Review Wild Bean Cafe - Auckland Central

These guys did an awesome ice chocolate & went the extra mile chucking on cream, with no extra charge👌

The staff make better soy cappuccinos as compared to any McCafe.

Great coffee for those on the go! Friendly staff too. Nice local service station.

Just popped in to fill up the car on our way home to Tauranga...

Just filled up with gas, but very pleasant local service station.

They were friendly and helpful. I was happy with the service I received.

Convenient and up to usual standards.

The best ☕

👍

Waited over half an hour for a salad, breakfast meals and a wagyu beef burger. My friend changed the bread from multi grain to ciabatta to which they forgot. The house lemonade differs from the other Melbas (normally old fashioned freshly squeezed lemonade) came out like a flavourless sprite even though it's listed under juice. Wagyu burger - Beef was way overcooked, egg was broken and overcooked. Burger and lemonade cost $28 which definitely wasn't worth it. Would definitely recommend the Manukau and Hillsborough branch over this one. Others said their food tasted ok, but not worth the money.

Had a delicious light brunch at Melba where I had my favourite salmon hash with scrambled eggs and fried hash browns 😋 the 🥚were creamy and smooth which was the perfect compliment to the hash browns 👌🏼 Although the salmon hash itself wasn't flavoursome, they have a delicious tangy sauce along with a lemon wedge to freshen and lighten the dish. It's a cute and comfortable cafe perfect for a family brekkie or a catch up date with a friend!

Polite and amazing staff, great food. Went for breakfast and tried their Melba grill, Eggs benedict and not to forget their super amazing coffee.. its my husband’s go to cafe for the best coffee in Ellerslie..

Great service and friendly wait staff. I loved that the drinks were served piping hot. So hot I had to wait a bit to drink it.<br/><br/>The food is nicely presented and the poached eggs were nice and runny in the middle. The kids pizza had ample toppings and was nice and cheesy.

The Waffles Delux, Melba Grill and Arancini Balls were all very good meals. Good size portions and we all left very full. It was very crowded and difficult to get in and out of table seating. Nearly knocked into waiting staff twice. If you don't mind a crowded space Melba delivers on the food.

Good food! Those chicken waffles were definitely something worth coming back for. Only setback for me is the place is a bit crowded, tables were placed too close to each other.

Melba has delicious food, and great customer service and ambience. My favourite is the chicken sandwich, always tasty and filling. Recommend visiting

Very good cafe to visit in ellerslie. Always packed and busy. Very friendly staff. Never had to wait for food or drinks for long. Their waffles and eggs benedict are truly awesome.

whenever I’m craving for Fried Chicken Waffles, Melba is my go-to! However recently the batter has been rather doughy and undercooked, I hope they cook it slightly longer to have that crispy outside and soft insides

I had brunch here. Was good:) had the black bun burger and salmon and mashed potato(?) . Very busy cafe but still great service. Coffee was nice:)

Really enjoyed brunch here with my mum last week the wait staff for super friendly and my eggs were cooked really well! Will be back next time I’m in the area ☺️

Not the best breakfast experience. 5 minutes after taking the order the waitress informed us the soft- boiled egg for my son will take 20 minutes. Not sure what was that about. Place was hardly half full. <br/>I don't eat egg so I wanted to swap the egg to a hash brown in my order. Sounds like a simple thing to do, but It was not possible, so ordered nothing. <br/><br/>If I was the owner I would spend some time looking at the day to day operation, and how staff handle simple requirements. Not the first time I've been here but won't be back again. I hope my feedback helps<br/>

Great cafe food, consistently good coffee. Definitely the best cafe on strip of ellerslie shops! Tends to get quite busy in the weekends though, and the cafe can get a bit hot in summer.

I like all Melba restaurants. This one too. I think the environment is very nice. I like to take my family to eat here for breakfast. <br/><br/>Service: 4/5<br/>Presentation: 4/5<br/>Environment: 4/5<br/>Food Quality: 4/5<br/>Food Quantity: 3.5/5<br/>Price per person: $20-$25

Awesome place for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Great service, nice atmosphere, not too noisy and good room between tables, unlike some other cafes where they cram you in and you keep getting bumped whilst trying to eat. Will be back

Atmosphere was lovely and so was the staff but we ended up waiting for our eggs benedict for 30-35 min... There was also room for improvement in food presentation, since it wasn’t nearly as good as it looks on the photos.

So so so yummy 😁 I ate it all and was so full I had to roll home 😂 very yummy and fast service, lots to pick from aswell on the menu. Bathroom was just a bit nasty only complaint.

