Review Black And Gold - Auckland Central

I had the most beautiful coffee and lunch here today, the new owners do an amazing job and are always so friendly. I would recommend this spot to venture out for brunch any day. Great space for dogs and parents.

Small cafe tucked in the corner. Food is pretty nice, but the vegan options could be more plentiful. Ambience is great and staff very friendly.

The girls here are lovely! Had the best Rostis ever and really enjoyed their service! Went out of there way to make my friend a vanilla milkshake Will defo be back! Loved all the plants- you should hang some from the roof beams, would look so nice!

Such a lovely cafe <333 I came here to study, and the coffee and atmosphere is so homey. The staff are such nice people and there is so many nice plants keeping the air fresh. Could not recommend this place enough.

Love this place, nice allpress coffee, yummy food and nice service, I love the cafe is all around plants and the

Beautiful place with lovely foods, the lemon cake is so delicious. The owner is very friendly and open up to all opinions. Looking forward to their new menu from next week.

Always great service here and amazing COFFEE Allpress coffee Cake are tasty Plenty of parking

Really good place and tasty food! The pie just smells so nice and everyone needs to have a try!

I love the Barista and her coffee. The BEST.

Coffee is great, food is good and staff are very friendly and accommodating. Our workplace has been here for a couple of team breakfasts and everyone enjoyed it.

Friendly, quick service and delicious food. Such a cute little cafe, a great place for breakfast.

Really cool place with great owners and great atmosphere🌆 Thank you so much for nice food and nice coffee ☺️

A little adventure to find the place as it's hidden in a industrial complex. The food looks amazing. Massive salmon 😮~ I was here for the Cauliflower Hash but got changed to Kumara and Chickpea Falafal, still tastes good~~

The setting is OK but the service was pretty slow.. to be fair they were quite busy. The food is quirky and interesting which is nice, however it wasn't really to my taste.. The ingredients felt fresh. Bonus points for having dog water bowls.

This place is great, as soon as you walk in the door you are welcomed warmly. The owner knows her customers really well and the eggs bene was one of the best I’ve had in ages. Coffee was primo too, glad I stopped by!

We ended up waiting almost 45 minutes for our meal because the waitress forgot to enter the order. Barely even apologized. We will not be returning here.

Lunch here today, thanks to GrabOne. Had the John Dory JD, beautiful presented with quit quail eggs, capers & the potatoe rostis were yum. Fish was to perfection. No air con though & no cold water, they did bring ice wen I asked. A nice refreshing glass of watermelon too. Good for $21.50 all up, bit out of my way though. Thursday we February 2020.

A beautiful atmosphere with my boyfriend afterschool! The drinks are fantastic and the desserts were amazing. Would definitely come back again

Super impressed with the quality of the genuine nice service from the staff here. Been back several times after discovering that their food was amazing in addition to their great coffees. Cant believe a cafe serves john dory and to this standard. Big breakfast was super great quality though the portion was not that big. The quality of their produce and sausages etc quickly made up for that. Last time I tried their bao after recommendations from the waitress which I was a little unsure about, but was pleasantly surprised at the juice, crispy chicken. Pork belly was good too, but we preferred the chicken bao. Coffee is consistently top notch and desserts in cabinet has always been a treat. No wonder they won top metro.

Great place for brunch. Must try sourdoughs and fennel sausage. Pies are also amazing and fresh made. The packages for takeaway are so sweet and eco-friendly. No surprise it is the best cafe of North Shore in 2019.

Been here twice in the space of a week - I think that in itself says it all... <br/><br/>The food: Delicious - so far I’ve sampled the Miso Salmon, the Scotch Egg, the Crispy Tofu and Chicken Bao and the Fish Balls. The fish balls in particular are incredible! Packed with flavour and you can taste the lime! 😋<br/><br/>The brew: Stellar 🤩<br/><br/>The price: Fair for great food prepared with love 👌<br/><br/>The staff: Warm and perfectly attentive 🙌<br/><br/>The parking: Not so great, but sometimes you have to go through some pain to get to the good stuff! 😂

Came here for a quick lunch with my friend and her mum and both me and my friend highly wouldn’t recommended unlike her mum that liked it. My friend ordered a drink and the “avo hustle” which she was disgusted with, it made with black bread (not toasted), the avo was the squeezy ones you buy at the supermarket, and overally she hated it. I had the pancakes and never thought you could go wrong. Yet the black and gold eatery did. They genuinely were the worst pancakes i’ve eaten, flavour was not there nor was the presentation and the service was horrendous. We even had a random couple sit down at our table whilst waiting for their takeaway coffees which i felt revolted by honestly as they came into my personal space.

Cannot fault anything else but isn't the size of my duck dish a joke given only two thin strips of duck on plate though it is under the category of something fillin? My husband enjoyed his miso salmon but overall we had KFC snake box afterwards. I am not into large portion meal normally but this is really unprecedented. I am glad we used grabone deal, but will still come back try some other dishes as I do appreciate the innovation on their menu.

I came here with my partner for lunch and we were both really surprised with the high quality of service. I’ve been here before on a day where it was all a hot mess but this time was brilliant, as soon as we walked in a really nice waitress sat us down with some water and menus and gave us her recommendations. They were also really nice and accommodating as I wanted to move seats because it was too hot in the sun and I began to feel really anxious. They happily helped me and I felt much more relaxed and happy in a little corner. <br/><br/>We both ordered the iced coffee with condensed milk which was good but would have liked a bit more coffee in it, seemed much more like just milk but it was good all the same! ☕️ <br/><br/>I ordered the sweet chilli prawns with scrambled eggs and potato Rosti and it was SO GOOD. I was initially going to have the eggs bene but decided to try the prawns and eggs because it sounded interesting. I was really happily surprised. Good portion size and really nice flavours. <br/>My partner got the big breakfast kind of deal and it was really yum according to him. <br/><br/>All around good vibes, friendly service, great food. Thanks for a nice experience 😌

Popped in for a coffee with Mum one afternoon, as they were closing they couldn't make a smoothie like I wanted so I settled for an iced mocha and it was so nice & presented super cute. I really wanna come here for brunch as-well as the food looks so good. Def recommend :) Update: Came here for lunch and it was so disappointing :(( I got a lemon, apple & mint juice and it was so nice, I ended up getting 2. However, the food was horrible :( I got the 'avo hustle' without the egg and it was the worst avo on toast I've ever had. The bread is black which makes it tastless and isn't toasted. There was a couple leaves of spinach and some fried haloumi. It was so unenjoyable, tastless & bland. My friend got the 'nippon pancake' and she didn't like it either however my Mum had the 'anytime gyoza' and she ended up enjoying it. Not somewhere I would recommend to eat but decent to have a coffee or drink.

