Agnes Curran

All this talk about shoes made me decide I needed some more, so I went shopping in Ponsonby this morning. Mr Smith grimaced slightly when I came home laden with bags, but I pointed out that as the shoes were all on sale, I hadn’t really spent money, I had actually saved hundreds! He didn’t look convinced, so thank goodness he doesn’t know about all the other things I bought.*

Auckland is very blustery today, with frequent showers, so I took respite during one such episode. A good opportunity, I thought, for another café review (I have forgotten to do one for ages).

Agnes Curran, 179 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby

Decor: The kind of place your grandmother might have, if she was French and a tiny bit insane. Stacks of books and magazines to read.

View: Of Franklin Road.

Clientele: The place was stuffed to the gills! An absolute mosh-pit of local middle-aged ladies (and a couple of gentlemen). A tv-type person was there – can’t recall who. She does a morning show, I think. Rather convivial, especially as the establishment's popularity meant everyone was quite squished together. Makes eavesdropping very easy.

Poached Egg Barometer: Agnes Curran is a proper little tea-shop, not a breakfast place, but they have a delightful array of sticky cakes and sandwiches to choose from (and they do make coffee, too). I had a chocolate lamington. It was wickedly nice, and came with jam and cream. Such a cheap indulgence - the tea and the lamington only cost $7.50.



Coffee: I had a pot of Earl Grey tea, made with tea-leaves, just as tea ought to be made. Tea-bags are the devil's tampons.

Service: Very pleasant and helpful.

*Mr Smith - if you are reading this, of course I am only joking. Bugger off and do some work.