If you work in Auckland CBD - rejoice!…read more I've been told it's quite onerous and stressing to be tasked with finding a spot for a business meeting or staff lunch. To be honest, I can't think of a better job! As one who doesn't normally work in the CBD, I can't help but feel quite smug as I cut through the corporate crowds on my day off from teaching. The purpose driven walk, the slick fitted suits..sometimes I miss the pulse of working in town. I was glad to have been tipped to look out for the ANZ tower with the revolving doors because one: I had a moment of panic when I realised I was on an involuntary digital detox after leaving my phone plugged in my room. Which means two: I couldn't even find the address through our best friend Mr G. And to make it worse, three: there were no signs whatsoever with the restaurant name. Lucky it has the name on the business directory on the wall. Onto level one, it's nice to eat at higher levels above the ground. Apart from the famous Orbit, there aren't really any places in Auckland that offers that. It's good for people watching. While waiting, we made guesses as to what was being made in the open kitchen. And by open kitchen, it was literally at the counter so you could see everything. Cute little balls - must be gnocchi. When the waiter came to take the orders, it turns out the gnocchi was paired with the fish of the day. It was a unanimous decision to order the day's special. I tell you, it was close to perfection. I don't usually like ordering fish for fear it'll turn out limp and papery but I ordered it for the love of gnocchi. You can imagine my joy when I found the swordfish to be so silky and smooth. Flavoursome with enough sauce to go around the salad and the fish, everything else was kept light to complement the gnocchi. Beside me, a lemon and blueberry pancake stash was being devoured. With such a generous dollop of coconut yoghurt, it looked like a dream. Mental note: must go back to try this. It turns out The Lunch Room is pretty much exclusive to the corporate crowds. Only open from 7am - 4pm Monday to Friday, there's no chance of catching it after work or for brunch in the weekend. "Nourishing. Fairtrade. Organic. Hand-picked. Locally-sourced." All the good words. The Lunch Room if you're reading this - please extend your hours! Holidays only comes every 10 weeks or so for teachers (not complaining). Those who are lucky to work in town, your colleagues will thank you for introducing this place - go for it!

Went to have a look last Saturday and then found out it is only open Monday to Friday so I made my…read morefist visit on this sunny Friday. The lunchroom is located in busy downtown area but hidden in a quite corner, great to grab a bite during lunchtime. Food is nice, price is a bit high, vibe is nice and relaxed.

Came here for breakfast on a vacation with my family. Service was friendly and helpful. The…read moreinterior was clean and had a nice, modern aesthetic. We ordered the big breakfast, french toast, and Thai prawn salad (special meal of the day). For drinks, we ordered cappuccinos and the bulletproof coffee. All of the food was delicious and presented well. The coffee tasted great as well; we preferred the cappuccinos over the bulletproof coffee. The pricing was very fair, since the servings were large. We left full and happy.

Serving three beans coffee this cafe is in the new building complex at the corner of Garfiled and…read moreParnell road. Catering to the local workday week crowd there is a selection of fresh made muesli, friands and brioches as well as wraps and paninis. The building is brand new, clean and bright with natural light. It's only a 2 minute walk from my front door so they are getting lots of my coffee business. I have to say the Three Beans coffee and their baristas are doing a pretty good job with my takeaway soy flat whites!

This is quite a busy cafe, but we were able to find a table. The service is fast, and efficient…read more The employees were not as friendly, but that could be because of multiple reasons so I would not count towards them (as I said it was pretty busy there). We ordered banoffee tart and quiche, hot coffee and iced Americano. Quiche was very lovely, and banoffee tart was super nice. I was underwhelmed by my iced Americano because it came out rather light. I gave this place 4 stars for their quiche and tart!

Warning. The salads may look nice BUT for some reason i have upset stomach every time. I think the…read moresalads are not fresh. Coffees are fine. Cooked food is ok. But i want a decent salad, and i don't go there anymore.

Pies are the and a great selection to choose from. Have been frequenting for a number of years…read morelove the atmosphere

Great food & excellent pies. The coffee is great too. A perfect beach cafe. Highly recommended.read more

Heads up, the only seating is outside so if the weather doesn't support this arrangement, you'll be…read moregetting your order to go. Mustard Kitchen is a small hipsterish shack located a few minutes walk from Kingsland's cafe scene but this is not just another cafe, Mustard Kitchen has different on the menu, it caters to the conscious consumer. Coffee is supplied by Kokako, organic fair trade caffeine which is a major draw card for me. They also have a good fridge and sell good beverages, no coke here. The juice board is impressive, made from fresh produce, with dairy free options available and jars of vegan bliss balls and cookies can be found at the counter too. They even have a Tommy & James Nice Block freezer, which is a little dangerous knowing how close that is to my house. I love the coconut ice cream. The cabinets are full of vegan, gluten free chia puddings and Bircher muesli served with fruit compotes and coconut, mean as looking pies and sandwiches, and an assortment of baked goods in vintage wooden crates. They also have a kitchen menu. When you come to pay your bill, you'll hear your total and think you were under charged, you weren't. Mustard Kitchen's prices are about 20% less of what you'll pay at say The Fridge or Shaky Isles 10 minutes in the other direction. That should spark your interest to pay these hipsters a visit if you haven't yet...

