Amidst Wellington's highbrow haunts, it's refreshing to discover an eatery that serves up pure fun. That's Goldie, a cheap and cheerful new spot that deals in grammable bites and delights. Taking over the cute wee space which formerly housed Cafe Panama, Goldie Milk Bar & Eatery is a playful addition to the trail of tasty joints that have cropped up along this stretch of Taranaki Street. When you walk into Goldie you know you're in for a good time. Greeted by a giant neon Lucky Cat and an over-sized bunny with a ciggy, it's obvious that Goldie doesn't take itself too seriously. It's colourful, quirky and a little bit cheeky. Goldie offers a fun fusion of popular Asian eats and sweets. The menu comprises light bites, drinks and desserts, making it a top notch choice for a daytime date, pre-show snack or an after dinner treat. Most menu items are priced under a tenner, so it's friendly on the pocket too. Bubble tea ($6) is the house specialty, with milky, fruit or brewed versions on offer in a range of flavours including crème brûlée, oolong and apple. You can choose your sweetness level and add extra toppings or foam if that floats your boat. If jelly balls are not your jam, slurp on shakes, sodas and spiders, or get a caffeine fix with Good Fortune coffee. On the food front, sweets reign supreme. Grab a soft serve or go big with a bubble waffle cone. A what you say? It's an OTT ice cream wrapped in a bulging waffle. The Matcha Oppa ($9.50) is a crowd-pleaser with gelato, strawberry sauce, sprinkles, a sugar cookie, pocky and matcha dust. Yes please. If you're looking for pure decadence and extra internet points, the Golden Girl ($18) creams the competition. Made of gold leaf soft serve in a charcoal black cone, this beauty is next level. Salty types are catered for too with plenty of savoury goodies to munch on. Tuck into Korean fried chicken, dumplings or hot dogs (try the vegan kimchi dog). For the novelty factor you can't go past the "longest fries in town" — crispy footlong fries, doused in your choice of salt and sauce. What these fries lack in structural integrity they more than make up for in yum. With lucky cats everywhere, a decal encouraging diners to "never grow up" and bundles of youthful energy, this low-key hangout is just plain fun. Swing by and you'll feel good as Goldie.