Good food and nice staff ! I’d recommend that they add an extra egg to their avocado smash though. It’s 2 pieces of large toast, great avocado and feta but only one small egg! Other than that, will be coming back again for sure

RACISM WARNING. READ BELOW<br/>This is what happens when one of you isnt a white European.<br/><br/>Strange place. Arrived at 230pm. Told must sit at a 2 person table. Kitchen closes at 3pm. Place is almost empty.<br/><br/>Can't sit beside each other and table split. Absolutely irrational thinking.<br/><br/>Latte blend very average. Almost watery<br/><br/>Really weird. 2 people arrived 6 mins later and allowed to sit at a dual seat. (EDITED) the 2 lovely euro ladies received their meal even before us. Crazy. Maybe they are special??? Seems not so. Obvioisly there is definate radial profiling here.<br/><br/>I'm picking this is just racism at its best. Congrats Melba on becoming a racist segragist place.<br/><br/>2 meals order. Chicken salad no avo. Turns up with avo. Sent back to kitchen<br/>Butty per picture . Bacon undercooked<br/><br/>Update.<br/>2 euro ladies to our right. Approached 2 times asking all ok.<br/>1 euro guy to our left approached 2 times asking all ok.<br/>Us... nothing<br/><br/>I have never seen deliberate racism and bias ever in NZ. The human rights commission needs to investigate racial and probable sexual profiling here. MELBA is an embarrassment to NZ.<br/><br/>SUMMARY<br/><br/>Food ok. Bacon definately undercooked. Hash browns taste deepfrozen<br/>Coffee needs work.<br/>Customer service staff need intense training and possible company intervention. Absolutely abhorrent profiling. Or maybe they want only a "whitey" cafe.<br/><br/>Examples of 2 x euro people allowed to sit at dual tables here to our left and right. Right one just arrived.<br/><br/>

I would have given this cafe a solid 3 star rating but they played gangnam style and it really dragged the whole experience down. Food was very average.

Nice ambience and good service. The almond croissant was quite nice, but I was not a fan of the soft, chewy texture - I like my almond croissants crispy on the outside. The fish taco was really nice, the fish texture was soft, the salsa, avo and salad all paired nicely. The little pineapple on the side actually surprised me too with it’s soft and not too sour juiciness. I also liked the corn chips on the side for a nice crunch. I finished with a tiramisu cake, which was also really delicious. The sponge was soft and it was a nice flavour, but I do feel the tiramisu flavour could be a bit stronger. The menu items are a little on the pricey side but their cabinet food are at quite a reasonable price, and I think it’s definitely worth it, I highly recommend and will most definitely be going back in future.

Service is friendly and coffee is ok. But the food isn't anything to rave about. Bread looked like it was from the supermarket - cheap wholemeal sliced bread. Hash browns were out of a frozen packet. Poached eggs were precooked and reheated so weren't runny. The mushrooms were just fried and slapped on the plate. I could have cooked this at home. The coffee was average but drinkable. Seriously this isn't acceptable for the prices. Put some imagination into your menu and cook something that's worth paying for. Maybe make your own hash browns and put some effort into the menu.<br/><br/>Stay at home people and cook your own breakfast. It'll probably be the same or better.

Coffee quite average today 3/5! Kids enjoyed their gingerbread cookie & cinnamon roll which was more like a small loaf! Service friendly enough!

Delicious coffee, and the fried chicken waffles were absolutely phenomenal. The staff were lovely, and attentive. Will be back again for sure.

Great cafe, always busy for lunch which can only mean the food and coffee is great, good local place for brunch. Friendly staff, plenty of seating indoors and some tables outside.

Excellent customer service, friendly and attentive staff and delicious food. We ordered the Creamy Mixed Mushrooms, Melba Grill, iced coffee and berry smoothies. The poached eggs were cooked perfectly. The bacon was tender and the mushrooms were all well-seasoned. The coffee and smoothies were refreshing and good. This place can be really busy but the staff are still happy to serve the customers. We will definitely go back.

Love coming here for my eggs benedict fix.  I've never had overcooked eggs, the bacon tastes like real bacon and the sauce is perfect.  It's always busy but the staff are always friendly and helpful.

This place is amazing!! When we arrived, we were so quick to be seated and served. I had the smashed avocado and it was TO DIE FOR!! 😍 It was the best avo on toast I’ve ever had! The melted Brie was an especially nice touch. The omelette my partner had was also delicious! The only let down was one waiter serving us was a little bit rude, but the other one was lovely! Definitely coming again

Absolutely love Melba! It's a local and the only cafe that I've had consistently great service at. The food and coffee is really good and the coffee has always been made in only a couple of minutes.  We always go in, no matter how busy and are served well and in a timely manner. My favourite cafe in Ellerslie and probably in Auckland

Just had an awful experience!<br/><br/>Waited 45 minutes for food, which can be understandable, but staff completely ignored us to the point of being rude.<br/><br/>Had to ask for someone to take our order and again to get table cleaned. When my partner went to ask how long the wait for food would be (after 30+ minutes) she got waved away.<br/><br/>When the food finally came there was no apology, food just dumped on the table. When I mentioned that an apology would be nice, the manager said it wasn't his problem, they were busy. Then when paying, again no thank you or apology, just a hand out for money.<br/><br/>I've worked in customer service all my life - this was as bad as I have ever seen!<br/><br/>Such a pity as the food is normally good and I've always enjoyed going here in the past.

