Blind Basket

The recently opened Blind Basket Cafe sits next to Federation clothing store on Barry's Point Road in Takapuna in the same spot that used to house another cafe by the name of Laundromat. Blind Basket's vibe fits the reclaimed industrial space well. Big windows and high ceilings mean lots of natural light and a big open plan layout.

The staff were friendly as we trundled in on a sunny Thursday morning and decided that an iced coffee was the order of the day. It came out looking like a million bucks (the actual price was $7), with chocolate flakes and a decent amount of ice cream. We also did the all important flat white quality check and can confirm it was a solid 4/5, Supreme coffee beans, not too milky, not too bitter, strong enough to wake you up.

A few drinks the night before and a lack of exercise the previous couple of days made the fitness bowl ($17) seem like a legitimately viable option. It was a bloody good choice too, simple and tasty and included poached eggs, grilled haloumi, sprouts, beetroot, nuts, and pomegranate, all separated to give the option of making each mouthful a different combination. We also ordered the Japanese inspired Okonomiyaki Omelette which featured mushrooms, broccolini, tomato, okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayo and katsuobushi (flakes of fermented tuna) with the option of adding bacon, avocado, or poached eggs for a few dollars extra. Just a warning the Omelette is classed as vegetarian on the menu but is actually not, the person writing the menu must of had a mind blank in not realising that katsobushi is fermented Tuna. Other than the menu mishap the omelette was hard to fault, tastier than average with the sauce adding a surprising tangy element.

The Japanese theme continued as there were some rather fancy pieces of sushi in the cabinet as well as your standard cafe cabinet food, there was also a large drinks menu that included kombucha, smoothies, and the like. We didn't have the time or money to try anything from the lunch menu but it features a similarly creative mix of Kiwi cafe fare with touches of Japan.

Its a nice addition to a road that has historically been known as a place to get your car fixed, buy a new surfboard, or test drive a motorbike.