Great Eggs I Spam

We (as in Fi and Karen....with the assistance of Zillundtexas) are on a quest to find the best Eggs Benedict and Eggs Montreal down under.

[greateggsispam]

Karori Park Cafe - Karori, Wellington.  Eggs Benedict and Eggs Montreal - June 2016

https://www.facebook.com/karoriparkcafe/

https://www.zomato.com/wellington/karori-park-cafe-karori-wellington-city/menu

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

This place is very much a ‘club rooms’ converted into a cafe.  It’s got a friendly atmosphere and feels like its the ‘hub’ of the grounds, but it’s not your ‘typical’ cafe.   There is ample seating inside and outside.  This cafe overlooks a sports ground and today there was football going on outside which was lovely to observe while we dined.  There was plenty of variety on offer in the cabinets along with a great blackboard menu. There was a great kids menu with offerings such as nachos, fish and chips, pancakes, mince on toast, burgers and salads. The place was abuzz with family and supporters as well as the occasional punters such as us who were here just for some brunch time grub.  

The Service:

The staff were friendly and our meals came out very quickly which surprised me given how many customers were here to dine.

The presentation:

The food looked ‘hearty’, nothing overly flash but still appealing to the eye.

The Benedict and Montreal - we both enjoyed our meals.  They were tasty and hot. They were simple, but still had substance.

The eggs - were runny and warm, just right!

The bacon - was great, although quite a small serving.

The salmon - the portion size was mall, but for the price, I could hardly complain!

The hash brown - was simply delicious

The spinach - came as part of the dish with the Montreal.

The hollandaise - homemade and tasty!

The bread - the sour dough was crispy and cooked to perfection.

Would we go again?

Yes, we would pop in again if we were in the area, but we would not go out of our way to specifically come here.

Style: Classic 5/10.

Taste: 6/10. The meal was enjoyable.

Originality: 5/10 - Their Montreal automatically comes with spinach.  It added a splash of colour to the dish.

Value: 8/10. The prices are cheap.  The sides range from $2 to $4.  $15 for the Benedict (choice of either bacon or ham) or $16 for the Royale/Montreal (salmon).

Eggs (how good they were): 6/10.

Overall score: 6/10

Reviewed by: Fi Fi

Location: 400 Karori Road, Karori, Wellington

[greateggsispam]

Cafe Kaos - Pukekohe, Auckland.  Eggs Benedict - June 2016

https://www.facebook.com/Cafe-Kaos-285571894839757/

https://www.zomato.com/auckland/cafe-kaos-pukekohe/info

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

This little gem is oozing funkiness.  The cafe is adorned with old LP covers over the walls to take you back down memory lane.  There is a great vibe and atmosphere about this cafe.  The memorabilia is quite refreshing on the eye.  There is an extensive menu on the back of record covers and some cabinet food as well.  

The Service:

Pretty quick and friendly service.

The presentation:

Don’t be put off by the simple plating of this food as it was a delicious experience.

The Benedict - although not the best bene Iv’e ever had, it was enough for me to say I’d be back again if I was in the area.

The eggs - were done perfectly.  They were local and free-range which is always pleasing.

The bacon - the bacon had a subtle smokiness to it.

The spinach - there was a good volume of spinach which automatically came with the dish.

The hollandaise - was homemade and had a lovely creamy flavour.

The bread - the ciabatta was cooked just right.  It had a crunch but was not hard.

Would we go again?

Yes we would, the food, atmosphere and service was spot on.

Style: Classic 6/10.

Taste: 7/10. The meal was great.

Originality: 6/10 - Both options - Benedict (bacon) or Montreal (salmon) come with spinach.

Value: 8/10.  Both options on the menu are $17.50.

Eggs (how good they were): 7/10.

Overall score: 7/10

Reviewed by: Karen

Location: 44 Edinburgh Street, Pukekohe, Auckland

[greateggsispam]

Cafe Berne - Pukekohe, Auckland.  Eggs Benedict - June 2016

https://www.zomato.com/auckland/cafe-berne-pukekohe/menu

http://www.aucklandnz.com/dining/cuisines/cafe/cafe-berne/7004564

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

Cafe Berne prides itself as organic and allergy safe food, as well as all the food prepared on the premises.There is seating inside and outside.  This cafe is spacious, welcoming and cosy.  On the Tuesday morning of our visit it was not too busy.  I would imagine this wee cafe could be bursting at the seams in the weekend with seating for only abut 30.