First and foremost the service here is second to none - the staff are very friendly and go to the lengths of getting to know you at a personal level so it's nice to be greeted by name and be asked how the family is doing on return visits so well done for making a personal connection and making us feel welcome.<br/><br/>Now the food is also quite good. They use good healthy (and in some cases) fully organic ingredients and it's always made consistently. We have done both dine-in and takeout and the food has been consistent every time.<br/><br/>The only caveat is that the food prices are a little on the high side for a coffee shop and you feel you've gone fine dining which does make it hard to be a regular, but it's not too bad. Overall highly recommended if you want to treat yourself.

We has the mushroom, grilled vegie salad and the squid. The place was packed out and buzzing which are good signs. Good selection of cabinet food. I did find the squid very oily and need more flavour.<br/>My dining companions did enjoy their meals.

Great atmosphere! Loved the food and service was good. Took a while to get what we want but understandable since it was super busy lol.<br/>Thanks!

Take it or leave it, but she does the job in an emergency. Falafel wrap: Fairly tasty, but the salad inside not that suitable for toasting. Coffee: That'd be a no. Somehow an unlucky mix of both bitter and weak. Unless they have a tier 2 barista on in the late afternoon and it was just bad timing, I'd give the java a mix tbh.

Nice and cozy for a friendly lunch. Had S.E.B however the bagel is not quite fresh to taste.<br/> Enjoy the cafe and mushroom FILO. Sometimes you have to raise your voice to be heard:)<br/>A bit packed during lunch hours, a great favour by the local. A stop-over for a coffee sip. <br/>Cozy and simple Cafe.

This is a delightful cafe with an ambience that belies its location.  Plenty of spots for a quiet meeting or alternatively for a more prominent vista.  A pleasing buzz throughout.  A nice range of treats to go with whatever one might choose to drink.  The coffees were quite acceptable but this is not a tea drinkers location.  The choice on offer would be greatly improved by the addition of a good range of quality varieties and infusions. Nevertheless, a nice place to try.

Went here for lunch on a Saturday, was extremely packed but what can you expect for a Saturday. <br/>The atmosphere was good so were the staff <br/>The food was delicious & the presentation was spot on #instaworthy 😃 <br/>Would definitely recommend!!?

There's a reason why Melba is always busy and the cafes in ellerslie are not. Their food is delicious and good value. I love their smashed avo 😍😍😍It comes with a generous portion of avocado on a delicious brie melted on sourdough.

Very busy cafe how staff are friendly and attentive, quick to get us seated and take our orders. Food comes in good portion sizes, however my Iced coffee was super thick and creamy (perhaps would be better without powder).

I came here and tried the Buttie and Eggs Benedict.<br/>The Buttie was really good and tasty! and the Eggs benedict was pretty good too! <br/>But it was kinda pricey. I mean a $17.5 Eggs Benedict is kinda eggpensive u kno??

nice food. bad service.<br/> I went here with my friend. some waiters are not friendly. My friend asked ketchup. The waiter gave us a big bottle of ketchup. And the ketchup spilled anywhere. But no stuff came and clean table. So we clean by ourself. <br/>we feel disspointated. <br/>Anyway the food is tasty especially the pork burger. <br/>But I ordered one egg Benney but the egg were firmed not runny. Luckily the waiter helped me change it.

Busy cafe. Coffee came out really quick and hot and the food was not long after. Enjoyed the atmosphere and the staff were really attentive. Had an omelette which was a little overcooked and a bit underseasoned but not much else wrong. Will try again

We went here this morning for a work breakfast there was 16 of us.  The service was fantastic, friendly and efficient.  It can be a big ask to cater for a group this big in the morning, however they did a great job.  The food was delicious and everyone commented how much they enjoyed it.  We will come here again when we need to do a big breakfast like this.  Smashed Avocado was a particular highlight!

Went with a work group of 12 people. Ordered drinks and they trickled out. I got a chocolate mint milkshake that tasted like only mint. The breakfast was pretty good. But would not recommend their cupcakes. Those were a 1/5. Would come back for the brekky though

Had lunch at Melba today with a friend and we both agreed the menu was hard to choose from...everything sounded so delicious! <br/>My friend had the corn fritters which were light and fluffy and scrumptious. I had the honey glazed chicken salad and OMG wonderful perfect combination of flavored.<br/>The service was great too, despite being very busy. Well done, we'll both be back regularly!

I've been to Cafe Melba' twice on occasion now and I am in love with this place. The food is absolutely amazing, the customer service delivered by staff is great. The cafe presents a light free atmosphere. I definitely would recommend this place to anybody and everybody.

