Brunch: Imperial Lane, Auckland CBD

Imperial Lane, Fort Lane, Auckland CBD. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Herald Rating: 4/5
Address: 7 Fort Lane or 44 Queen St, Auckland CBD

We came here because because we'd bought a car and wanted to celebrate in the traditional manner - go for a drive and have a meal. Also, I'm here a bit during the week for work meetings over coffee so wanted to see how the weekend fare scrubs up.

Parking was available, but you'll have to pay. You can park at Britomart for $6 if you validate your parking ticket at the farmers' market.

We walked in and immediately thought it's a very hip-looking joint: chipped brick wall, sloping floor and industrial-style sliding door down the end.

The most unusual thing on the menu was the morning salad, featuring bacon, cos lettuce, grilled tomato, mushroom, avocado, poached egg and toasted ciabatta ($18) - not wildly exotic, but very well done. Also, the excellent hot dogs that are popular with city workers Monday to Friday are available at weekends too. Since we visited, they've added fried eggs, confit duck, mushroom and sage hash ($20).

We ordered the breakfast salad, the creamed chive eggs ($16) - which were excellent - and a pretty average quiche ($7.50). The baked sweet things at the counter make a nice treat to finish.

The coffee was very good. Always is, here.

The service was just like the coffee.

We recommend if you come here you time it to coincide with a dash to the farmers' market at Britomart (Saturday mornings, 8.30am-12.30pm).

Overall we thought it's fine, but the menu could do with a bit of a zhuzh. Also, the sloping floor thing is well-and-funky, but it's a drag when you lean back into your chair and almost topple over. The tables are fixed to the walls, so they're level, but the chairs aren't. Weird.