The Service:

The service was quick and efficient.

The presentation:

Nothing about the plating of this dish but it really is good conscience food for those who want allergy free and organic food.

The Benedict - the dish was slightly over-covered with hollandaise, but overall the flavour was great.

The eggs - free-range.  These were the star of the dish.  The eggs for a bene were as they should be - orange yolk, delicious flavour and cooked to perfection.

The bacon - pokeno, yummy, yummy.  Would have liked more bacon, however for the cost of the meal I simply cannot complain.

The spinach - was fine.

The hollandaise - homemade, and delicious.  Slightly too much for my liking.

The muffins - were fine.

Would we go again?

Definietly would be back for food that satisfies the food conscience.

Style: Classic 5/10.

Taste: 7/10. The meal was good.

Originality: 5/10 - Their benes automatically comes with spinach.

Value: 9/10. $16 for the Benedict (bacon), $17 for the Montreal (salmon) and $13 for the healthy (with basil pesto and five grain toast). 

Eggs (how good they were): 9/10.

Overall score: 6/10

Reviewed by: Karen

Location: 37 Edinburgh Street, Pukekohe, Auckland

[greateggsispam]

Coffee on the Terrace - Palmerston North.  Eggs Benedict - June 2016

https://www.facebook.com/CoffeeOnTheTerrace

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

There is mainly indoor seating with a few tables outside.  There is a vast array of cabinet food as well as a blackboard menu.  The food is plain, basic but hearty.  They offer catering for your morning teas, or gift options such as Christmas cakes and baking.    

The Service:

The service was pretty average.

The presentation:

The plating was pretty average.

The Benedict - other than the eggs overdone there are no real complaints about this dish, it just wasn’t spectacular.

The eggs - were hard when they arrived which is always disappointing when it comes to an eggs Bene (love those runny eggs).

The bacon - was nice.

The spinach - came with the dish.  Nothing memorable.

The hollandaise - straight out of the bottle.

The muffins - were okay but a bit chewy.

Would we go again?

Can’t complain about the price, and the coffee was free so can’t complain about that.  Would I go back?  Unlikely!

Style: Classic 6/10.

Taste: 7/10. The meal was great.

Originality: 5/10 - Their bene automatically comes with spinach.

Value: 9/10. $16.50 included the spinach and the coffee was free.

Eggs (how good they were): 3/10.

Overall score: 5/10

Reviewed by: Karen

Location: 361 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North

[greateggsispam]

Karaka Cafe - Wellington.  Eggs Benedict - June 2016

http://www.karakacafe.com/

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

Nothing beats Wellington on a good day and this cafe is ideally suited to be able to enjoy Wellington on one such good day with friends over a long weekend.  Blue sky, sunny winters day with good food, and it was good food.  A bilingual menu reveals five Bene options with an authentic Pacific / Kiwiana flavour.  The menu options all sound homemade and divine.  They also offer gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian.  There is outdoor and indoor seating but LOADS of it so maybe not the best place to come if you are in a hurry.  The music playing in the background added a good cultural ambience by including a waiata and local songs.

The Service:

Service was utterly friendly, warm and efficient but not speedy due to the number of customers to be served.  On a laid-back weekend this was no issue for us but might be for someone else if they are in a rush.  We were also impressed with how staff attended to the seating position of customers to ensure a safe family / whanau experience, separating families with children from the more rowdy drinkers and eaters.

The presentation:

Sprinkles of parsley on top of the eggs just finished the home grown look of this dish.

The Benedict - tasted fantastic and the portion size was very generous.

The eggs - the free-range eggs were done just right - sunny and runny.

The bacon - great serve of bacon with about four rashers.

The spinach - there was plenty of spinach, although it must be noted that this side did cost an extra $5.

The hollandaise - good flavoured hollandaise.

The hangi hash - the non-traditional hash - chunks of potato, carrot and kumara cooked well with that family smokey, hangi flavour.  I loved this!

Would we go again?

I would definitely be back but would pick another sunny day when I could enjoy sitting outside and when I had no timetable to work to.  My only tip might be that it would be great to have staff serve in Te Reo Maori however it is possible they did not do so because we were at a table of Pakeha customers.

Style: Classic 6/10.

Taste: 7/10. The meal was great.

Originality: 9/10 - There are five choices.  Florentine (spinach), Benedict (bacon), Pacific (corned beef), Maori (smoked fish) and Royale (house cured-salmon).