The food is amazing and we'll priced. The orange juice has pulp in it though and it quite cramped. The staff are friendly and mostly attentive.<br/><br/>I asked for avocado instead of mayo and pineapple in my chicken sandwhich. Not sure what happened but when it came out the avocado was randomly on the side. Wasn't sure what they expected me to do with it on the side but I just ate it as I went. <br/><br/>Chip portions could be increased as there seemed to be a limited supply.<br/><br/>Definitely recommend though.

I just felt the need to write this review due to their friendly service and superb food!<br/><br/>The best and friendly service every time i visit this place. All staffs make you feel welcomed and looked after even at busy times. <br/>The food is just superb as well. Good quality and fresh ingredients. <br/>Just looove this place!!<br/>

Always awesome food and great coffee. I love that even in the off season the avo on toast is smothered in ripe avocado - yum!! Only down side is trying to find a table on a weekend morning as this place packs out pretty quickly. <br/><br/>Top tip: if you can, avoid the little table next to the pole near the entrance, unless you particularly fancy being knocked into by wait staff and other patrons...

Had brunch here for the first time today. Recommended by my partners work colleague but we both really love Melba-Manukau so we were keen to make a special trip. <br/>Parking is ok but recommend you park in a side street(Arthur Street) just a short walk across the road.<br/>Lucky to get a table for 2 it was really busy. Very cramped and tables are too close together! If you brush patrons as you are being seated - it's too cramped let alone what it is like for wait staff😳<br/>We were greeted and seated by a very friendly staff member and he promptly took our order. Must say GREAT menu on offer and prices are on par with other cafes.<br/>My partner had the big grill and latte. Quality ingredients , perfect poached eggs and toast on the served on the side. Latte in a takeaway cup(he detests the bowl/glass) awesome coffee👍🏽<br/>I had the Fish Tacos and Flat white. Awesome, beautifully cooked fresh fish , good presentation and lots of flavour especially enjoyed the grilled pineapple as well.Flat white was great!😀<br/>We would not make a special trip here again only because it's too cramped but if your in the area it's great!

Decided to lunch here after hearing some good things, the food here is good.<br/><br/>We ordered a Melba Grill, Corn Fritters, and the Buttie. Decent portions and food came out all together which was great! Very nice presentation. Bacon cooked to perfection, I love the onion chutney that came with the Melba Grill. The Buttie was rather plain in my opinion, but still good, I really love a sandwich that has a hash brown in it!<br/><br/> The corn fritter were a bit of a let down, not much corn and it was more a pancake. However went well with the guacamole and sour cream on the side and salad. <br/><br/>I don't personally drink coffee but the mochaccino that was ordered wasn't very nice, such a big bowl for a decent price!<br/><br/>Staff are great, friendly and attentive. I'd recommend to come if you're looking for a bit to eat.

Melba is a nice cafe. Always busy. Foods great. Only peev is the fact the eggs benny doesnt come on a bagel or muffin. But thats just me. Very consistent, foods always the same and the service is top notch. Do try to get a table here before going anywhere else in ellerslie

Selection of Sunday brunch (chicken fettucine, big brekkie, steak&mushroom open sandwich with banana smoothie and mocha). Food is good, fast and price is the usual cafe price $20s for food, $5s for drinks. Place can get cramped in busy times, not much space to move around. Other than that, one of the better cafe in Ellerslie village, convenient place to catch up with friends and family.

Been to this melba twice and all i can say is average 3, nothing too horrible or too amazing about melba. I wouldn't suggest the coffees here, it taste very watered down- as in it tasted way too milky. I tried both the hot cuppuccino and the iced mocha and they both had the same problem. The mains are quite nice and in good generous portions, i would suggest the smashed avocado! Avocados are a winner in melba :)

I used to visit Melba very regularly when I worked in the area, & decided to try it again while I was passing through.<br/>Melba in Ellerslie is in a great location - quite central, close to the motorways, & with lots of free parking. It was humming when I visited as it always seem to so you may need to plan your visit. Having said that though the service & kitchen seem to have such great teamwork that you are not left waiting long for meals & drinks even when they are busy.<br/>You can see why Melba is popular - friendly staff who provide great service, a good menu as well as cabinet items. Good selection of papers & seating inside & out.<br/>Today I had a latte which was really nicely made & promptly delivered - no bitterness or sugar required.<br/>In need of a small meal today I had a toasted bagel with preserves. Now as a bagel lover, I can confidently say that not all bagels are created equal. Some are thick & stodgy, whereas others are so thin they go dry & hard when toasted. Melbas are just right - made so well by the baker, fresh & toasted well too. Sesame seeds on the top add a nice texture & flavour.<br/>Good to see other dishes coming out from the menu with great comments from those around me. <br/>Can't wait to visit again - always good to try an old favourite & find they're still going from strength to strength.

