Herald Rating: 3/5
Address: 421 Titirangi Rd
We came here because we'd read about it recently in TimeOut and were intrigued at the mention of "dining among the trees" in the middle of Titirangi village.
We walked in and immediately thought the decor matches the bush location and namesake, with lots of wooden fittings and takahe birds dotted about the place. It does, however, have a bar-like feel about it - indeed, it opens in the evenings too - even though the bar area is partially hidden away at the back behind a perspex specials board.
The most unusual thing on the menu was tempura jalapenos ($8.50) - mild jalapeno peppers lightly battered and served with house jalapeno aioli. Not for brunch thanks. Also, we noted the earlybird breakfast - poached or fried eggs on toasted five-grain or ciabatta for just $4.50 if you're in before 10am. Sweet deal.
We ordered eggs benedict ($16.50) with bacon, toasted ciabatta and homemade hollandaise with an unremarkable side of portobello mushrooms ($3.50) but plenty of bacon, and a very tasty BLAT ($16.50) - crispy bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato with house aioli and smoked tomato chutney, all packaged in a herbed tortilla wrap, accompanied by a side of curly fries.
The coffee was creamy, smooth and hot, with a real roundhouse kick to it.
The service was polite and attentive.
We recommend if you come here you nab a spot in the conservatory area - a covered-in porch with moveable louvres and gas heaters - which looks out into the Waitakere bush. In the sun on a chilly winter's day we were warm as toast and down to short sleeves.
Overall we thought it's worth popping in for a coffee or a meal in (nearly) native surrounds if you're Westside for the day.