Value: 7/10. The benes ranged from $16 to $18.  The sides range from $3 to $6, my side of spinach was $5.  The prices seemed reasonable for the quantity and quality, but still not the cheapest that I have dined.

Eggs (how good they were): 8/10.

Overall score: 8/10

Reviewed by: Karen

Location: 09 Jervois Quay, Wellington Waterfront.

[greateggsispam]

Hollywood Bakery Express - Queen Street, Auckland.  Eggs Montreal - May 2016

http://hollywoodbakery.co.nz/

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

The Queen Street cafe is one of over 40 franchise cafes.  There is an amazing amount of fresh cabinet food and a small blackboard menu.  The food is fast and cheap, simple, yet fresh, plain and delicious.  If you are in a rush and need a quick bite to eat then this is the place for you.  For the prices I did not expect anything elaborate and the Montreal I ordered was, well, what I paid for.  There is seating inside and a couple of tables outside.  The music drowned out any peace and quiet so I was glad that I dined alone this day.  Like I said, it is fast, cheap and simple.

The Service:

The service was okay.  The cheap prices and plain, good food and convenience to the office is what brings me to this teeny wee cafe, not the staff or the service.

The presentation:

The food was placed on a plate, not plated up to look pretty.

The Montreal - was plain, and well boring.

The eggs - were warm, but overdone.

The hash brown - was okay, but at $1.30 I really cannot complain.

The salmon - was cold and cooled down the rest of the dish quit fast.

The hollandaise - straight from the bottle, but what did I expect really for the overall price of the meal?

The muffins - soggy and boring.

Would we go again?

Note for the Montreal, but if I need a quick sammie then absolutely.

Style: Classic 5/10.

Taste: 4/10. The meal was great.

Originality: 4/10 - Pretty standard menu options.

Value: 8/10. The Benedict (bacon) is $13.80 and the Montreal is $14.80 and the side of one hash brown was $1.30.

Eggs (how good they were): 4/10.

Overall score: 5/10

Reviewed by: Fi Fi

Location: 414-436 Queen St, Auckland

[greateggsispam]

Silverspoon Restaurant - Silverstream, Upper Hutt.  Eggs Benedict and Eggs Montreal - April 2016

http://silverspoon.net.nz/

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

There is plenty of seating inside and outside.  They offer Vegetarian / Paleo / Vegan and gluten free.  You can order salad, steak, fresh fish, brunch and breakfast options, the food looked fresh.  We went on a Saturday around lunch time, and lucky for us the place was practically empty which resulted in our food coming out fast.

The Service:

The service was prompt and the staff were very friendly.

The presentation:

The food was plated up nicely and looked inviting.

The Benedict and Montreal - Both were pretty average.

The eggs - were runny and warm.

The bacon - the portion size was just right.

The hash browns - because they were placed in between the bacon and eggs they came out soggy.  The menu states that these are homemade, I beg to differ.

The hollandaise - was fairly yummy and creamy and it looked and tasted homemade.

The bread - the ciabatta was crunchy and tasted good.

Would we go again?

No, we would rather continue the quest to find great eggs to spam.

Style: Classic 6/10.

Taste: 6/10. The meal was average.

Originality: 4/10 - They only have the Benedict (bacon) option.   I ordered the Hash Stack, which was exactly the same except there were hash browns between the bacon and bread

Value: 7/10. $16 for the Benedict and the Hash Stack.  There were no Montreal (salmon) or Florentine (spinach) options on the menu.

Eggs (how good they were): 6/10.

Overall score: 6/10

Reviewed by: Fi Fi

Location: 7 Kiln Street, Silverstream, Upper Hutt

[greateggsispam]

City Extra - Circular Quay, Sydney.  Shop E4, East Podium Circular Quay - March 2016

http://www.cityextra.com.au/Home/646/n/3/0/0/

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

There is plenty of seating outside that overlooks the busy waterfront hub.  There is also a lot of indoor seating upstairs and downstairs.  The menu is fast and unfortunately the food tastes like it.  One groovy thing amount the menu is that it looks like a newspaper.  This place opened in the eighties and I am confident that they have not updated the tired cafe furniture and carpets etc since then.  One good thing about this place is that it has a large menu and they are open all year around and almost 24 hours a day.  

The Service:

The service was pretty average, but the coffee was great.

The presentation:

The food was plated up well.  The tiny sprinkling of parsley added some colour to the dish.

