Sage & Brew
Possibly the best hollandaise on the journey so far — mustard-hinted, impeccable in volume and consistency. Coffee oversweetened by an illegal hand on the syrup.
Scores
Time for brunch - wifey asks me if i think we'd be better saving the money. Sacrilege. We leave the house sharing a cold silence.
Sage & Brew is nestled down a side street of the main strip through takapuna, burrowed beneath a big old hotel in a semi foyer area. Kinda sequestered and a touch secluded for my brunching appetite, but still pleasant; not jam packed like many other hotspots, as brunching seems to be a sunday religion for denizens of the north shore.
Fussed over a seat, then finally ordered. Pleased to see that the eggs benedict was rostied and appreciated the haloumi option for bacon incompatibles.
The coffee arrived and was nice at first sip. Had a sweetness that gives added syrup (illegal), and by the final sips of my drink was a little cloying.
Finally, after a time period that felt a little long given the limited patrons at the cafe, breakfast was served. Someone on google claimed the eggs benedict was goated so the anticipation was palpable. The presentation of the meal lived up to the reputation - immaculate. There was a nice garnishing of fried shallots to encircle the meal and I always like a bene with some spinach leaves to absolve me of the guilt of my otherwise vegetabevoid diet.
The first bite was delectable; metaphorically swept off my feet, I felt myself blush. First impressions were at 8.8 / 10, but a closer inspection revealed all truths.
Omg the hollandaise - perhaps the best I've tasted on my egg tasting journey. The sauce had lovely hints of mustard, and was paragon in volume and consistency.
The eggs were pretty well done, the yolk perhaps cooked a little past runny but in fairness that would be my preference over a runny white. Bacon was shy of a true crunch; still yummy and welcomed on my plate. Biggest criticism would be the diminutive rosti; also lackluster in the crispy department.
Overall a very yummy breakfast and I would happily return - goated hollandaise which made a lasting first impression. I'd give it an 8.6 for the breakfast, a 7.2 for the coffee (overly sweet), service was friendly but the wait was a touch long. Final arbitration reveals a madrosti_ score of 8.3 / 10.