Address: 1/476 Mt Eden Rd
Phone: (09) 630 5251
Website: edencloakroom.co.nz
It was with some trepidation that we approached the Eden Cloak Room. I don't particularly enjoy noisy environments, and every time we had passed the Cloak Room the outside area had been packed, which implies noise.
However, I was reliably informed that the early patronage of young hip things from the nearby Mt Eden village had moved on to other establishments, and the Cloak Room had become the drinking and eating place of choice for a somewhat older group.
On a steaming Sunday evening, it was rather strident to begin with, but later the rigours of the weekend seemed to kick in and the crowd thinned.
A cloakroom is, by definition, small. It's a place to hang hats and coats and to hide the muddy boots. I don't know if the space occupied by Eden Cloak Room was ever used for this purpose but, my word, it's small.
There's just room inside for two tables with banquettes and a few stools, and the bar.
Our choice of inside table was made for us by the fact that the other was occupied - by friends, as it happened. We ordered our drinks and checked out the menu, not a time-consuming task as it is brief to the point of curtness. There is a selection of small plates - chips, olives, meatballs, mini-burgers, all good alcohol sponges - five mains, two desserts and a cheese board.
Bill's crispy squid redefined crispy as crumbed, but it was tender and tasty. The aioli with smoked chipotle tasted citrusy rather than spicy or hot, but was pleasant enough. My smoked mushrooms were delicious, but the accompanying haloumi was slightly overcooked and therefore not as tender as it might have been.
Bill's Angus sirloin was cooked to perfection, just as rare as he likes it. There was a little parmesan in the potato mash, enough to lift it, and the onion jam was excellent.
My chicken, served with thin slices of lemon baked with the breast meat, was as good as the version I make at home. The almond rice arrived with whole nuts, unroasted, which did little for the rice, and the creamed silverbeet was overcooked and thus tough. Spinach might have been a better option, although creamed spinach has overtones of nursery food.
Our waiter seemed genuinely upset that I had failed to finish my meal, and really wanted to know if there was a problem with it. And really, apart from the silverbeet, there wasn't.
We passed on dessert, distracted as we were by our friends nearby, and considered a cheese board. Conversation intervened, and even the cheese was forgotten. We'd had a satisfactory evening, leavened by friendly and prompt service from the busy staff. This, I think, makes the Eden Cloak Room the popular place it is.
Rating out of 10
Food: 7
Service: 8
Value: 8
Ambience: 7
Our meal: $120.50 for two starters, two mains, two beers and two glasses of wine.
Wine list: Extensive, as you would expect in what is essentially a bar with food. My mid-range Soho sauvignon blanc was pleasant, and Bill found the beer selection covered most of the bases.
Verdict: A great neighbourhood meeting place, friendly and fun.
