Scarecrow — Restaurant in Waitematā

I normally only post reviews when we have a positive experience-but we were so disappointed we felt that this one was worth mentioning. My daughter and I chose to go here as the reviews were excellent. We arrived mid morning after the rush. There were a few tables with customers but not super busy. We were greeted curtly by a staff member - figured maybe she was just busy or having a rough day. We were given a table and a menu quickly. No mention of having to order via QR code or up at the counter. So we waited a long time. I eventually went to the counter to order. The staff member serving me was miserable, rude and dismissive. I felt like we were an inconvenience to her. She took our order and money. My daughter ordered the berry oatmeal and I ordered the veggie greens with poached egg, a coffee and a sparkling water. 60 something dollars later… Our meals came out quickly. I have to admit - the chef did a wonderful job on the presentation. My meal looked so special! Unfortunately that’s where it ended. The taste was bland at best. It was so disappointing. Eggs were cooked perfectly, but it was completely tasteless. My daughter’s oatmeal was satisfactory - but you can’t screw that up. The amount of berry on top was minimal - perhaps a table spoons worth. Coffee was burnt. How porridge costs as much as it did is beyond me. We left feeling totally disappointed. Would not go back and would not recommend. Perhaps if more time was spent on improving the taste of the meals and less on the appearance - and if the staff were able to greet you with a smile or perhaps just make you feel like you weren’t an inconvenience on their time - that would be a good thing for the business...

I’ve visited Scarecrow a few times over the years. It’s always been a pretty good experience (and makes for some good photos too 📸).

They’ve got the classic food options (bagels, eggs on toast, big brekkie), which they tend to do quite well. They also have some pretty decent cabinet foods if you’re not too hungry, are in a rush, or don’t want to spend as much.

The last time I was there, I got the grilled chicken & herbed aioli bagel, and it was fine. Well-seasoned chicken with some light aioli, and good slaw and onions to go with it. Maybe the bagel was toasted a bit much for my liking, but it was still alright. My friend got the eggs, and they were really nice scrambled eggs—fluffy, but really nicely cooked (not wet or overdone). Can’t complain too much about it—it was a nice meal!

I’ve never had their bistro lunch options, so I can’t speak about those. Maybe I’ll stop by at some point in the future.

If you plan to dine in, I would suggest either booking in advance or going outside of their busy hours. I tend to find 10 a.m.–12 p.m. a pretty decent time to visit, with a short wait time (~10–15 min). Earlier in the morning and afternoons can be busy with people heading into work or students at the university.

It’s located quite nicely in the middle of the city, making it an ideal location for meetings or a group lunch.

They also have a decent selection of snacks and goodies too, in case you’d like to take something for later or to share.

Scarecrow is a pretty safe and iconic option in town. Worth a try if you’re looking for a homely place in town for your...

Where to start; during, or rather, just before the Covid 19 lockdown's most straitened times, Scarecrow attempted to metamorphose into a grocer's, and thus an essential service. They almost succeeded but sadly had to close until the great gradual unlocking. When they returned, however they did so with not just some of the tastiest take out repasts (the deconstructed salmon bagel was like Lego for feinschmeckers), but a larder of select comestibles, redeeming your home kitchen from the quotidian offerings of the local supermarkets to something that revivified hope and palates both. Since then they are back in full swing, still selling a curated catalogue of ingredients and accoutrements with an emphasis on things local, whilst also welcoming back a bustle of gratified grazers. The staff don't simply remember you they take the time to get to know you, the food (NZ Mediterranean) is always a point and the coffee fortifying. The bread, now proudly displayed in the front window is a marvel in itself and in the sense of essential things elevated to the revelatory (along with the sort of benign entrepreneurial ingenuity implied above) is emblematic of the ethos here. My wish list; some local icecream to complement the cheese selection (which is pretty special though a gruyere or equivalent would complete the w/hole), and a bit more WiFi for the lonely traveler (aren't we all these days?). All in all though while corvids might be afraid, for the rest of us this is a place of...