the norm by choosing the Fungi from the menu. Instead of your standard toast option, it was served on a delicious kumara and feta cake, however the herb garlic cream was very lack lustre. It didn't give me that feeling that I wanted more and really missed that umph and body and was fairly under seasoned. It's a shame because the concept was there and presentation was a beaut. If I could make one recommendation, please serve it on a plate and not a bowl, it's frustrating to try scoop the last few bits with a fork and knife. The rest of the dining party were happily pleased with their tasty meals, with each dish having a modern switch up to your classic eggs bene and scrambled eggs. We agreed it would have been great to have a slice of toast or a hash served with the Cottled Egg just to tie the dish together. Otherwise overall the service was on point and friendly topping off a satisfied feeling upon leaving. Rating: Food: 7/10 Service: 8/10 Value for money: Very Good Opening Hours: Mon-Weds: 7am-5pm Thurs-Sat: 7am-late Sun: 7am-4pm 6 Morningside Dr, Morningside

The food and drink an atmosphere are incredible! I had the mocha and the Mad Dog. Go try it!read more

This is one of those coffee shops that you wished you lived close by to. Trust me I know, because I…read morelive within walking distance of at least 5 (maybe more.) Their attention to detail and care was bar none. Toys and dishes not only catered to littles, but also served with kindness and delight. Their food was also delicious (sandwiches, pancakes, donuts, and muesli, oh my!) and especially loved the iced maple latte. We will be back and soon!

Recommended by a friend from Houndstooth Coffee in Texas, this place does not disappoint. Delicious…read morecoffee with incredible, friendly service.

Tucked away, inside the fruit and vege section of Ponsonby Market is Eightthirty Coffee Roasters…read more This place is tiny, yet they roast their beans on site, which I think is pretty cool. Want to know what else is pretty cool? I figured out that if you buy a coffee from a roastery your chances of it being bloody great increase exponentially. Well, at least that's what I've found and Eightthirty is no exception. They seem to hit the nail on the head every time. Rich, perfectly extracted espresso and velvety smooth milk. I only wished I lived closer! If you like coffee, you need to get here ASAP!

I've been to Geeks On Sainsbury twice now and I'm definitely keen to go back again!…read more Where are they? Their location, 1/55 Sainsbury Road, gives them enough privacy that they aren't packed with people, but enough exposure that you don't feel like you are hidden away. Both times I ate here, I happened to be in the area. They are right beside this little park which has a few seats in it, so you could easily get takeaways on a nice sunny day and have a picnic! They are also just down the road from St Luke's Mall, so if you want some nice food that isn't from a food court, then this should be your go-to place! My sister used to live across the road and it would have been such a joy to have Geeks On Sainsbury as a local. So what's their service like? They come up to you relatively straight away when you arrive and ask where you'd like to sit. The second time I went I was on crutches and that didn't seem to bother them, which was nice. They were fast on taking our orders, although didn't mind coming back to let us spend a few more minutes deciding what to get. All of the staff I have interacted with have been super friendly and the ones who see you leave say 'Thank you' and/or 'Goodbye', which is always a nice touch. It's a cute location with delicious food and friendly staff. I would recommend it to anyone in the area! And their food? Delightful! Below are a few shots - Eggs Bene, Pork Salad, Bibimbap and a drink. I would recommend their 'Yellow' smoothie and anything with a side of their potato stack... because it is absolutely divine. There a quite a few gluten-free options, which is great and overall they have a relatively wide selection of food to choose from. They also have a cabinet with sweet treats and a few sandwiches, if that's more your style. Cost? I believe they would be considered an average café cost - around $20-$30 for a cooked meal and a drink. Not super cheap but not crazy expensive either. Totally worth what you get!

