Hare and the Turtle

Overview

Eating delicious food and drinking strong coffee tends to provoke a rush of good feels. Endorphins rush through the brain, pleasure receptors light up and a smile spreads across your face. You might even involuntarily groan in pleasure. Maybe I like food a little too much, but that's how I felt sitting down for a sammy at one of Auckland's most promising new locals, Hare and the Turtle.

Find it on a street corner in New Windsor, in the space previously occupied by panini-peddlers, Sweetie. The place isn't big, but it's well set-out and the crew behind the counter are a cheerful bunch offering coffee and sandwiches with smiles and hellos. It's a casual atmosphere that lends itself to long, relaxing lunches.

There are only eight sandwiches on the menu but the old 'quality over quantity' adage definitely holds true here. The ironically named Daisy was our favourite — a buttery bun encasing juicy 20-hour-cooked beef with lashings of melted edam and pickle. The Baloney was another winner, stuffed with tender mortadella ham and melted provolone and slathered in dijon and mayo. They're simple bread, meat and sauce sarnies, but by jove they taste incredible. And a bargain for only $8-12 or $16 for the salmon on rye.

New Windsor and Avondale locals have cottoned on quickly, queuing out the door on weekends for their sanga and coffee fix.

Supreme coffee made strong, $5 cinnamon buns and a succinct but well-executed three-item breakfast menu finish off the offerings. Whether you're just nipping in to grab a bite or take it slow, you'll find that Hare and the Turtle is more than the sum of its parts. You'll probably make plans to return upon first bite.