Brigittes Espresso Bar

In Auckland now for almost two years and we still profoundly miss this superb coffee house.  Over the years, it became our yardstick and thus far we've failed to find an Auckland equivalent to match the roast, the finish, the consistent quality produced by this almost heritage cafe.  The ambience, the service, the food and beverage, the superlative staff - our favourite for decades.  Christchurch, enjoy! Ozone Rocks!

family brunch on a sunny winter morning - brigittes invariably delivers - top notch service as we have come to expect - a flat white and a latte just stock standard/bland but the meals impressed - my salmon omelette with dill & cream cheese filling was a delight & well worth $20 - the full breakfast received commendation - the kids cinnamon pancakes thoroughly enjoyed - brigittes usually has a pleasant buzz with a mix of suits & posh but can be a real noise box when busy which can be an issue for business get-togethers...still, better that than a morgue - remains a merivale institution & well worth a visit

Came in for a hangover breakfast. Sue had the mushrooms on toast and I had the big Brigittes breakfast. Both were very good and the service was very good.
Yes, it is a bit noisy but that is part of the "cure" of a hangover breakfast.

Yet another brunch/late night option in Merivale. While it's best to make a booking, there are plenty of tables inside and out that walk-ins in small numbers (2) should be fine. We made a booking and were seated immediately at a cute little table overlooking the patio seating. The cafe is cute and no frills, but offers a full lunch menu (after 3pm, and looked amazing) and serves breakfast until 3 pm.

Our coffee orders were taken immediately and water was brought to the table. We waited for over 10 minutes for our coffee to be served (one barista making coffee for the entire restaurant = sleeping zombies grumbling at tables) and for our food order to be taken. Finally someone came to our table and we ordered pancakes (with bacon, cream and strawberries) and the Big Breakfast (tomato, mushroom, bacon, sausage, poached eggs, toast, hashbrown). The food was served much quicker. We returned for another breakfast with friends and received the same slow service for coffees, but good food.

The Pancakes: large and fluffy (looked whole wheat maybe?) slightly overcooked for my taste. Not enough syrup (and I don't even care much for syrup) but the bottom pancake was soggy with a concoction of strawberry juice and syrup. The bacon was cooked perfectly and the cream pairs well with the pancakes if you're not a big syrup person. Very filling meal. 

The Big Breakfast: The sausages were spicy for my palate, but someone with a (American) southwestern flare will love them. The bacon was cooked perfectly and the eggs were poached to perfection. I didn't try the toast, hashbrown (golden brown and crispy), tomato or mushroom as it wasn't my breakfast, but my husband cleared the plate. 

Eggs Benedict w/ Bacon: No frills. Just the eggs benedict and a small design made from (mint?) on the plate. The toast was charred, but the overall flavor was solid.

Eggs Anyway w/ Toast: Again, no frills. This was literally two eggs on top of two pieces of toast. If you have a small appetite (which I did) this is the perfect sized breakfast. The toast is buttered and was grilled perfectly, not too crispy on the edges and soft in the middle. The eggs were also cooked spot on.

Corn Fritters: Very filling. There's definitely more bread than corn or fillers, but the taste is solid. Not something I would order for myself, but if you like a little southwest flare, it's pretty decent. This dish is served with a few vegetable garnishes.

Overall, the food is slightly above average but no stand-out to the rest of the options around Papanui Road. The service could have been slightly more efficient, but with only one barista and a small service area, that would be hard to change. I won't rush back here for breakfast, but it definitely is a decent option if you want a quick and filling breakfast. I'll update again once I try out their lunch.

Great food, in a prime location. Unfortunately we seem to somehow get forgotten by the wait staff and waited over an hour between being seated until food/drinks reaching us. We watched all the tables around us having their orders taken and being served to them ... took us going to the front door for service to occur.

Good experience on a wet Sunday morning, well looked after in the conditions although we were seated outside under cover. Lovely menu although what I got wasn't what I were expecting, was nice anyway. Love to try again on a sunny 🌞 day.

This was a happy return after a year or so away. I love this place! We were there for lunch, and despite being really busy, the service was fast, friendly, and fun. Delicious food, and a really great experience.

Lovely cafe. The waiter was very patient with our group who was more focused on catching up than on looking at the menu. My salad was delicious, my son's fries were light and crispy and I believe everyone was pleased with their lunch. The terrace outside is perfect on a sunny day!

Wonderful breakfast! Went along at suggestion of a coworker, and I was very pleased. Nice cosy layout, casual & friendly staff and delicious food. I had the French Toast, but swapped the bacon for the potato stack. A VERY generous serving of French toast with blueberry compote and a tart and extraordinary lemon marscapone. The French toast also came with a dusting of Cinnamon sugar, which added that little extra complexity and joy to the dish, but if you're not a sweet tooth, you've been warned! I have to make a special mention for the potato stack. Layers and layers of crispy potato. If you love potato in any regard, you HAVE to get a side of potato stack. I promise you will not regret it. I would happily have 3 sides for a naughty breakfast or dinner! I'll be back, and with friends next time! Only downside at all was it doesn't seem the most accessible space if you're in a wheel chair or mobility scooter. Some tight spaces, tricky to get to toilets and a step at the shop entrance. Hopefully something that may change in future!