Herald Rating:
We came here because I'd spied what looked like a very promising addition to the cafe scene in Mt Eden Village while driving through. So, it seemed, had half of Auckland - the place was absolutely heaving.
We liked everything. I'm not joking. From the "Rad" denim aprons sported by the staff, to the Lego table numbers, the interesting decor, to the multiple seating options, there is not one thing to criticise. We also loved the Vietnamese influence on the menu, courtesy of owner Duke Tran.
The breakfast menu stops at 10.30am so we ordered off the lunch menu: Grandma's pork bahn mi ($12.50) - Vietnamese-style marinaded pork, which came in a house-made Vietnamese bread roll with delicious chicken cognac pate; a very good chicken, quinoa and baby kale salad with an orange dressing ($18.50); and for me, a stroke of good luck, as I spied someone eating the mushrooms on toast on my way to the counter and found they were making an exception with the breakfast cut-off time. Thank goodness, because the four types of mushroom on house-made bread with goat's curd cheese and truffle oil ($16.50) is one of the best meals I've ever eaten at a cafe.
The drinks started well with complementary glasses of cold green and rose tea, and kept getting better, with our excellent freshly squeezed juices (served in jars) and superb coffee.
