Leaf & Loaf Cafe & Salad Bar — Restaurant in Devonport-Takapuna

Three of us went to the Leaf & Loaf today for a late breakfast. It looked like a nice place from outside. The diverse and interesting menu is chalk on blackboards above the counter inside. There were tables inside and outside, but it's a cool, grey day so we went inside. There are about ten tables ranging from 2 seats to 4 seats as well as a padded bench along the right wall. I ordered a big breakfast with scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms, two small sausages, half a cooked tomato, some fresh spinach and two big pieces of toast.... With a small pot of butter. My companions ordered some fritters. One substituted bacon for the usual cooked tomato accompaniment.

I asked that milk not be added to my scrambled eggs as it makes them too watery. They use a small amount of cream anyway and the eggs were great. The mushrooms were marinated and delicious. The bacon was a good, solid prob if two decent slices. The breakfast sausages were fairly ordinary wee white things that let the whole dish down a wee bit for me, but your can't win them all. The toast was two large pieces of white sourdough or similar. It was great and I did what I often do and made a nice, big egg and bacon sandwich with it. The butter was spreadable and the bread didn't shred..... So that's a big win. My companions said their fritters were great.

The seats were comfy. One table was uneven and rocked a wee bit. The toilets were clean, though one of the two was out of order. A fun feature was the door lock on the left toilet only worked if you followed the instructions (on the inside of the door) and lifted it slightly using a handle screwed to the door. Presumable, the same approach will work from outside.... Which could be awkward.

The staff were unfailingly pleasant and friendly. When we asked about one item we had ordered, but which haven't been delivered, they checked the bill. And apologised and, as we were about to leave anyway, they put it in a bag and we took it with us.

Overall, it's a nice place. The food is fine. You should be happy. The service was (my) Kiwi Standard: pleasant, helpful and even fun....if sometimes haphazard.

Go...

We go to cafes all the time and I have grown up in Takapuna but decided to go someplace new for a change and were throughly disappointed. We got a bacon butty, a toastie a slice. At first the toastie came out with just cheese when we told them just no tomato. When we asked for the onion and ham that was ment to be in it it cane back looking sad and soggy with the cheese not even melted. The staff didn't have any knowledge of the menu or ingredients. This is the first time I have ever asked for a refund (just for the toastie, as it was just crap as the person who made it clearly didn't care). The man who I assume was the owner by his demeanor all he could say was "well it was rushed out" that is a shocking excuse from a business owner, we never asked for anything to be rushed just to get what we payed for. Bacon butty was very average with way over cooked bacon and the slice was stale and bitter. By far the worst establishment I have ever been to in my life. Would give it a 0 if I could.

DO...

Hi, worst egg a mushrooms on sourdough ever had! 1 small piece sourdough, tiny few mushrooms and under done poached x 2 eggs and tea pot!! Just about enough for one cup! “Really” + 1 bacon butty. All for $40!! I don’t think so. Unfortunately would not return.

To answer to your feedback, price was with coffee to add. I only wish I took photos to show just how dreadful the meal was and how small the teapot was, two cups you say…hmmm! I’ve no doubt you do work hard, but suggest you up the standard and yes there are better cafes in Taka. Just in case you don’t understand, reviews are not just to be rated 5 stars as you self rate yourself! If the standard is not good enough you get the rating of the customer. I wonder what you would rate me if I served you what you served me! I too have worked in hospitality. Worst thing you can do is try to justify a bad experience as you are...