Brunch: L'Oeuf, Mt Albert

L'Oeuf in Mt Albert, Auckland. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Address: 4a Owairaka Ave, MT Albert
Herald Rating:

We came here as a celebration of being on holiday and because we'd heard L'Oeuf offered a creative menu and guessed it would be particularly good with eggs.

Getting there was less easy, as the signage outside the cafe is not easily spotted. However, the locals obviously knew how to find it as it was chock-full, we had to sit outside.

We liked how each meal option had a themed name, such as the Cambodian, the Russian, the Hunter and the Architect.

We ordered the Russian, described as a "lemon vodka cured salmon tartare". It came with a lovely lemony sauce, served in a vodka shot glass, a poached egg and and seeded toast ($19 and $3.50 for the avocado side); the Geisha - soba noodles, red cabbage, daikon, spring onion, bean sprouts and rocket with a sesame dressing an pickled ginger, with chicken ($18). Despite expecting a hot dish, our diner was happy with his salad - good to have a change.

All our meal choices were beautifully presented, but the winner would have to be the Nest, two almond-crumbed soft-boiled eggs in a filo pastry nest, served on a feta and rocket salad on beetroot ketchup and decorated with pretty purple flowers ($17.50). Delicious, too, especially the eggs. The only criticism was that the Russian was deemed to be over-generous with the salmon and lacking a side salad.

The coffee was just right - Atomic brand - and the hot chocolate hit the spot too.

The service was friendly and attentive - top marks.

Overall we thought L'Oeuf has done well to offer something quite different to the traditional brunch fare of big breakfasts and omelettes - and not a benedict in sight!

We would happily return.