Silverbacks Cafe
144 Cashmere Rd, Hoon Hay, Christchurch.
We’d heard… It was a good place to have a bite with the kids.
To test out this… I had to borrow a child. I found one with a friend and Silverbacks’ toy box was a hit from early on. ‘‘I don’t want to go home,’’ Miss Three complained as we prepared to leave.
But her mum and I were done, having scoffed the eggs Silvester ($15.50) and a Dutch pancake with berry compote and yoghurt ($12).
The Silvester dish featured poached eggs and crispy bacon served on a ‘‘Silverbacks grilled scone’’ with hollandaise sauce. It was a decent meal with nicely poached eggs, although the scone was a little dry and the hollandaise in short supply. The bacon was a generous serving. All in all, it wasn’t too shabby for its price.
The Dutch pancake – made from traditional yeast batter cooked in butter – went down a treat with my (adult) dining companion. The liberal doses of yoghurt, mixed berry compote and maple syrup were a sweet triumph on the thin, crispy delight. This was one of nine topping choices available, including some savoury options.
Miss Three’s kids’ platter ($9.50 and one of six children’s meal options) could do with a little revamp. It came with a buttered slice of bread, a piece of cheese, five breakfast sausages, tomato sauce, a ‘‘sweet treat’’ (two marshmallows) and a chopped banana.
While the bread and sausages disappeared, the rest failed to impress, although they did have to compete with the books and toys. Most surprisingly, the cheese slice was nibbled on before being discarded. When I tried it, I understood why she wasn’t so keen on it as it was sweet and a little nutty. Children’s platters should also be a chance for the kitchen to have a little fun with the presentation.
What did impress our young customer, and us older ones, was the art – a teddy bear – on top of the decent latte. The little pom pom gift for Miss Three was also a lovely touch.
The service was… Friendly and familiar.
The vibe was… Relaxed. It’s not a fancy cafe, but it’s comfortable and seems a popular spot.
If you go… Check out the latte art and work your way through the Dutch pancakes menu. Rating out of 5: 3.5
– Jo Gilbert