Always my favorite place to stop by for a clean coffee. Love their lattes into bits ;)<br/>Has a bright open atmosphere in the cafe. Friendly service. Lots of parking available (although there are no reserved parking). Also offers food from pantry and the kitchen inside the cafe. Recommended :)

Great coffee ☕️ have you changed hands here?? If so coffee still remains awesome loving the little phrases at the bottom of the cups - out with the Mother, Master 12 and Miss 4 for breakfast - matcha pancakes, big breakfast and Benedict were all on point so heading towards a 4 star review until ..... we had the dumplings 🥟 what a disappointment- made even worse by the fact that they were for Miss 4 as you don’t have a kids menu - so back to 3 stars you go.

Cafe than has been around for a long time. There are many cafes now in the area. I take my twins here for brunch on Saturdays. Coffee is special and noise level is good for talking and occasional louder noises by the twins. Previous menu was better than the new summer menu. However there are still delicious options, like the match pancakes. Want brunch? Go here.

Black and gold has such lovely atmosphere and vegetarian option! Avocado toast so delicious!! Staff very lovely and plants everyone so nice. Art on the wall is so pretty and the coffee is good too!

Always stop in for a hot chocolate and quick bite when I visit our kitchen in Rosedale. Consistency is second to none, always hot, always good. Customer service from the owner on down is really genuine. Often have fresh pastas and treats in their cabinet that are heated up and delicious.

I have driven past this cafe every single week ever since it first opened.<br/><br/>Service: 8/10<br/>The workers were super patient as we pondered about all the delicious options. They also brought us everything we needed before we even asked them.<br/>There were just enough workers so that no one was just standing around, but no one too busy.<br/>They also have all asian chefs which was quite a nice surprise as that isn’t typically seen.<br/>The food did take over 20 minutes and it was past 2 o’clock so there were barely any other customers.<br/><br/>Food: 10/10<br/>I ordered the matcha soufflé pancakes. It was the perfect combination of bitter and sweetness. The pancakes were super soft and warm. There were a lot of tart citrusy fruits so the dish wasn’t too dry. The mascarpone was smooth and creamy, a nice alternative to butter. There were also super delicious churros that crunchy on the outside and warm on the inside.<br/>There was also frozen yogurt to contrast the piping hot churros and warm pancakes.<br/>It was just the perfect combination of every texture and flavour.<br/><br/>Ambiance: 10/10<br/>The cafe has an asian style with a western twist to it. The furniture and walls have a wooden rustic theme. The colours fading off the chairs makes it seem super casual and relaxed. The metal bars and vents give an abstract simplistic vibe.<br/>It is quite open and spacious which means there isn’t a lot of seating. <br/>This is the perfect space for teenagers and students to hang out and relax in.<br/><br/>This place has become one of my favourite restaurants/cafes in Auckland, I will be back soon.

Name pretty much says it all, it's coffee coffee coffee! We didn't come here for the food so I can't comment on that but their coffee is damn nice. Serving up beans for Society Coffee, the team here will whip up a nice cuppa for you to either eat in or have take away.<br/><br/>I did get some nibbles to go with my coffee though, can't really go wrong with a loaf and some pastry. What adds to this is the nice vibe of the shop it self so sitting in there and just chilling is exactly what you should do here.<br/><br/>Also lots of space for the kiddies should you decide to bring em, I say why not, gotta start em young.

I have been this place today 10/Jan/2019.<br/>Awesome service and food.<br/>Great presentation.<br/>Highly recommend to everyone.<br/>I will definitely visit here again.

Second time coming here and I really appreciate the variety and uniqueness of meal options available on their menu. <br/><br/>We ordered the blackboard special Garlic Grilled Chicken Tacos, Nippon Pancakes, and a cappuccino. The portion size of the tacos were enormous which was definitely a good thing considering how amazing they tasted and I was elated with every bite. The grilled chicken was some of the most succulent and flavourful I’ve ever had in my life. The crisp vegetables/salad, tzatziki, and deep fried shallots served their own distinct purpose within the dish and offered a variety of textures. Would highly recommend this dish and hopefully it can earn a spot on their seasonal menu so it’ll stay for a while.<br/><br/>The Nippon Pancakes was a really refreshing dish to see on the menu as typical cafe pancakes seem to all follow the same pattern. The dorayaki pancakes were really fluffy and tasted great on its own but even better dipped in the berry icing and orange jelly. Overall a very sweet but delicate meal that was presented beautifully.<br/><br/>Coffee and service were also great but my only gripe was that the place seemed quite loud?… Not sure if it was just the design of the place or the blasting pop music but it just seemed so much louder than other cafes that it was a bit difficult to hold a conversation without raising our voices.

Great Asian fusion cafe with a range of creative brunch dishes as well as a pretty cabinet! I got the eggs Benedict with salmon and I was so impressed by both the presentation and the taste! Loved everything about it! My friend's falafel toastie also looked great.

Overall okay/good experience. We ordered the chilli pork baos, vegen delight, and the eggs bene crumpet.<br/><br/>Food 3.5/5<br/>The best dish was the chilli pork bao dish. It was full of flavour, I would highly recommend it. The vegen dish was also nice with a flavour punch but slightly too salty. The eggs bene crumpet wasn’t that good as the crumpet was way too bland and made the whole dish lack flavour.<br/><br/>Coffee 4.5/5<br/>Coffee was really nice!<br/><br/>Service 3.5/5<br/>When we arrived I went inside and told one of the staff that we had just grabbed a table outside, so she said she would be with us soon. We waited for a few minutes but no one attended to us so I went to the counter to ask for some menus myself- which gives it a minus but other than that there wasn’t anything to complain about as the staff were friendly.<br/><br/>Ambience 4/5<br/>Cute place with a lively atmosphere!<br/><br/>

Black & Gold was recommended to me by a friend, and I am going to pass on that recommendation!<br/>The atmosphere within the eatery was homely, almost rustic, and the staff were so helpful and cheerful - thank you!<br/>Went with a group of four, and we each ordered something different. All were absolutely delicious! The coffee was also presented in a unique manner, and although I was somewhat disappointed that the iced brew had been sold out, I guess that is just a testament to how good it is! And the staff were extremely helpful in recommending the cold drip instead, which was delightful!<br/>Thank you for a lovely brunch!

Service 5/5<br/>Food 4.5/5<br/>Coffee 4.5/5<br/>Ambient 5/5<br/><br/>Came with a friend. Didn't know it was table service until they realised we weren't take away at counter. Service came quickly and politely. I order a latte and a chilli pork bao. Enjoyed both very much. I am used to stronger flavour coffee hence the 4.5 instead of 5. The pork bao was flavourful, highly recommended. Didn't think gerkin would match it but it did the trick. Bao (Chinese style bun) is nice and fluffy. A good change from the usual bread types.<br/><br/>When we pay the bill at the end the waiter that served us at table was there again and once again very polite to us.<br/><br/>Overall good experience.

