A taste of...
Westend Stories
93 Cambridge Tce, Christchurch.
We first visited... This cafe about a month ago for takeaway coffees. Westend Stories has been open since December and we were struck by the smart space abuzz with customers, so made a mental note to return for lunch.
We started with... Grabbing one of the last remaining tables. It was a weekday lunch and the cafe was packed. The menu has a mediterranean vibe and a few left field options like the pumpkin and sweet potato doughnuts ($14). We ordered a helping of doughnuts to share. I also got the saffron, turmeric couscous with rotisserie chicken ($19), while my dining partner opted for a mix of the roast vegetable salad and spiced lentil salad ($10.50) from the cabinet.
The food was beautifully presented. My couscous and chicken came in a hot skillet with ramekins of pickled beetroot and tomato salsa, while the savoury doughnuts were placed around artful dollops of beetroot hummus, whipped feta and pistachio dukkah. Unfortunately, a heavy-handed use of turmeric throughout all three dishes let the food down. It overpowered all of the lovely lemon, saffron and feta flavours and I wasn’t able to finish the couscous.
My partner’s drink, a chai latte ($4.50) was very pleasant, but my iced goji berry tea ($7.50) was a tasteless, expensive letdown.
The staff… Were cheerily pumping through the line of customers ordering at the till. Unfortunately the other end of the service wasn’t as efficient. The food and drink delivery was sporadic.
The vibe was... Businesslike and glossy. Westend Stories is situated on the ground floor of a new office building on Cambridge Tce and its interior design ties in with the smart lobby it opens out onto. The large dining space includes bar leaners, seating in a courtyard and a private meeting room. The decor is slick and simple, decorated in earthy tones with touches of gold. Lush pot plants dotted throughout and a hanging garden add texture and interest.
If you go... Stop in for Saturday brunch. Earlier this month it extended its opening hours to include Saturdays.
Rating out of 5: 3.5 – Laura Baker