Elliot Stables,
Elliot Street,
Auckland Central
Auckland,


(09) 365 1173

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4 out of 5 stars

Auckland's not got a great record when it comes to preserving heritage buildings, but it seems we're finally learning as a city that not everything looks better with the addition of mirror glass and a carpark. Tucked in behind Smith & Caugheys, the refurbished Elliot Stables complex is providing a little slice of our cosmopolitan planet in the CBD. The compact labyrinth of laneways and arcades is not yet fully tenanted, but already you can while away a couple of hours with coffee and cake, gourmet sausages, a global array of teas, and New Zealand's first traditional "bruschetteria".

Styled after the simple neighbourhood eateries that owner Francesco Arini remembers from growing up in the Puglia region of Italy, La Bruscetteria specialises in bruschetta that are a tasty step up from the grilled slices of French bread from your last barbecue. A rustic loaf is toasted, then garnished with quality olive oil and rubbed with garlic. Onto this humble base Francesco concocts different combinations. The Calabria ($14) combines spicy sopressa, (a salami from northern Italy), with pecorino cheese and eggplant. The toppings are generous and it's great with a mini-bottle of pompelmo (grapefruit) flavoured San Pellegrino mineral water and a robust short black. Carol's Tonno i Cipolla bruschetta ($12) ticks all the healthy boxes with tuna, red onion, fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. It's a coolly Italian alternative to brunch on Ponsonby Rd, and a lot cheaper than a flight to Rome.

La Bruschetteria occupies a tiny space that's not much bigger than a stall at an Asian food court, but Francesco's crammed it with poignant and authentic memories of home. A collage of old black and white photos reveals his extended family, right down to a shots of a cooler than cool vintage Vespa, and graceful cypress trees overlooking the Med.

As well as 14 different types of bruchsetta, there's a ridiculously well priced range of other Italian goodies on offer including plates of antipasto ($12), crostini with pesto or eggplant dip ($6), and Italian beers for $5. From Thursday to Saturday, La Bruscetteria's open until 10.30pm and you can sip on Italian wine ($6) or apertifs like campari ($7). And when you've just about finished indulging your Roman holiday fantasies finish off with Italian desserts.

Let's hope that new tenants moving into Elliot Stables can maintain the high standards set by La Bruschetteria.

Watch this space.