02/08/18 Had 30 minutes to have breakfast before a meeting. Ordered scrambled eggs on toast because I thought it would be relatively quick to make. My coffee came out and after 20 minutes had past and noticing the cafe quite empty, I went to enquire about my eggs which the girl at the till said wasn't on their order! When she asked me to identify who took my order, the waitress concerned quickly remembered that she forgot to put my order through. I had to run, but the nice girl at the till didn't charge me for the coffee.

Interesting presentation of coffee. <br/>Nice vibe.<br/>The garlic mushrooms looked amazing, I should’ve ordered that! <br/>But I ordered the salmon express, which came on a pasta that I found too oily and excessively buttery. Salmon is a fatty fish so perhaps not the best balanced dish. Juice was nice but the way it is written on the menu makes the pricing unclear. A better layout would be nice, to avoid confusion (as the waitress admits confuses a lot of people).

We love going out on a Sunday morning to try new breakfast places... planned for this morning and the weather almost stopped us as Auckland experienced some serious rain.<br/><br/>We got there in the end and we are supper excited we did. The restaurant was warm and cozy and we were very well welcomed.<br/><br/>We started off having a look at the counter food and there were some interesting delights to chose from. We decided to order directly from the menu and started with a cappuccino and a flat white, both in mugs and both were awesome.<br/><br/>Chicken nanban was my wife's choice and she loved every bite. Not your usual breakfast choice but awesome none the less.<br/><br/>I can't really judge my wife, I had Chilli pork baos which were amazing. Both dishes were great and would happily have them again.<br/><br/>Rest of the family had: Nippon pancakes (really unique flavour combination but worked really well), lamb shanks (excellent) and eggs benedict with bacon.<br/><br/>All in and we were all very happy, I am excited to return to try some more dishes. <br/><br/>Food: 90%<br/>Ambience: 85%<br/>Service: 89%<br/>Coffee: 85%

This place has really good service and the food is pretty good! 100% recommend their coffee, it’s very smooth (coming from someone who doesn’t really like coffee, it’s really saying something). <br/>I’ve been here twice, the first time there was a bone in my moms pulled pork bao - which is fine cause it can happen sometimes. The people working took one of the coffees off of our bill (hence the great customer service).<br/><br/>Overall a good place to have a chat with friends and have a meal, the food does take slightly longer than usual to come out but would say it’s worth the wait.

One of my favourite cafes to visit. Love the ambiance and how friendly the staff are. They actually smile!!! Such a cute place to come to and sit down with a good coffee.

Very good cafe with the best coffee. Good deco and friendly staff. I order the extra hot coffee and he never disappoint me. Highly recommend.

Possibly the best cup of coffee I have ever had! although my husband who likes his coffee hot described his as only lukewarm.<br/><br/>We came for a weekend family brunch. The service was friendly and the food a little different from the standard cafe menu.<br/><br/>Our breakfast for four with coffees came to $80.00<br/><br/>I’ll definitely be back for the coffee.

I was really looking forward to coming here. Made the trip out and it was busy, testament to how good it supposedly was.<br/>Sadly the busy-ness of the cafe affected the service. The line to get in was unclear, communication between staff just as unclear. As we go to sit down, we found one of the seats were on their last limbs. Attempting to change the seat we were accused of stealing a booking. Then it took us all of 2 seconds to leave the cafe because of the rudeness of the staff. <br/><br/>I hope to revisit at a later date when staff are less flustered. A bit of a damper on a Sunday morning though!

Black and gold is my local cafe and the only one . Always go and grab a nice coffee. And sometimes bring parents there for brunch. Nice staff and good food.

We had the Bao’s (chicken and pork) and there was barely a crumb left on the plate. So good! Very nice coffee too. Service was great and a nice open layout.<br/>

Someone told us this is one of top 50 cafes in Auckland. We came here for our brunch. The cafe was very noisy. A girl gave us their menu and took our drink order, but after that she was disappeared and never come back. We waited for long time until a boy came to our table . He was friendly and took our brunch menu finally, I ordered the big brekkie, was small portion and nothing great. We won’t back to this cafe, and couldn’t believe it’s the top cafe in Auckland.

Nice<br/>Have been multiple times for lunch and have not left hungry. The food is nice and so is the coffee, a lot of their menu has much in common with many other cafes not to say that is a bad thing they have a lot of safe choices but all a lot of unique dishes too

Great original food.<br/><br/>Love the decor, they also have friendly service although food can take a bit to come out as they get quite busy.<br/><br/>No complaints about the food. My carnivorous boyfriend said he loved the avocado on toast which really says something. The oh deer was really flavourful and plenty. The watermelon juice was amazing, the coffee is great too. Very consistent.<br/><br/>Their kitchen closes quite early unlike what the menu states, so if you want food try to go before 2.

Came here for weekday lunch. Cafe is situated at the end of a little strip of shops and gets quite busy from the local businesses around lunchtime. I got there before the rush and was able to pick my own table. <br/><br/>I ordered the avo smash with edamame, semi-dried tomatoes and deep fried tofu. Delicious and super filling and I felt healthy for it too. Also got a berry yogurt smoothie which was on the sour side but I preferred this to being overly sweet as some cafe smoothies are. Came to $25.50 all up which is pretty good considering how generous the portions were. Service was fantastic, the waitresses were friendly and attentive. <br/><br/>The menu's changed a bit since zomato uploaded it and there are a number of interesting and yummy sounding options to choose from so I have a feeling I'll be back for more.

What a lovely little place - a great cafe for brekky on the weekends for us folks who reside on the other side of the bridge and just want to visit the shore. The staff is always amazing and smiling, food's great and the coffee is yum. They stock a range of Misty Day potions and I tried the charcoal latte - it did not disappoint at all. Great cafe for brunch if you're in the area.

Came here late afternoon on the weekend, I ordered the 'mushroom trio' while hubby got the 'brekky just right' as he's hungry. Food came about 15 minutes after the order was made, good portions and I liked my dish. It came with two sourdough bread, with different types of sauteed mushrooms on top. Hubby got the usual poached eggs,bacon,sausages,grilled mushrooms, sourdough bread and mesclun leaves. We ordered their hot chocolate as well and it's pretty good. We heard good things about their coffee so will try it next time.

Black and Gold is a great place to sit, eat and chat. The coffee is great and so is the food! There is a new menu since the last time I went, very current, interesting menu with lots of choices. Service is lovely and quick, will definitely be back soon. No complaints at all!

The place has a great atmosphere! They have a good eggs bene. The pancakes could be more crunchy with more nuts.. or something like that...<br/>Service wasn’t the best.

Haven't been back to them for a year after inconsitent coffee. Visited them recently and their coffee was amazing!! Menu has changed a lot since then and their food looked delicious. My avocado smash was a little disappointment as I personally don't think soft tofu texture goes well with mashed avocado, making the whole dish just a big lump of mush. But would love to come back and try different food on their menu.

Great new find that has friendly staff and serves delicious food. <br/>Most things on the menu consisted of your basic cafe food with an odd but pleasant twist. <br/>I ordered the kumara pancakes with meringue and apple and a berry puree... Yum!! <br/>The whole family were very happy with our lunch and will definitely be back!