The Benedict and Montreal - Both were very average.

The eggs - were slightly overcooked.

The ham - was limp and pretty tasteless.

The salmon - there was a good portion of salmon.  It tasted good.

The hash brown - was tasteless over overcooked, really overcooked.

The hollandaise - homemade, delicious and the best part of the dish.

The rolls - lacked flavour, but were crunchy.

The sausages - were pretty tasty.

Would we go again?

No, this place was overpriced, and the food and atmosphere just lacked substance.

Style: Classic 5/10.

Taste: 5/10. The meal was so very average.

Originality: 5/10 - Their bene automatically comes with spinach.

Value: 3/10. $18 for Florentine (spinach) and Benedict (ham).  The Montreal (salmon) is $19.50.  This is one of the most expensive places we have been to so far.  The Sausages and Hash browns and sides ranged from $4 upwards.

Eggs (how good they were): 4/10.

Overall score: 5/10

Reviewed by: Fi Fi

Location: Shop E4, East Podium Circular Quay, Sydney, Australia

[greateggsispam]

Viaduct Grill - Auckland.  Eggs Montreal -  March 2016

https://www.facebook.com/theviaductgrill/

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

This cafe/grill caters for steaks, grilled foods and seafood, rather than brunch and breakfast.  It feels like the breakfast / brunch menu is just an ‘add-on’ to keep up with the other cafes that specialise in breakfast / brunch options.  There is a huge menu ranging from steaks, burgers, fresh seafood and salads. There is plenty of seating inside and outside, albeit very squashed, I’m guessing to allow for big crowds.  Whilst the surroundings and view were great this place lacks any vibe and screams mediocre, overpriced and using its prime location as its number one calling card.

The Service:

The service was okay, but nothing very memorable.

The presentation:

The food was plated well, but was pretty average.

The Montreal - was really average and disappointing.  I expected more for a cafe / restaurant in the viaduct.

The eggs - they were both overdone.

The hash browns - were crisp.  As a side, I would have expected two, not four!

The salmon - there was plenty of salmon.

The spinach - was the best part of the dish.  Not soggy, just right and came as part of the dish.

The hollandaise - straight out of the bottle.

The muffins - were on the soggy side.

Would we go again?

Not for the Montreal.  I would try the seafood or steak though.

Style: Classic 5/10.

Taste: 5/10. The meal was very average.

Originality: 5/10 - All options automatically comes with spinach.  You can order with the Benedict (bacon), Montreal (salmon) or Vegetarian (mushrooms).

Value: 7/10. $16.50 for all options.  Hash browns were $4.  Sides range from $4 to $6.

Eggs (how good they were): 4/10.

Overall score: 5/10

Reviewed by: Fi Fi

Location: 99 Customs Street West, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland CBD

[greateggsispam]

Sweet Vanilla Kitchen - Lower Hutt.  Eggs Benedict -  March 2016

https://www.facebook.com/Sweet-Vanilla-Kitchen-114848335285366/

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

This quaint cafe won NZ Cafe of the Year 2016.  It’s kind of off the beaten track (not on the main road), but very worth weaving your way through the back streets to find.  With its varied menu and vast range of counter food this was a delight to find.  You can sit inside or outside. There are toys for the kids to play with.  This cafe buys local and NZ produce including pandoro bread, Zany Zeus cheese and park Ave Meats.  Everything looks, smells and tastes fresh.

The Service:

The place was busy on a sunny Sunday morning and we were warned it would be an hour wait.  We were not worried because we had plenty to catch up on.  We were delighted when our meals arrived in a bout half an hour.  Always better to under promise and over deliver than the other way around.

The presentation:

This was nicely plated and the sprig of rocket added some good colour.  Home made hollandaise and a few swirls across the plate added panache.  I

The Benedict - This meal was scrumptious.  I could barely wait to eat this once it arrived.

The eggs - free-range, were cooked beautifully, and runny like I like them.

The bacon - was smokey and crunchy and sat well with the homemade hash browns.

The spinach - was cooked to perfection, not soggy!

The hollandaise - homemade, it was simply delicious and complimented thw rest of the dish.

The hash browns - ‘everything from scratch on our premises’ including the homemade hash browns.  These had a crisp outer texture.

Would we go again?

Without a doubt, obviously next time I would make sure Fi Fi was with us.

Style: Classic 7/10.

Taste: 8/10. The meal was scrumptious.

