Restaurants and cafes in less visited places
Smashed Pipi Café Bar (and gallery next door)
40 Moir Street, Mangawhai 0505, NZ Ph 09 431 4849
Open 7 days a week day and evening
We haven’t visited Smashed Pipi Café for two or three years and are here for lunch as before, on one of the coldest days this year and for several decades, but the sun is shining.
We can see the outside umbrellas need replacing but the fire burning in the richly blue tiled room brings a smile to our faces. We choose one of the country style chunky wood tables close to the warmth and order from the café day menu. Off the all day breakfast section I choose a Pipi Muffin Burger – at $7.50 made up of bacon, cheese & egg on a lightly toasted English muffin and Alex a B.L.T with bacon, lettuce and tomato served on lightly toasted focaccia drizzled with homemade aioli with added avocado, $14.90. These are fresh tasting and like the other plates around us, are very nicely presented.
A glass each of a smooth South Island Pinot Noir helps complete the warming procedure and a rich long black and decaf long black topped with good crema rounds off a very pleasant experience.
We arrive to share the space with two other couples and two couples more come and go during our stay. Not too bad for a mid-week winter day.
The service is happy and professional.
After enjoying the ceramic and glass delights of the gallery, we follow with a walk along glorious Mangawhai beach - well wrapped up.
If you are travelling in the Mangawhai area Smashed Pipi is definitely
"worth a visit"
Dragonfly cafe & gallery
615 Matakana Road, Matakana Tel: 09 4427320
Always and favourite, even better on this visit. The welcoming main building opens out to pretty planting with mature trees beside the river. Displays of local and imported gifts still feature, but more area has been given over to the cafe, including a spacious terrace with umbrella topped tables - perfect for us with our Dachshund, Tammy. The delicious food includes lots of homemade choices and the coffee is excellent. Tammy has a lovely time. Dragonfly is a must if you are in the Matakana / Warkworth area.
Puhoi Valley cafe and cheese store
275 Ahuroa Road, Puhoi. Tel: 09 4220670
A delightful surprise on an early summer midday. We sit outside on a large deck with Tammy, our wire haired Dachshund and enjoy a toasted panini with bacon and egg filling and an onion jam tart with a side dish of whole cherry tomato relish from the counter choices. Good coffee and a shared chocolate caramel slice are the perfect ending. There's a menu too.
The website says it all - "with a selection of delicious meals available, great coffee, an ice creamery and crafted cheese for sale this is a wonderful spot to while away some time. You can even catch a glimpse of the cheese making process through our viewing windows while you enjoy a coffee or glass of wine in the comfort of the cafe."
Although about 4kms off highway #1 heading towards the west coast and you can continue on this road, albeit windy, and travel through beautiful scenery until you arrive at the Kaipara Coast highway, The Puhoi cafe and cheese store is worth the trip.
Noosa Waterfront restaurant Sunshine Coast Queensland
142 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville. Tel: 07 54744144
This pretty venue perched right by the river has wide sliding doors letting in a gentle breeze. It's also possible to sit outside, a perfect spot to enjoy cool refreshments on a hot Sunshine Coast day. Our lunch is faultless - 2 fish dishes, both kingfish, one beer battered with homemade fries, the other grilled served on a bed of tasty greens. We sip at a smooth local Pinot Noir and continuously topped up glasses of chilled water. We finish with 2 good sized long blacks and although one is decaf, both come with generous crema. The service is just right, unobtrusive but professional. Mains are well priced in the upper A$20s. If you are spending a few days, or a week or 2 in the Noosa area, Waterfront won't disappoint.