Went there early saturday morning- ordered a tomato herb scone which was very flavoursome, coffees and the avo smash on sourdough. We did not want the tofu or beetroot and asked if we could just have tomato instead. And they were more than happy to do it. It was a pleasant honey dish, arriving reasonably quickly. Serive was great. Coffee not to our liking though. A good place for a quick hassle free bite.

Came here for breakfast with my mum and sister this morning and had a lovely meal. I ordered the whitebait tacos, my mum the kumera pancakes and my sister the bacon and eggs. Everyone was very pleased with their meal apart from the fact that the pancakes were a bit too sweet and the tacos lacked a little in quantity. We also received quality customer service and they serve great smoothies and coffees too! We will definitely be coming back and bringing along dad and the dog!!

Excellent service and friendly staff. I loved their delicious brownie (you must try it!!) and coffee definitely recommended and will be back

The service was awesome and the food delish! The people were friendly and the decor cool! What a great place to eat! Would definitely come here again! Thank you!!!

This place is very good. I've been living in Albany area for almost two months and just recently found this place. So far is the best in this area.<br/>It l's easy comparable to the places you may find in Ponsonby (and I say that because I lived there for about 3 years) good food + good coffee.<br/>It's definitely a favourite and I'll be a regular

The first time I visIted this place I was supposed to meet a friend in Roaedale, but arrived far too early, so I thought I would come in and have a cup of coffee while I wait.<br/><br/>The interior was very spacious and creatively decorated. The flat white was great, very decent in size for $4.50. However what impressed me the most was the service - the Staffs were super friendly & not pushy at all, despite me sitting there for ages and only having a cup of coffee. All the items on the menu looked delicious (including the items in the cabinet), which inspired me to come back.<br/><br/>The second time I visited with my husband. I had the white espresso, which was even more amazing than the flat white. Husband had the freshly pressed apple, carrot, and ginger juice, which had just the right amount of kick, and sweetness from the fruit & vegetables. He was also incredibly happy with his bao buns with pork belly, said they were flavourful and not sickly sweet.<br/><br/>I had the Madame d'or which was beautifully presented, the eggs were poached perfectly. It was a lovely dish, with ham sandwiches between the bread. I did feel like more cheese/or a stronger cheese, and a more buttery brioche would take this dish to another level. But all in all, definitely a wonderful cafe with unique menu, totally worth the drive to North Shore :)

I really enjoyed my food and there were interesting food selections. I had the Kumara pancakes which were just the right amount of sweetness with a little tartness from the berries. It was beautifully presented which was a nice touch. The coffee was good, but not the best. Although the staff were friendly and engaging, they were a but scattered with getting the orders right. It was very busy - people were getting turned away because every table was full, but even so the staff should be able to get orders right. Apart from that it was a good experience with tasty food.

Food: such yummy food, cooked to perfection. I had the "Just Right Brekkie" with lentils & haloumi, and my mum had the Eggs Bennie w Mushrooms & Artichokes. Only fault was that there were only 2 artichokes on my mums bennie (a little on the skimpy side) but other then that everything else was perfectly cooked, amazing flavours, and decent portion sizes. Really really good coffee too. <br/><br/>Service: great service, didn't have to wait long for someone to come and take our orders, and the food arrived in a timely manner too. <br/><br/>Ambience: cute ambience, typical trendy cafe style, very nice interior and decorating.<br/><br/>Overall a really great experience, will definitely be back!

Having heard really good things about this place, I was excited to visit this morning and am happy to say that it didn't disappoint. While I’m not a coffee aficionado, I was impressed with their range of coffees and drinks. My half-strength flat white was a bit small for $4 but tasted fine. <br/><br/>I loved my shashouka with venison meatballs; the shashouka sauce had lots of flavour and the pan was filled with all sorts of textures from the nuts, grains, and couscous. It was also relatively filling because of the eggs baked inside. <br/><br/>My brother’s Mister Mushroom looked like a pretty solid vegetarian dish. While I liked the mushroom steaks, I didn’t find the sauce to be that special – maybe it needs the cheese to really bring all the flavours together? <br/><br/>My friend’s madame d’or (brioche toasted sandwich with bacon, egg, and cheese) looked amazing – and based on the little bite I had I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting this next time. It was a little salty, but nothing a mocha can’t fix!<br/><br/>We had lovely service and I felt that the meals were pretty well priced. It was a bit busy on this Saturday morning but we were surprisingly able to find a park and everyone seemed to be served in a timely manner. Keep up the good work, team!

Great cafe, super friendly staff and lovely interior. <br/>We ordered everything on the brunch menu, except the Kraken as they have sold out. <br/><br/>Bao 101 - great flavour, the pork goes really well with the beetroot. I personally would prefer braised pork with steam bun like this rather than roasted pork like most other restaurants offer. <br/><br/>Beef cheek - very tender and juicy, the beef is so soft you can almost swallow it without chewing. <br/><br/>Mushroom - it tasted OK but I am not a big fan of vegetarian dish myself. <br/><br/>Duck breast - this was the dish I looked forward to the most but it's not as good as I imagined. The duck breast was a bit bland and lacked of flavour. It did have an orange glaze however I think a bit more salt would be nicer. <br/><br/>My only advise to the café would be update the menu on Zomato as it seems to be out of date. 😊<br/>Overall, very pleasant experience.

Delicious food, fun friendly staff and good coffee.<br/>Dropped past while competing at the World Masters games and have to maintain weight before weigh-in. Great healthy delicious food on offer. I had the Just Right breakfast, partner had the pancakes - best pancakes he'd had in a long time!!

All the staff are super warm and welcoming, such great service. I ordered the green eggs and hammock and absolutely loved it enjoyed every bit of it eggs were perfectly poached, potatoes and salsa verde were perfectly tender infused with a lovely pesto flavour. Will definitely be coming back to try other meals from the menu.

