B'rd (Benson Road Deli)

"Bad Bite at B'rd anyone?"
3/10***

B’rd which I have always known as Benson Road Deli was locked in my memory as a nice brunch destination with good food and service. But today it felt like watching an episode of Macgyver again... no where near as good as I remembered it.

The location is still great and the decor has that contemporary industrial cafe feel that was popular 5 years ago, polished concrete floors stainless steel counter and bar tops, with a touch of antique wood to give it that little splash of personality and character. Most of it’s character however comes from it’s location, next door to the cute Bay Tree gift shop and the fantastically fresh florist... the character definitely does not come from the staff!

Upon arrival I spotted what is usually a great trait... that illustrious Allpress window sticker! yum. We entered and passed a counter of delicious food, most of which had no label displayed so it wasn’t really clear what the fillings and prices were.

The staff were cold. The girl taking our order looked at me and acted like “Hurry up, I haven’t got all day” First I ordered a Latte, to which she turned and walked a few steps away?... “Ahh did she hear me?” She returned only to stare at me “...and?”
I could’ve almost laughed... And?... And!... I didn’t even know if she heard the Latte order?
I thought, I don’t want to end up with extra Lattes, how can I be clear here... “As well as that Latte...” that should be clear enough “I will also have the big breakfast, scrambled (Sophie’s) the savory mince on toast (mine) with a side of avocado and a side of hash brown.” (mine and mine) She slid over a number with little more than eye contact let alone a thank you.

We took our number (I thought businesses were all trying to make people not feel like numbers?) and perched ourselves at the stainless steel bar top. Paying first is also a bit uncomfortable for a cafe of this supposed reputation and calibre as for me it suggests a slight lack of trust. Table service would be far more personal and really improve the experience, and believe me there is a lot of room for that. The coffees arrived and from the moment they placed them in front of us I knew that if Michael Allpress himself saw these he would revoke their license to steam. They were big too, unusual for an Allpress outlet, these were more Coffee Club-esque. The taste was average at best.

Shortly after the coffee arrival came our brunch. The scrambled eggs on the big breakfast were more like a block of solid egg bake, the mince was on soft bread and soft bread is simply not toast. And the sides were missing. I don’t really know if I expected anything different? I was confused as it was possible the waitress was only able to carry two plates and had gone back for the sides, but who would know when their communication is about as forthcoming as dividends in a recession!

5 minutes later and a few mouthfuls into my mince it is clear that my sides are missing in action. My fiance offers to ask the counter girl who took our order where they are. Her response word for word... “you should’ve had them.” What does this mean? Yes, we SHOULD’VE had them but obviously we haven’t. Is she getting them? should I wait for them while my mince goes cold? I really have no idea what to think... “Are you able to get them for us?” reasonable as we have already paid for them. The girl (again without words) turns and walks into the kitchen. What is going on?! This is beyond a joke, as you can gather, the service is abominable.

The sides arrive (or should I say side) and I am glad that I will be able to share them with my last 4 mouthfuls however it’s only the side of hash brown, still no avocado. The side was flung down in front of us as though she was throwing a hubcap like a frizbee. I’m sure they serve food with more finesse than this in prison. This is ridiculous and as we have already paid in full we finish the balance of our incomplete and slightly average meals and leave. On the way out we see their street sign with the dirty saggy balloon attached. It always amazes me when cafes and restaurants miss the little things. It’s like a restaurant with a grotty, dirty menu displayed out by the footpath. Don’t they realise that this is a first impression? If this dirty little ballon is any indication as to the cleanliness of their kitchen I am worried about what i have just ingested.

Not one I will be rushing back too but who knows maybe next time we try B’rd it will be like watching Pearl Harbour again... I expect it to be shit and kind of know what’s coming so perhaps I will see something I might like that goes beyond that expectation? I think not likely though.

Bad coffee, terrible service, average pre paid food, incomplete delivery to the table, good location and surrounding shops but overall not somewhere I would frequent.

Icing on the Cake.

"I never thought i was a sweet tooth until I found this little slice of perfection!"
9/10 *********

Situated along the quaint but bustling Jervois Road in Ponsonby is a brilliant retail experience, Icing on the Cake – Bespoke Cakes. It first caught my eye in setup phase as the colour scheme of the shop is both standout and very cool. And no i am not giving everything high scores, it just so happens I am picking great place after great place! The experience appeals to me for a number of reasons.

1. The Product. If one is to setup a retail store the product (and how it aligns with the local market) is highly important. Icing on the Cake brings a very high grade product to the perfect position. Each cake looks like it has had a lot of care and tender concentration in its creation. They are simply picture perfect. It’s not often that they look better in real life than in the promo pictures but trust me… the cakes are cuter in the flesh, they are gorgeous. But this is a great product because it wins you over twice. Once you taste one of these exciting little treasures you realize that they taste even better. Perhaps unknowingly, owner Mathew Metcalfe has also created an impeccable product which gains instant duplicated reach based on one key quality... it is a product that is designed to be shared and gifted.

