Address: Westin Hotel, 21 Viaduct Harbour Ave
Phone: (09) 909 9000
Rating: 2/5
We came here because it was a stunning day and we were keen to dine harbourside.
Parking was surprisingly easy for the inner city. There were plenty of pay-and-display parks nearby.
We walked in and immediately thought where is everyone? Only one of the outdoor tables was occupied at 9.45am, which meant we could pick and choose a comfortable spot in what must be one of Auckland's best locations.
The most unusual thing on the menu was the breakfast bento, which looked like good value: bircher muesli, fresh fruit salad, a juice shot and a choice of either a bagel with smoked salmon, a bacon and egg bap or eggs bene, all for $12.50.
We ordered the vege deluxe with poached eggs, chilli corn fritters, buttered spinach, homemade baked beans, field mushrooms and smoked paprika creme fraiche ($15.50) and the big breakfast with honey cured bacon, spicy breakfast sausages, hash browns, grilled tomato, mushrooms, poached eggs and ciabatta ($17.50). Sadly, there was nothing deluxe about the vege meal. The fritters were undercooked, the eggs overcooked, the spinach dry, the creme fraiche missing and the beans a bland concoction of cannellini in tinned tomato. Ginnie's meal towered over mine but was limp and uninspired with cold, hard eggs. Still hungry, I ordered a bowl of bircher muesli with berries ($5), which was tasty but overpowered by honey.
The service was excellent. The lovely woman who tended our table gave us a free coffee when we mentioned the eggs.
The coffee was light and fluffy but could have been stronger.
We recommend if you come here specify how you'd like your eggs done. Our waitress explained they cook them medium-to-hard otherwise.
Overall we thought the food was disappointing, which is a shame because the view was fantastic.