Originality: 9/10 -  What makes this cafe’s bene options unique is one of the variances you can chose.....you can have Bushman’s mince,  also the Bene (with either ham or bacon), Montreal (salmon) or Florentine (spinach).

Value: 9/10. $16 for all options.  You can either have english muffins or gluten free hash browns.  

Eggs (how good they were): 8/10.

Overall score: 8/10

Reviewed by: Karen

Location: 49 Pretoria Street, Lower Hutt

[greateggsispam]

Saddleback Cafe - Ohariu Valley, Wellington.  Eggs Benedict and Eggs Montreal - February 2016

http://www.saddlebackcafe.co.nz/page/home.aspx

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

Nestled in the country this cafe is the epitome of country dining bliss.  There are vegetarian and gluten free options as well as a kids menu.  There is a huge variety of food from your usual brunch options to salads, fresh fish, burgers, soups and pastas.  You can smell the fresh country air from the outside deck.  There is also plenty of seating inside.  The kids can play in the playground or watch the horse trekkers as they pass by.  You can even book kids birthday parties here and they do catering.

The Service:

The service was quick and friendly. 

The presentation:

The food was plated up beautifully, the slices of spring onion adding a splash of colour.

The Benedict and Montreal - Both looked and tasted great.  

The eggs - free-range, runny and warm.

The bacon - there was a good portion of bacon and it was delicious.

The salmon - there was lots of smoked salmon, it tasted great.

The spinach - came as part of the dish.  The wilted baby spinach was cooked just right (not soggy).

The hollandaise - homemade, and completely complimented our brunch.

The bread - was cooked to perfection.

Would we go again?

Yes, this little gem was just fabulous.  The fresh air, the food, the atmosphere, the playground, the horses, the varied menu all contributed to a memorable weekend brunch.

Style: Classic 6/10.

Taste: 9/10. The meal was great.

Originality: 7/10 - All options come with eggs on sourdough, baby spinach, Kumara rosti with Kawakawa and hollandaise.  With the Bene you can have either Bacon or Glazed ham.

Value: 7/10. $17 for the Bene (ham or bacon) and %18 for the Montreal (salmon).  All options include spinach and rosti, making this value for money

Eggs (how good they were): 8/10.

Overall score: 8/10

Reviewed by: Fi Fi

Location: 517 Ohariu Valley, Johnsonville, Wellington

[greateggsispam]

MLC Cafe and Bar - Auckland.  Eggs Montreal - February 2016

https://www.zomato.com/auckland/mlc-cafe-bar-scenic-hotel-queen-street

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

Most of the tables and chairs are inside with just a couple of spots for outdoor dining.  There is a great lunchtime menu with $10 specials.  The food overall is pretty tasty and the portion sizes are generous.  This cafe is good for quick dining but lacks any real vibe.  I have dined here a number of times for the quick service and value for money $10 options.  There is also a large amount of cabinet food and hot options.  There is buffet available as well.

The Service:

The service is quick and the staff are friendly and welcoming.

The presentation:

The food was plated up well.

The Montreal - overall the dish was okay.  I thought that the dish lacked substance, and was quite expensive for the portion size.

The eggs - free-range, runny and warm.

The salmon - was good, there was not much of it.

The spinach - there was a tiny bit of spinach which added some much needed colour to the dish.

The hollandaise - homemade, with a soft hint of lemon. 

The bread - the ciabatta was thick and crunchy.

Would we go again?

Not for the Montreal, but definitely for the $10 lunch options.

Style: Classic 6/10.

Taste: 7/10. The meal was okay, nothing special.

Originality: 5/10 - I liked the way there was a vegetarian option other than the Florentine.

Value: 5/10. $18.50 is pretty pricy for all the options, but standard for the Montreal.  The Montreal (salmon), Florentine (seared spinach), Benedict (streaky bacon) and Mushrooms all come with eggs, ciabatta and lemon hollandaise.

Eggs (how good they were): 6/10.

Overall score: 6/10

Reviewed by: Fi Fi

Location: 380 Queen Street, Auckland.

[greateggsispam]

1841 Bar-Restaurant - Johnsonville, Wellington.  Eggs Benedict and Eggs Montreal - January 2015

http://www.1841.co.nz/

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

1841 has a varied menu ranging for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.  There is a kids menu and activities as well as gluten free and vegetarian options.  There is a huge indoor dining area including booths as well as plenty of outdoor seating.