2. Branding. This is the kind of brand I respect. It is simple, uses great contemporary typography, fantastic colour palette to compliment and enhance the product, and a very simple decorative swirl. Each element has been used with a good level of consistency, simple, enough to cognitively connect with the mind but not over used in the slightest. From the interior to the promotional collateral to the packaging, this brand has been executed with precision as above all the experience still feels homely and humble, the kind of brand I just want to rave about and support. This is the amazing tid bit of info… apparently the owner co-created the branding himself. Mathew Metcalfe - The guy that’s taken the risk to start the business, the guy who designs and makes these captivating cakes, also put together one of my most admired brands this month. Working closely with Arjan van Woensel to develop every facet/touch point of the brand, the outcome is nothing short of stunning. Often I advise owners against being too heavily involved in the aesthetic side of the branding process as it is a mix of many intricate factors and research to get it right. This just goes to show, the right mix of people working together can produce fantastic results... right ingredients, perfect recipe.

3. Service. The service from both the shop assistants and the owner is among the best. Greeted with a smile I was genuinely asked how my day was. They are very well educated on the days product and when they describe the flavours, they literally make them sound so delicious that (bamboozled for choice) you buy a few more than your waistline allows, but why not… these are special. The product is packaged in front of you delicately and by the time you leave you feel like you and your cakes were really well taken care of.

4. Emotional Triggers. The shop has a certain romanticism about it. I could imagine a young Audrey Hepburn with a Scottish terrior on a leash walking by the window, stopping to glance in at the technicolour palette of the products. The shop is downright cool. Great interior design - simple and effective putting the emphasis back on his winning product. It has a small area at the back of the store which is a curved bench with funky stools around a work area with a large flatscreen behind. This is where Mathew can digitally formulate custom designs for weddings etc while the customer watches giving him a very specific brief to then go away and create their bespoke masterpiece. From the second you enter the store the most glorious of aromas hits you. It is a smell of childhood excitement and devine baking. You can smell the yummy sweetness. The music, the interior colour, the location and the overall sense that this is how great retail used to be. All these factors come together to instantly leave a positive stamp on your mind to tell others about.


Self titled as ‘Chef De Cuisine and global traveler’ Mathew Metcalfe has added a landmark destination store to the Jervois landscape of cafe culture. Mathew has also recently been seen on Masterchef NZ whichyou can read more about here.

“Fun, quality and value for money cakes made with care and an awareness of the environment are the core principles of our business. We use local product suppliers whenever we can, and have the highest standards when it comes to the sourcing and quality of every ingredient that goes into our cakes. It is this ethos that makes us so proud of every single one of our cakes.”

He has serviced my theory that when times get tight we like to know that what we do choose to spend our money on is quality. Certain items we can save on but there really is no reason to buy crap cupcakes when Icing on the Cake makes it such a pleasurable experience to have only the best. That said they are not that expensive. A single cupcake packaged beautifully (making a very impressive gift) weighs in at $4.50. Even better… because they are so good they become guilt free! Check it out for yourself: Icing on the Cake, 188 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland. Tel: 09 360 9797.

The General Store Food Market

“Britomart has just had it's landscape enhanced even more”
9/10 *********

Walking along Customs street to a business meeting last week, I noticed something new in the Britomart space that used to contain a semi-deli (the Barrow) that seemed to always be closed... The newness that has my attention is The General Store Food Market. So this morning I was excited to be meeting friends there as it is the perfect opportunity (or should I say excuse) to try their food.

Unlike The Barrow, the new comer looks inviting, it has a warmth and authenticity to it that is bound to catch on. It has tables to sit at and enjoy a comforting breakfast and coffee, and it has counters full of extraordinary looking italian filled rolls and scrumptious turkish pide’s among much more!

I think the Barrow had it wrong. It was all packets of imported stuff but nothing fresh about it? There was no where really to sit and relax. Their concept I think is successful in the downtown Westfield as it suits being a shop you shop at rather than an eatery you experience. The General Store however has completely transformed the beast. This is a terrific cafe experience. They have got great rustic tables that feel solid and comfortable. They have created little intimate spaces within the big open plan area with cool shelves of imported and gourmet foods for purchase and even more importantly they have fantastic service.

Entering from the side entrance you feel like you have just stepped into a European Deli/Cafe. It’s a bit more open and dare I say ‘contemporary’ down the far end for those of you who like a simple cafe experience but I love the decor and the slightly ‘antique-chic’ vibe. We are greeted by the owner, a familiar face, David Williams - keen restauranteur of Opium and Prego notoriety.


