Brunch: The Raw Kitchen, Ponsonby

The Raw Kitchen, Ponsonby Road. Photo / Nick Reed

Address: 267 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
Herald rating:

The menu is a collection of freshly made raw meals, snacks, sweets and smoothies all on show behind a glass cabinet. Everything is packed up, ready to eat on the run, but they will serve what they can on beautiful black plates if you eat in.

The look is just as you'd expect for a wholesome, clean eatery oozing good vibes. There's only room for a few in the light, bright indoor dining space, takeout is encouraged.

The food is the kind of stuff that makes you feel righteous after eating. My $9 breakfast cup of activated cashew, organic cacao and coconut muesli was dressed with a dash of almond milk but lacked enough fruit for my liking - a handful of blueberries would have made all the difference. The highlight was the dehydrated sesame and parsley falafel sitting atop the Turkish bowl ($12.50) - a combo of pickled cauliflower, iceberg lettuce, olive tapenade, tomato, cucumber. What The Raw Kitchen does really well are sweet treats like the delectable slices, cakes and their very own take on doughnuts.

The drinks list is a very impressive blackboard line-up of $9 smoothies made-to-order and served in generous glass jars, or to take away. I picked the maca berry bomb (blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, date, banana and maca powder) - I would have been happy to have this filling beverage on its own. There are also fresh-pressed juices, fresh-roast coffee and organic teas.

The service is what you'd expect from an in-and-out raw food bar. There's no real table service - plates took a while to clear away, diners line up and order at the counter and water is self-service. But this is what it's meant to be, from what we gather. Staff look to be living the brand in their white T-shirts and beige, canvas aprons.

Overall The Raw Kitchen is perfectly placed on Ponsonby Rd. Snare a stool by the window if you're in for brunch, or pick up a smoothie and a snack for later.