Sluurpy > Restaurants in Auckland Central > Scarecrow

Review Scarecrow - Auckland Central

siewlan liow
Very nice cafe near Albert park and art gallery. A lot of local products available at this cafe as well. Good customer service and good vibe with mix of local and tourist guests around. Try their big breafast and egg on toast both very delicious.
Leandra de Labastida
Scarecrow is a culinary gem. Their Turkish egg and chorizo omelette is a flavor-packed delight, offering a unique twist on a classic breakfast dish. The staff is incredibly friendly, making for a warm and inviting atmosphere. The cafe itself is charming, and their coffee is simply outstanding. If you're in Auckland and looking for a cozy spot with delectable food and excellent coffee, Scarecrow is a must-visit.
Kristy Drake
The food here is something else. Amazing flavours, great rustic vibe and quality produce and products. Must visit again - highly recommend!
Ju W
SHAKSHUKA with the Lamb sausage - Recommended dish here. Very pleasant atmosphere, with heaps of items around the shop for sale which keeps the eyes busy as we awaited the food. Unfortunately the coffee machine was broken so didn't get to try out the coffee. Nice warm sunlight shone in and during the weekday it was actually not too busy. Will be back again to check out the seasonal changes of the menu!
Mandana Nelson
Delicious breakfast and amazing service. The vibe just puts you in a good mood. They took longer then expected to make my coffee and let me chose anything I wanted from the counter on the house. You will not leave disappointed, very caring staff.
Cynthia Williams
On my trip from Canada, I stopped by Scarecrow and boy, it was amazing. You've got to try their pot pie - it's the best one I've ever had. The owner was super sweet and friendly, and we had a great chat. She even gave me a small pastry as a farewell gift since I was flying out that day. I can't wait to go back there again
C F
Stopped in for a breakfast before our flight out. Ambiance is nice. Relaxing and bustling at the same time. A great place to come by yourself or with others. I had the greens with poached eggs and lemon oil and ricotta. Vegetables cooked perfectly tender without mushiness. Just enough cheese to enhance. The service was excellent. Very friendly. Lots of great items around the cafe to purchase as well should you need a gift to take home. Most items were made in NZ.
Romy Labranche
Delicious brunch place in Auckland. Staff is very nice and friendly, the menu is amazing, went there twice during the 3-4 days I was in Auckland. Very cozy for a winter morning brunch. Highly recommend the halloumi mushroom bagel, earth harvest breakfast, shakshuka and french brioche toast.
Alison Davis
After a bit of a walk, we headed to Scarecrow for brunch! What a great place. Food was different and wonderful! Coffee - the best we’d had in NZ. Best of all was the lovely owner-friendly and helpful to us. This is a place we’ll remember as a highlight of our trip to NZ. Thank you x
Ellen Liew
Cozy place ;) the food was so good. I got the breast chicken and roasted potatoes. It was pretty noisy but I guess that's because this spot is very popular. I would come here again!
Hanajan
Very cozy atmosphere! Aside from the fact that the seats were placed really close to each other, the cafe presented good environment for having meals and enjoying chats. Soup of the day was amazing and the bread was toasted really well. Almond milk foam on top of the coffee made my day. The
Paweł Nawrot
Amazing, healthy food with lots of local ingredients and touch of home-like warmth. Outstanding coffee! Wide variety of treats for sweet tooths 🫶 10/10
Jo
I had the Good Morning Brioche and it was just super delicious! I really enjoyed the soft, chewy brioche with sweet berry compote and chantilly cream. Also love how there is a grocery section with a great selection of local artisanal products from NZ! Would recommend coming down early as it gets crowded later in the morning!
Gurushabd Khalsa
We went twice! The waitress remembered us and was so friendly both times. We had the French toast, earth plate, halloumi mushroom bagel, and shakshuka. All were delicious. We also perused their store and bought everything but butter and a beautiful kitchen towel. This would be a regular joint if we lived here.
Myrna Johnson
Nice restaurant with counter ordering in Downtown Auckland. We had breakfast there and all three dishes served were good. My big breakfast was very good and the eggs were done perfectly. Plenty of sides to choose from the bakery. Had coffee service of many kinds. Very nice and friendly staff.
Lorna Burns
Lovely hostess. Counter staff friendly but told us kitchen was closed at 2.05. We'd been there about 20 mins chatting and looking at the menu. The hostess took our order and the food was very good. I had a lamb pot pie and my friend had a spinach and feta omlette. It's a lovely, lively place, full of character and charm.
Viola Vadász
I've had the most amazing porridge at Scarecrow this morning! Surprising and wonderful flavours, creamy texture, seasonal fruit on top - it made my day! The service was exceptional, really kind and helpful staff, was good to experience this kind of professionalism in Auckland. Highly recommended, will definitely go back there!
Sally McLaren
This is a popular cafe. Luckily my companion and I arrived about 10 minutes before a queue formed for Saturday brunch. I can see why though. The menu is varied and all the dishes I saw looked generous, interesting and delicious. It has a very comfortable vibe, with lots of delights in the cabinet and a fab selection of shopping items to check out, beautiful bags, chocolate etc. Coffee is GREAT and - regardless of their busy-ness - the service is responsive and quick.
Abhijeet Kamath
Couldnt wait to write about it... Just been here for the restaurant month.. Not a great start to be honest with the greet and seat thingy.. But i think the food definetly covers up for it...<br/>Started of with the vegetable kofte and the beetroot hummus and i should say the flavour pairing was amazing.. I personally think the kofte could be cooked a wee bit more cz i could taste a bit of a raw taste in it.. The beetroot hummus was really really good..<br/>Moving on to the second course we got the iraqi pilaf with crispy onion roasted butternut and tahini cream.. Only one thing about this i can think.. FAULTLESS, couldnt be any better.<br/><br/>The dessert couldnt honestly get what was going on in there but i loved the vanilla coconut labneh that came with it<br/><br/>Over all had a great time would surely come back to try different stuff
Linda Lin
Have been here with a friend twice. If you get the tea for two the teapot isn't super well designed so it tends to leak when pouring. My friend had the cheesecake and said it was nice and light but the crust was a bit too sweet. Pretty pricey but their stuff is fresh and there's a whole lot of fresh produce you can get from here
Pain Am
There were two staff and the one who made coffee was really kind and lovely and the other one was quite rude. Not coming back. <br/>
Bella Qian
Every time I walk past I get a high from the amazing smell. Love the rustic vibes of this place and their simply but beautifully executed menu. The shakshuka is amazing. A wonderful choice for brunch.
Kylie
I’ve come here a few times but mainly for their cabinet food, this was my first time ordering from their menu. I got the shakashouka which was absolutely divine, loved everything about the dish. The bread, the egg, sausages and the tomatoes were all great. It was a bit too big of a portion for me, very very filling, so I do wish I hadn’t added on the sausages in the end. <br/><br/>Service was quite friendly and helpful when I had questions about the menu items, a little bit of a wait but that’s expected when you come for lunch on the weekend. Overall, a pretty nice place and I would definitely come here again.
Sharon Louie
Just a quick tip, you have to order at the counter first before you are seated, which was kind of confusing at first. My friend and I came here for lunch and it was pretty busy. She got the millennial bagel and I got the matakana organic eggs (scrambled) with smoked salmon. The artisan bread was really delicious, I think it was sourdough and it was super crunchy and fresh. The eggs were pretty average as I felt they were too buttery for my liking (which is beneficial if you like buttery eggs since it leaks onto the bread so it soaks up the butter). The smoked salmon was delicious as well.
Ninahooo
Delicious breakfast options. Loved the mushroom omlette with truffle oil. Omelette was fluffy and light, could really taste the truffle throughout. Great way to start the day. Great place for breakfast, coffee and lunch. Highly recommend.
Asianfoodie
I really love this place! The matcha soy latte is a must try because it is divine :) They do offer more food on their menu, not limited to what is portrayed on Zomato.<br/><br/>Service was a little disappointing but not too bad.