Finding us a lovely table by the window, I order my brunch as I am the only one who hasn’t eaten still holding out to try their culinary brekkie skills at 2pm on a Saturday! The menu reads very well and the decision is tough... Should I go for the very well priced GS Grill (complete with Savoury Mince), Hotcakes with Blueberry Compote and Bacon or the Waikanae Crab and Corn Fritters topped with Creme Fraiche? Fritters it is... as this is a good test, many cafes balls these up too often. “Oh and you can bring us each one of your lattes in a glass please, are they good?” ... “the best” the barista says confident.

The coffees arrive first and they are good, perhaps a little dark, slightly too tightly packed and slightly too fine a grind (not burnt though) but still these are better than most cafes out there. The coffee alone I would give an eight out of ten and as I like it erring on the strong side - it goes down just right. The food arrives and Wow! it looks great and smells fantastic. Mouthful by mouthful I savour the flavour, the crab tastes fresh and the texture of the fritter is perfect. The creme fraiche is real creme fraiche too, not that cheap imitation stuff that too many cafes use when attempting to increase their bottom line and decrease the customer count. This must be that really flash, full fat fraiche that you by at Nosh or Farrohs and use at home on special occaisions, superb!

The service continues to be friendly, efficient and nonintrusive even though they had few staff and a good amount of customers. The atmosphere was just what you want in a cafe, relaxing music at a good volume, clean, friendly and fragrant in a good ‘yummy food’ kind of way. I will definitely come back and if you are in this end of town, make sure you check it out.

Interestingly it is also attached, and you can walk through to, Spago - a fantastic Italian restaurant from the same owner, the true ‘inner city Prego’.

Richmond Road Cafe

"All rounder that aims to please & surprise..."
9/10 *********

A few minutes from the main Ponsonby drag lies an absolute little gem, The Richmond Road Cafe. Upon arrival it is obvious that they must be doing something right as the whole establishment is bustling and has a busy almost inner city Melbourne kind of vibe. Instantly greeted by a friendly waitress we are informed of the short wait for a table... something tells me it’s worth it. Only moments later we are guided to a small table by a window and although the cafe is chokka-block full, this table is spotlessly clean and ready with menus.

The menu itself is short but every dish reads like a romance novel and it’s not long before I am in love with the sound of every dish. A well written menu goes a long way, it’s one of the first things you engage in during your cafe visit and as such it sets up the filter for which you view the experience through. They have delicious sandwiches, cakes and brioche displayed on the front counter but today I need something a little more substantial. I order the Buttermilk Pancakes with blueberry compote, lavendar syrup, marscapone and bacon... Sophie, my fiance opts for the twice baked stilton soufflé, granny smith & rocket salad with pomegranate dressing - both have coffee.

Looking on in anticipation I spot two things that take my seduction by this restaurant to infatuation. The first is Allpress Coffee... thankyou! and the second are meals that are being run out of the kitchen all looking incredibly delicious. An open omelette whizzes past me... Wow! hope I haven’t made the wrong choice because that looks amazing!

Our coffees arrive. For you coffee connoisseurs out there, these are perfection. The milk is steamed perfectly and the coffee is not burnt. Too often cafes don’t understand why coffee bean grinders have different coarseness settings or if they do notice - what grind is perfect for what humidity?... These coffees are awesome... and sure enough 5 minutes later I am requesting my second delightful caffeine hit.

Two plates leave the kitchen on track for our table and the brunch is placed in front of me. Wide eyed and smiling at my food decision I glance over at the Souffle... that too looks and smells incredible. The flavour of my pancakes is devine and to my amazement Richmond Road Cafe have perfected the syrup and marscapone (sweet) to bacon and pancake (savoury) ratio. There is no left over syrup or pancake by the end on my effort and I complete the meal satisfied and not feeling at all like I have over eaten. The mouthful of the Souffle I tried was outstanding, a very unusual yet surprisingly fluffy brunch choice. The only problem with the Souffle is that now Sophie has had it and loved it, she doesn’t think she will try anything else next visit as she will probably just choose ‘amazing’ again!

The decor is trendy but not overly intimate or quiet, but then this is part of it’s charm... you instantly feel like a local among friends. They serve Allpress coffee and Antipodes mineral water - both cool brands. They have delectable looking cakes, a huge array of fresh juices and are licensed to serve alcohol. Their food is incredible and the staff are very friendly. And the price is fair. Two people for brunch ordering off the menu is probably going to set you back $50, sure you could do it cheaper on sandwiches and cakes from the counter displays but when the menu is this good you really deserve the treat.

The owners have found a secret for success as they own Richmond Road Cafe, The Rosehip on Gladstone Road in Parnell, Kohi Cafe on the water in Kohi, and the Takapuna Beach Cafe - another one of our favourites.

Located exactly at 318 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn the Richmond Road Cafe is a gem, its won awards and I can see why. For more info checkout: www.richmondrdcafe.co.nz

Welldone Richmond Road Cafe... Another one loved by the Cafe Critic.