Food Ordered:<br/>Bacon + Eggs<br/>Grilled Salmon<br/>Iced Coffee (x2)<br/><br/>Bill: $46.50<br/><br/>Big tummy: One of my friends absolutely loves this place, so even though I'm not usually a fan of cafes (I tend to see them as over-priced bakeries with 1/10th of the selection), I let myself get dragged here for lunch. This visit didn't exactly change that perception - the number of available items on the menu barely breaks into the double-digits and, as expected, carries those cafe-esque prices. Although, in fairness, the quality of the food at B&G does justify the price somewhat. Usually I can't help but cringe at paying too much for bacon & eggs, as I'm all too aware of what I can cook myself with the same budget - especially when the quality doesn't even meet what I can make at home. That's where B&G pleasantly surprised me - yes, they charge $16 for bacon + eggs, so I expected something great (possibly with fireworks) to justify the price - but they actually delivered.  The food was cooked and seasoned to perfection and they didn't serve stingy portions - you could actually see and taste (the fireworks came in the form of taste I guess) why they charge such prices. In all honesty, I couldn't fault the food - it was spot on. However, the limited selection does mean that I would be unlikely to return, as there just isn't any other reason for me to come back (I struggled to decide on something to begin with, let alone finding a second item). A brilliant one-off experience - but it's just not enough (literally) to keep you coming back.<br/><br/>Little tummy: I tend to struggle on deciding what to order with menus that are too big, so the minimalistic menu at B&G kinda worked for me. With a limited selection,  I opted for my usual go-to in the grilled salmon option. As for the dish, the salmon itself was cooked to perfection, with the stock and seasoning complimenting it superbly. The noodles were a bit of a miss for me though - I just felt that they didn't really fit with the dish and I found them to be a bit too salty as well.<br/>The staff were incredibly friendly and the service was prompt - although we were left sitting with no cutlery for a while after our food had been served (the cutlery holder on our table was empty). <br/>All in all, there was enough for me to understand why our friend loves this place - but at the end of the day, I'd probably have to agree with my bf, in that there isn't quite enough to warrant me coming back. I tried the one dish they offer that I usually like and they weren't quite able to hit it out of the park.

The atmosphere in this cafe is very calming. Their interior design is subtle but stands out. If you are a coffee lover you have to try their coffees! One of the best coffee shops on the north shore. After you finish your cup there's a message at the bottom which is such a cute twist. Their meal portions are also decently sized and very tasty. Staff was super friendly and service was relatively quick. Me and my partner ordered a brekkie just right and the garlic field mushrooms. Both were perfect

I consider myself a coffee enthusiast and love discovering cafes that offer more than just the traditional espresso coffee. A venture from David Huang and Kayoko Nakamura, both formerly at Espresso Workshop and in Albany since 2014, Black and Gold has been celebrated for its impressive alternative brew techniques including V60 drip and cold brew. It’s been on my radar, but it’s Rosedale location meant that it took me till now to visit.

I had a wonderful breakfast with my friend.  The staff were really friendly and the food very tasty.  I had the french toast which was full of flavor and not too sweet.  I really enjoyed being able to get filter coffee and even a free refill.  I look forward to having another opportunity to go back and will definitely recommend it to coworkers and friends.

Wasn't a big fan of this place. I had the smash avocado and it just tasted weird to me. The bread was soggy and the dukkah was grainy. Nothing else on the menu really appealed to me, so I wouldn't be bothered to come back.

Great coffee and modern interior with greenery. The price is reasonable and the staff are attentive. Would suggest for brunch or a quick coffee time. It gets a little cold inside the shade and with concrete flooring, so take an extra blanket or jacket.

Been here before for a coffee and it was good. Came here again for lunch today with a friend and it was amazing! Staff are super lovely, and look well trained. The avo smash was soo good and the food is reasonable considering they have quite unique dishes on the menu! It's not your typical "eggs bene" "big breakfast" sort of deal. My avo smash came with tahini, haloumi and a sundried tomato. I ordered a poached egg with my Avo smash and it was a good combo. My coffee was very smooth and creamy. I ordered a chocolate cappuccino. ☕️ my friend ordered bacon and egg bagel and it was very much to her liking. it gets very busy so you need to find a seat asap! The cafe is clean, and has a organic, rustic type of feel. I felt super comfortable in there and definitely a good place to lounge around to grab coffee, catch up with a friend or even study! We will definitely coming back for another meal! 😍

****Newly updated Dec 2016****<br/><br/>Returned after the reply to my previous review. Coffee was back to the excellent taste as my first experience. Great that this place keeps looking to improve and love that attitude. Recommend this place :) <br/><br/><br/>*****<br/><br/>Saw alot of people at this cafe passing by and thought we'd give it ago. <br/><br/>Coffee- uses supreme coffee beans. For long blacks I find the beans a bit too acidic for my liking. But as for the latte, the mix of acidity and full cream milk made for th best latte that I have had. Along with the impressive coffee art.<br/><br/>Environment- love the atmosphere and the biggest thing that i believe made this work was the mixture of the wood texture interior along with the live plants around the place. <br/><br/>Staff- everyone was super friendly. Even staff that were behind the coffee machine would greet us as we walked in. <br/><br/>Price- Reasonable considering the price you pay for the good cup of coffee.<br/><br/>Overall, would definitely return for another cup of latte and being open on the Sunday always helps as I find other places tend to be closed.

This place is lovely. V cool inside, the friendliest staff and really great food.<br/>We had coffees, two of the big breakfasts, and scrambled eggs on toast with a side of halluomi (because cheese).<br/><br/>Coffee was perfect, food was excellent, I think the bread comes from wild wheat- we had sourdough which was tangy with a chewy crust, just delicious. <br/><br/>We had quite a long wait because of a huge group, however staff let us know upfront and were very apologetic and checked on us. Worth the wait!<br/>Cabinet food looked amazing, and there was a video about latte art projected on the wall. I really like their lights and decor, kind of industrial/botanical/steampunky but not in an obnoxious way.<br/><br/>Will be back!

Having moved office to Rosedale, Black and Gold was on the top of my list to try amongst the (few) local cafes.<br/><br/>The first attempt was not great due to a pretty awful dairy free chocolate cake.<br/><br/>But, due to lack of other options I went back for lunch (I don't think you can judge a cafe just on...

This has now become our local cafe with excellent, attentive and friendly staff, great food and great coffee. The atmosphere is welcoming and refreshing music.<br/>

Avo Mame- Very Plain, some flavours clashed.<br/>Iced Chocolate- Tasted like milo and was watery<br/><br/>The experience was average and I don't think I will be going back.

Really good food, coffee and experience! Coffee was the best I have had in a while but quite small so make sure you order the large. The French toast was the perfect combination of sweet and sour with rhubarb and lemon curd. My partner got the bacon and egg bagel which he said was good but slightly small. Waitress gave him extra bacon because he didn't want the tomato and she was super friendly! Overall would definitely go back but just don't go if you are super hungry.

Wow what a gem! Never knew this place was here but will defiantly be back and telling my friends. From the planters in the cafe to the big cardboard menus and the coffee bag cushions a fresh vibe radiates as you sit down ready for your morning fix. But it didn't end there the food was amazing and full of flavours!! I had the French toast - best decision ever. Lots of yummy French toast with the rhubarb, creme fraiche and lemon curd the combination was delish!!

An amazing little eatery, well-deserving of the high ratings it has received. For brunch we had the 'brekky' and Lamb Bam. Both dishes were light, delicious and looked gorgeous. <br/><br/>The cold drip coffee is a must try. Despite not being an espresso drinker myself, I found it to be absolutely delicious. The coffee is aromatic, smooth and doesn't have the bitterness that usually puts me off drinking black coffee. <br/><br/>Ambience is great and staff are helpful and friendly. Will definitely return again and highly recommend this cafe to anyone and everyone.

