Thursday, May 22, 2014

Garlic Bread from the Manuka cafe - Devonport

Cooking Teddybear Manuka Cafe
49 Victoria Rd
Devonport
Auckland

Phone: 09 445 7732
Email: manukadevonport@hotmail.com

Website:  www.manukarestaurant.co.nz/


We treated ourselves to a flying visit to Auckland - to see Michael Buble in concert - fabulous!!  We thought we had lots of time - however due to the (infamous) congested nature of the Auckland highway and lack of local knowledge we missed out on a decent dinner and garlic bread before the show - ending up with Subway to satisfy the hunger before the show.  So next day we where determined, while visiting Devonport,  that we would have lunch - along with some garlic bread.  There are a good number of Cafe's and eatery places in the locality.  Devonport itself is like a Lyttlelton of Christchurch - just better maintained.  It is our Naval Base - so that may have something to do with it.

Anyhow - on to the review!!

We ended up in the Manuka Cafe - it looked inviting form the outside and it had a good mix of food on the menu - something to eat that would keep Mamabear and me happy!  We duly ordered the garlic bread - *cough* urm - PIZZA-bread.  Seems to be the trendy thing - you know - if you making pizza - use the same dough and add a dash of garlic and so forth, instead of making an extra effort of a decent Garlic bread.
I was sure the waitress got the order mixed up - and looking back however - she was indeed correct! The condiments are for both - the Parmesan & Garlic bread.  I have to say - they (condiments) tasted yummy. Mashed Olives' / mashed avocado-garlic and a simple mayo.  While very tasty - they overpowered any garlic flavor on the "bread".  Not that there was much of that to start with.  The pizza bread was crusty and easily eaten.  No oil or butter dripping from it - so that was great. Even had a sprinkling of herbs on top!
The presentation - as you can see from the picture was superb. Not half bad for a 'pizza'-bread.  I rate this highly - with (sadly) several points been taken off, for being a pizza based thing.  To be fair - the menu does sell it as such (unlike some other places).




Presentation 5 out of 5
Quantity 4 out of 5
Taste: 2 out of 5
Quality 2 out of 5
Overall score: 13 (out of poss 20)