FoodiesTable
Baked eggs is our favorite in this place. Cute shop you can buy a lot of organic packaged foods. They have quite limited items on their menu but they sure taste good
USE HANSID FOR GOLD DISCOUNT
Visited Scarecrow while shopping in town. Cute little cafe with unique items to choose from. I chose the pain Perdu which is French Toast. It had such a warm and comforting flavour, the fruit was poached and really juicy. I really wish there was more bread because it was so delicious. Also really enjoyed the hot chocolate, had a deep flavour and wasn’t overly sweet.
Food2belly
Such a beautiful cafe to do work or catch up with friends. The staff were super friendly and attentive.<br/>•<br/>Soy matcha 6/10, ($6)<br/>The soy matcha was a bit powdery, parts were not mixed in and you can see that with the lumps on the side. I'm not a huge sugary drinks person but I still had to add sugar to it as it didn't have may sweetness.
Tan.ned
One of the best places to have a cheesecake at a reasonable price with a reasonable size. Highly recommend this place. Delicious food and nice service
“Dailee” 25% Off Zomato Gold
Gifted these delicious treats by a friend. Nutty, citrusy, chocolatey gooey muesli-like. Taste quiet healthy, don’t think there is any flour in them.
Vita
We came here for brunch and ordered a few dishes between us. Scarecrow has always been my go to for their lattés, bread and desserts but I usually get these takeaway. However, dining here is a different experience and Scarecrow has a lovely rustic charm that makes you feel at home away from home.<br/><br/>We ordered a few main dishes between us: shakshuka (which has a vegan option too), turkish pide chicken sandwich and poached eggs on rye. The shakshuka was moreish and came with toasted pide on the side, however, the portion is small for the price. The chicken sandwich was more hefty, with enough filling to satiate but doesn't differentiate itself from toasted pide chicken sandwiches in other upmarket cafés with the exception of scarecrow's bread being housemade. Finally, the poached eggs on rye. The toasted rye was fresh but the crispiness made it difficult to cut through with a fork and knife. The<br/>eggs were lovely.<br/><br/>We also added some desserts to our palette by ordering a NY cheescake and a hazelnut ball. The cheescake is to die for, absolutely delicious. This is coming from someone who normally doesn't care for sweets but this cake is the exception. The blueberry compote tops it perfectly too. Hazelnut ball tastes like Ferrero Rocher which is always a good thing.<br/>
Rosanne Choy
Came in for a birthday lunch with my friends. Ordered some cabinet food and the soup with bread. Almond croissant was super soft. The top layer was crispy and the middle was delicious. It had some sort of sweet spread inside. The smoked salmon in the Turkish pide tasted amazing with the avocado. The soup was creamy and tasted really nice with the bread soaked in.
Shreeya Jayaraman
Scarecrow is a funny name for a cafe, but they have put up a couple up on top to align with the name. Just opposite Albert Park, on top of Victoria Street, Scarecrow is a perfect location for a cafe. The place encompasses a high-end organic grocery and florist as well. <br/>The coffee - especially the iced latte - is awesome! <br/>I had the shakshuka which sadly comes with one over-cooked egg - do not recommend!<br/>Instead I think the actual eggs and omelettes might be a better bet. <br/>The pain perdu looked better than it tasted. WHY put something as sour as rhubarb into something that’s meant to be sweet?? Might be more fun if stuffed with bananas. <br/>I’m certainly going to come back for the coffee, and to try their poached eggs - which they procure from a local farm and I heard one diner claim was EXCELLENT!
Jula Sihapanya
Theses were my first meal in Auckland New zealand, I followed on zomato app to find the best restaurant for my breakfast, So i found this restaurant and I didn’t disappoint. Foods and drinks are good, also warm service.
Tony Ma
I didn’t even have time to take a photo of my coffee. <br/><br/>This cafe doesn’t allow smokers sitting outside so they will shoo you away. <br/><br/>Service: 1/5<br/>Coffee Quality: 2/5<br/>Coffee Quantity: 3/5<br/>Presentation: 3/5<br/>Environment: 3/5<br/>Price per person: $5-$15
Yuko Saito
One of my favourite cafe in town. They have a sandwich and a salad for $12 and a true bargain! I quite often split it between a friend as the bread of full of grains and very filling. <br/><br/>I once went in there while the owner was in, and was telling me she built the place with one mission - to serve what she loves. And she really mastered it. I also absolutely love their little florist inside.
FoodieOodie95
Scarecrow is such a beautiful little café at the end of Victoria Street by Albert Park. It's always looked packed every time I've walked past so went in for brunch one morning and decided to give it a whack! My first impression of the place is that it's just so aesthetic and pretty - Vintage bookshelves, pot plants, paintings and so much detail around the whole café. Very European looking backdrop and the they have a florist, kitchen and grocer all setup which means it's definitely packed during the day! It's probably the only place I know where you buy flowers, groceries and have a restaurant meal under the same roof. <br/><br/>Regardless, we managed to get a table for 5 and tried out their brunch menu. First of all, they do amaaazing coffee which was a big up for me. Their Shakshuka egg dish is really really good! Baked eggs on a bed of spiced tomato curry and herbs. Sounds simple but it was actually so packed with flavor and was perfect for the cold weather that day! We also ordered their Soup and Sourdough, the sandwiches - can't remember the filling. All were yum and super filling! Although their brunch menu is very limited, it's definitely quality over quantity here as the menu is seasonal and fresh with plenty of vegetarian options as well. Next time, I come in here, I will definitely try out their smoothie and lunch menu as it looked very healthy and wholesome.
Machu
i walk past scarecrow a lot and finally decided to go in and order a matcha latte. service was ok but my drink definitely wasn't worth the money as it was lumpy and tasted pretty bad. such a cute place but wish their drinks were better.
Yafenxu123
I have to say that this restaurant slot a just prefect location. They do serve the excellent dessert and coffee, but their food seem not that good as my expectation. I ordered the salmon Bagel which turned too salty to me. However, I still give them a four-star because my boyfriend really love his dish. And he didn’t feel salty any more. So it might be a subjective opinion. By the way, a small grocery shelf displays inside. There are several pictures I took for people who are interested on that.
ABR
Ordered the smoked salmon bagel and they were very stingey with their salmon and greens. Tea and service was very good, a so was the ambiance. Although this was said, came in for the salmon bagel and got more of the latter. Will come back for the drinks but not for the food.
Sian
Scarecrow is always a great spot for lunch in the city. Their cabinet is interesting and you can browse the shelves while you wait. The service is quick but not overly friendly (although that doesn’t detract from the service). There are plenty of vegetarian choices. The coffee isn’t great but it’s certainly drinkable.
Kiwilisa
Great atmosphere, chill vibe and music, good for lunch time or afternoon catchups. I especially like the interior design - the high ceiling and shelves stocked with goodies ^_^ Food was excellent! Would go back :) (raspberry tart was delicious!!!)
LilMSunshine
I've been here a few times and always enjoyed the food, ambiance and service. I ordered my fave toasted Salmon Bagel and Soy Mocchachino.  It was superb...the salmon, capers, cream cheese, avo and a bit of salad. But though I find the bagel overly toasted and hard to bite. Still enjoyed it! The place is a cafe with a touch of organic grocer....next time would like to try their desserts and slices. Highly recommended cafe in Auckland City Centre.
Jade0289
One of my favorite cafe in City Centre! Everything is lovely here. I enjoy having a late brunch or simply grab some coffees to kill couple of hours in the afternoon:) <br/>Try their NY cheese cake! It is the best in Auckland!
Rico Shao
full brunch with my friends~Korea waiter nice body^-^maybe always in gym haha~sunnyside eggs so lovely i like it~iced coffee little bit sweet but its OK~good place!
Mei
Enjoyed my mixed salad here which is full of potatoes and boiled eggs with salad in delicious creamy dressing. Lovely atmosphere every time we come in with girlfriends. The store/cafe is filled with Christmas fare.
