Next Door, Mt Eden

Next Door cafe, Mt Eden. Photo / Greg Bowker

Herald Rating: 3/5
Address: 589 Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden

We came here because we'd driven past this place en route to the airport several times and always meant to stop in and check it out when we weren't rushing to catch a flight.

Parking was easy enough on a side road opposite.

We walked in and immediately thought a lot of effort had gone into the decor of this place - predominantly decked out with an art deco theme with a kiwiana twist. The walls are mint green, the font is straight out of the 1930s, and the table numbers are on old 45s. There are doilies and records glued to the walls, macrame plant holders, and one of the cafe's two rooms is set up like an old lounge, with retro sofas and an ancient TV. There is also a cute courtyard out the back.

The most unusual thing on the menu is actually on the lunch menu - the prawn cocktail, with iceberg lettuce, thousand island dressing and tomato puffed rice ($18.50).

We ordered the smoked salmon hashcake with a poached egg, toast soldiers, and chipotle hollandaise ($18.50), french toast with brioche, bacon, strawberries and maple syrup ($17.50) and the eggs benedict with bacon ($18.50). Everything was good with the only criticism being that each meal was just a little dry.

The service was polite and professional.

The coffee was good enough for seconds.

We recommend if you come here get in early - Next Door is a busy place on a Saturday morning.

Overall we thought it was a good neighbourhood local and worth stopping in for a meal or some coffee on the way to the airport.