Bolaven

Sometimes, an eatery opens that causes you to stop and think. You think, will this type of cuisine appeal to the neighbourhood? Will this new business break the curse of recent less-than-successful businesses that have operated from this space? And most importantly, will I like it?

When word of Bolaven's opening started circulating I took notice. Not only was it a restaurant serving cuisine from Laos, but it was opening just down the street from my house. Two reasons to love this new kid on the block.  It took me a few weeks to make it along, on a drizzly Winter Sunday with two best girlfriends for a catch up over brunch. The interior is light, bright & modern with a gorgeous wall of herbs and spices artfully displayed to entice the tastebuds. Behind the espresso machine sits a wall of ceramic teapots, plates and bowls - almost worthy of a homeware store, and making the overall interior feel relaxed and welcoming.

Bolaven offer the regular morning suspects: eggs, muesli, toast and bacon, but it's their ethnic breakfast that really makes the menu stand out.  It was this menu that entranced all three of us, and we were all wooed by a steaming bowl of beef pho, fragrant and warming on a chilly July morning.

The bowls presented were huge, filled with rare beef, noodles, sprouts and with a side plate reminiscent of the streets of Saigon with Vietnamese mint, coriander, lime and chilli. Liberally adding these to my bowl a delicious aroma wafted across the table and memories of Vietnamese travels came flooding back, sights and sounds of Hanoi and Hoi An filling my mind's eye, and tugging at the heartstrings.

As I supped and slurped I enjoyed every moment, with only a hint of sadness at the menu items left uneaten. On the bright side, this means there's plenty more for a return visit, and you can be sure I'll be planning that for someday soon!

Bolaven

597 Mt Eden Road

Auckland