Herald Rating: 4/5
Address: 228 Jervois Rd, Herne Bay
We came here because we'd read about this new cafe in Viva run by Dutchman Joost van den Berg who wanted to recreate the kind of sandwich shop he remembered from home.
Parking was easy enough - the cafe is slightly past the main shops on Jervois Rd, so there is plenty available on the street.
We walked in and immediately thought we like the simple decor with its white-painted stools and chairs and plain wooden tables. We also liked the bench in the centre with its communal condiment pots of spreads for the bread baskets.
The most unusual thing on the menu was prawns on toast with sour cream, caviar eggs and dill.
We ordered the aforementioned prawns on toast ($15 for a double sandwich), described by the diner as a "prawn cocktail on toast"; the kids' sandwich with milk chocolate sprinkles ($5) - "I thought it was a bit small but it was very yummy" the 9-year-old reported; the cheese omelette with a bread basket featuring a selection of different breads ($14), which was very good; and the roast pumpkin, grilled courgette, pine nuts and date chutney sandwich on sourdough ($7 for a single sandwich), which was tasty but a little on the small side for brunch. Go for the double.
The service was a little scattered - they forgot our order but shouted us a round of drinks as an apology. We forgive them as it was just their second week of business and we know things will only get better.
The coffee was excellent. We went for a second straight away. The hot chocolate was teeming with choccy and the fresh, melon-flavoured fruit shake ($6) was delish.
We recommend if you come here perhaps drop in on a weekday rather than on the weekend because this is Herne Bay's newest hotspot and word has already spread like melted butter among the locals.
Overall we thought we'll be back - once the cafe has bedded in and the hype has abated - to try more of those fantastic sammies.