Or(...nah)vieto

Orvieto

935A Mt Eden Road

Mt Eden

We'd been here once before after it'd had beaming reviews from several serial ravers, but for some indefinite reason we'd decided it was a miss.

This verdict was more intutitive than logical, especially as the food, coffee and service are all superlative. Everything on the menu sets the gob watering, making decision that much more challenging... In my case leading to serious self-disrespect on my second visit - Super Breakfast plus extra hash browns... 

So, yeah, after slack jawed incredulity on the part of it's proponents upon hearing the initial Miss verdict, (try saying that on a serious post cafe food-high) we decided to give Orvie's another chance. Same as before, the place was packed to the gunnels, yet there was no hassle getting a table for the half dozen of us. Tick No 1. No nonsense service, our orders arrived seriously fast. Tick No 2. The coffees are above sound. Tick No 3 (excepting the Robert Wadlow sized lattes which seem to be all over the show at present - WTF? There's enough milk in a stock-standard latte, thanks... It's like the spirit of the latte bowl - see Ponsonby circa 1997/Palmi North circa 2010 - has been summoned by some outcast voodoo barista and assumed a new and deceptive guise as the extra-tall (or 'Venti' for those of you who speak Starbucks) glass and/or gimmick vessell. With all this shite about gluten and dairy free alternatives you'd think punters would want less milk, not more... Unless of course it's soy chai.... Yeah! Fuck the rainforest! There's no Orangutans in Mt Eden anyway....) All boxes ticked, right?

Enough of my prejudice anyway. The bottom line is this place is good. Totes good. I'd go so far as to say that I'd recommend it. I just wouldn't go here of my own volition. Maybe it's because I get uncomfortable when I get too far inland. Maybe it was the kid dressed head to toe in what looked like Ed Hardy - surely tantamount to child abuse. I think the Miss status has less to do with Orvieto, and more with my preconceived ideas about Mt Eden and Mt Edenites. As one of my fellow brunchers succintly summarised: "they need to hurry up and open a pop-up branch in Ponsonby."

Conclusion: Hit