Meadow

We had been meaning to come here for quite a while, on the recommendation of several friends. We came on a Wednesday night and had no trouble getting a table.
We had the Lamb slider, feta, peppers, rocket, lemon + harissa mayo and the Torched raclette, baby potato, cured ham, pear + cornichon to start with and we knew as soon as we saw the plates that we would be back. The food is absolutely exquisite, the staff are friendly and efficient and when the mains arrived I was in heaven. We ordered the Wagyu beef burger, double cheese, butter crunch, [M] special sauce + fries and the Sticky braised free range pulled pork burger, avocado, chipotle slaw, coriander + fries.
I can’t wait to go back and try more menu items as my mouth is watering at the very thought of that pulled pork!!!
This is my new favorite restaurant!

So I went here with my dad and my son one Saturday evening. What’s great place! The restaurant itself doesn’t take bookings and was packed but the inferred for us to eat on the bar. The table we sat at was as good as the restaurant high table tucked into a corner with comfy seats. Service was quite simply outstanding and totally appropriate for this casual restaurant. Attentive. Friendly. With just the right touch of cheeky. Great menu with a good selection. I am not going to get into detail of each plate but just leave it at delicious!!! So good in fact I had a dessert which I don’t do very often. And they nailed that too. We will definitely be back!

Been twice, I like the environment more. The food is nice but not at 10 score, I think they give good ingredients and nice juice/​smoothie. The Turkish I’ve was a bit too simple. I felt a bit hungry after that :))

Delicious food. Me and my partner love going there for breakfast and we are addicted to their hash browns. I also love that you can build your own big breakfast, I just wish they had more vegan options.
The courtyard is lovely on a sunny day. A little gem close to home.

I’ve been here a few times and the food had always been great. But each time I go here, I get a bit nervous because it’s always packed on weekend mornings — will we get served quickly? Will our food be delayed and, instead, get served up apologies?
Me of little faith.
My last visit proved my doubts wrong. On a whim, we just decided on Meadow, because it was on the way. It was busy as expected. After a few long minutes of waiting for a table to be cleared, the rest of the service moved quickly and smoothly.
My wife had the Meadow Full breakfast, which seemed to be the most popular dish that morning. Really yummy, she said. I had the Huevos Sucios («You pronounce that very well,» the waitress said) and it was top notch. My kind of spicy the morning.
We’ll be back, of course. Next time, I should just trust them to continue their great service.

Woke up far too early this morning and decided to finally hit Meadowbank’s hottest local spot; Meadow. After having tried and failed miserably to walk in and get a table a few times before, we finally made it, and we were not disappointed! From the demure but decidedly hipster exterior you would never expect the large and open air garden style space behind. Not so great on a steely grey winter morning, but beautiful I’m sure for a luxuriously summery afternoon. The breakfast menu is fairly typical of your above average café, executed in a refined way. Featured below is the Avocado Smash on Grain Toast with Corriander, Lime, Chilli Flakes, to which we added bacon, because bacon makes everything better! It tasted as fantastic as it looks, with the chilli and lime being such welcome additions to the beautifully smooth avocado and the bacon was perfectly crispy. All in all, will definitely be returning to this suburban gem in the future, to try out the fantastic sounding raw juice bar and other fabulous offerings. Definitely see why they placed in Metro’s hottest list last year.

This is a beautiful café/​restaurant. Love both the indoor and outdoor seatings. There is heaters in the courtyard area with blankets which is really good for weather like today cold but yet sunny. we ordered a wagu burger and a corn fritter, the fritter is crispy outside and very soft inside with lots of corn, however it’s slightly doughy. Burger come with shoe string fries is amazing. Very soft bun and tasty and moist pattie! Drink options is what really impress me here… they have juice, soda, smoothie, cocktails. All comes in amazing flavour combinations… must try!

