St Margarets Country Cafe

My new favourite local eatery.
Oozing with charm and tranquility, St Margaret’s Café is a perfect way to unwind with a stunning garden outlook (I imagine especially so in Spring), warm and inviting service and the food…, the food was just amazing! So good in fact, that I had to have dessert with my breakfast (and I would totally recommend the season fruits with mango sorbet and nut brittle to all).

A friend of mine recommended this place, and since I was on holiday, a drive out to the Karaka countryside sounded like a nice lunch excursion.
And WOW! Am I glad I made the effort! This place is seriously one of Auckland’s hidden gems. The name «Country Café» does it no favours. We turned up on a stunning spring Friday, and discovered the most gorgeous country garden setting, complete with lake — St Margarets is apparently such a popular wedding venue during the summer months that Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays are mostly fully booked. I can see why.
Entranced by the scenery, we sat down & got just as engrossed in the menu! A delicious selection of salads & more substantial main dishes made it really difficult to choose. We opted for the Chargrilled Smoked Chicken & Candied Walnut Salad with potato & bacon & dressed with maple aioli, as well as the Oriental Sticky Slow-​Cooked Pork Belly Sandwich with salad & spiced pineapple chutney. I learnt a while ago never to go past pork belly on a menu, and I haven’t been disappointed yet.
Both meals were stunning — visually gorgeous & utterly delicious. Well worth the drive, and with such picturesque surroundings to walk off your meal, you can bet I’ll be making the drive again.