The Cafe Hyatt Regency, Auckland City

By CARROLL du CHATEAU for canvas

We'd heard that the Hyatt on the hill had a new brunch menu on Sundays, and since the Canvas health correspondent was in town with his lovely wife, decided to give it a try.

Stupidly, we assumed brunch started at around 10am and finished around 2pm. Not so at the Hyatt.

Worse still, because we threatened to sit it out over coffees until 11am in the hope of brunch, the flustered staff explained that the kitchen closed between 11 and 11.30 while they changed over from breakfast.

In a panic, we ordered.

Dr Mike and I, plus late entry Rowan (who wanted the waffles but the iron was broken) chose the ham and eggs ($17), Maureen, the pastry basket and coffee ($5 for the coffee alone), and Susan, the pancakes with fresh fruit.

The egg dishes turned out to be good for a fitness-obsessed doctor but, I have to say, sadly sterile for the rest of us.

Two perfectly poached, salt-free eggs on a toasted muffin, a couple of warmed-through tomato halves and a pile of ham.

Adequate, no surprises, expensive.

Maureen's pastry basket, assembled from where it was sitting under the warming lights of the buffet, was "fine" (in that decidedly underwhelmed voice).

Only Susan was thrilled with her choice. Four light, thick, pikelety pancakes, plenty of syrup with a big bowl of interesting fresh fruit on the side. Delicious, she
murmured - and towards the bottom of the stack even offered the boyfriend a taste.

The most exciting part of the experience was when we asked for the bill and it came to $145.42 for six. My how those $5 coffee and glasses of orange juice add up.

Next time we'll head down the hill to the cafes of High St and Durham Lane.

* Read more about what's happening in the world of food, wine, party places and entertainment in canvas magazine, part of your Weekend Herald print edition.