MELBA Vulcan — Restaurant in Waitematā

When I’m in Auckland for an overnighter it’s a no brainer where to go for breakfast. Dear, sweet, Melba. The Favourite Husband and I stumbled upon Melba years ago, completely and utterly by mistake. Which goes to prove; I have a guardian angel. I have never, ever, been disappointed with an offering here. So much so that I took the risk of all risks last year and bought my incredibly fussy daughter here and she ate. A miracle. This Saturday I was pretending I wasn’t hungover; so needed to be cautious. I’d think even the Favourite Husband surely must suspect it when I order orange juice as any other time I literally hate fruit. The orange juice was the size of a small country, fresh and delicious. The Favourite Husband had his usual big breakkie and I went with creamy mushrooms and bacon. I didn’t cancel the bread (see earlier note re: hangover) and boy was I pleased I didn’t. The big breakkie was “stunning” and the sausage declared “outstanding.” Top marks for using a proper butcher’s sausage not a pseudo sausage imposter. My mushrooms came in the tastiest, creamy sauce. Garlicky but still remembering that it’s breakfast. Now I’m not a bread person. But whatever buttery, crispy but pillowy, sweet but savoury delight of carbs came with this dish needs to be certified. I ate the lot AND it cured my hangover. Gawjus, friendly, professional, friendly staff to boot. If only they could get...

Rude offhand service. We were a group of 6 for lunch - 2 of the group arrived yesterday from the US for their first visit to NZ. I ordered the Three Cheese Panini with tomato and caramelised onion on the side. I got two thick slabs of ordinary sliced bread, with cheese (one kind), a slice of tomato and a teaspoon of what looked like chutney on the side. Looked like a toastie from a greasy spoon cafe. I politely said I had ordered a panini - the response "oh well they must have run out" and the guy walked off. One of the American ladies asked a different staff member if he could take a photo of the group for us - the response "I dont take photos" and he walked off. A third guy cleared the plates and I repeated that I had ordered a panini and got ordinary sliced bread. His response "where our chef comes from that is a panini". I felt as if I was in an episode of Fawlty Towers! I was so embarrased for our overseas visitors at this blatantly rude, offhand service. They did take the "panini"...

TL;DR Stick to their coffee, the food is under seasoned and over priced.

It's okay, but not the place for lunch. I was able to taste the Louisiana chicken and the lamb pappardelle, both were prepared well but way underseasoned. The chicken was crispy but had no seasoning and the breading was twice the size of the actual chicken. The noodles in the pappardelle were bland and the whole dish tasted of unseasoned lamb.

The saving grace was the hot dipping sauce for the chicken which was perfectly spicy and flavorful. Their coffee was also great (and is what's saving this review). The coffee is smooth and the flavors meld well together, and the price is very reasonable. The coffee I had was the only reason I'd return, but I'd still only get it to go, as the actual dining area is quite cramped.

The total cost was over $50 and was not worth it, won't get...