It's always a little bit weird when a cafe opens next to, well, a cafe. That's kind of what North Island did a few years back. It's a bit different because their neighbours, Dench, are sort of a bakery as well as being a cafe, but you still got that strange edge in your stomach for the first few times you ventured into the new joint...
What you found though, was that the dude who opened North Island is no vindictive shit head, hell bent on causing trouble and upsetting the general nicey-nice atmosphere of sunny North Fitzroy, but instead a lovely dude with a vision of a little cafe that did a few things and a few things well.
There's limited seating and a limited menu here; but hey, there's another joint next door, stupid. They have NZ coffee (North Island, geddit) in the form of Supreme and the place has grown a reputation as a great spot for coffee and a bit of a relax with no pretence. At least, that is, in my estimation. read more