When you think you almost miss it, it just right by your hand. Yes, Meadow is quite a trick that needs you to seek by heart. However, if you are foodie-​oriented, you won’t lose it. By the way, three layers of jags and glasses are layed out in such a delicate way, which, of course, a good sign for a decent restaurant&bar.
Hidden on St. John street, Meadow starts with a good location. According to my vision, all the customers coming here, either for drink, lunch, snacks or dinner, are dressed up properly:) It must be a favor for the neighborhood. Hmm, honestly, I would not mind living here due to Meadow.
If you come around 4:30pm, in the afternoon, you would probably prefer a drink to start. From beer to wine, the drink menu is quite a selection. Sometimes, you just feel confused what to order, then the house beer or wine is right there waiting for you. Well, don’t miss the shoetie fries to pair your beer.
While waiting, the east meets west style is quite a eye-​delight. Color, vases, lamps, cabinets, designed chairs and other details all show out that Meadow’s orientation. Business men in ties are standing by the bar with a glass of wine on hand, grandpa shares a dessert with little boy by the corner. Then there is you, getting a bit refreshed after a sip of Chardonnay from Moana Park Winery in Gisborne.
Then comes the appetite for dinner. The market fish that night was snapper, which was nicely fried and came out with potato, kale, olive and herb dressing. We both enjoyed the crispy skin outside and the tender texture inside. Chef here looked young and they knew how to control the temperature for fish. And the herb dressing added quite a flavor into the whole experience. We couldn’t help but eating it up!
The piazza called Ocean, comparing to the fish, was less delightful. Shrimp, zucchini and tomato base seemed a bit lonely for ocean! Luckily, the dessert– Coconut cheesecake, pineapple icing and mango ice cream made it up for the loss. Finally, the tropical flavor came up and arose our travel memory in Malaysia. Must be nice to enjoy this sweet treat by the beach in a gentle breeze.
You see family having a birthday party here, you will notice lovers sharing dessert and romance here, and you also find yourself in peace and ease even just for a drink. You just wish summer coming back soon, then you can sit outside, having a light brunch in the sunshine.

Had excellent service this morning, pleasant and chatty and very attentive to my lactose intolerance. The big breakfast is very good, especially the hash brown and sausages. Only low was a weak and luke warm coffee (soy flat white).

Before meeting some friends for Bark in the Park at the Waiatarua Reserve we journeyed to Meadow for Sunday brunch. I was quite excited based on friend’s and past Unilocalers’ reviews. As soon as we walked in, I was stunned how dog friendly there outdoor seating area is (half of the seating area) as well as the polished yet cruzy feel about the place. I guess this would be the case as it is an old converted garden centre and have really made it into a beautiful space. I was quite impressed with their extensive bloody mary menu. We had the Japanese inspired one, but we made the mistake of putting in too much wasabi, but it was still quite good n’ boozy. I got the big breakfast and my partner got the eggs bene. The giant hash brown was crispy, flavoursome, and just so damn great eggs were poached just right as well. The bacon is free range from Meadow’s farm in Clevedon and overall everything is just in time fresh. Coffee was good and not burnt but my friend’s cup had the previous customer’s lipstick still on it. As soon as we told staff, they took it away and within a minute brought a new one. My partner’s egg bene was alright, but nothing all that special or standout. For me it was the professional high level of service and extensive bloody mary menu that midway through the meal already made me start planning what I was going to get the next time around. Only minor things is to jazz up the eggs bene and change the layout of the menu a bit (their attempts to pay special attention to their signature items actually make customers overlook them), but this is not enough to only give 4 stars.

Brilliant atmosphere and décor. Very cool hip place to go and they make a good coffee!
I ordered the Big Breakfast Hash with an addition of avocado. It was amazing. They cook a skillet of hash which they plate sausage, roasted tomato, bacon and «poachies» on. It holds up to its name of being a big breakfast and was sensational.

