478 Richmond Road,
Grey Lynn
Auckland,


(09) 361 2631

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3 out of 5 stars

When it opened, Savour & Devour was a community cafe, restaurant and bar intended to make the locals feel at home. That was November 2003, and owners Tara and Geoff Brogan quickly achieved their target as number 478 quickly established itself as a popular all-day operation on the trendy Richmond Rd in Grey Lynn.

Now, five years later, the restaurant part of the operation has gone and Savour & Devour is focussing more on the cafe/ delicatessen, opening its doors and warming up the 1940s designed coffee machine imported by Davis Thomas from Atomic Coffee Roasters during day-light hours. It was a decision made in part by Tara and Geoff when they started a family.

In doing so, the cafe has lost nothing. Its charm is complemented by the comfortable collection of former typists chairs purchased from an old knitware factory, inorganic rubbish collections and anywhere else the Brogans could find matching pairs.

The famous and mouth watering selection of cakes, slices, biscuits and muffins are on show on a range of plates and cake stands which could easily have come from my grandmother’s cabinet. The narrow cafe has a spattering of tables at the front while a semi covered courtyard out the back offers more space, and there’s also a few street-side tables, but you’ll want the gas heaters turned on during winter.

The Brogan’s searched for two years before securing the location, which was a former pizza and pasta joint. The interior was ‘tweaked’ rather than refitted. The pizza oven was removed and the lime green walls repainted a light beige and grey.

Although the staff are busy, they are friendly and prompt and cater for the clientele which ranges from trendy city fringe types, to families and friends simply catching up for a good gossip.

The best time to go is during the weekends, but I recommend arriving before the 2pm rush all trying to push through their orders before the brunch kitchen closes. I managed to sneak my order through just in time, and when my creamy scrambled eggs with field mushroom ($13.50) arrived at my cosy table I shoved the Sunday newspaper, pot of English breakfast tea and teacup and saucer to one side to make room.

Then, just as the name suggests, I savoured and devoured - or was it devoured then savoured - following brunch I watched others come and go through the heavy-set doors either looking for a table, or collecting take-away coffees and cakes.

Fully informed I folded the Sunday paper, emptied the last of my tea and stood up to leave. Only, despite my belly being fully content, I just couldn’t leave without testing the tempting caramel and walnut slice ($4) that had been calling my name since I walked in. A minute later I left with the slice tucked away in my handbag to savour and devour later.