Service and food consistently on a high level. Fresh made dishes accomponied by free infused water. Had the vegetarian grill plate and the creamy mushroom fettuccine and both are absolutely perfect and exactly as expected. Overall high quality cafe food. Service is always friendly even with some of my extra wishes which sometimes seem complicated. I am here 1-2 times a week for my lunch break.

Busy cafe on the Main Street of Ellerslie. Food and coffee ok, nothing spectacular. Free wifi. Service could be improved. Would I go again? Probably but only out of convenience.

Our waiter was really confused and kept forgetting our order. The coffee was average. Had the cabinet food which was ok. I wouldn't make an effort to come here again

If your wanting some good cafe food in Ellersile then I'd recommend Cafe Melba. During our busy lunch time visit the service was very good, our waitress was really clued up on the menu and gave us some good recommendations. <br/><br/>The Egg Benedict with mushrooms was nicely balanced and well portioned. I thought the hollandaise sauce was done really well. The Smashed Avocado is perfect for those that love avos, and it has some nice extra elements to lift the standard avo on toast.<br/><br/>This cafe has a lot to offer on both the breakfast and lunch menu so would pop back again when in the area.

Was nearby during lunch and came across this busy cafe Melba. I have had a good experience dining in cafe melba in manukau so me and my bf decided to try the ellerslie branch. <br/>I ordered an ice coffe and melba grill, my bf got the supreme chicken burger. He really enjoyed the burger. The chicken pieces was still juicy and the periperi was just right. The melba grill was very good too however i just wish the bacon was a little bit more crispy. <br/>The service in cafe melba ellerslie is perfect. Everyone was just so friendly and helpful.

Come here quite often for brunch. It has always been busy but we are given a seat swiftly. The Melba Grill hits all the spots with a bit of everything. Bacon, Eggs, hash brown, tomato and toast. The Salmon Benedict is one of my partners favourites.<br/><br/>Last time I asked for scrambled eggs and bacon. The scrambled eggs were perfect and not over done so it was creamy and moist<br/><br/>My flat mate loves their spirulina and always wants to go back just for that reason.<br/><br/>The only dish I wasn't completely satisfied with was the Mince on toast as it had a strong tomato base and was a bit dry. Then again there is many interpretations of mince on toast and it is a good old kiwi dish that I have been raised on. Nothing is going to beat how grandma use to make it

Super friendly and helpful service. The waitress recommended me the honey and garlic chicken salad which was so delicious! Everything on the plate went well together, the chicken tasted great and the portion of the meal was a good size.<br/><br/>The other got the creamy mushrooms which was pretty average not much of a highlight .

Probably my favourite cafe in Auckland. Menu offers a variety of healthy, organic, vegetarian, hearty and sweet meals or treats. Staff are always cheerful and create an inviting environment.<br/>Prices are a bit high but for very good portions and I always believe in paying good money for good food and this place is definitely worth it.<br/>Love love love going on brunch dates there and I think they're starting to recognise me as a regular 😄<br/>

Nice cafe in the middle of Ellerslie Town to have brunch at. Plenty of seating, but gives off a rather dim atmosphere inside. <br/><br/>The service is great, we've had no trouble with that.<br/><br/>The food is decent, but pricing is probably a bit on the higher end of things. Their menu is priced like your average cafe, but unfortunately the food isn't memorable.

I have tried the salmon eggs bennadict and the French toast and I enjoyed them both. During the weekend it's very busy however it's worth it. Great coffee.

Always busy and for a good reason!<br/>Great place for lunch or catch up. (It's our local).<br/>The meals are a good size for $$ and do not disappoint

This place is always busy, and the staff are very well trained. The table service is a nice plus. However, the food is consistently disappointing - never as tasty as you are expecting from the menu description. The coffee is excellent.

Had lunch here yesterday with my partner & Daughter. It was divine! I always get something sweet & something savoury so I ordered the French toast and the Eggs Bene, my daughter got the waffles from the kids menu & my partner ordered the Pulled Pork Sandwich. All the portions were a generous size for the price, especially the children's waffles. Everything was absolutely delish, especially the French toast, which my partner normally isn't a fan of, though this time he commented that it was "yum as" lol.<br/><br/>I'd also like to particularly thank the waitress who was very attentive to us and moved us from an outside table to a table inside once one was available. Awesome customer service, during what seemed like a very busy day.<br/><br/>Will most definately be back :)

We'd been here before a year ago, not sure why we hadn't been back recently but we certainly will be back soon!!!<br/><br/>It is a real novelty finding a cafe that takes your order at the table and actually provides service. They took our orders quickly and delivers the coffees and food quickly as well. <br/><br/>This place was packed - even though the two cafes nearby were virtually empty. <br/><br/>The food was fairly standard cafe food and was very tasty. The cabinet food also looks great. Coffee was great, and the kids hot chocolate was just the right temperature.

