447 Mt Eden Road,
Mt Eden
Auckland,
1024
(09) 623 3833
The ViewAuckland Review
4 out of 5 stars
A show of hands please. Hands up anyone who’s scared of clowns. See, I told my wife that my fear of guys with big red noses and painted faces wasn’t that unnatural.
It’s with a mix of hunger and tredipation that I enter Circus Circus in Mt Eden. Just a few days ago they were jokingly advertising for “Clowns” to work at one of Mt Eden’s longest running cafes, but every time I’ve been here before the service has been excellent. And once I’ve tiptoed past the life-size wooden clown at the entrance, today is no different.
Cascading down three levels in an old corner shop, Circus Circus ticks off the basics for a neighbourhood café with ease. The coffee from Roasted Addiqtion is consistently great; there’s always a newspaper available, and the array of magazines is both interesting and up-to-date.
The quirky circus-themed décor suits Mt Eden village, and although the front of the café looks small - there’s often a logjam at the front door – in behind is a labyrinth of nooks and crannies that are great for impromptu business meetings and catching up with friends. Come at the weekend and the ambience is also particularly kids-friendly. Come at the weekend and you may also need to negotiate a traffic jam of Mountain Buggy baby strollers and SUVs out the front.
Today’s a weekday morning though and the kids must be at Jumping Beans or Montessori. Instead Circus Circus in packed with loyal regulars tucking into regular pasta or soup specials or tasty sandwiches and wraps from the counter. My salmon quiche with salad is packed full of fish and good value at $8.50. I make a mental note of the broader sophistication on the menu and the small wine list and resolve to return for dinner. The array of cakes on the counter also looks tempting, and Circus Circus might yet become my default Mt Eden option over Fraser’s for coffee and a slice.
That’s if I can just shake this unnatural fear of so-called ‘Funny Men”.
Oh, and please don’t get me started on mime artists.
Circus Circus has been reviewed by 13 users