We decided to go to Geeks and Sainsbury on a whim. It had been on the back of my mind and the name…read morereminds me of the Big Bang Theory! I could just imagine the waitors in lab coats measuring out the amount of coffee beans with a test tube. Not quite! There's much to boast about their coffee lineup though. They serve coffee from Wellington boutique roasters Red Rabbit Co, famous for their labyrinth of flavours in a cup. The first choice on the All Day Breakfast menu was Granola. It sounded delicious with white quinoa, glazed strawberries, roasted almond with pumpkin seeds. Nothing like the chew-til-your-temples-hurt type that I have in a box at home. That set the tone of being healthy over geeky. The eggs benedict had the option of pan fried tofu with poached eggs. Heck, even the Waffles had granola in the ingredients list. The pork salad obviously was no normal salad, beautifully plated and garnished on top. The sunflower encrusted shell the a standout element. Light but full of crunch, the house made chutney and shredded apple was tantalising to my sweet side. The eggs benedict comes in the option of Petit and Regular so you can easily satisfy your brunch craving after a round of gym. Again keeping it light, layered agria potato takes the normal place of a hash brown. With an open bright space spilling out into the sunny outdoor setting, it's an attractive place to be all year round. The decor is determinedly geek chic. A blackboard diagram details how seriously they take their coffee extraction method, and shelves look like they belong on Pinterest. They show the same dedication to their food. Presentation is exact, pairings are purposeful. It's a shame to hear that the Shore could have boasted this cafe gem. While it reminds me of Little King, it could easily take out the backsliding quality of the food there. Service was a bit unsure - there were moments where I got excited by food coming my way, only to have the waiters step on their brakes. That however, was minor and played no part in the rest of the experience. Geeks on Sainsbury, you are doing great things for Sandringham, looking forward to hearing more from you!

Food is great, the staff is very friendly and helpful. They have few tables outside in the garden.read more

This place is close by where I live so I had high hopes and anticipation early last year when I saw…read morewe were going to finally get something new. Big Beat has been no disappointment. Although the food in the cabinet all looks amazing, it'a also quite expensive. Happily, the menu items are better value for money and we have spent many a post soccer Saturday brunch here. My thing is their Spicy Chai Latte which is so spicy I think it might have chilli in it. The Mince on Toast is also a favourite at our big table out the back and the kids have given the smoothies and muffins the big thumbs up. The people who run this place are really lovely and it has that wonderful neighbourhood cafe feel that this end of Mt Eden/Balmoral has been lacking for so long. Long may it last.

This place is RAD…read more Formerly in Grey Lynn, WP relocated to this *sweet* Newmarket shop at the beginning of the year, making it extra handy to my workplace. I love this....my "physique", not so much ;) Entering here is basically like entering Whoopie Pie Heaven. They've taken an American classic and added a kiwi twist with flavours such as Hokey Pokey Chocolate, Anzac Cookie, Tangelo and Mixed Berry, Lamington...and the list goes on. They have two pie sizes, too, depending on your hunger/sweet tooth levels. "Whoopie Pops" are also on offer- a mixture of the pie and filling dipped in white chocolate. Can't reallllly go wrong there. Also awesome: dairy free, egg free and gluten free options available #winning.

I had no idea what a whoopie pie was until I read about this new cafe opening up in Newmarket…read morecalled 'Whoopie'. I had actually never even seen a whoopie pie either, so I was quite excited about this new Kiwi take on a classic American treat! Once I heard it was two cakes sandwiched together with a creamy filling, I was absolutely hooked! My sister and I decided that we would try this place out and we are very glad we did. [Side note: make sure you go on an empty stomach because one Whoopie pie is filling!] We tried the 'Heroic' whoopie pie which is hazelnut and chocolate flavoured and the 'Playful' whoopie pie which consists of peanut butter and chocolate chunks. I was somewhat expecting a dry cake, but in fact it was incredibly moist! The filling just makes it a whole lot better! As well as selling whoopie pies, they also sell 'Whoopie Pops' (which look so nice in-store), hot drinks, milkshakes and ice cream sundaes - would could be more perfect?

Pyrenees Delicatessen is a bit of an icon around Mt Albert - it is the only store like it in the…read morearea. Both a delicious cafe with great coffees, hot chocolates, tarts and salads as well as a deli serving delectable cheeses, breads, olives and oils, Pyrenees is a delight on all fronts. The atmosphere of the cafe is really relaxed and has a definite community vibe, which is always nice. The deli has lots of regulars and with the large wooden table positioned in the window, it's the perfect spot to enjoy a coffee, have a catch up and watch kids play in the park across the road. Last time I was there my friend and I indulged in chai lattes and macaroons and the combination was brilliant. Pyrenees is the kind of place you can spend hours chatting in, and that's exactly what we did. The staff are so friendly, not once did they make us feel as though we needed to move on or order anything more. Pyrenees is the ultimate catch up spot! Tip: The deli itself is tucked behind the traffic lights by the infamous Rocket Park so can be easily missed - keep your eyes peeled for it!

Even better than I remember! Lovely arrangement on offer of French delicacies, fresh and packaged…read more Cheese, meat, sweet treats, bread, chocolates, etc. Friendly, fast service, no compalints there. Lovely set up on the displays, and seating options. I was surprised that all the coffees come in takeaway containers, seemed like an excess of rubbish that could be avoided - that is my only qualm though!