Visited with 1 hungry teen and 3 adults on the weekend. Arrived at 11am and it was very busy, be early here if you can as seating is tight and limited. We moved to a bigger table as the one we were originally seated at could not fit 4 adults. Eggs bene was good, smashed avocado not bad - ciabatta a little on the crunchy side, teen's squid was amazing and my creamed mushrooms with poached egg delicious. Portions not huge but that may just be the choices we had? Coffee's were perfect, smoothie interesting - teens word which she quite liked. Overall 8/10 for lunch, just go early and be aware the acoustics are horrid, concrete floors are not good with noise levels in busy cafes! Will go back again. Enjoy

Came here for<br/>A Sunday coffee. Was super busy. <br/>Was fast service nice and cosy On a winters day :-)<br/>We will def be back when in the area <br/>The eggs were cooked to perfection

Very good food and coffee. Though waiters seem bit confused well it was busy Sunday lunch so understandable. Throughly enjoyed everything but the chicken wrap with mango. Food was simple yet classy and presented very nicely. Will be back for sure!

Nice and warm atmosphere plus a great friendly service. Coffee is good but not prefect. Didn't try their food as had a bowl of flat white, Savoury muffin and caramel slice and everything was delicious.

Amazing food, great service! Would totally recommend for Sunday brunch. I had the smashed avocado and it was amazing! On a side note, I have been here a few times at the staff seem very stable and this really helps with staying calm and still giving great service when it's really busy.

Love this place, it is my favorite weekday morning coffee stop, it is always bustling, but you never have to wait long for your takeaway or have in coffee,  the staff seem to be well in sync and are friendly, I have had many things from the cabinet over my time visiting, my faves are the almond crossiant's they are the best I have found in Auckland.<br/><br/>This is always high on my list of places  to go for special weekend brunches as they have something for everyone. Their waffles are mouthwatering and have the right amount of crunchy outside action to go with the fluffy inside.

Great busy cafe... Plenty of seats ... Great selection on the menu... Must try.... Haven't been back for awhile as parking etc is a pain but the food kept bringing me back although I did keep ordering the same thing each time! The pulled pork is just yummy!! Service is great.

Brunch on the weekend in Auckland requires delicious food, good service, and a pleasant atmosphere. Cafe Melba in Ellerslie has all three of these things. We were seated immediately and the service was quick. We had drinks and meals ordered within 15 minutes and they were very quick to come out from the kitchen. <br/><br/>We ordered the French toast and the Melba Grill, and both meals were delicious. The French toast had the perfect additions of bacon, pear and berries, with a jug of maple syrup on the side (I hate it when the maple syrup overpowers everything else on the plate). I really enjoyed my experience, and can recommend this cafe for a great weekend brunch.

FIRST IMPRESSION: Busy but standard looking.<br/>SECOND IMPRESSION: Same.<br/>SEATING: Got the last seat for two in the corner after being rushed in by a laden waitress carrying breakfasts.<br/>ORDERING: Got asked for our order by two different waitresses four times. Got a bit annoying considering we'd only been there for 4m 33s. Coffee and food turned up in another 6m 2s. Pretty snappy considering how busy they were.<br/>COFFEE: The macchiato was actually made properly (two espressos and a 'stain' of milk) and was brewed well. I'm not a connoisseur of chai lattes but the sip I had tasted pretty good.<br/>FOOD: The cabinet food was baked in the cafe and it was incredibly fresh and delicious. This is rare.<br/>PAYMENT: No problems<br/><br/>OVERALL: Nothing flash but by no means bad. Ok coffee, ok food, ok service.

I havent read the reviews preceding my review but id be surprised if any were really bad. They just seem to have everything working to a consistently high standard. Kitchen does a phenomenal job with good appealing food on both breakfast and lunch menus. (Note the menu loaded on Zomato seems out of date and didn't include the all day lunch menu); getting a table at peak times can be difficult not only weekends but work days also. The range of food is limited but in a good way as dishes are prepared quickly and filling for busy people which helps the table turnover during busy times.<br/>Pictured are the salmon Hash and the corn fritters with bacon. I was disappointed with my salmon hash as I optimistically expected slices of salmon as you'd find in their outstanding eggs benedict dish. No the hash is a mash. Ie mashed potato with salmon and at a guess a light cheese mixed in. It came with a poached runny egg with a little too much hollandaise. Great taste but to me it felt like a side to a nice lamb shank or pan fried salmon steak. No surprise I was still hungry.<br/>To the rescue was fortunately the large serving my partner had of corn fritters with bacon as an extra (for $2). This was served with soured cream. As I said dishes are simple yet complete..except when it came to Salmon mash. Corn fritters 8/10 & salmon hash 6/10 due to size of serving.<br/>If in Ellerslie try melba's eggs benedict with Salmon (or bacon).

Been going here for years with my partner. Food is generally pretty good and they are ridiculously busy on the weekends but my last few experiences weren't amazing, my last time being when I found plastic in my eggs and the server made me feel as if I was making it up. Coffee is decent for Ellerslie but I find I've had more than a couple burnt coffees. It's a bit of a mixed bag at Melba.

