Wandering down the unassuming corridor of 43 High Street one could be forgiven for being a little skeptical of it housing a decent cafe – but to the contrary what we discovered was a trove of culinary delights. Away from the drone of the inner city streets, a new café, Chuffed boasts a relaxed urban atmosphere dominated by two of Erin Forsyth’s trademark colourful murals, while outside a veranda transports you to another era, with casual cane furniture and an intimate outdoor fireplace.

Catering to those on the run, a cabinet houses a delectable array of sweet and savoury delights. But those who choose to dine in get to truly experience the menu’s offerings, all artfully executed by Gordon Ramsay trained chef and recent Kiwi repatriate, James Kenny. There’s a plethora of possibilities to satiate growling stomachs and what we sampled was impressively delicious: wild mushrooms on sourdough with white bean puree and truffle oil, and quinoa crusted fish of the day, served with fresh beetroot and freeze-dried mandarin. Also worth noting are the homemade crumpets, served with honey cured salmon, fresh herbs and crème fraîche, and pasta ribbons with courgette, citrus butter, pecan and chorizo. And one cannot leave without considering the luscious deserts, the standout being the ‘Jaffa’, a rich chocolate cake served with chocolate cremeux and bitter orange provides a certifiable sugar fix.

Chuffed also places strong emphasis on their coffee. Harnessing his expertise acquired from time spent running the celebrated Darlinghurst locale, The Bunker, owner Scott McLean is making a name for himself as a purveyor of specialty coffee. The beans are switched up between different local roasters, but are soon to be house-branded via an off-site, coffee roasting initiative. With cold-drip, batch brewed and espresso already on offer, Chuffed is soon to be serving carbonated draft coffee – a cold pour of the life-giving beverage that will be the only of its kind available in the country.

It’s worth paying a visit to this High Street newcomer, where their dedication to offering something a little different is something to be celebrated.

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday – 7am to 4pm