Catroux Cafe

Been to Catroux a couple of times now and never been disappointed. They have a decent selection of cabinet food and always have delicious looking and tasting salads on offer. 

While we enjoyed our breakfast it is a small room and you are sitting right by where people queue to order food.  We started out right by the door and then moved but still felt boxed in.  However, still very nice cafe in westmere

Yes, the french toast is to die for. Neither dry nor soggy, it was just right . . . when I cut into it, syrup and marscapone just sort of . . .  melted out. Swoon. And the sprig of mint on top was a lovely touch.  The coffee was delicious too. And I wanted to try everything in the cabinet . . . especially the amazing looking sandwiches and salads. I'll definitely be coming back for lunch next time.

A friend had been raving about this place for a few weeks, saying she regularly drives across town to get lunch there during the week. Unfortunately I work in an industrial wasteland in the depths of the Shore, so a weekday lunch was out for me. But feeling the urage to try somewhere new on the weekend, a friend and I set sail for Westmere, a trip that turned out to be worth every minute. At noon on a Saturday we found it to be busy, but not so full that we couldn't score a prime table near the front; a perfect spot to peruse the medium-sized (but perfectly formed) menu. I settled on the Westmere sausage with creamed mushrooms and sauteed baby potatoes, while my friend went for the French toast. Two lovely, strong flat whites arrived within minutes of ordering them, and I promptly spilt mine over the newspaper I was reading. The helpful young chap clearing tables happily cleaned up my mess with only a small amount of teasing. Next time perhaps I should wear a bib. My sausages (plural) with mushrooms were divine - my only quibble being that the caramelised onions, which were in abundance, were a little rich for a brunch dish. The French toast was pronounced 'the best in Auckland', and this was coming from a French toast expert. The salads look divine, with some unusual combinations like strawberry and blue cheese, and the luscious-looking sweet treats will definitely have to be tasted on a future visit. With so many cafes in Auckland and new ones popping up every week, you have to be special to stand out, and I think Catroux, with it's clean white interior, its slightly adventurous and scrumptuous menu, robust coffee and friendly, slightly flirty service, is rather special indeed.

I was stuck for ideas on where to take a good friend of mine last Saturday morning for a coffee and a bite to eat. Then I remembered I'd heard about Catroux, and went to check it out.  It was wonderful. Beautifully laid out, and very inviting, with an amazing array of all sorts of savoury and sweet treats (all made from scratch in the kitchen out back). We both ordered some yummy little savoury treats and freshly squeezed juices, that were to die for.  The waiting staff were super friendly and very helpful.  I was so impressed, I'm going to be heading back this weekend to taste some of the other yummy's in the cabinet.