Diogo Reck
High quality organic food and beverage, kind service and, yes, good coffee. That plus a nice environment Scarecrow is one of the nicest places in the city to have a quick snack by yourself or with friends.<br/><br/>They are also open til late so that's another reason to make me a regular there.<br/><br/>Really like the potato soup, but the best I must say the best was the sourdough. Yum and crispy! Perfect with melted butter.<br/><br/>
Medium_Rare
There’s something personal about Scarecrow, a distinct character charm which makes it a space suited for all kinds of occasions. Whether your out on your own and reading your newspaper while have a coffee or your after a lively date atmosphere. Scarecrow is able to suit most of your needs. There is so much going on in the interior of Scarecrow, you have on one side sticks of premium artisan products and the other you have a salad cabinet, dessert cabinet and bakery goods.<br/><br/>Coming in before the Santa Parade we ordered the avocado on bagel, shakshuka , soup of he day and a sneaky baked cheese cake.<br/><br/>Probably one of the best shakshukas in Auckland CBD with a friendly price, the soup of the day was a kumara soup. A bit too lumpy in my opinion however there was light sweet flavour which combined well with the lumpy texture.<br/><br/>Showstopper: A distinct interior personality<br/><br/>Overall Grade: B+
Benedict Uy
Stopped by for a very early breakfast (7am). The place was quite nice, a mix between a cafe and a market. There were selling a few interesting items like a chili peanut butter. They had bubbles for breakfast but it was only available from 8am.<br/><br/>The place had an interesting menu, and i ended with an iced chocolate and the Scarecrow brunch. <br/><br/>The iced chocolate was ok. I personally though it wasn't sweet enough. The food was quite nice, good flavour and fairly large portions. I quite liked the seasoning on the potatos. We managed to get the bubble half way through and it was nice.<br/><br/>Only issue was the speed of the service, we were quite a large table and it took a while to get all the drinks out. The timing for the food wasn't too bad.
Bevan Chuang
Scarecrow is one of my favourite place in town. Awesome coffee, food and atmosphere. It is a little busy at times so we just need to get used to sharing tables with others. It is a bit more high-end as well so if you are wanting to eat here do expect spending a bit of money, even for lunch. But the dessert is divine!!!!
Evo Malifa
Nice and cosy cafe. Quite an aesthetic look if you ask me! Ordered the chicken and avocado toasted sandwich which was great! I am yet to try their coffee
Jason Zhang
Came here on the first day for their new menu which is pretty expensive compared to the old one. The service was alright but could be better as the waitresses were just talking behind the counter and took a while to notice that we wanted to order. However they were friendly and pretty knowledgeable. <br/><br/>We ordered the chicken cotoletta and the line caught fish, blue cod. The fish was cooked and seasoned really well as it was tender on the inside and very crispy on the skin. There’s no special garnishing on this dish other than the toasted sunflower seeds which added an organic flavor to it. However, the white cauliflower and feta cheese purée with a little spice added to it is what makes this dish so flavorful and special. The purée lifts up the taste of the fish and makes it more flavorful and aromatic - almost like a coleslaw dressing. <br/><br/>The chicken was also cooked really well, but it didn’t taste as good as the fish. It tasted like a butter milk crispy chicken but more flavorful. The skin was crispy and hot, but as you chew the chicken it becomes a little dry. The use of the lettuce was clever as you could cut the chicken in pieces and wrap it to get the crunchy texture. <br/><br/>The price could be lowered just by a tiny bit for both dishes though.<br/>Lucas Chen<br/><br/>Taste - 8.5/10<br/>Quality - 8/10<br/>Size - 8.5/10<br/>Price - 7/10<br/>Service - 7.5/10
Alonso Coutinho Licks
I went to Scarecrow with my wife on our monthly date night. The moment we walked in, right after being greeted by the super friendly staff, we asked ourselves "This place is awesome! How come we've never been here before?". Long story short, service was top-notch, the atmosphere was spot-on (music style matching the environment and at the perfect volume, a hard combination to find in Auckland), and the food was very good. Amongst entrées, main and desserts we ordered 4 dishes and they were all amazing. We'll definitely be coming back. Pro-tip: if the duck prosciutto is available, don't think twice!
Crackerjacker
I had a very lovely experience here this morning, just wanted a coffee and have a quiet sit down. The staff are very friendly and attentive. I ordered a coffee that tasted pretty good and also a spiced almond cookie that was amazing. The prices are quite expensive but the place is very organic and has lots of gluten free, dairy free options which would explain it. There was also a little grocer onsite that sold organic foods and fruits and vegetables. The atmosphere of the place is great, this is a place that i would be excited to take people to.
Sophie
Such an amazing and cute cafe! The food is always a really good portion and feels really hearty but not super dense. So you leave full but not in a food coma which is nice haha
Nicole Ralston
I've visited before and swore never to return but thought I would give a 2nd attempt. Last time I visited I ordered something with tomato and avocado. I was missing both and when I asked after it they said it was seasonal, yet I still had to pay the full price. This time I ordered a 3 egg scramble with sourdough and seasonal greens - they must have been minuet eggs if there were 3 in there and the "seasonal greens" were 5 bits of rocket. I went and asked for my actual seasonal greens and was given some lettuce leaves. Really misleading and annoying menu.
Dinah
Beautifully presented food, great friendly service. I had the Kedegree which needed a lot more seasoning but other that was a good dish. Thank you Scarecrow!
Kjanpants
Lovely place for a quick bite or a sit down coffee. The Italian eggs I had was very good. Coffee was also exceptional. Excellent presentation of their meals.
Dxlche
We got the Shakshuka which tasted really really good. The service here is awesome too. Atmosphere is really nice and my partner usually buys my flowers from here too. Price is reasonable. Will recommend :)
Clairine Baharrizki
I went here for a date with my boyfriend. The employees did not even bother to greet us, they looked like they don't even want to be here. Coffee tastes like crap and food is overpriced. The only good thing about this place is the aesthetic.
Tina Yu
Possibly the best cafe in terms of consistency and quality. I've been going for several years now and am always pleased with their food. The atmosphere and service is super welcoming and homely and the utterly charming decor is worth it almost just by itself!<br/>Defs give it a go :D
D G
Visited Scarecrow a couple of months ago with my boyfriend for dinner. I'm not sure whether we chose the wrong items, or whether they were just having an off night, but we were quite disappointed with what we ordered, given that we'd heard about this place... We each ordered pumpkin soup, and salads from the deli. The pumpkin soup had so much turmeric in it, you couldn't taste the pumpkin... Definitely more of a turmeric soup than anything else. It was so bad, I had to make a complaint, and set it aside because the smell made me feel slightly nauseous. My boyfriend could tolerate the soup better than me, but he also thought the turmeric was overpowering. We also thought the salads were bland and overpriced for what we got. Against our better judgement, we decided to order drinks to go (because how could they stuff up drinks?). I ordered a Scarecrow hot chocolate and my boyfriend ordered a vegan iced chocolate. The Scarecrow was grainy and too rich for me to finish, and the vegan iced chocolate was essentially brown coconut water. We couldn't help but laugh. To be fair, the waitresses took my feedback in stride, and didn't charge me for the pumpkin soup. However, they could've done so much better with what is essentially very simple food.
Shanna
Cool place. Like the settings and everything. Only tried a slice and the hot chocolate this time. Will come again for lunch or dinner. :)))))
Alysha Bower
Went here for lunch yesterday with my partner. The cafe is really cute it has a mini market inside it too with all sorts of goodies.<br/><br/>The service here is a bit weird. We got told to take a seat where ever and someone would be over. They dropped off water but never came back to take our order. So we went inside to order at the counter.<br/><br/>Food was nice, simple and smallish portions so if you are a hungry person keep that in mind. I had the chicken sandwich and my partner had the soup of the day.<br/><br/>I would probably come back here again to try something different on the menu as it is a pretty interesting one!