I've been frequenting Melba for almost 10 years. The food is good, the service is friendly and the coffee is excellent. And I keep coming back!

Theres always nice food, service and atmosphere whenever we have been there. Love the corn fritters especially! Coffee is always nice and strong too

the service we received at cafe melba was absolutely amazing. the woman serving us was super friendly towards us and our bichon x shih tzu puppy and even though all of the outdoor tables were occupied, she still was really helpful and managed to seat all of us (which was quite tricky considering there was 5 of us as well as our dog).<br/><br/>the coffee here is as good as everyone says. personally im not a big fan of coffee myself but the mochaccino ($5) was really good and not overly sweet/bitter. im dying to try the belgium hot chocolate next time.<br/><br/>the french toast ($16.70) here was to die for - two generous slabs of fluffy, warm and buttery brioche served with berry sauce, poached pear, crispy bacon and maple syrup and cream on the side of course. the servings at cafe melba are absolutely huge and they are super generous with their ingredients - but the french toast was so delicious i managed to squeeze every last bit into my stomach. i would definitely say this is now my favourite place to get french toast in auckland - the dish was almost absolutely perfect except the maple syrup was too strong for my liking but other than that, my french toast was perfection. i would definitely come back here and order this again because it was just that good.<br/><br/>my parents tried the eggs benedict here and they said it was good but it definitely doesnt compare to lorne street cafes eggs bene. so if you decide to come here, skip the eggs benedict and go for the french toast - you wont regret it.<br/><br/>mochaccino 8/10<br/>french toast 9.5/10

My first encounter with the Cafe Melba franchise was with its original hole-in-the-wall Vulcan Lane establishment in the CBD. The place was tiny, and (AFAIK) it had no toilets, but damn they served excellent french toast, and my partner was a fan of their Melba Grill (aka big breakfast).<br/><br/>I’ve had a bit of a brioche obsession recently, so when I found out that the Ellerslie branch served brioche french toast, AND that we were going to be in that part of the town anyway, I was a happy foodie.<br/><br/>Located on a small strip of shops near the notable Ellerslie Meats butcher, the place was packed to the brim when we arrived on a Sunday afternoon. Despite that, service was good, efficient, and friendly. There wasn’t much to be said about the ambience, and the tables were perhaps packed a little too close for comfort. But it was clean and tidy, so no complaints from me.<br/><br/>I had, of course, the brioche french toast with manuka smoked bacon, poached pear, maple syrup, whipped cream, and berry ragout. I generally prefer brioche with a flakier texture, so unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of their brioche, but aside from that minor grievance the dish was excellent. The bacon was crispy but not overdone, the egg coating generous, and the poached pear and berry ragout was a nice alternative to the traditional banana accompaniment. My partner had the fettucine with bacon, mushrooms, and onions in creamy white wine sauce, which he enjoyed, noting that the portions were generous.<br/><br/>They also serve Tea Total honeydew green tea, which happens to be one of my favourites. That pretty much cinched the deal – I will certainly return. :)

Went here with my sister who is allergic to peanuts. She ordered cabinet food that had a list of ingredients on the accompanying card - none of which normally contain peanuts so she felt safe ordering, peanuts are a very common allergen and regularly listed in foods. Unfortunately she had an allergic reaction and after I spoke to three different staff members it was discovered the hummus had peanuts in it. Staff said that she should have told them about her allergies when she entered the restaurant as peanuts are expected in hummus (?), although as it took reading the ingredients on the pot for them to realise this Im not sure it would have made a difference. We asked them to change the cabinet card as soon as possible however this hadn't been done when we left. We hope this is done as soon as possible as the likelihood of someone else having a reaction more serious is actually quite high. Before this the service had been good however.

This cafe is usually busy and is one of the most popular places to eat in Ellerslie village.  I've always found the service to be friendly and efficient.<br/>The food here is decent and their menu is large.  The last time I came here, I enjoyed the Melba Grill which was generous.  On my most recent visit, I had the smashed avocado which was quite good, although a bit more bacon would have been nice, considering that you pay a couple of extra dollars for it.<br/>The person I was with had the salmon hash, which was also pretty good, although it was more of a mash than a hash.<br/>We both had the ice chocolates and these were delicious.<br/>Cafe Melba is a local favourite because you know what to expect when you go - a busy atmosphere, pleasant staff and above average food.

I got the fettucini. A few bites in I found a hair but pulled it out and kept going. When I had finished half of it I found another hair and decided that I was through with the meal. I sent it back to the kitchen and was apologized to by wait staff. I wasn't finished with the meal but was never offered another plate. When I went to pay the bill the manager was only willing to give me 25% off the price of the fettucini. When I complained she said "well, you ate half of it" and said that all of the kitchen staff wear hair nets insinuating that I planted the hairs in the food myself. I will never go back to this restaurant. Horrible customer service by the manager.

