Its hard to put this experience into words. All I know is ill be sad eating any breakfast back…read morehome. It was a busy Sunday morning but still got seated promptly. The place is very aesthetically pleasing with lots of light coming in through the floor to ceiling windows all around. The menu isn't long but still has enough variance to please everyone. We had a full brunch feast with two savory plates and a sweet one. The pork belly benedict had the eggs made to perfection and the pork belly was perfectly juicy without feeling like it was all fat. The french toast was super tasty and not overwhelmingly sweet, of course the variety of colors made it such a fun plate. The bowl had the most amazing mushrooms I've ever had along with the freshest vegetables! I dream of the day I'll be able to go back and eat here.

Bright, bustling cafe serving picture perfect dishes…read more Service was top notch, multiple people came to check in on us, fill up our water, and all were friendly. We were in and out of there is about 40 minutes. The service was fast, which is understandable given the amount of people they must get through every morning. Coffee, pastry, breakfast, everything was on point. Food was very instagram-able but tasted like what you'd expect. Standard fair, in a good way. I.e A lot of flowers for garnish, but its an omelette and tasted like a normal omelette. If I had any feedback it would be to pull back on the garnishes and focus on things that add flavor, it'll look just as tasty with a more rustic no fuss aesthetic. Suitable for a brisk sit down brunch. It was so loud and busy in there that you wouldn't want to stay hangout anyway.

We don't normally give 5 stars for cafe food these days, but we have no hesitation in doing that…read moreafter calling in to DD's Country Cafe in Waitoki today. It was Sunday and raining and because of the slips in the Dome Valley we were diverted on to SH16, heading back home to the Bay of Islands. There was a huge selection of freshly made and delicious food. The sandwiches were so good and the light and tasty scone was nothing like the overheated lump of lard that we seem to have served up in cafes now. The coffee was hot and of a good strength and the young staff was very efficient. What an unexpected find. These people deserve to do well.

great place to go for a morning tea or lunch closes 3:30 great staff totally recommended! place…read morehas a real charm to it!

I've been to Geeks On Sainsbury twice now and I'm definitely keen to go back again!…read more Where are they? Their location, 1/55 Sainsbury Road, gives them enough privacy that they aren't packed with people, but enough exposure that you don't feel like you are hidden away. Both times I ate here, I happened to be in the area. They are right beside this little park which has a few seats in it, so you could easily get takeaways on a nice sunny day and have a picnic! They are also just down the road from St Luke's Mall, so if you want some nice food that isn't from a food court, then this should be your go-to place! My sister used to live across the road and it would have been such a joy to have Geeks On Sainsbury as a local. So what's their service like? They come up to you relatively straight away when you arrive and ask where you'd like to sit. The second time I went I was on crutches and that didn't seem to bother them, which was nice. They were fast on taking our orders, although didn't mind coming back to let us spend a few more minutes deciding what to get. All of the staff I have interacted with have been super friendly and the ones who see you leave say 'Thank you' and/or 'Goodbye', which is always a nice touch. It's a cute location with delicious food and friendly staff. I would recommend it to anyone in the area! And their food? Delightful! Below are a few shots - Eggs Bene, Pork Salad, Bibimbap and a drink. I would recommend their 'Yellow' smoothie and anything with a side of their potato stack... because it is absolutely divine. There a quite a few gluten-free options, which is great and overall they have a relatively wide selection of food to choose from. They also have a cabinet with sweet treats and a few sandwiches, if that's more your style. Cost? I believe they would be considered an average café cost - around $20-$30 for a cooked meal and a drink. Not super cheap but not crazy expensive either. Totally worth what you get!

We decided to go to Geeks and Sainsbury on a whim. It had been on the back of my mind and the name…read morereminds me of the Big Bang Theory! I could just imagine the waitors in lab coats measuring out the amount of coffee beans with a test tube. Not quite! There's much to boast about their coffee lineup though. They serve coffee from Wellington boutique roasters Red Rabbit Co, famous for their labyrinth of flavours in a cup. The first choice on the All Day Breakfast menu was Granola. It sounded delicious with white quinoa, glazed strawberries, roasted almond with pumpkin seeds. Nothing like the chew-til-your-temples-hurt type that I have in a box at home. That set the tone of being healthy over geeky. The eggs benedict had the option of pan fried tofu with poached eggs. Heck, even the Waffles had granola in the ingredients list. The pork salad obviously was no normal salad, beautifully plated and garnished on top. The sunflower encrusted shell the a standout element. Light but full of crunch, the house made chutney and shredded apple was tantalising to my sweet side. The eggs benedict comes in the option of Petit and Regular so you can easily satisfy your brunch craving after a round of gym. Again keeping it light, layered agria potato takes the normal place of a hash brown. With an open bright space spilling out into the sunny outdoor setting, it's an attractive place to be all year round. The decor is determinedly geek chic. A blackboard diagram details how seriously they take their coffee extraction method, and shelves look like they belong on Pinterest. They show the same dedication to their food. Presentation is exact, pairings are purposeful. It's a shame to hear that the Shore could have boasted this cafe gem. While it reminds me of Little King, it could easily take out the backsliding quality of the food there. Service was a bit unsure - there were moments where I got excited by food coming my way, only to have the waiters step on their brakes. That however, was minor and played no part in the rest of the experience. Geeks on Sainsbury, you are doing great things for Sandringham, looking forward to hearing more from you!