Renee Pearson
Popped in here with a friend and my two toddlers for a quick coffee before visiting the Art Gallery. Not somewhere I'd usually take children - I was on high alert as there were breakables, jars of nice spreads, etc on the shelves low down, that my kids would break in an instant. I was surprised that the waitress brought over a basket of toys for the kids! Very nice of them to help us entertain them. I had a bit of bruschetta and it was really nice - the heirloom tomatoes were fantastic. More expensive and a lot more "posh" than somewhere I'd usually go with kids - but was pleasantly surprised.
Mysticmojito
I'm somewhat sorry to say that my first and only experience at Scarecrow wasn't great. Staff were a bit nonchalant, food was average and coffee was a little cold. I was served rock hard avocado, complained and was then served pretty badly bruised avocado. I'm no avocado aficionado but I've got to say it was taking the proverbial a little. Willing to give it another go however... it was early morning...
Ian
Just awful. My girlfriend and I stopped by to get 2 coffees to go - single shot coconut flat white and a single shot coconut mocha, but instead were given looks as though we were asking for something extremely difficult to make. The lady that served us even rolled her eyes at us after we had requested for the mocha to be less sweet. Was that even necessary? We then waited for a bit for our coffee and when we gave a gentle reminder to the barista on our coffees, what do you know? He quickly tries to write me off by quoting my order as fast as possible (perfectly fine but still, rather odd). And what happens next is even better! Our coconut milk did not taste like coconut milk so we obviously went up to the barista to ask, and he became extremely annoyed and threw a tantrum at us by showing us the coconut milk he had used and said "I am 100% sure I used this!". After realising that he was annoyed at us, we decided to leave it be and said it was okay and walked away. Your barista decided it would be an even better idea to give off a passive aggressive comment by saying "if you really want, I can give you your money back" and started shaking his head in disappointment, thinking I couldn't see his reflection around the many mirrors/windows. Is this how you treat customers? We've always wanted to give Scarecrow a try, but after such an experience, it seems that having customers is such a draining experience for your staff. Will never be coming back here ever again and would not recommend this place to anyone.
Christine Yeh
I have to say I am pretty disappointed with Scarecrow.<br/><br/>I tried this place a while ago after seeing the great reviews and we enjoyed very nice, high quality fresh food. Even though it took so long for our order to arrive, I felt that it would be worth it to come back. <br/>For me, the service has made me not want to come back anytime soon unfortunately. Came here today and it took a ridiculous amount of time for our salad from the cabinet to come. The worst part was that the staff seemed to be unapologetic and inattentive. At one point only the coffee guy was left manning the service and no one had any idea where and when our food was coming, in fact he seemed pretty clueless himself!
Nisarag Bhatt
Tucked away in a corner - I got lost trying to find this place for the first time! <br/><br/>Went here for a catch-up on a rain day!<br/><br/>Very cute place to have brunch! I had hummus and bread - and my god the hummus was so good 😍😍.<br/><br/>My friend has some type of cake and she really enjoyed it as well! <br/><br/>Would come back again :)<br/>
Eater
I went there due to the high ratings..but i had a terrible experience and will never come back here. Firstly i didn't feel welcomed. English is my second language, and i felt the lady working there was very impatient with me. I asked what kind of coffee do they have and the worker looked at me from head to toe and said in a condescending tone " normal coffee". Luckily i know what a flat white is..and ordered that. I don't know if she talked like that to other customers..but please be nicer to your customers.. even if they are asian and have trouble with speaking english.
Kezia Lynch
After reading so many great reviews, I had high expectations of Scarecrow. Unfortunately, the food was just average and coffee wasnt very good. The decor/atmosphere, with the grocer and florist elements, is super cute and staff are friendly. Will probably return to give it a second chance.
WeiTing Ashley Shyu
Scarecrow is a beautiful cafe tucked in the corner below Albert Park. It is truly a refreshing change of scenery from the fast-paced Auckland city bustle. The open space cafe is decorated beautifully with simple drop-down lights and a farmers market vibe. They sell flowers, grocery items, fresh fruit and vege (thus the 'farmers market' feel), organic goodies, desserts and chocolates.<br/><br/>Scarecrow has a menu to choose from if you are wanting to dine in as well as a fine selection in their cabinet. I often pop by for lunch - i'm an advocate for their CHICKEN SALAD (DAIRY FREE AND SOOOOO DELICIOUS). I've even tried to replicate their cold chicken salad at home to no avail. Trust me when I say, the Scarecrow Chicken Salad is the perfect lunch or takeaway to pop into a sandwich. It's tossed in a creamy sauce with chopped red onions, pickles, celery etc. <br/><br/>Their cabinet treats are also a force to be reckoned with. Try the Hazelnut Crisp Bar - I had no idea it was vegan because it honestly tasted like a Forerro Rocher but 10 times better. <br/><br/>ALSO NOTE: Dinner here is just as amazing, if not, better. Their produce is fresh and flavours are balanced on the palate. The only down side is that the menu is not as extensive as I would like but the food is fault-less so I'm sure there is something on the menu that everyone will enjoy.
Sara V
Busy inner city cafe offering fresh food. Everything on the menu is delicious and coffee is really good. You can buy nice organic locally sourced food for your pantry to take home with you. Seats are a little hard if you stay for ages but great atmos. Will return.
G
Had the banana and tahini cakes and it was alright. I thought it was a kind of pancake and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't mindblowing. Not much variety to the menu, probably won't come back.
Ali Suhail
Best places in Auckland. Very refreshing, healthy, organic, artistically imagined. I had breakfast over here of scrambled eggs with salmon and fresh fruit smoothie. Waiters were super friendly and very social. We had a good chat with all of the staff. They were very energetic about their work and they explained the menu perfectly. It was such a good environment to spend time in. I would highly suggest to visit this restaurant if you are in Auckland and it's also in a perfect location!
ScoopScoop
I wanted to try this cafe for a long time and today was the day. I went there with high expectations, excited to get surprised. The cafe is nicely decorated and the grocer section makes you feel you are in the middle of a farmers market, vegetables look fresh and healthy and it all creates a welcoming atmosphere. <br/>My friend and me were talking a couples of minutes before looking into the menu when we got interrupted by a lady asking if we would be ready to order or if we were just talking. For a first interaction with the guest I found it a bit rude and it made me feel uncomfortable. We then placed our order, I decided for the Mediterranean lamp, which arrived after a reasonable time. The portion was decent and I loved the taste. The lamp was very tender and the filling was absolutely delicious. It came on a bed of couscous. The quality and taste was good and let me forget about the bumpy start...for a while. My friend and me then decided to get a coffee and a dessert from the delicious looking treats in the cabinet. This time no one cared if we wanted to order so after a while I walked up to the counter. A couple of minutes later the coffees arrived but no dessert. I wondered and one of the staff came to us to check if we wanted to order anything as they were about to close the kitchen and I told him we are waiting for the cabinet food. He came back with one cake and wanted to walk of when I told him we ordered a second one as well. He then asked me to show him which one as he was not sure about it. The result was after we actually finished our coffees we finally got the dessert. I asked if we could get more water and shortly after that the waitress dumped the glass bottle to loud on the table next to me that I got shocked. <br/>The cafe wasn't overly busy during our stay and the waitress clearly would have had time to get the order right and provide good service. The way we got treated since we entered the café was very disappointing and ruined my whole experience. The waitress seemed to not really care about the customers and some seemed to be quite arrogant. Although the food was nice, it is just half of the experience if the service is poor. I won't recommend this place to my friends, there are a lot of other cafés in the city to go.
Lauren
Amazing service, lovely restaurant ambiance, and delicious food, sums up a dinner at scarecrow. I took my mother here for dinner and we both really enjoyed our meals in the peaceful and cozy restaurant.