Oh no what's happened? The big breakfast has certainly gone down hill! I've had this before a…read morewhile back it used to be perfectly cooked and fresh. Today, my spuds are unpleasantly crunchy raw, the pork sausage pale, not fried. It was unsettlingly stone cold i figured it was direct from the fridge, so not even microwaved. I ejected it from my mouth at speed. and the tomatoe was over cooked. Not even a whisper of butter on my sour dough toast. My partner also had the same. He said his spuds raw and cold. And same sausage problem. His toast was not only dry but rock hard. The eggs tasted....odd. Almost no flavour. You'll be hard pressed to find me spending another $60 here. I think a McMuffin would have been nicer. Rad, you've really let your self go. Super disappointed.

Having been here a few times now, I can safely say I thoroughly enjoy their potato gratin!…read more Return of Rad Cafe can get super busy, so I always try and aim to get there between 9am-9:30am so we miss the main traffic. The cafe itself is not very large, but they still seem to be able to fit a lot of us in. Just don't expect to have loads of time to chill after eating, as you can feel bad for the people waiting! I like how they provide you water when you arrive, and I generally like the service that the staff provide us. They seem to all enjoy working there. The food is a bit funky, as in they are usually relatively common meals but with a bit of a twist, to keep you on your toes. I quite enjoy the pumpkin omelette with a side of potato gratin. They have both gluten free and vegetarian options available. An outside table works well for people who come along with their doggos - not nice during bad weather, but most of the time it's lovely to be outside and have the option of bringing your dog (i.e. good pit stop on a walk for example). It's not crazy expensive, as well. Not cheap, either, but I'd say it was about average breakfast prices. Will definitely be going back!

Pies: excellent. Slices: excellent. Quiches: sub-par, I'm afraid. Something in the texture just…read moredidn't sit right with me. Those are all the things I've tried from here, but we can extrapolate from this data and assume that most of the food here is pretty good. Oh, also I've had the bread, and it was good. So yeah, not a bad average, I think. This place does a good trade over the weekend and after school (try and avoid this period as the tiny place fills up with hulking, shouty teenagers all clamouring for pies), but if you go mid-morning or around lunchtime it's usually not too busy. The staff are friendly, the food is good, it's worth going if you like bakery food. Highlight: steak curry pie. Lowlight: still the quiche, I'm afraid.

OK now I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this is one of the best mom & pop bakeries…read morethis side of Auckland. The Boston Bakery (for which I have no idea why it is named after a city in the States!), is quite unassuming and from the outside isn't very distinguishable from any other old school bakery. Except that first of all the family that run it are the loveliest people and if you're lucky their little super adorable daughter will run the EFTPOS machine for your purchase. They also cherish their regulars; for example my partner used to be a regular and then moved overseas for 3 years and they still remembered her after all that time! And then there's the pies, oh sweet sweet delicious heaven-sent morsels of delight! They have the standard fare which drive a hard bargain at $3.60, but then they also have 'fancy' pies for $4.20 which include rockstar gems like Steak, Mushroom, Bacon and Cheese, or Chicken, Camembert and Cranberry, or Steak and Kumara, or Butter Chicken and Broccoli. My personal favs are the first 2 aforementioned pies and I really have to discipline myself as I have to walk past the Boston Bakery twice a day, 5 days a week. If you are in Mt Albert and need to fill the gap, swoop up one of these hand-made with love treats.

I first stepped through Chapter's door about two years back when the weather was really bad and I…read morehad a 30 wait for the bus, it seemed like a good time to try it out. I think I was the youngest in there by 30 years that day but tea is not just for old people. I also didn't let the romance novels put me off, I had my own reading material anyway. Chapter is little but the shelves are crammed with an incredible range of teas, I had mango paradise, often I go for Granny's Garden, I like the fruity ones. Down the back of the store is all the tea paraphernalia, if you're serious about your tea drinking and want all the right tea gear, you'll find it here. A nice little shop/cafe and the lady who owns it is really nice, Chapter is a pleasurable place to sit over a pot of tea and the black board outside often has funny tea related quotes which is a nice touch.

Amazing experience! I live in the USA but was told I could order signed Nalini Singh books from…read morethem. I reached out to Frances who was more than happy to help me out! I was able to order 4 signed and personalized books for my sister with shipping to the USA. It made my sister so happy to get signed books from an author she's been a long time fan of and Frances was incredible and so friendly throughout the entire process!