Cool cafe! I like novelty cafes especially with upcycling to this scale! For those who might not be…read moreaware, this cafe has two train carriages with plush seats decked out for diners if the wish to latte somewhere a little bit different. I was keen to pop into the inviting black locomotives but hubby's choice was out closer to the water and ducks, which was pretty nice too. We had morning tea here for the first time, coffees and cake, or more specifically sweet muffin and afghan biscuit. Both were super tasty but my coffee was a bit blah. The place was staffed by lots of young faces all quite friendly and helpful. The place was very popular, and I eyed off my neighbours scrumptious looking egg benedict. We had to walk through a garden centre to get into the cafe which was fine by me as I wanted to drop into a garden store whilst out and about. The atmosphere is what was best about this place and I will definitely be back, preferably for those eggs benedict...mmmm....

At first we had our reservations but 1 visit change all that! The food is brilliant! The coffee lip…read moresmacking good! (Bach espresso) the cafe isn't too expensive either - intact some of the popular breakfasts are actually cheaper than Main Street cafés! The ambiance is great - with real train carriages set up as restaurants!

Cafe Melba is a favourite 'go to' for brunch if you are in the Ellerslie area…read more The menu gives you lots to choose from. I would rate both the eggs bennie and the big breakfast. Coffee is great plus this cafe is licensed. The staff are really friendly and happy to accommodate changes to what is listed on the menu (eg, omitting or adding ingredients). I love coming here on a sunny day and nabbing one of the tables outside or inside at the window.

Wow this place only has a three-star so far?…read more I' m a big fan of this place. Haven't been here in a while; it used to be a favourite place for brunch. I love the interior here, I could sit here forever. They place a good choice of music and the service staff are great. Coffee isn't disappointing.

I can't believe I haven't heard of this place earlier. What an absolute treat!…read more I stopped in here last Friday lunch when it was cold and blustery out and I was in desperate need of soup. As per, I was in a bit of hurry so I was chuffed that their daily soup, Tomato and Leek Soup with Cheesy Toast, was available takeaway. Whilst waiting for my cuppa soup, I grabbed one of the only seats available and took it all in. Stanley's was absolutely packed; there were ladies who lunch, businessmen in suits, grandmas enjoying a cuppa and a hipster teen out with his mother. It struck me that this is the kind of place where everyone feels comfortable. The interior is simple, clean and fuss free with ceiling to floor windows that make it beautifully light inside (even when it is miserable outside). Of course, there are also exposed light features but in this case they work brilliantly with the fresh, white interior. Within 10minutes my takeaway soup had arrived with the bag of cheesy goodness and boy, was I excited. When I got home, I transferred the piping hot soup to a bowl and noticed that they had served it with fresh sage and a drizzle of cream. The little things really can a difference. The soup smelt absolutely devine and tasted equally as good; thick and hearty with a rich tomato flavour. Combined with the cheesy toast this was most definitely a substantial lunch. I was satisfied, full and ready to steam through an afternoon of work! I will most definitely be back, on the reg.

Stanley's is one of those good cafes popping up in suburban shops. The coffee is always good and…read moreworth the trip to pick up a takeout. The cabinet food is tempting and the pies. This weekend was a double visit. On Saturday a coffee and blueberry muffin was a mid morning treat. The muffin wasn't the biggest in the world but was lovely and moist with lots of berries. Sunday was a working bee and the homemade chicken and beef and ale pies hit the spot at lunchtime and provided the energy to keep going with the wallpaper stripping. If you want to eat in they have an excellent menu with old fashioned favourites such as savoury mince.

I'm a fussy long black drinker and the coffee here was fantastic. Even though we only stopped in…read morefor a quick coffee and read of the newspaper we were treated well. I can't comment on the menu as I didn't eat but they were having a busy trade in lunches and the service was courteous and prompt. Well worth a visit if you can find parking.

Mink to me is more of a cafe, though like we see in the automobile industry and the large number of…read morecrossover vehicles, Mink sort of ventures into crossover territory. Is it a cafe, restaurant or bar? Mink is trying to capture all the market here and I think they do a pretty good job. Offering a more sophisticated setting, you can come any time of the day and get fantastic food with fantastic service. The staff are really helpful, most accommodating. They do take bookings which is great if you plan on coming with a group and if you have special dietary requirements as I do, you let them know before hand and they will sort something out for you. Being vegan I have tested their patience when it comes to ordering off the menu. They passed. Their pizza is pretty good, they can do a vegan pizza and also risotto and pasta dishes can be made vegetarian and vegan too. The coffee (which is mostly the reason I come here) is very good which is important. Mink is popular for a reason, they do what they do well and people come back for it.

This place is great! Lovely brunch and very friendly staff. Their salads are devine and a fantastic…read morelunch option if your in the area!

An old favourite! I've been going to Catroux since Adele opened it and no where comes close when it…read morecomes to french toast. Unfortunately due to seasonal menu changes, it's not always available, but when it is I'm the first one there! Food is made with good, local produce and there are so many healthy options. Taste: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Coffee: only good when the guy makes it, not a fan of EightThirty but their fresh juices are amazing. Instagram: @oliviaroundtown Website: Olivia Round Town (dotcom)