Scully
The coffee here, kokako, is always good and the baristas know just how I like it which is always a bonus. The ambience is lovely, it is the kind of cafe you want to sit and drink your coffee in as opposed to takeaway. <br/><br/>Good selection of organic local produce and herbs, very good quality fresh herbs in fact. Lots of interesting grocery items as well. There is a vast selection of cabinet foods, often changing as is the a la carte menu, although there are some staples that remain constant. Personal favourite is the sweet hazelnut chocolate bar and the salted caramel chocolate heart. <br/><br/>Off the menu I must admit I have only ordered lunch perhaps twice as I usually come in for a coffee and a sweet, but both times I left happy.
Alextrushko
Was here today. I saw business hours on their door as they work till 10 pm. excluding monday and sunday. And just for sure I check it again on Zamato and Tripadvisor, and it was correct they closed at 10 pm. And me with my wife decided to go there from Albany. So we came here, before hardly found a place for parking and payed for parking and was inside at 9:15 pm. And we were so surprised because stuff of scarecrows said: Hi guys, sorry but we are closed. I asked: What time you usually close? They said at this time. We bought 2 Jaffa cakes take away and went away. BUT! Guys! Seriously?! On your door is written on Wednesday working hours until 10pm!!! We come from Albany jast have some coffee and cakes from only your place. I didn't want anything from the kitchen just drinks and sweets. OH GOD!!! Why you state that you close at 10 pm if you close at 9???!!!! I lost my time to come to city, I lost money for parking! I'm very disappointed.
Michelle Hwang
Visited this place twice for dinner with friends. Staff were very friendly and service was also good. But we ordered seared beef both two times, the staff only served us normal cutlery sets. So we had to ask for the stake cutting knife every time. Market fish dishes was not able to bring us a satisfactory taste, fish was a little bit chewy, I am not going to order fish dish again there.
Zaatarbella
Grabbed some picnic food this arvo after a kids art session up the road. Stand-outs were beet/carrot/chickpea salad was delicious, grilled artichokes were my 6 year old twins' and my favourite however. Would love to come back and sample more cabinet food!
PeterT
A charming café that is well worth the visit - especially for vegetarians. [I say “café”, but really it is a mini café-grocer-florist in one]. <br/><br/>Coffee drinkers will appreciate a barista who understands the difference between a ‘Long Black’ and an ‘Americano’. Fellow vegetarians will appreciate the tofu scramble (yum!) or the shakshuka eggs (vegans: swap fried tempeh for the eggs!). And if you’re just looking to avoid the bustle and queues of the big franchises, you’ll appreciate the chance to kick back with a newspaper, peruse the shelves of curious goods, and revel in the wonderful, diverse smells emanating from the kitchen. <br/><br/>Do yourself a favour and have breakfast here.
Elena Ching
This cafe has a homey country vibe, a world away from the hustle of the city. I had the scrambled eggs on sourdough. These were creamy in texture and the bread was fresh. It was a bit too salty for me though. Of the three dishes, this was the best.<br/><br/>I had a bit of the tahini and banana cakes. This was a bit grainy in texture and was quite one dimensional. <br/><br/>The pain perdu, a version of french toast with berries was quite sweet and didn't have balance.<br/><br/>The cafe had a nice atmosphere and good service but I think there were ventilation issues. I came out smelling like my breakfast which was not ideal.
Georgie @ Georgieats
Walking into Scarecrow reminded me a bit of The Wizard of Oz, probably because there’s a giant scarecrow on a bike in the window! Aside from that, this new pop up grocer/cafe has just re-opened up on Victoria Street (corner of Kitchener Street) and is seriously the coolest place I’ve been to this year!
David Purvis
Thanks to Bike Auckland - bike breakei, was in here today Thursday 1/12/16, one year today the Light path opened, had a mocha + Shakshuka (Middle eastern eggs) which comes with a bit of rocket leaves & nasturism flowers & rye toast & delis tomatoes, great start to the day. Lovely little cafe.
Ana
Lovely salad range and chicken! Went here for lunch on a sunny day and enjoyed it. My friend had some bagel and it looked amazing. Will definitely come back here more often during the summer months!
Saagri Joshi
Came here for the first time yesterday and it was so cute! It has a nice and different vibe from other cafes around as it also has a little market type vibe to it. They sell organic and fair trade fruits and other healthy treats. The menu is also quite interesting, my friend and I ordered the pain perdu, chickpea chile verde and fruit smoothies. The pain perdu was absolutely amazing! Loved every bite of it. Chickpea chile verde was also nice. Staff was nice and friendly, although one which was mainly serving us showed annoyance when we asked about the menu in detail - first was fine when it was the food, but when we called her again asking about the drinks wasn't so happy and slammed the smoothie on the table while serving. Then when the food was served, the fork given with it was dirty so that wasn't a good look either. <br/>Despite this, I would definitely go back to try out the rest of the menu!
Alix
Thank you for the lovely service! I appreciate your effort in going above and beyond to make sure your customer only gets the best dining experience. I also like the atmosphere -- very unique and lively. The location itself is good too! Food and service are both superb. Perfect overall. Will definitely visit again.
Kathryn Zhou
Came in early yesterday morning and was craving a sandwich (weird craving but yea...). Bought a basic chicken salad sandwich for $12 which was kinda pricey but flavor was really nice and bread with very satisfying.<br/>The avocado was not ripe and made it quite gross to eat, however one of the chefs came over to ask how my meal was and when I told him the avocado was hard, he cut a fresh avocado for me! (This time it was perfectly ripe :) ) service wise and taste wise this place is superb, left me feeling the whole day.
Kerryj
A wet stormy Sunday morning seemed to be the ideal time to visit this popular cafe. Most times I've thought about coming here it was too busy. The staff are welcoming, friendly and give great service.  I was too early for the shakshuka so went for the green scrambled eggs which were delicious and came with just a touch of pesto on the side. My latte was perfect and served in an insulated glass.<br/>Definite place to return to.
Clarice Natasha
Service is okay, but really really slow and not the friendliest. They're service is quite a mess. Bought some chocolates and a bread pudding, which is the weirdest dessert I've tried. The salted caramel chocolates it quite good tho. But I do not recommend for people to come here for the desserts.
Justine Weake
Been here a couple of times now, but I would recommend not coming during peak times as it's quite hard to get a table sometimes. We ended up sharing with 3 others on a table but it wasn't too bad. <br/>I ordered the Shakshuka which was delicious! Eggs were good, sausages very good and everything had good flavour. The service was also good with our waitress frequently visiting our table to make sure we were ok.
Wanderlazed
Scarecrow is a really good brunch place in the city. It has a unique character that makes you feel like you're back in grandma's old country kitchen. I love the fusion of food and their ceviche definitely is my top choice, it's authentic and fresh as! The lamb pastilla was kind of dry which really disappointed me. I say their edge would be the fact that they serve organic food and wine for breakfast :)
Travels4Food
Healthier twist and organic food spot in Auckland. It was good but I wasn't wowed by the flavours. But it could be the dish I chose. I got the braised lamb shoulder with Israeli couscous, feta, olives, spinach and seasonal vegetables but it tasted quite bland and watery in my opinion.
TheSecretFoodie
This place is amazing! When I came here it was super busy but we were lucky that a group was just about to leave as we came in so we didn't have to wait. Staff were friendly and seated us quickly. We ordered a mix of 3 salads for $10, a bagel and the Pain Perdu (French toast). The salads were so flavorful and for $10, it was a deal! (In the picture we had already ate half of it 😋) the bagel was good however my friends and I did find the bagel too hard to cut. My favourite was definitely the Pain Perdu! It was perfect, not too sweet and the textures work well together! 5/5 for Scarecrow because of the great service, great price and fantastic food! I will be back to try their soups!
Sita Pramana
This cafe nicely tucked in the corner of some streets (forgot the name, not an aucklander). It has a cute scarecrowy decors.<br/><br/>I've only been there once. I've tried the poached eggs with mushrooms. Unfortunately, they were average. It wasn't bad or anything, it was just average.
Irina Milana
Their vegan options are a joke, scrambled tempeh looked like poo on my plate with no taste whatsoever. I had to add bbq and chilli sauce all over it with lots of salt just to make it taste decent. If I was a chef I'd be ashamed to put that kind of food on the plate. So disappointed.