I was in the neighbourhood so I thought I'd stop by after reading its reviews…read more I bought a pie which was tasty maybe a tad on the salty side & I must say was a small pie! I spotted the muesli tubs which I thought were ridiculously overpriced $7 plus for what looked like 3/4 tablespoons full of muesli - maybe it was extremely delicious but seriously stingy size for the price. The variety was ok but I've been to bakeries where there so much delicious choices it's hard to decide.

Surprisingly good food for a hotel restaurant. Lovely servers are friendly though spread a little…read morethin. Long wait for dinner so kitchen staff may have the same portion of staff. Lamb rump was very nice and wine offering are solid and affordable.

I feel the interior for a small cafe is just right for a place that focuses on a small menu and…read morecoffee. It is decorated with items that celebrates the age of coffee if you look at the detail around the place. The outside set up is less to my liking but okay. The Coffee was good and for a coffee drinker that is important. The food I had was above average so I will not highlight my one minor concern. Service was quick and prices were exactly what I expected for this location. I will visit again as it is good little place for those waiting to head to a bus or the local office worker. This place serves the niche it is in just right.

Went for a late breakfast, quite surprised to discover the cafe (that closes at 3) stops preparing…read morebreakfast mid-day. We had quiches from their cabinet and they were ok. The cafe itself is in the transit station with busses and the occasional train stopping. Order at the counter, food delivered to your table. Good, friendly service.

Eggs, Benedict with bacon was delicious along with the orange juice. My husband had the bagel with…read morecream cheese and blueberries marmalade.

Little Sister is a fairly new addition to Henderson. With ex-Sweetie and Salvation Kitchen owners…read moreat the helm, it's got to be good. To be honest, I'm relying on a Viva article for the second part of that statement, because I only went to Salvation Kitchen post-sale and the coffee was bloody awful. Don't go. Sweetie, on the other hand, was lovely and just like Little Sister, its counter-top teaming with sugary treats - like a goddamn Willy Wonka scene. Impossible to resist. My husband had arrived on the hideously early flight from San Francisco last week (yes, he came bearing gifts, and the gifts he did not manage to secure I promptly ordered online), where he was hungry and in desperate need of New Zealand milk, coffee and more importantly, eggs! Given that Little Sister is only open weekdays, this was the perfect chance to #supportlocal and head somewhere I had been dying to try out. First problem: check the bloody details, Vanessa. Little Sister does not open till 7.30am. I had assumed 7am, so we hung out in the car park for 15 minutes like losers. There's lots of parking, with very definite 'Little Sister' named spots, so unless you're absolutely blind, it's quite clear where to park up. The morning menu was quite brief, and I wasn't offered another one to check out what they offer for lunch. That's not to say I'm offended by brevity, quite the opposite. As you may have noticed, I get terrible FOMO so I appreciate obvious choices. My morning meal was therefore a hearty one - pork and fennel sausage, perfectly crisp bacon, slow cooked tomatoes with just the right amount of sweet and tart, a wonderfully spiced (yes, spiced!) potato and carrot rosti, a very large mushroom that had been bathed (and appropriately drained, leaving the sticky and tangy remnants) in balsamic vinegar, and two glorious eggs with the most vibrant orange yolk. And, of course, a knock-out latte to wash it all down.

Little Sister is a great little find out in Henderson - West Auckland. After going with a friend…read morewho currently resides out there, she informed me that there is no other place like it in the area. I can see why the hype was high, with it being near full on a Friday lunch. We both actually ordered the same dish, but again with the lack of the menu options that didn't contain eggs, I swapped the eggs for avocado. The dish was good, but I think it just lacked flair and seasoning. It was just a small step away from being that much better. Also, the menu item is listed as a mushroom stack, so it implied that it was more like mushrooms on toast, so I wasn't quite expecting one large portobello mushroom, however all was cooked well. I also ordered the green smoothie - sorry this may have real name which i can't remember, it was actually really good but was not cold! It just isn't quite the same when its not cold, I suggest they add ice, or frozen banana. The cafe is chic and modern, the service could use a bit more training, just with their communication skills and acknowledgements but overall it was pleasant and I think it's a stepping stone of what can come of Henderson. Rating Food: 7.5/10 Service: 7/10 Value for Money: Good 91 Central Park Drive, Henderson Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 730am-3pm