Forage Cafe

Forage is a great little find in Dominion Rd, open weekdays. A small café with a relaxed feel and good strong coffee. There’s a great selection of freshly prepared pies, sandwiches, salads and baked goodies along with an ever changing blackboard menu. Jars of pretty homemade preserves line the shelves above the counter. My tarte tatin had a bonus layer of custard and the chocolate lava brownies were soft and gooey.

After reading Chris B’s review I was super stoked to try out Forage before heading out on a bushwalk in the Hunua Ranges. Being a sucker for black pudding, naturally i opted for the Hunter’s breakfast, which was delicious and meaty (although my poached eggs were a little overdone. I utterly had food envy of my girlfriend who got the Smokey Cannelloni Beans on toast w/​spicy chorizo. Toward the end, I just had to switch plates with her so I could finish this marvel of a modern take on ‘beans on toast.’ Really high quality food for very reasonable prices which is especially notable since I think I saw a sign advertising the use of all free-​range meat (someone please confirm?). As they have only been opened for a month, the current staff are really keen to get to know every customer and to make everyone a regular at Forage. Lastly, I know it may seem minor, but they had really great cutlery which for me really elevated the dining experience even though it is just a café. Hesitant to give 5 stars at this time and would like to see if they can keep up the standards down the track and hope that they expand their drinks selection. Regardless, I can’t wait to go back to try out their rotating lunch menu… mmmh dreaming of pulled pork…

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day, find me a full Kiwi breakfast with sausage, bacon, black pudding and add lashings of HP sauce to the mix and I’m a very very happy man.
Forage ticks all those boxes with the «Hunter breakfast» and adds the most amazing dauphinoise potatoes I’ve ever had.
I don’t care if the idea of black pudding offends you, until you’ve tried the black pudding at Forage you just haven’t lived, its herby spicy combination is like none I’ve ever had before… and I’ve eaten a lot.
Forage is my new favourite breakfast hang out, I’ve been assured by my friend the French toast served on Brioche is to die for.
Simply put Forage is an amazingly welcome addition to the busy Dominion Road scene, if you haven’t tried it you are missing out