Raeray
Such a lovely cafe with cozy candle lightings which attracted me inside. The store smells more like a smoked sausages, lol. friendly staff, reasonable pricing, but wish to have more dessert choices. Will definitely go back again.
ShoRt
The decor of this place made me feel like i stepped into wizard of oz or sorts. An Oz with a healthy grocery, florist and yummy food. Super quaint.<br/><br/>They serve fresh bread and I wished I had the homemade soups. Instead we fell for the sweet breakfast menu as they sounded interesting (banana and tahini cake and the pain perdu which was described as a bread and butter pudding. But not really.) and the taste failed to impress. Somehow the sweetness and sourness of berries didn't find a balance. <br/><br/>The green scrambled eggs however was yummy with their sourdough bread. Maybe on the saltier end?<br/><br/>Service was friendly though. So next time if I'm ever around the corner, I may just order something savory. Elena Ching
Krista
Just happened to pass by this little gem on Victoria Street after a stroll in the park. Had the soup of the day, a lentil and coconut soup, which was fantastic!! My husband had the lentil and ragu sandwich and loved it. Very quaint, great food, great service.
Diana R
We have been trying to find a new destination for our regular Friday morning breakfast.  This place had all the ingredients but just didn't pull them together.  It's a great space with good ambience, the shelves of grocery produce sets this apart from most cafes and we did browse and buy before we left.<br/><br/>The meals were tasty enough but there were a couple of major fails, my green scramble was available with feta at an extra $5. There was what I would refer to as a 'garnish' of feta, hardly worth the charge.  My partner ordered a side of toast which came out with no butter, we asked for this and were told they had none and offered peanut butter!<br/><br/>The coffee was just ok, we didn't order our usual second cup.  <br/><br/>Has the makings of a great cafe but they need to sort out a few things.
Emily
Had a really nice dinner here tonight! We had the $35 2 course meal and food was great. I had the anchovies to start - super succulent and tasty on crushed potatoes, then the duck for main - really well cooked, full of flavour. Excellent wine list. Didn't do dessert but got a few chocolates from the cabinet to take home...great selection! Service was a little patchy but didn't matter because food and atmosphere was lovely. Lovely produce, looking forward to coming back.
Georgie @ Georgieats
Walking into Scarecrow reminded me a bit of The Wizard of Oz, probably because there’s a giant scarecrow on a bike in the window! Aside from that, this new pop up grocer/cafe has just re-opened up on Victoria Street (corner of Kitchener Street) and is seriously the coolest place I’ve been to this year!<br/><br/>Scarecrow is a collaboration between POPdining, Kokako, Karma Cola, Nice Blocks and the AUT Hospitality School. The concept is to showcase seasonal produce and artisan products from around Auckland and beyond, whether it be trying out one of their breakfasts, lunches, dinners or cabinet food from their cafe or fresh produce and breads from their grocer.
Debsjunkyard
We came here to take a lovely work mate for a birthday lunch and it didn't disappoint.<br/><br/>The decor and florist in the corner make the place feel relax but full of colour. We picked some platters to share and because we stuck to the free fizzy water our meal was very reasonably priced.<br/><br/>The platters and particularly the pate were delicious and there was so much that we ended up taking a small box of goodies away with us.<br/><br/>We will definitely come back for more.
Michelle Ma Belle
My friends and I discovered this place and could not be more excited.<br/><br/>Spacious interior, relaxing atmosphere, it is also a floral place so you see surrounded by full blooms.<br/>The menus on the item were quite pricey. However there is a variety of selection in the cabinet that were more reasonably priced and no less delicious :) We throughly enjoyed my almond croissant and apple tart. My cardamom chocolate smoothie had a very exotic flavor too, although I'm not sure if it's worth $8.50 😐<br/><br/>The guy serving us was super friendly and attentive. Really is a great place to catch up with friends and enjoy a cup of coffee.
Emma W
A few of my colleagues were hesitant about going out for brunch with someone who is vegan. I saw something I liked on the menu so I wasn't concerned. This place is more stylised than cafes I would usually go to but I found the atmosphere to be inviting and relaxed.I bravely ordered the Shakshuka (I am not good with spice) and a orange, carrot and turmeric juice.<br/><br/>The baked eggs were delicious, just enough spice for me to handle but they took awhile to eat because they were so hot, temperature wise. If I see orange carrot and turmeric juice again, I will buy it. Others got the eggplant koftes and raved about them. Sometimes you need to get out of your comfort zone and try something different. I wouldn't normally dine at a place like this but we all had a lovely brunch.
Heartshrooms
Tucked in the corner of Victoria St is an urban farmers market, a florist, and a cafe all in one store under the name of Scarecrow. Their focus is on local produce and provide a range of healthy options for all your dietary requirements. I popped in with my friend in the late morning after our class and we had the loveliest brunch and tea.
Rachel Herriott
Service: 1/5<br/>Decor / Atmosphere: 4/5<br/>Food: 3/5<br/><br/>There were four of us and we all had something different. Two of us had vegan options. We each sampled each other's and we all agreed that two of our meals were fantastic and two were rather ordinary. The person who served us was clearly not cut out for a customer service environment as her manner was sullen, unfriendly and uninterested. In fact her manner was so bad that it brought the entire experience down considerably. Scarecrow has a lot going for it and we could have had a fantastic time, however the service and the poor quality of two of the meals mean we probably wouldn't return.
L.E.N.S
Hands down 5/5!! I had such a great lunch experience here last week, I cannot wait to go again! Set on the corner of Victoria St, the cafe is a mixture of an organic food grocer, a florist, and a cafe. The decor feels like a summer cottage in the country with warm, wooden framing and benches, scattered with beautiful flowers and greenery. I would love it if they had an outdoor area for summer that faced the domain.. But then I might possibly never leave. <br/><br/>The menu is exactly my kind of taste, with lots of interesting chicken, vegetarian and egg options. Perhaps not the best if you're an avid meat eater though (I came with one of my guy friends a few weeks ago and he did not love the menu). I tried the courgette noodles with ricotta balls.. Literally so tasty and healthy, I enjoyed the variation to a normal pasta. My friend tried the burrata salad. For dessert we shared the Pain Perdu... And WOW!!!! The most delicious French toast I've tried in a long time! Not overly sweet, but rich with flavours and textures of nuts, berries, creams. The prices are extremely reasonable for the quality, and the wait staff are gorgeously friendly. <br/><br/>Overall, if you love incredibly tasty, good quality, non- red meat focused food, I highly recommend dining here at least once and you'll be hooked! I simply cannot wait to try more things on the menu.
Timer
Scarecrow is a cafe and also a shop. Quite an interesting experience. Coffee was served in a double wall glass which kept the coffee hot until the last drop. The 2 sandwiches - chicken avocado and smoked mushroom were very tasty and came with a side of salad if your choice. My potato salad was so yum. So good. <br/>
Thegreeats
One of the healthiest cafes I've been to!<br/>I had this crossiant which resembled a french toast and it was just amazing<br/>The crumble on top with the berries and buttery crossiant was unique and delicious<br/>Their sandwiches were average though<br/>Bf had a chicken sandwich and I think I could have made one at home for a lot cheaper<br/>Quite crowded and gets stuffy on a summers day but lovely interior
James
Updated Review: February 2017<br/>Finally find time to try dinner at this place. The new place look nice.  We ordered hummus for entree, eggplant Gratin and Seared beef for main. The portion size for the main is good for the price you paid. The food didn't wow me compare to the first time I came to this place, but it's still good. It's a bit light on taste. This may be funny way to describe the meal but it tasted "quality".<br/><br/>Customer Service: 7/10<br/><br/>Food: 7.5/10 <br/><br/>Atmosphere: 8/10 <br/><br/>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/> Tried this place on friend recommendation. The food is very good, even though a bit pricey. I ordered an egg omelette and it tasted quite fresh. Would recommend people to give this place a try. <br/><br/>Customer Service: 7/10<br/><br/>Food: 8.5/10 <br/><br/>Atmosphere: 8/10 <br/><br/>Date: October 2015
Samantha Scahill
Came here to check out the sale but saw they had wifi and asked if it was okay to stay and study at the corner table and staff were more than accommodating. The interior is really relaxing and open with a bit of a rustic feel, and it's so refreshing to have soft jazz playing in a cafe as opposed to pop, much more comfortable and inviting! I ordered a coffee and plain bagel and both were excellent, the coffee was hot and strong and the bagel was chewy and although not as good as al Browns it was still pretty tasty. Lovely staff and a great place to sit back and relax/study.
