Brunch: Cafe Suisse NZ Cruise Deck, Mt Maunganui

Cafe Suisse NZ located on the Cruise Deck on Maunganui Rd, Mt Maunganui. Photo / Alan Gibson

Herald Rating: 4/5
Address: 169 Maunganui Rd, Mount Maunganui

We came here because our teenage son's school rugby team was playing a friendly match at Bethlehem and we decided we'd combine a weekend break with his match.

Parking was easy - especially if you're an early bird. There's street parking and an off-street park close to the cafe.

We walked in and immediately thought we loved the red and white decor, the Swiss flags and the cuckoo clock on the wall - and the nod to New Zealand with the All Black flags in the corner.

The most unusual thing on the menu was the names - such as the eier opener and pfannkucken for the pancakes. We wished we'd ordered "the full yodel" big breakfast when we learned you get a yodel from the kitchen when it's cooked and another when it's served.

We ordered the eier opener, which was creamy scrambled eggs on toast and proved too much for my husband who started off with gusto but found the rich serving filling. He reckoned my alpenstack was the better choice, with its bacon, pineapple and avocado slices sandwiched between corn and pesto pancakes, drizzled with maple syrup ... delicious.

The coffee was lovely and strong, we couldn't fault it ... Swiss precision delivered as expected.

The service was friendly, informative and relaxed, ideal for a popular holiday spot.

We recommend if you come here you leave space for some of the delicious pastries and cakes in the goodies cabinet, either at the tail end of your brunch or to take away. Yummy florentines and fruit tarts ...

Overall we thought we'd come back again. And next time we'll order the full yodel - ay - eee - oooo. Now that would be something.