Brooklyn Deli

Hearty baked goods and traditional Austrian cuisine in the heart of Brooklyn.
Luke Owen Smith
Published on January 27, 2016

Overview

Since its opening in October 2014, Brooklyn Deli has become a firm favourite with the local foodies, and a welcome addition to the quaint yet cool little suburb.

The business is split into two halves, with a delicatessen on one side and a seated cafe area on the other. As you walk in you are greeted by a fabulous array of freshly baked bread and pastries, all made on site, as well as a collection of local and international produce on the shelves. Further down you’ll find the cosy seating area, fitted out tastefully with wooden floors and panelling; simple furniture that feels homely. The smell of bread in the oven and freshly ground coffee will have your mouth watering before you’ve even seen the menu.

The cafe offers a mixture of kiwi classics (with a twist) and Austrian cuisine – lots of hearty sounding meals with spelt bread, meats and European cheeses. Initially I was tempted by the Viennese breakfast ($18.50), but when the waitress explained the specials of the day, I opted for the unusual sounding eiernockerl ($16.50) – a traditional Austrian dish involving a unique kind of pasta (spaetzle) cooked with egg and fresh herbs, served with beetroot. It was a simple dish but just the right heaviness for a quick brunch, and all the flavours on the plate got along like old friends. The spaetzle was very similar to gnocchi in both texture and flavour – fluffy, light, incredibly moreish – and was clearly made fresh not long before being served. The horseradish dressing with the beetroot was also a nice touch, which added a little vibrancy to the meal and left a pleasant aftertaste. I could clearly imagine growing up eating this kind of food, taking in its sustenance before an afternoon’s frolicking in the mountains.

If you’re looking for a sweet treat after your main, you won’t be disappointed by the range of delights available from the counter. As it was early, I showed restraint and ordered a hildegard cookie ($3.50) – a simple spiced biscuit that goes beautifully with a coffee, as well as tasting like Christmas.

It’s wonderful to find somewhere offering Austrian cuisine in Wellington, and doing it with such understated panache. Be sure to pay the Brooklyn Deli a visit, perhaps for a bite to eat before catching a film at the Penthouse Cinema, or maybe even after a game of mini golf at Carlucci Land. Make sure you also pick up a loaf of their bread to take home – it’s some of the best that the city has to offer.

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