Usually I like to earn my traditional Friday morning Cafe stop by first working up at least a little bit of a sweat.  This Friday was a slight variation in that I arrived by and car instead of my trusty steed.  A recent stack has put me out for a while and what I have found I miss most about the bike is not the actual riding but the socializing and Friday was a routine I was missing most. 

So while the rest of the gang did a lap of Tamaki drive I slept in and met them at Urban Cafe, 139 Carlton Gore Rd, Newmarket.  A little off the main drag, this recent addition to our favorites has us coming back for more.  The feel of Urban is quite industrial with a polished concrete table outside able to seat about 12.  Attention has been made to design and detailing at Urban.  Quite styley indeed.  When urban first opened I paid a visit.  I got bad coffee, my food took forever and the service was flustered.  I didn't go back for almost a year.  First impressions last.  I am glad to report that they have really got their act together now.  The service is welcoming and efficient.  Coffees started arriving soon after the last of us had sat down, and they were pretty good.  Allpress coffee done well. 

The menu is a little different from the generic items to be found on almost every menu in Auckland.  Mediteranean Eggs were superb.  Kind of a messy omelette with chorizzo, capsicum, mushroom, tomato etc.  Very tasty Pecan Brioches were well commented on and the Homemade Toasted Muesli with Rhubarb Compote was well presented in a parfait glass.  The regular eggs any Style and extras were available with 4 different types of breads, allowing you to mix and match to suit.  Often with a big group the breakfast can take some time to arrive and the first person can be finished before the last in line even starts.  Urbans food service was so quick, I thought the others must have phoned ahead.  This left us with no excuse to be late for work.  Well done Urban, I may just have to become a regular.

By Aaron Strong