What a friendly little cafe! The bacon and egg bagel was so tasty my husband tried to steal it even though he had the French toast which was sweet, crunchy and delicious.

This restaurant was found in Zomato. I love the pasta of the day. I'm not sure whether is I'm too hungry or the pasta is too delicious. I just love it. Highly recommend to people who live or do not live at the shore. Yummy…

Second visit. Delicious food. Cool place. Great coffee. Tried breakfast tacos. Totally recommend. One of the best breakfasts I've had in ages.

Had breakfast here for the first time today. Awesome friendly service and great food, the staff are really lovely and attentive. Will definitely be coming back again.

First impression: really cute little cafe. Very busy with limited sitting area. Customer service really good. Guy at the counter came with the menus and water withing the first minute or so. The setup was very cute with a lot of choices. <br/><br/>Food and drinks: coffee and hot chocolate was good. Just the right temperature. And omg the breakfast that i had was amazing. I don't think i've loved breakfast so much ever before. <br/><br/>Overall: everything was great and very enjoyable.

Came here for breakfast this morning, the coffee was good and the banana and peanut butter smoothie was amazing! Friendly staff, well designed decor and a cool bright open plan space. Both breakfasts were really good, will definitely be coming back!

Just came for some lunch and left really hungry. I had the bacon hock, and partner had the chilli con carne tacos. The chilli con carne was literally just beans - no mince. Had no spice to it either, and to top it off the beans tasted like they came from a can. Tacos weren't even hard track shells, tasted really doughy like budget supermarket bought wraps.<br/>Bacon hock was extremely salty, got two wedges with the mean, and soo much greenery which tasted unfresh also. Coffees were tiny, and nothing above average.<br/>Also no high chairs available, extremely loud and just not a good experience at all. Not sure why they have such high ratings with terrible food.<br/>Didn't seem to care that we hadn't enjoyed our meals, didn't offer any sort of discount or apology.<br/><br/>Coffee: 5/10<br/>Food: 0/10<br/>Service: 6/10

Really enjoy the coffee here, great 'with a smile service.' Enjoyed the food , though not take a photo and show off to friends unique. The whole feel/average consumer is hipster which can make you feel old or uncool but the staff make it worth venturing into 'hipsterwood' 😀

I've come here a couple of times now and find it an enjoyable space for a quiet coffee and read my book while killing some time. Their service is friendly and the decor interestingly ecletic rather than the usual bland. The coffee is very good and the staff bring water to your table as soon as you sit down which is a nice touch. <br/><br/>Yesterday I chose their smashed avocado with haloumi on toast for brunch which came fairly quickly and was quite scrumptious. Definitely is now one of my go to places in the area.

I had the pan-fried chicken breast with chimichurri and it had great clean flavours. The serving size was generous and the cafe had a warm interior. Will be dropping by again!

This particular cafe space has been through a few changes of ownership over the years but we have to say Black and Gold is probably the best of them, although this is more of a cafe than some of the previous, which were more coffee bars that served brunches.<br/> The layout is very spacious, light and airy, and the planter boxes of fresh herbs are a nice touch. The menu offered the usual suspects, but often with different twists, and also some more interesting dishes.  We opted for the Breakfast Tacos and the Brekkie "just right" vegetarian option.  The tacos, with chilli beans, corn salsa and two fried eggs, was a very tasty variation for brunch.  The vegetarian option for the "just right" brekkie, replaced the bacon and sausages with haloumi and avocado - a light and delicious alternative.  The staff were very efficient and polite.  There was a relatively limited selection of counter foods (on a Sunday anyway), but what was available looked appetising.

After swimming at AUT Millennium, I search the Zomato to see where is the nearest high-scored restaurant, then heading to here. <br/><br/>Mushroom Medley is not too bad, including flat mushroom, white button mushroom and something else. ^_^ I enjoyed very much. Iced coffee is also really good, you shouldn't miss it.<br/><br/>The interior trim is pretty chic, which is filled with plenty of green plants. Even on your table, there are some yellow chrysanthemums bloom in the test tube!!

Love the iced coffee here, my comfort drink when I'm stressed. The decor is unique, and especially like the drip coffee on the counter. The sandwiches are not bad, I usually take one with Brie.

Cute interior and decent cabinet foods which gives you more options if you don't find anything on their main board <br/>I had their soup which was really yum but their haloumi and mushroom dish was amazing<br/>Great coffees too and reasonable prices <br/>Barista here has won many awards so you can be reassured your coffee will be quality <br/>Parking was very easy as well

I love the coffee, every time.  Have also had a few light meals and always happy with the fresh, tasty and visually appealing food.  My favourtie place to meet friends for coffee.  Staff very friendly and attentive.

Mum and I visit here every Friday (I work just down the road). Every time we visit, the food is seriously yummy! Cool atmosphere as well, loads of herbs in planters, and big windows to let the light in!

Friendly service // efficient // good food + good presentation // nice decor // amazing coffee <br/><br/>I've come here for coffee several times and each time the staff is friendly, the coffee is perfect, really good barista and I enjoy being there. Today I came to get takeaway coffee and cabinet food and its packed! I love the decor inside, the plants definitely create a relaxed and homely ambience. <br/><br/> It's in a really odd location, but definitely a good local for the Albany area. I think it's definitely my new favourite in the North Shore. <br/><br/>Highly recommend, carrot cake is delicious, perfect cream cheese icing. I will definitely be coming back, but next time for breakfast or lunch 😍

They do really good coffees and their stuff is pretty well priced too, Im a Mocha gal so I was pretty happy! Their menu is a little small but the cafe itself is really pretty, lots of beautiful plants and very open and spacious. Looking forward to checking out their brunch menu in the future!

I made a phone booking as I had a friend with a baby and staff was accommodating and sorted us with a good seating arrangement. <br/><br/>Nice cafe, open and bright! It had lots of herb planters by the window and wooden items to give it a green environment. <br/><br/>Staff were attentive, helpful and always came back to ask if we needed anything without being over intrusive. Even helped us take a lovely photo. <br/><br/>Food wise, I had the avocado smash with haloumi and it was slightly underwhelming compared to the others I've had. But the haloumi was not too salty which is a plus! My other friends got the mushrooms, big breakfast and the French toast which looked amazing!!! (See picture) and I wished I ordered that. So will definitely be back to try that. All had no complaints :) <br/><br/>Then for dessert, we had the walnut caramel slice which was sweet heaven. Do try it if you have room for a slice!!! <br/><br/>Lovely cafe to catch up as when we came on a Sunday morning, it was not too busy. Will be back!

