Concrete Playground

In the process of writing the Top 10 Auckland Brunch Spots, Rosehip Cafe was noted in the list as one of the top contenders for the glorious prize. In waking to the news of Dan Carter's groin injury and in need of settling the nerves for the upcoming Warriors Grand Final, the call was made to splash out on a well deserved brunch action at the Rosehip Cafe. Well deserved in that we were able to take our frustrations out on a good old-fashioned friendly rivalry. Parnell versus Ponsonby. West versus East. Mushrooms versus mushrooms.

Dizengoff mushrooms in Ponsonby have remained a steady diet and treat for west of the city residents. Can Parnell's finest deliver a more satisfying funghi experience? The answer. No. Quite frankly, I am completely biased so could not offer a two eyed review. It's like trying to get a Cantab to admit that Carlos Spencer was better than Andrew Mehrtens. I'm not saying that the mushrooms at Rosehip were not good, they were quite simply amazing. Roast portabello mushrooms with garlic, herb cream and the optional yet unavoidable addition of crisp bacon. In it's favour, the Rosehip option is a lighter experience than its western counterpart, not leaving you with a full creamy stomach feeling, but more a tinge of garlic breath and suitably full stomach.

The price was a factor also, having paid $22.50 for the mushrooms, and my one eyed Cantabrian flatmate whom had ordered the $26.50 Big Breakfast. We both decided that to spend $20 for a breakfast including a coffee was where it should be and was not possible at Rosehip unless you were after the Oat Porridge, or poached or scrambled eggs on their own.

But overall, the popularity of Rosehip was deserved, made apparent with the high number of 'schmummies' and their friendly dogs. The cabinet food looked inviting, Allpress coffee spot on and service was sufficient. Bonus points for the ambience which encouraged conversation. So much so, that we have planned a boys trip to Byron Bay next year. Not sure whether that had anything to do with the schmummies.