Rose
I love this place so much, its so hard to get a decent salad in the city. It's my destination of choice for lunch dates with friends from out if town, cos it makes me look like I know all the hip vegan spots. Scarecrow is pretty much in a league of their own in Auckland central. I also like the new location cos its bigger. Not such a challenge to get a table. This place caters to pretty much all food requirements. Five starz
Luke Alexander
Excellent food, coffee and service. Highly recommend this place for fast, healthy and reasonably priced food in the city. Vegan/gluten/paleo/[insert dietary concern here]- friendly with a wide range of options for everyone.<br/><br/>I recommend the daily sandwiches and anything they do with the Kokako coffee.<br/><br/>The florist and grocery store aspects are cute additions as well.
Ryan
My brisket on rye was delicious, served with lashings of brisket and a sharp mustard. I thought I would get sick of the sameness but it tasted great. The brisket was the right touch of salty and came with pickles on the side.<br/><br/>Very dim inside with led to an interesting atmosphere.
Victoria
Love the premise of a cafe/florist/grocery store but maybe it was something about the temporary location that just didn't do it for me in terms of atmosphere. <br/><br/>We visited at around 1pm. Usual lunch crowd but quite dim inside and atmosphere lacking (couldn't quite put my finger on it!), maybe some light background music needed.<br/><br/>Ordered a salmon bagel. The DIY aspect was quirky and allows you to customise your toppings, I think I'd prefer it already put together though. The salmon was perfectly smoked and salted and the cream cheese was delicious. The bagel didn't hit the mark for me though, didn't have that nice chewiness and denseness I like. I still enjoyed the dish overall. They also had a range of salads in the cabinet which looked nice, but overall the menu seemed a bit flat for my tastes. Think it's nice place for a coffee, pastry and a browse.<br/><br/>Will check out their place on Victoria St when it opens up again.
Kendall Farmer
I was lucky enough to go along to a #zomatonz foodie meet up at Scarecrow - finally something for the vegans!! We arrived and I was immediately in love with the decor, from the wooden oars (or are they spades? haha) on display next to our dining table, to the black glass menu and the way the small grocer was set up at the back.<br/>We started our experience at Scarecrow with some beautiful vegan wine, followed by some incredible starters like: lentil balls, seeded bread crostini with cashew dip, and toasted breads with vegan pesto, cashew dip, and salsa.<br/>While we were eating our starters the founder of Scarecrow was lovely enough to stand and talk with us about the history of Scarecrow and the ethos behind their cafe/florist/grocer - essentially they want to bring a sense of community into the CBD, as well as bringing local market produce into the central city to further its reach and save CBD dwellers from having to go out to Matakana, Clevedon or Waiheke etc for their produce. This they have definitely achieved - you’re immediately made to feel so welcome, and the selection of produce they have on offer as both meals and groceries are second-to-none in central Auckland.<br/>Once we had finished our wines we popped outside and the lovely resident florist, Izzy, taught us how to make a simple posy of flowers - not as easy as it looks people! This was my favourite part of the evening - it got us all talking, using our hands and laughing about how good we thought we were going to be at it.<br/>Following our flower arranging we ventured back inside for more tapas - from fish cakes and ceviche for the omnivores, to roasted asparagus with almonds, chickpea curry with cauliflower crumb, and antipasti with beautiful fresh olives for the vegan attendees.<br/>Finishing up at 7pm with the beginning of evening jazz, I have to say this was one of my favourite dining experiences I’ve had in Auckland in a very long time.<br/>Thanks to everyone at Scarecrow for being such kind and gracious hosts and allowing us to have such a wonderful evening.<br/><br/>Update: So good, I had to go back the next day for lunch and take my dad along to see what their lunch menu was like! He had the lamb meatballs, and I had a mushroom & vegan mozzarella sandwich with a side of quinoa/cauliflower salad - only $10 and seriously the best sandwich I’ve had in months!! New favourite place!<br/><br/>Second update: Popped in today (3rd November) to celebrate International Sandwich Day with the roast eggplant, mushroom, tomato and vegan mozzarella sandwich with a side of courgette salad - once again a 10/10 for taste and service. Love this place so much. :)
Louisa Vickers
I was at Scarecrow for a #zomatonz foodie meetup last week, and loved every minute of it. It started off with some delicious canapes, followed by being allowed to make our own floral bouquets, and then some dishes to share with the table. My favourite was the cerviche, the fish cakes, and the antipasti platter. The food is absolute top quality, the service is brilliant, and the idea behind Scarecrow is neat too. There is locally sourced food, chocolate and flowers sold, and the owners are trying to create a place for the city community to come together and get to know one another. To achieve this there are ‘family tables’ where you sit down with other people who have come to the same place, for the same meal, and enjoy it together socially. I love this idea, and I’m significantly impressed with the food (which to me is the main purpose of the restaurant). I will definitely be heading back there, especially to try some of the other dishes on the menu that look mouth-wateringly good.
ThatNix
Locally sourced produce, passionate staff and diverse flavours; Scarecrow on High ticks so many boxes. Besides creatively crafted meals, they also have a selection of (often hard to find) food items and novel gifts available for purchase. Most importantly, you'll find a delicious variety of artisan chocolates and beautiful floral arrangements (yes - they double as a florist too)!<br/><br/>I especially loved the family-styled seating and the Jazz band that set the tone for our evening. If you're in the city and looking for a flavoursome meal, ingredients to create your own or a special gift, Scarecrow is a must.<br/><br/>(Unfortunately I didn't get many pics but I feel like its a good excuse to visit again!)
Lena Duffin
I came to Scarecrow last week as part of a Zomato Foodie Meet up, and I was excited to try a different variety of food to what I usually would eat. Everything we had was shared plates, which was nice because it meant we all got a bit of everything. I like that Scarecrow has a focus on healthy food, and locally sourced ingredients, without compromising on taste at all. I loved the spicy lentil balls, which are vegan. The fish cakes were delicious, and I even ate cerviche!<br/><br/>Scarecrow is also a florist, and we had the chance to make our own floral bouquets. Izzy, the florist, did a beautiful job so I'd recommend Scarecrow to anyone wanting to buy flowers in the city. I will be back to Scarecrow, I can't wait to see their permanent home on Victoria Street
Pia Crawford
Scarecrow is one of my go-to places when my coffee-snob friends from Wellington want a good cup. On top of acting as a cafe, they are also an amazing boutique grocer where I get my vegetables and family christmas presents. Oh, and a florist!<br/><br/>Scarecrow is warm and has a farm-village atmosphere which is constructed by is consistently pleasant temperature and the dog sitting outside to welcome each guest. <br/><br/>Among many positive memories at Scarecrow, once I was sitting writing my research proposal at the shared table and someone who studied osteopathy came along and gave me some amazing tips. <br/><br/>The main reason I took an interest in scarecrow was the ready availability of vegan food. On this particular dinner trip I found once again the food exceeded my expectations. To start we had a selection of Canapés, which included the vegan Lentil Ball. I have a thing with lentils- they need to be cooked perfectly but also not taste like lentils. The way this dish was put together meant the dryness of the lentils was balanced by the relish, creating a creamy texture. <br/>For mains we had a Tapas which really adds to the 'sharing' vibe I always get at Scarecrow. They encouraged conversations and made us all laugh. We had wedges with this perfectly balanced salsa, a chickpea curry with just the right amount of spice and bread with a selection of dips which each matched different flavour profiles. <br/><br/>Oh yeah- Scarecrow gives you space to laugh without making the room awkward.<br/>See you soon, can't wait to come back.