It was quite busy considering how early in the morning it was. I couldn't see a menu, and the girl at the counter had a bit of a "hurry the hell up" look on her face so I chose the dry looking bacon & egg sandwich on the counter, paid and sat down.  The rustic theme was cool at first, but after 10mins of sitting on a rock hard chair at a sticky wooden table, I was over it.  Plus the table I chose had a planter box with a nice assortment of wildlife crawling out to join me for breakfast.  I will say the bacon and egg thing I ordered was really good, although I didn't understand the overload of flour on top of the bread.  Felt like I had a whole Weet-bix in my mouth when I ate it.  Coffee was great.  I'd probably go back but I'd choose a different table.

The environment is relaxing and the staff are very nice, food was nice. Staff come back to us time to time to ask us do we need anything, very good follow up skills.

I came here for some dessert take-away. Try few slices and brownies as per photo shows. Chocolate brownie is rich and yummy, nice match with a cup of coffee. The decoration in cafe is comfortable, lots of green plants. Nice staffs with warm greeting. I believe it's better to try eat-in on weekends next time.

The customer service is real bad! Very unfriendly! I traveled such long way to there today, I won't go back again! The coffees and food are really average, nothing is special! Especially the staff at counter was not warm and friendly at all!

Reviews looked good, but food was a little disappointing. The specials board pasta didn't taste very fresh; however the furnishings, decor, greenery throughout the cafe made the experience more enjoyable.

Went here for coffee and a smoothie last week with my partner and the coffee was great. Although we didn't order any food the selections and the menu looked amazing. It had a great environment and beautiful layout with hanging lights and plants by the window. Very cute! We will definitely be back to order food next time!<br/>Update. Came here for brunch today and it was lovely. Ordered the French toast! 👌🏽

Such a great cafe! The food was amazing, and so well priced. I had the big breakfast, minus the bacon and mushroom, and my friend had the eggplant and haloumi scramble. The berry smoothie I ordered was very nice and my friend said her coffee was one of the best coffees she has had in a while. The staff were very friendly, will definitely be going back.

My FAVE cafe on the shore! Fresh, healthy food that tastes so good! Love the fresh juices and smoothies as well. The breakfast choices are so good, and the pulled pork from the lunch menu is delicious!

The menu here is very small so there wasn't a whole lot to choose from. Would have been nice to see a chicken dish on there somewhere. I must have gone at a bad time because all the cabinet foods and salads were gone by then apart from a few sandwiches. I menu itself it quite pricey and nothing sounded appealing to me so I just went with the pulled pork & coleslaw toasted sandwich. Was nothing memorable at all. They aren't up for changing much on the menu in terms of if you want to swap something out for something different. The environment however was very cute, bright and cosy. Like I said, I think I went at a bad time but I will go back there in the future to give it another shot and hopefully up my ratings of it!

The environment is spacious and bright, not over crowded. Have tried the meals/cakes/cabinet foods, they are all made fresh and delicious! The coffee is strong but not bitter, usually my mum will order the 2nd cup in one visit. They also have few fresh and healthy juices/smoothie options. My favourite cafe at the shore so far.

NOW THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL "FRESH"!!!<br/><br/>I AM A BIG FAN! Today was my first time at black and gold eatery; I absolutely loved it. The coffee was good, the vibe of the place was very hip and the staff were friendly.<br/><br/>My friend ordered the grilled halloumi w/ portobello mushroom, spinach and eggplant. I got the cabinet salad of cous cous, parmesan and broccoli with extra added chicken. I can't really fault the food at all - instead, it blew me out of the water! The flavours were balanced impeccably!! As we left, my friend bought a slice of Russian fudge AND OMG!!!!! OK, BEST RUSSIAN FUDGE OUR MOUTHS HAVE EVER TASTED. So buttery, it just melts. I'm so impressed. <br/><br/>Only reason for 4.5/5 instead of full 5/5 was the slight dryness to the chicken as it was a little over cooked. I'm quite fussy when it comes to things like that though.<br/><br/>This is definitely one of my new favourites. I'll be back soon, for sure. I want to try all the other things on the menu and I'm so stoked with the use of free range products! They use the best produce and you can definitely taste it. <br/><br/>***I hope they extend the lunch part of the menu with time!

We have been there a number of times and has fantastic experience every time.<br/><br/>My favourite is their Stuffed Banana French Toast. It can be quite a sweet and rich dish, however I love sweets and sweet dishes so their French Toast goes down a treat with a hot cup of tea.<br/><br/>Overall, VERY glad Black and Gold is around our neighbourhood so we don't have to travel far any more for some delicious cafe food and a smooth, strong cup of coffee/tea and more!

<br/>I work in the area and heard good things about this place. I was not disappointed!! Awesome coffee and yummy food! We will definitely be coming back.<br/>

As soon as you walk through the glass doors, you are transported to a sunny, vibrant cafe that smells like cocoa in the air.<br/><br/>I absolutely LOVED the pulled pork quinoa salad! It was simply amazing. Just the right amount of all the ingredients and the perfect size for lunch. Also a plus that it looked beautiful too!<br/><br/>We also ordered a salmon quiche (?) and that was one of the best I've come across.<br/><br/>The mochas were great, staff were friendly and smiley, cabinet food looked yum.<br/><br/>Parking might be a bit difficult out front though, especially during lunch time.

What a surprise find! After driving past lots of nondescript cafe's in Albany & Rosedale, we were happy to find this place. <br/><br/>The exterior and decor wouldn't look out of place in a top notch cafe in Ponsonby or Herne Bay and the food was actually far better (quality and value) than many other more expensive ones I've tried in Auckland.<br/><br/>My husband and I both had the Eggs Benedict - mine with salmon, his with bacon.<br/>Both were $16. The quality was faultless - the salmon was generous, fresh and tasted like a great quality. Other dishes on the menu also looked great as well as the cabinet food.<br/><br/>Coffee's were equally as satisfactory - and the service was efficient and super friendly. I can't recommend this cafe highly enough.

We tried this place over the weekend and it was a surprise to see how busy it was considering it's location in quite an industrial area. We were seated and served fast, the staff were very friendly. I had the classic eggs bene which I enjoyed, my partner tried the pasta special which he liked but thought something was missing (maybe garlic). He did enjoy the hot toddy. <br/><br/>Very reasonable pricing and the atmosphere was enjoyable too, lots of chatting with soft music playing in the background. Great for casual brunch or coffee catchup with a friend.

Only came over to try their coffee as heard good review about their coffee, will try their food next time I am over.<br/><br/>The coffee was very good<br/><br/>Customer Service: 7/10 <br/>Coffee: 8/10<br/>Atmosphere: 7/10<br/><br/>Date: May 2015

Love this place! Lovely warm sunny cafe with a quirky vibe. They sell a variety of coffee paraphernalia here too, including reusable coffee cups 'Keepcup'. Plus you get 50 cents off coffees here when you use keepcups. So I promptly bought one! Delicious cabinet food, super friendly staff and awesome vibe for catching up with friends or reading a mag. Eclectic mix of magazines too. Highly recommend checking this place out!

I hope this nice cafe near my home.... I love this place so much! Our coffee was very good and my Eggs Benedict was amazing. Should try filtered coffee next time.