This cafe seems like always humming with mature old people around...went this cafe few month ago n ordered basic (really basic) scrambled eggs on toast n soy latte n came out very little taste of coffee (couldn't taste coffee at all) and scrambled eggs looks like mixed with water and cooked from microwave (hope not). And bacon smell was so bad (instant cheap pork smell like)....<br/>Looks portions big (good for old people) but quality was far far low....need to step up for bit of quality I think.

Very enjoyable and easy parking

First time there, and tried the big breakfast. It was really good and so was the coffee. The service was fast and friendly and enjoyed the experience. Partner commented the toilets were in need of a make over. But overall I will be definitely going back to Cafe Melba.

I have been here more times than I can count over the past 4 years at uni, and its has always been fantastic. Staff are friendly and food is delicious. <br/>It can be a bit crowded and loud at times but that is just because it is so popular locally :)<br/>Easily my first choice when in Ellerslie.

I've been here several times and always enjoy the food and coffee. Love the salmon hash cakes, waffles and salmon scramble. This place gets really busy during lunch - but hey, the food arrives quickly - so am pleased with that.<br/><br/>Lovely customer service - friendly, attentive and helpful waitresses. Highly recommended.

Today was an off day for Melba. Although my wife declared her porridge delicious.....with brown sugar and tart stewed fruit.... and my mince on toast was delicious service was disorganised. There's plenty of staff all generally breezy.But beyond the buzz delivery of coffee and food took an unacceptable long time. I hope they work harder on reducing delivery times as the standard of their coffee and food is of the highest order. Come on Cafe Melba .....you can do better

More times than not, we've received excellent service from start to finish.<br/><br/>Very friendly efficient people.<br/><br/>The menu is consistent. Excellent fried breakfast, terrific Caesar salad. Chips a good side option. Spinach side also consistently good. <br/><br/>Drinks very well created.<br/><br/>I've eaten there so many times that I'm getting bored though. More times than not I don't recommend any item that strays from the NZ/European motif. I've tried their Asian options and it's never as good as getting it from a specialty eatery. <br/><br/>Verdict: yes, definitely a place to keep going back to.

sunday lunch was very full but service prompt and efficient.asked for crispy bacon with our meal and they specially made it crispy.always enjoy restarants that make that little bit effort to give you the food the way you would like it.

I LOVE Cafe Melba. I have been here a number of times and have always had a great experience. My favorite has got to be the Honey Garlic Chicken salad. I've also tried the lamb with cous cous &amp; corn fritters all were delicious. Coffee is also very nice.

2010 went here a few times, food wasnt up to scratch over priced for what you get, rushed orders and slack service, went back in feb 2011 to see any imporvments, none, what a waste of money. I guess that's what you get in east auckland's suburbs.

Been here several times now and each time we have been delivered with excellent friendly service. Food has always been delicious and served promptly. Coffee is one of the best around, excellent espresso and milk.

I often pop in here on my way to work. Most recently I had the French Toast - well prepared and tasty and the coffee is good as well. The staff are friendly and there is always a newspaper and seating available. This cafe does the basics very well.

Best cafe in Ellerslie. Consistently good food and coffee. My favourite is the vege eggs ben with avocado - it's so nice to find a vege option that isn't all spinach! Staff are always friendly and will happily arrange a gluten free option if necessary.

What a fantastic cafe, great staff great food and coffee. Out of the 6 cafes I have been to in Ellerslie, Cafe Melba as it is called now is know doubt the best one for service and quality.

wow what a great place, very pleasant friendly staff , that know their products well. awesome fast service at the table.<br/>they have a new baker there apparently and new things have appeared on the menu.they do the most wicked cheese scones , and my friend had a lemon passionfruit cupcake , ohhh my word it was delicious Have been there a couple of times and the service and food is always great.<br/>Somebody was telling me that if you want low fat options off the menu just mention it to the server and the chefs will make really nice heart healthy options for you, which is so good<br/>When i was there i saw some little chocolate cakes for vegans, which i thought was a nice touch

I frequented Malabar most weekends when I lived in Ellerslie. Consistant food quality and a good range to choose from. I wished for some more service sometimes but understand they work on an 'approach the counter' system.

Always a smile with the service and very accomadating to children and adults alike!<br/>The food was gorgeous, we had a carrot cupcake which was moist and divine! I would highly recomend

Close to work, my colleagues and I were frequent customers at Cafe Melba. With great food, friendly customer service and awesome coffee, I am a huge fan of this cafe which opens till late afternoon. I only stopped going on a regular basis because I'm on a tighter budget. <br/><br/>They have a delicious salmon hash that is topped with a nicely poached egg with hollandaise sauce and a salmon bagel with cream cheese and relish. <br/><br/>There menu hasn't changed much but they have a couple of specials on the blackboard if you wish to try something different!