The first time I visited Meadow was for a Unilocal brunch event back in December of last year. I must admit, I was a little wary about what it was going to be like, considering all the reviews I had read about the food not being up to standard and the service being a bit hit and miss. But I was pleasantly surprised!
What really caught my eye when walking into Meadow was how large the space was! You can choose to sit inside on bar stools, outside in the courtyard surrounded by trees and flowers or in the patio area which has an amazing glass roof (but beware it gets very hot — it feels like you’re almost sitting inside a greenhouse!).
First of all, if you do go to Meadow, order a juice! They are refreshing, delicious and perfect on a hot summer’s day. I ordered the ‘Basic Energy’ juice consisting of carrot, orange and ginger. I would happily come back and order three next time, it was that good!
I couldn’t decide on just one breakfast (naturally) so I ordered a small Yoghurt Parfait, which had just the right amount of yoghurt and granola, plus the berry compote on top hit the spot! I also ordered the French Toast. It was okay, but I probably wouldn’t order it again due to the fact that I have had better! It was also missing the usual berry, banana, bacon and maple syrup combo which I love so much.
I re-​visited Meadow a few weeks later with a friend. I had been eyeing up their Acai Bowl, complete with homemade granola and milk. I wish I had ordered this the first time I dined at Meadow! It was delicious and not overly filling or rich, which made it the perfect breakfast.
In terms of service, well, unlike most reviews, both times it was friendly and not too ‘in your face’ which I liked. Plus a few of their waiters are kinda cute, making it a great place to people watch!
Overall, I am thrilled that there is finally a decent eatery in Meadowbank. Happy to say this will now become my local, as it is only a 30 minute walk from my house!

Meadow is a beautiful, airy café in Meadowbank. I had been meaning to try this café for quite sometime, we even came one Monday to find it was closed — my error on checking the opening hours before turning up. It has a very comforting chic interior — or should I say exterior. Most of the seating is outside but its covered with a beautiful glass roof. With the sun shining it’s a warm area and ideal dining experience without being too cold or too hot.
We came for sunday brunch — my last Auckland meal before moving for to the UK. All reaping the pain and self infliction from Saturday nights event, we all ordered juices/​smoothies and aimed to order some menu item with a form of grease to soak up the alcohol. Meadow offers a ‘Build your own’ option — choose from a a list of items to have for brunch — a couple of us chose this option. I think this is great if you dont like eggs! Also you get exactly what you ask for — the only downfall is that it isn’t quite a «meal». I actually also ordered smoked salmon with mine — though came out late for some reason, however they did give me free sausages. I don’t normally opt for sausages but they were actually quite tasty, without being too fatty tasting. I found the handmade potato rosti flavoursome but wished it was more rustic. It reminded me more of a potato fritter. The avocado smash was a good helping but for breakfast I think could be better if it was chunkier. This would give the dish more texture and it would remind you less of a spread. All the actual meals from the menu were are all presented beautifully and served with correct temperature and seasoning.
Meadow has a few misses but not enough that I wouldn’t return, and maybe try the dinner menu for my next visit.
Rating
Food: ⁸⁄₁₀
Service: ⁸⁄₁₀
Value for Money: Very Good
20 St Johns Road, Meadowbank
Opening Hours: Tues-​Sun 7am-​10pm

Another café that all my friends were talking about that I had to try! Popped in here for lunch with mum and most definitely didn’t regret it. Went for the smashed avocado on multigrain toast with coriander, lime and chilli flakes and the «basic energy juice» (carrot, orange and ginger). Very delicious and a great portion size!
The restaurant is designed very well, with both inside and outside dining areas which are both very cool and well done. The staff are great, very enthusiastic and cheerful, mum and I left with lifted spirits! Will defintely return to try more of the menu as it all sounded very delicious! A great addition to Meadowbank’s café scene!

There are several reasons why I love Meadow but no. 1 is most definitely their Grand Meadow Bloody Mary. Honey and chilli spiced vodka, Kaitaia Fire, crispy bacon, rosemary and olives. Seriously, it’s absolutely delicious and perfect for those nursing a hangover.
Coming in a close second is their glorious, closed courtyard — a very clever idea in a city where the weather changes at the drop of a hat. It gets pretty steamy when the sun is shining but the roof is louvered so they can open it up to let in fresh air.
As for the food, it’s also delicious. I ordered their avo smash, which arrived on one piece of toast with a huge pile of well-​seasoned smashed avo and a dusting of chilli flakes. Perfection.
Now we just need to find an excuse to go in for dinner…

Thought this place was really good choice for brunch, small bar area at the front and big outdoor courtyard with lots of seating options. I love the oversized pots in the garden and the outdoor fire. The food is fresh and there’s lots of choice. I had the open chicken sandwich on sourdough with crushed avocado, pea, feta and lemon and a juice (a mix of pineapple, orange and lime). Followed by the sticky date pudding (of course!). The bloody Mary with bacon is a first and presentation gets a thumbs up. Head here soon and get a table in the shade, the heat can be a bit intense. You won’t be disappointed.