The Service:

The staff are very friendly and the service was quick.

The presentation:

The presentation was pretty average.  The sprinkling of parsley was too light, therefore not really adding to the aesthetics of the dish.

The Benedict and Montreal - they both tasted great and we gobbled them down like our lives depended on them.

The eggs - were warm and runny.

The bacon - was crisp and just the right amount.

The salmon - was tasty.  I did feel that there could have been more, but considering the price of the dish, I can’t really moan.

The hash browns - were hot and crunchy.

The hollandaise - pretty sure this was straight out of the bottle.

The muffins - were tasty and crunchy.

Would we go again?

Yes, the food was hot, the service was fast and friendly

Style: Classic 6/10.

Taste: 6/10. The meal was great.

Originality: 5/10 - All options come with eggs, muffins, hollandaise and hash browns.  The Benedict (bacon) is $15.90, the Montreal (salmon) is $17.90 and the Florentine (spinach) is $14.90.

Value: 7/10. $17.90 with hash browns is pretty standard.

Eggs (how good they were): 6/10.

Overall score: 6/10

Reviewed by: Fi Fi

Location: 1 Disraeli St, Johnsonville, Wellington

[greateggsispam]

Cafe Crema - Auckland.  Eggs Benedict - January 2016

https://www.zomato.com/auckland/cafe-crema-symonds-street/photos

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

You can sit on couches or dine at tables and chairs, inside and outside this large inner-city cafe.  There are magazines or even a TV for entertainment.  This is one of a number of Cafe Creme’s in Auckland.  There was a large blackboard menu as well as plenty of counter food such as pies, sandwiches and hot food selections.  There was a friendly vibe and the atmosphere was welcoming.

The Service:

The staff were okay, but not really into delivering exceptional customer service.

The presentation:

The hideous design on the plate nearly overshadowed the dish.  The eggs were underneath the salmon which I found annoying and the eggs were sitting atop soggy lettuce and bland panini.  

The Benedict - was disappointing.  The way the food was plated and accompanied by soggy lettuce was just plain weird.

The Eggs - were okay.

The Salmon - there was a lot of salmon and it tasted good.

The Avocado - this side saved the dish from being a total disaster!

The Hollandaise - I was surprised that the menu said this was homemade hollandaise as the flavour tastes such like the bottle sauce.

The Hash brown - sadly, this was not very crunchy, but at least it was hot.

The Panini - I thought this was an odd choice for a bene.  The panini was bland which was no surprise.

Would we go again?

No I would prefer to try other places that I have not been to before rather than make my way back here.  There was nothing wrong as such, it’s just that I was not wooed by this place.

Style: Classic 5/10.

Taste: 4/10. The meal was not the best I have had.  I did not eat the lettuce and the panini.

Originality: 5/10 - The menu says that this dish comes with a salad, however in reality the salmon is on a bed of lettuce.

Value: 5/10. $15.90 is pretty okay.  The avocado was a side and cost about $3.

Eggs (how good they were): 5/10.

Overall score: 5/10

Reviewed by: Fi Fi

Location: 71 Symonds Street, Auckland.

[greateggsispam]

Bookmark Cafe - Feilding.  Eggs Benedict - January 2016

http://www.bookmarkcafe.co.nz/

https://www.facebook.com/BookmarkCafeFeilding/

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

Bookmark Cafe is located within Paper Plus in the heart of Feilding. You can browse the bookshelves whilst waiting for your coffee or sit in the relaxed atmosphere surrounded by books.  This cafe offers gluten free, dairy free and they are also nut free.  The background music could do with being a bit more background but no other complaints than that.

The Service:

The service was friendly and speedy.

The presentation:

The plating was done cleverly to discretely hide the fact that one egg was a bit less tidy looking than the other.

The Benedict - The meal was okay.

The eggs - were done nicely.

The bacon - cooked well and the quantity was fine.

The spinach - the spinach came with the dish.  It was cooked well and not too soggy.

The hollandaise - was covering the eggs but not too thick or heavy.  This looks like it was homemade.

The Hash Browns - were homemade and were good.

The bread - the sourdough was a bit too crunchy and next time I would probably ask to swap the bread for the hash browns.

Would we go again?

This would probably not be my first choice for bunch / bene in Feilding, but it is possible that I would go back.

Style: Classic 6/10.

Taste: 7/10. The meal was great.

