Rhu

Rhu opened this year, bringing chef-owner Tushar Grover back to the site where he once ran fine-dining restaurant Pasture’s beloved bar (Boxer) and bakery (Alpha). Though the space itself has been given a refresh, echoes of these past lives are easy to find. This is especially so when you consider how precise everything feels, with a hint of fine-dining flair not often seen in the cafe landscape. Plates arrive as artful compositions: salmon rillettes on toast are garnished with jauntily sliced cucumber and dots of caviar; toasties are served in wooden boxes; the French omelettes appear on vintage crockery; and honey toast is draped with flower petals that look tweezed into place. The cabinet alone is worth the visit — daily-baked sourdough, house-made cookies and the most beautiful berry-adorned tarts you’ve ever seen. Rhu is a singular presence in Tāmaki Makaurau, and one we’re grateful to have.

While you’re in the area: Passion For Paper