It’s not all in the looks. So true for this place! After reading a few good reviews about Meadow I was anxious to go out of my way (literally) to check it out. I think I’ll need to give them a bit more time to improve on a few things before I do that again.
Interior décor — when I say it’s not all in the looks it can be literally translated to Meadow. Gorgeous interior sets high expectations for both food and service which, in this case is not what you get. But more about décor — lovely outside area is perfect for afternoon drinks in the sun and the inside area is just beautifully decorated with vibrant blue walls and silver and white details. Very refreshing and promising (the whole industrial minimal look is so 2014!).
Staff — considering the rather posh interior and location one would expect slightly higher standard service. We arrived at brunch time so understandably they had a busy patch but I would have expected them to handle it a bit better. Staff was rushing around bumping into our chairs (and each other), dropping cutlery and just overall looked quite disorganized. On the other hand the food came out fast so looks like kitchen staff know what they are doing. At least they did up until the point when thick smoke started oozing from the kitchen…
Menu — this is probably the reason why I would love to go back to Meadow once they sort out their service. Menu looks very interesting with a lot of signature dishes and fresh new things to try. Bloody Mary menu looks awesome and innovative (brunch is probably not the time to start your day with vodka or tequila) and their smoothies are divine. Would have loved to have been told the acai bowl would be a bowl of sorbet rather than what one would expect to be a granola or muesli breakfast treat.
Food — great quality food with interesting and innovative flavours. There is so much more I’d love to try!
Price — Some dishes are rather expensive for the quantity you get but it is to be expected considering the location. On the other hand if the service improves I don’t think I would mind paying a bit more for any of the dishes on the menu.
All in all I believe Meadow definitely has potential to become one of the top cafes in Auckland with it’s beautiful character and well thought through menu. But in order to do so they need to give this place a soul — and that can only be achieved by unique, high standard service and friendly approach.

Cool new restaurant in the burbs at Meadowbank with indoor and outdoor seating options. Great for casual dining and a good kitchen serving organic and farm fresh meals. Even an interesting Bloody Mary with honey and smoked bacon! All good, but I need to agree with other reviewers the keen but haphazard service (probably more to do with management than the young staff) leaves a bit of room for improvement over the coming months. Having said that, I look forward to returning for a bit of al fresco dining mid-​summer. See you there!

As others have said, Meadow has been a long time coming for the area and so it had high expectations set for it. It’s been hugely popular and very busy. I’ve been a total of three times — twice for breakfast and once for afternoon drinks. Both times the food, coffee and service has been great. The menu is extensive with a wide range of options. I love the bloody mary menu! And there are plenty of different foods.
I had heard anecdotally that the service was very hit and miss when they first opened, but I haven’t experienced any bad service at all and it seems they’ve been quick to iron out any service issues they had in the first couple of weeks.
Can’t wait to try the lunch and dinner menus and end up here for some late evening drinks in summer. I definitely recommend!

The long-​awaited Meadow opened yesterday. To say people of Meadowbank are wildly excited about its arrival would be an understatement… It’s been the subject of every discussion for months.
The building is barely recognisable from Meadow’s predecessor, Mint. It has created three very distinct zones. In some ways it feels like three different venues entirely. Inside the main structure are dark walls, and loudish high energy music. It leads onto a completely contrasting white, glass roofed steel structure with a large fire (my clothes now smell manuka-​smoked). The third area is outdoor, relaxed and dog friendly — at least during the day I was told.
Now to the all-​important coffee. They’re serving All Press. Mine wasn’t hot, but not cold enough to complain about. I waited a while to order (once I figured out who to order from), and then watched as the server wrestled with the till. Day 2 wrinkles.
I also ordered a brioche. It was made off-​site. Okay, but not spectacular. I’m looking forward to ordering from the menu.
I spoke to four different staff today. All were pleasant. The kitchen is open to the restaurant, and it was great to watch the team hard at work. Go Meadow!