Our favourite cafe at the moment, excellent coffee, yummy green smoothies, and awesome food. We have eaten here for times now and it's always been good. I love the banana French toast. The cafe has a nice feel to it, have recommended it to friends and family without hesitation

The best cafe in NZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br/>I try to go there as often as possible, on my day offs or before my work.Their filter coffee are great: v60, Syphon and Cold Brew (my favourite!). They all have amazing aromatic taste. Absolutely delicious! Their white coffee are great too, especially their latte and iced latte are just speechless! For non-coffee lovers, I recommend green smoothie - awwww, you just got to try it!<br/>The owner and other staff are all nice and friendly, always welcoming and smiling. I love their atmosphere as well - those plants and herbs by the windows and outside the cafe would make you feel green :-) Also, those current magazines and newspapers, and the shelf full of coffee makers would never make you bored waiting for take away coffee.<br/>Not sure about food though, what I tried was only egg benedict and I loved it. I should try some more.<br/>Aucklanders and non-Aucklanders, you got to just try this place once! :-)

i ordered a syphon coffee coffee, the barista did not clean the filter, it tasted not good . <br/><br/><br/><br/>i dont think i will come back for its coffee .

Black&Gold's coffee is second to none in Albany if not North Shore, the freshly squizzed vegetables/fruit juices, freshly made cabinet sandwiches and deserts, you can taste the freshness! And the gourmet dishes from the chef's menu (all I have tried!).. just to name a few that make us keep on coming back! airy yet warm atmosphere, caring & friendly services, such a enjoyable dining experience, perfect place for your morning coffee fix or business lunch, this cafe surely will impress!

This place makes me so happy - the cabinet food is on point (especially a fan of the Louise, Caramel slice and Brownie), so friendly, and they have the best selection of Magazines I have ever encountered - they even have several Frankie Mags. It shows that they do not skimp on things, also the slices are all GF free which is handy.

What a find!! Superb coffee and AMAZING food. As an avid cafe goer it's extremely rare to find such a one stop shop. They have a seriously exciting menu and great service, and it's definitely refreshing to find such high quality for your money. Nothing compares on the shore and it's a must try!!

Wonderfully friendly service and scrumptious food! Perfect place to catch up and have a long yarn with friends in an arty, creative atmosphere. There were also many others who were sitting in the cafe content to do their work alone while drinking coffee. Very impressed. Will be back!

Black &amp; Gold has become a local lunch spot for my colleagues and I, the service is great and the food is delicious. Their toasted sandwiches are to die for, full of fresh, mouth-watering ingredients (today I had halloumi, mushroom, tomato &amp; rocket). The sandwich combinations seem to change each time I’m there, which is great for a small café. I have tried a few of their desserts too, all of which have been really yummy. The café itself is quite rustic and the setup is really on trend – something you would expect in Ponsonby or the city, a welcome change to Albany! Black &amp; Gold Eatery has clearly become a fast favourite with most companies in the Rosedale/Albany area, the place is always packed with customers (always a good sign ).

Finally managed to check out this place after spying it while driving past one day. fantastic food, coffee and atmosphere. About time Albany got a trendy cafe and one that supports free range and the environment! just a shame you guys aren't open on weekends as we would haunt you every weekend I supect! x

Been back here a few time since discovered them few weeks back. Definitely one of the best in Albany if not the whole north shore.<br/><br/><br/>Location 3.5/5<br/><br/>Kind of in the middle of no where unless you work or live around the Rosedale/Albany area. In saying that, we live just up in Albany height, so good local cafe for us and it is close to motorway. Plenty of car parks right outside the cafe, except for couple times when we arrive at lunch time where the car park is busy and we have to wait a bit. <br/><br/><br/>Environment 4/5<br/><br/>Very bright but still cosy cafe. From outdoor seating to communal table, they have covered all arrays of cafe seating arrangements except sofa which we are not fond of anyway. Lots of recycle, up cycle and reused material around the cafe. Clean and tidy, however packed with personality and interesting collections of gadgets. Lots of good reading materials available. The only downside is when it get ready busy, it can be a bit noisy especially with kids running around.<br/><br/><br/>Food 4/5<br/><br/>I have been here and had varies of baking, sandwiches and tried couple of their menu food. I think they have put a lot of effort to keeping everything fresh, interesting and use quality ingredients. Hats of to them as this is rare in the cafes in north shore. My favourites so far has been, pulled pork sandwiches, cinnamon scone and their soup of the day. It is a hard choice for me every times that I have been here. ( so much goodies to choose from!)<br/>There is one small thing which I think they could work on which is consistency of their product, don't get me wrong, every time it has been good, if not excellent, but sometimes the ingredients changes without any notice. But hey, I am really just picking bones here.<br/><br/><br/>Drinks 4.5/5<br/><br/>Coffee is the REALLY good and consistent. I had both the guy and the other girl making me coffee, they are both really on their game. They do really interesting things with their coffee, such as cold brew and filter. I have yet to try their cold brew, but I have seem others drinking it and raving about it.<br/>Couple of my friends had smoothies and juices at different occasion, both very refreshing and tasting. Apparently they make everything fresh from scratch. So every now and then my friends says they have to wait a bit longer for juices especially, but they said it is worth the wait!<br/><br/><br/>Service 4/5<br/><br/>Friendly, attentive and very professional. This really reminds me of the cafes in Melbourne, table service, water upon arrival, the whole works. Very casual and easy going most time, but the Asian guy who I think is the owner can be a bit intense sometimes. Still pleasant, just intense.... As he thinks that we can be looked after better.... Really? I don't know what else he can do to look after us better most times. <br/><br/><br/><br/>Overall 4/5<br/><br/>I have been here a few times by myself and with friends. I think it will be fair to say, based on our experience here, this cafe has some serious potential to become the one of the very best in north shore. I mean they only been opened for a short time and already doing such a good job. It is only a matter of time, before I have to wait to get a table here. <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Maybe, I shouldn't write such a review to reveal this secret spot.

The North Shore was screaming out for a new trendy cafe and Black &amp; Gold has hit all the marks. A bright, inviting interior, cheery staff and gorgeous cabinet offerings are just some of the highlights. Their coffee is to die for, both the owners are known for being top notch baristas &amp; coffee connoisseurs. There is a current selection of newspapers and magazines to enjoy while you wait for your order which I always see as a nice touch. There is easy parking right outside the door which makes it an ideal spot to drop in for your daily caffeine fix. I am definitely looking forward to trying out more of their menu &amp; spreading the word to my coffee loving friends!

I popped in to try this cafe's coffee as I had heard that their coffee was particularly nice. The coffee wasn't bad. The sugar served was in the form of soft brown sugar which was labelled coconut blossom sugar or something to that effect.<br/>I had a marshmallow bite which was overpriced at $3.00 for a mere mouthful. The marshmallow tasted like rubber and the base just fell away which was impossible to eat.