Liza Cabrera Talavera
We tried the tapas style food, and everything we ate was delicious. They were all perfect paired with wine. Everything about the restaurant was well thought of, even the toilets! I love the touch of fresh flowers in the toilets. The service was great, they were all very friendly. My favorite was the vegan curry with cauliflower. I would come back again and again for that.
Chie Talavera
I really enjoyed the food. Too bad I don't drink alcohol (allergic), because the food would be perfect paired with wine. The interior of the place is also very welcoming and the service was great. I am definitely bringing my vegan friends to this place.
Chanelle Barlow
Amazing raw kitchen focusing on providing city dwellers with fresh, great tasting locally sourced food and artisanal products. <br/><br/>We had a table with 8 of us so shared a large variety of plates. All was super tasty, guilt free food. Fav was the fish cakes! <br/><br/>Highly recommend.
Ping
Finally found where it is since its (temporary)move from Victoria St :D<br/>Really cool interior that's chic but got this nice homey feel to it. Had a mocha today, which was the right amount of sweetness for me(I personally don't like putting sugar in my coffee and try to avoid mochas as a lot of places seem to overdo the chocolate) Worth a go if you're in the area :-)<br/>
Hungusmcfatty
A place to be fed and inspired! <br/><br/>Scarecrow has breathed lots of character and life into the edgy space previously occupied by Wagamama. <br/><br/>There's lots on offer -coffee, drinks, food, flowers, homeware, and provisions. It's a great place to purchase gifts, especially for friends abroad, or just to browse. <br/><br/>The products/ingredients on offer seem to tell a story and come from a beautiful provenance. Scarecrow stocks a wide range of products from food artisans all over New Zealand, some of which are hard to find elsewhere. <br/><br/>Highlights include eggs from Matakana, including heirloom varieties, which are in the store and on the menu. So special -there's no where else in town doing what Scarecrow does. <br/><br/>Would appeal to those with the food philosophies of MFK Fisher "Wine and cheese are ageless companions, like aspirin and aches, or June and moon, or good people and noble ventures" or Hippocrates “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Mikaela Vibes
Loving this place! Got recommended the most delicious chai tea by the sweetest waitress Emmy! Will be back, such a cozy environment with flowers and organic thinking everywhere!
Bizcochito
Great coffee, love the salads here and recently developed an addiction to their raw cacao balls - yum! I had a mixture of the salads (again) the other day for lunch and my boyfriend had the brisket on rye which he thought was great -good portion size (lots of meat) with mustard and sauerkraut. Really like the current temporary space too, looking forward to heading back to try the dinner options.
Georgie @ Georgieats
Scarecrow has temporarily moved to High Street, while they refurbish their original cafe. A group of us went here for lunch yesterday - I was excited to introduce this place to friends because their food is fantastic and I always enjoy my visits. However, we had a slightly different experience.<br/><br/>Firstly, the new space is great - very large, with many tables and an open kitchen, which would be perfect for events. They do have the usual flowers on all the tables, with condiments to go with your meals, which was a good sign. However I did prefer their original space - it was small, but it was cute and cosy and I felt right at home. I guess these things happen! <br/><br/>Another difference is that they don't have their Kokako slow brew coffee station (a real shame because it is the first of its kind in New Zealand!). So, that meant no iced coffees (they are seriously good) which was most unfortunate. I was hankering for one!!! Thank goodness they are still selling my favourite ice cream (Little Island), one of only two stockists in the CBD.<br/><br/>Also, the lovely lady that is always welcoming and friendly at the counter was not there. I didn't get the same vibe from the two other ladies working there that day. <br/><br/>The menu is similar, with only a few options available. Because they use seasonal ingredients, my favourite heirloom tomato salad wasn't on the menu. Thankfully the beef brisket is still on there. I ordered the baked potatoes with spinach, free range eggs and cheese. Another friend also ordered this. When they arrived, they didn't look appealing (as previous baked potatoes I have had at their cafe) and they were under seasoned. I ended up asking the waitress for some chutney (tamarind) which luckily gave it an instant kick! <br/><br/>Others ordered the duck livers on toast (which thankfully is served like a pate) and the potato and cheese soup. I got to try the duck livers and they were very flavoursome! The soup however was also under seasoned.<br/><br/>Overall, it was a good experience, but the food was a bit hit and miss and the service not the same. I am going to an event there tomorrow, so it may change my view!
Acai Bowls Affogato Agnolotti Alfredo Antipasti Apple pie Arancini Bacon Sandwich Bagels Baguette Beef Beef Bourguignon Beef Cheeks Beignets Bento (Lunch Box) Bento Don buri salmon Bibimbap Bolognese Bouillabaisse Breakfast Burrito Bruschette Burger Burrito Burrito Bowl Cakes Calamares Calamari Cannelloni Cannoli Carbonara Carrot Cake Catfish Ceviche Cheeseburger Cheesecake Cheesecakes Chicken And Waffles Chicken dishes Chicken Sandwich Chicken Wings Chili Chilli Chicken Chocolate mousse Chowder Clam Chowder Clams Club Sandwich Cobb Salad Cod Confit Coq au Vin Corn dogs Corned Beef Cotoletta Crab Crab Cake Crab Legs Crawfish Creme Brulee Crepes Croque Madame Croque Monsieur Croquettes Cupcakes Curry Dim Sum Donburi (Rice Bowl) Doner Kebab Donuts Duck Duck Confit Dumplings Eclairs Eggplant Eggs Benedict Escargot Fajitas Falafel Filet Mignon Fish Fish & Chips Fish and chips Fish Soup Fish Taco Focaccia Fondue French Fries French onion soup French Toast Fried rice Galettes Garlic Prawns Gazpacho Gelato Goat cheese salad Green Curry Grilled cheese Grilled pork Gyoza Halloumi Hamburgers Hokkien Mee Hot Dog Hot Pot Hummus Ice Cream Jambalaya Juice & Smoothies Kabobs Key lime pie Kung Pao Chicken Laksa Lamb Lamb chops Lamb Shoulder Lasagne Lobster Mac and cheese Macarons Macaroons Mandarin Duck Matzo Ball Soup Meatballs Meatloaf Meringue Miso ramen Moussaka Mussels Nachos New York Style Pizza Noodle Octopus Offal Omelette Oyster Pad Thai Paella Pancakes Parfait Pasta Pastrami Sandwich Patatas Bravas Peking Duck Pesto Pho Piadina Po' Boys Polenta Pork Pork Cheeks Pork Roll Poutine Prawns Profiteroles Prosciutto Quail Quiche Ragu Ramen Raw fish Red Curry Reuben sandwich Ribs Rice pudding Risotto Roast Beef Roast Chicken Roquefort Salad Salmon Salmon Salad Saltimbocca Sandwiches Sashimi Scallops Schnitzel Seafood Paella Seafood Platters Shabu Shabu Shawarma Shellfish Shrimp Sirloin Steak Snails Souvlaki spring rolls Steak Steak Frites Steak Sandwich Steak Tartare Stracciatella Suckling Pig Sukiyaki & Shabu Shabu Surf And Turf Swordfish T-Bone Steak Tacos Tagliatelle Tandoori Chicken Tapas Tarte Tatin Tataki Tater tots Tempura Tikka Masala Tiramisu Toasts Tomato Bread Tonkatsu Tonkotsu ramen Torte Tortellini Tortelloni Tortillas Toulouse sausage Tuna Tuna Melt Turkey Sandwich Udon Udon & Soba (Wheat & Buckwheat Noodle) vegan choice Veggie Burger Waffle Fries Waffles Waffles & Crepes Wild boar Wings Yakitori (Grilled Skewers)
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