LB & Co set to shine in summer
Located just down the road from the university, LB & Co Espresso moves with the seasons, which means now that the student scene is winding down, the leisurely atmosphere, tables and parking is opening up at the popular Ilam cafe.
A menu of comfort foods jazzed up with high-end ingredients and some serious kitchen skills has been fine-tuned throughout the year and is now at its finest.
Fish and chips with blue cod is perfect summer fare with a glass of Forrest wine or a cold Monteith’s beer, while for a memorable brunch the ‘‘Fancy Pants Mince on Toast’’ with beef ragout, thick Vienna bread and shaved parmesan cheese is hard to pass up.
Owner Mike Topp says the leading cafes in Auckland are responding to a hankering for classic foods made with the flair of a professional chef, and LB & Co Espresso is following suit.
Thin-rolled Italian-style pizzas, decadent smoothies, salads and fresh cabinet fare made onsite each day are now proving as popular with the cafe’s elderly regulars as with students.
‘‘It’s so nice at the moment to sit outdoors in the evening and share a platter or a pizza with friends and just watch the world go by,’’ Topp says. ‘‘The staff are great and everything has come together really well.’’
LB & Co Espresso will be closing from December 23 to January 5 for the Christmas-New Year period but either side of the break is filling dates with function bookings.
Groups of up to 80 can arrange for exclusive use of the large, contemporary venue any evening of the week, or smaller parties can reserve a private space in the cafe’s varied setting for a business lunch, end of year get-together or any other special occasion.
Canapes or formal sit-down meals can be designed to meet specific dietary needs on a case-by-case basis.
Topp says the strong relationship LB & Co has with so many regulars and locals is what gives the cafe its warm character and has been the highlight of a busy year.
‘‘It’s been a fabulous, and that’s down to the staff and locals,’’ he says.
‘‘It’s great to be approaching summer on such a high.’’
❚ LB & Co Espresso is on the corner of Creyke and Ilam roads, Ilam, and is open
7am-9pm Tuesday to Saturday and 7am5pm on Sundays and Mondays. For details or to reserve your favourite table, phone
03 974 1460 or visit them online at lbandco.co.nz.