A taste of ...
Egmont St Eatery
11 Egmont St, Te Aro, Wellington.
We’d heard … Our former Wellington-based food friend suggested the cafe for brunch when we had just one Sunday morning window for eating out.
We started with … Finding the cafe down a little cobblestone laneway off Dixon St. For passersby, it could be considered a hidden gem, but those in the know are well aware of this popular spot.
Hungover from a wedding the night before, my partner picked a Bloody Mary ($15), and the burger with Awatoru venison, celeriac rosti, house cheese and black cherry relish ($22). These guys are the victors of Burger Wellington 2015, and we wouldn’t disagree that the crown was deserved. The ravenous plus one complained the burger was too small, but in my opinion it was perfectly brunchsized, and he was just greedy for more of the juicy sandwich.
I considered the menu, and it was hard to decide, but I opted for the light cornbread stacked with saucy and slightly spicy house beans, avocado, rocket and herb crema ($18). I added a side of crispy bacon ($6) and would suggest meat eaters do the same. With a refreshing tall tumbler of cold brew coffee ($4.50), I was very happy.
The service was … The only thing that did disappoint, forcing us to slash half a mark from a perfect review.
Upon entry we were warmly greeted, perched on a high table, our overnight bags were taken for safe keeping, and we were served water soon after. However, following that initial greeting, we had to try to catch a waiter’s eye to place our order as staff chatted amongst themselves.
And, while we recognise a cocktail takes longer to turn around, especially when the barista is kept very busy, the Bloody Mary was sadly forgotten about until almost the end of our meal.
The vibe was … Modern and trendy. We liked the option of high tables and low, for small groups or cosy couples. The multilevelled cafe, drenched with lovely natural light, used to be an old industrial carpark, and now, after just more than a year of operation, features an extended liquor licence and expanded outdoor seating (weather permitting, of course).
If you go … Don’t count on the menu being the same every time. Egmont St changes items regularly, making the most of seasonal produce. It also looks really smashing at night if you opt for an after-dark sitting.
But try to avoid ... Ordering a Bloody Mary if the barista looks busy. It’s also not worth missing out on the great coffee.
Rating out of 5: 4.5 – Nicky Park