Originality: 7/10 - For your ‘base’ you have the option of either bread or hash browns.  They also have a variation called the hash stack for $17.50.  Its comprises of - Hash browns, fried eggs, spinach, grilled tomatoes, bacon, hollandaise.  Another variation is the Smoked Salmon Potato cakes which comprise of - smoked salmon & potato cakes, spinach,  poached eggs & hollandaise

Value: 5/10. The $17.50 was quite pricy for the quantity of food.  I got hash browns on the side which brought my dish to $21.50.  The Montreal option looks like an extra $6 which would be very expensive for a Montreal.

Eggs (how good they were): 7/10.

Overall score: 7/10

Reviewed by: Karen

Location: 35 Manchester Square, Feilding

[greateggsispam]

Essence Cafe and Bar - Feilding.  Eggs Benedict - January 2016

http://www.essencecafefeilding.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Essence-Cafe-and-Bar-Feilding-519202241463601/

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

This is a great place to dine.  You can order gluten free, dairy free, blackboard menu with a huge range in scrumptious options, fresh fish, salads, pasta, burgers, salads, from the kids menu and more.  You can even come here for High Tea. You can dine inside or there are tables outside as well.  This is my second visit here as the first time I ate my meal before realising I had not taken the all important photo!

The Service:

Friendly staff, service was not speedy but they were busy and only had two staff on.  With this in mind, their friendliness and willing service meant that the wait did not seem to be an issue.

The presentation:

Plating up gave this a touch of class and I had no issues with this standard Bene.  The balsamic reduction and sliced spring onion made the dish.

The Benedict and Montreal - Both looked scrummy. A tiny bit of parsley added some colour and a bit of flavour to the dish.

The eggs - cooked just how I like them - runny and warm.

The bacon - had a smoky flavour.

The spinach - loved that the spinach was part of the meal and not an added extra.

The hollandaise - this looks like bottled hollandaise.

The muffins - were fine.

Would we go again?

This is my second visit here as the first time I ate my meal before realising I had not taken the all important photo!  Was it goo?  YES, and I clearly went back.

Style: Classic 6/10.

Taste: 7/10. The meal was great.

Originality: 7/10 - Their bene automatically comes with spinach.  They also have the hash stack which is a variation to the bene with potato rosti stacked with grilled tomato, spinach, bacon, egg and hollandaise for $18.50.

Value: 9/10. $15.50 will get you two soft boiled eggs, wilted spinach, muffins and hollandaise and a choice of either bacon or salmon.  This is pretty good value for money!  I could not see the Hash Brown as a side option, but considering they have these with the big breakfast, in hindsight I could have asked for one.

Eggs (how good they were): 7/10.

Overall score: 7/10

Reviewed by: Karen

Location: 46 Manchester Street, Feilding

[greateggsispam]

The White Horse Inn Cafe - Longburn, Palmerston North.  Eggs Benedict - January 2016 

https://www.facebook.com/whitehorseinnpalmerstonnorth/

http://www.countryinn.co.nz/

Check out all our blogs at

http://greateggsispam.com/

The Place:

The White Horse is a local tavern that has recently branched out to provide daytime meals too.  There is a small lunch / breakfast menu and cabinet food offered in a comfortable surroundings that more resembles home dining style rather than your conventional cafe look and feel.  

The Service:

The service was friendly and speedy and they were open to my ‘instructions’ on how I liked my coffee made.

The presentation:

The plating could do with some sprucing up such as the application of the sauce, however the wee sprig of oregano did lift the appearance of the dish.

The Benedict - Sometimes you just want a low key breakfast without cooking it yourself or without being in a bust town or city.  This was one of those occasions, home cooked style, no fuss, but a nice hearty meal and reasonable pricing.

The eggs - were definitely free-range.  Very yellow yoke gave this away.

The bacon - I did wonder if the bacon was home cured.  There was a good amount and it was tasty.

The hollandaise - very small portion of bottled sauce, but that’s preferred to being drowned in sauce.

The muffins - were good just right and were crunchy.

Would we go again?

Would probably go back, if not for the sheer convenience and location of the place.

Style: Classic 5/10.

Taste: 6/10. The meal was great.

Originality: 4/10 - They could do with building their menu options.

Value: 8/10. $15 which is pretty reasonable for the quantity. 

Eggs (how good they were): 6/10.

Overall score: 6/10

Reviewed by: Karen

Location: 2180 State Highway 56, Longburn, Palmerston North