Herald Rating: 3/5
Address: 99 Parrs Cross Rd, Henderson
We came here because friends were having a family picnic later on that day and wanted to pick up some delicious, locally produced fresh bread, strawberries, cheese and Serbian sausage from the Oratia Farmers' Market next door.
Parking was plentiful. We parked on the road and made our way though grapevines to get to the cafe.
We walked in and immediately thought we'd sit outside in the shady garden area on this stinking hot Saturday and enjoy the acoustic guitar-playing singer who was putting her spin on Beatles' classics, among others. We did have to dodge a bit of bird poop - not surprising really, given all those trees.
The most unusual thing on the menu was probably the gourmet honey beef burger on the lunch menu - a pure beef patty marinated in honey, served with an egg, beetroot, camembert cheese and fresh side salad ($14).
We ordered the eggs benedict with bacon ($14), the Big Westie breakfast with two servings of bacon, sausage, eggs, hash browns, tomatoes, mushrooms and toast ($16.50), and the BLT ($12). All generous servings of fairly standard breakfasts.
The coffee was also large - my latte came in a big bowl, while the mochachino was judged a little on the milky side.
The service was fine. We liked the fake flowers they used for table markers.
We recommend if you come here save some room for sampling the goodies at the Farmers' Market and also for the Packing Shed's Devonshire tea ($8.50).
Overall we thought jump in the car and make a day of it. As well as browsing through the market and the cafe's gallery, next door is Just Plane Interesting, one of Auckland's best antique and collectables stores.
