Fields Café Albany Auckland North Shore Local Review

Fields Café has been our family’s local café for the past 2 years. On most days, we work here in the mornings and occasionally, we treat our kids for a family breakfast on the weekends. I think it’s safe to say we have tried and tasted most of the food here at Fields Café.

In this post, we will share our unbiased, unsponsored review of Fields Café Albany to provide an insight for Aucklanders who are looking for a nice café to chill on the North Shore.

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First Impression

At first glance, Fields Café seems to be located in an odd spot, sitting diagonally across a patch of grass in the middle of a development site. But on a closer look, you’ll realise the café symbolises one of the early signs of gentrification in Albany. Away from the crowded Westfield, Fields Café have ample parking and a footpath to the nearby residential block.

Aesthetics & Ambience

The aesthetics of Fields Café is pretty obvious – a contemporary modern café that is trendy and family-friendly. The interior adopts a classic timber design with a colour pop of teal gray.

From the finer details like the repotting of plants outside, the large panoramic display of flowers and paper straws, you can feel Fields Café is conscious of the environment.

Staff & Service

We were greeted by an enthusiastic staff as soon as we walked up the steps. She seated us on a table inside and provided a menu for every one of us, including our toddler. The staff checked on us throughout the meal making sure everything was ok.

The staff here at Fields were very attentive but not intrusive. Our toddler received ample attention and high-fives. She felt included with her own menu and a glass of water and was very proud that she had made some new friends.

Overall, we had a really positive experience with the services provided.

Food at Fields Café

We loved the simplicity of their menu. We were greeted with a bar of mouth-watering pastries near the entrance, and I was ready to order without even getting to the menu.

2021 Outdated Eggs Bene

I browsed through the menu looking for my all-time go-to breakfast – eggs benedict with smoked salmon, but they only had the options of either bacon or eggplant. I inquired with one of the staff to see whether salmon could be added on as an extra. She checked with the chef and brought up something that completely surprised me.

The eggs benedict that I was familiar with came with a slice of sourdough bread. Fields’ benedict came with 2 Japanese okonomiyaki instead, which was rather unique. I was told that one of the chefs was from Japan, so this was as authentic as it can get. The salmon I requested was a delicious pan-fried salmon steak instead of smoked salmon slices. I had to admit, my eggs benedict was a pleasant surprise, with a mixed taste of culture and nutrients. Our toddler, who had asked for a raspberry doughnut, finished it all and pinched on mine for more. It was so satisfying, we all skipped lunch.

Fields Cafe Menu 2022

Facilities

There are outdoor seating areas with lazy bean bags overlooking a simple playground. However, we have found the playground is more suitable for older kids and it would be nice if there were a few swings for the toddlers. Nonetheless, the outdoor deck provides a relaxing place for parents, colleagues, and students to chill.

There is a little function room at the back of Fields Café that you can hire out for a private function. You can drop them an email to book your kids’ parties, company functions, and private meetings, which is really neat. Free wifi is available.

Final Verdict

Although Fields Café has gone through quite a number of changes, including the change of staff, the quality remains on par with some of the top-quality cafés in Auckland. The food here is very unique and for reasonable price tags. I’m not sure whether the Okla Group is planning on redeveloping the site in the near future, but for the time being, Fields Café is a great addition to the up and coming Albany and its local residents.