448 Mt Eden Road, Auckland City
The first thing that hit me about Ironique was how busy the place was. I found myself secretly wishing the party of two would order so that I could make sure I had a table for brunch. The seating at the front is a bit intimate but there is plenty of room at the back of the cafe and a courtyard which is split into covered and uncovered sections.
[digression: for some reason autocorrect wanted to change 'cafe' into 'chafe']
The second thing that hit me was the decor. The cafe features iron and metal knick-knacks throughout, including in the bathroom. Having a theme and featuring it throughout isn't necessary, so it's nice when a place goes the extra mile.
Fred had recommended the mushrooms, but being contrary I decided to go for the baked beans. I also ordered a latte (because I'm back in Auckland and that's what I drink, so there) and, not dissimilar to a falcon pouncing on a small mammal, found a table near the courtyard door.
Looking around I saw a number of groups who must use Ironique for their regular coffee catch ups. From the scraps of conversation that I couldn't help but eavesdrop on, the cafe has a good amount of regular business and returning customers, which is always a good sign.
I should take the time to point out the one thing that distracted from the otherwise good vibe of the place - the fact that the door to the courtyard was left open by both staff and customers alike as they went through. I, for one, can't stand doors that are left open unless they are supposed to be left open and so I closed it almost every time it was left open. Given Auckland's recent cold snap it's amazing how quickly the cold can get in. It can be a bit of a pain for people to close doors every time they open them (we're not all like the aliens from X-Com) but for people sitting at or near the door it can make a big difference.
My latte arrived first, and a bit of a wait is understandable when a) the place is as busy as it is; and b) it's this good. It also came with an extra - Fred had included a Samoan expletive. As far as coffee art goes, this is gold.
Partway through my coffee my brunch arrived; baked beans, chorizo, ciabatta and poached eggs. Okay, I can take or leave beans generally but these were fantastic for one simple reason: they bake their own beans instead of tipping them out of a can. It's extra effort on their part but it makes so much difference to the overall taste of the dish. The eggs were just runny enough and the chorizo had a good amount of heat. I got the distinct impression that this was a cafe that cared about what goes in front of its customers.
There is also a good amount of food on display at the counter if nothing on the menu takes your fancy. I've had only the carrot cake so far and if you're partial to it, you won't be disappointed.
One more thing: I was asked once if my meal was okay. This is probably the most appropriate number of times to be asked that question, if at all. One of my pet dislikes about eating out is when you're asked that question several times during the meal - it's almost as if the chef and waiter pin their entire self worth on your satisfaction and need constant validation (a la Monty Python's Dirty Fork sketch). It's worse when it's asked just as you've taken a bite and you feel you have to hastily swallow so you can answer.
It's good to see that people moved around tables quickly, didn't hover, and gave you just
enough attention to let you know they were there but not so much that you felt like how those voice actors at Armageddon must feel when they just want to eat their lunch in peace.
Yes one of my friends works there but I genuinely enjoyed eating at Ironique. From the number of regulars there, so do a lot of others.
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