Last week was Rabbit Hole; this week Didas. Or should that be Dida’s. Never mind.

Rabbit Hole is a small funky-ish space with a courtyard out the back offering somewhat of a sea view. The menu is a blend of usual suspects/some with a twist such as the egg scramble with chilli and broad beans. Both of us were taken with that so duly ordered – Maggie’s with extra chilli and no beans.

Mine were good; the helping not too large and the chilli subtle. I enjoyed the unusual bean addition (shelled yay). Companion’s extra chilli was notably absent – this dame likes things hot – and we let the wait staff know. The coffee was hot (Velvet so organic) but could have been stronger. Service was great and the bathrooms wonderful – black chalkboard paint and luxe lighting.

Didas is a mash up of deli/to go items and eat in. The menu competes with the good-looking counter food. I went for the porridge, advertised on the menu as ‘apricot porridge with raspberry coulis’. What I expected was apricots in the porridge – perhaps even dried apricots given the time of year and raspberry swirled on top. What I had placed in front of me was a bowl of thick porridge with a swirl of apricot puree on the top and a small dish of the raspberry. The porridge was too thick for me but may have suited a person with Scottish tendencies – porridge is stand-your-spoon-in-thick there. Companion Mags opted out of menu – which is fairly standard – and enjoyed a great savory muffin with the necessary chilli factor. Coffee is Atlas and smooth and hot, stronger than Rabbit’s but again not quite that caffeine hit needed for the start of a Friday.

We thought Didas probably a 6 or 7 out of 10 – the service is good – bathrooms not so. Rabbit probably similar although of the two I would return to Rabbit first.

We’ve been busy checking out three cafes over the last couple of weeks…Zus and Zo, Dellows and Five Loaves along the famed Herne Bay strip that is Jervois Road (Quay if you’re in Wellington).

OK – for smooth, hot Java the three cafes are all on one page. For strength though, all three are also on the same page – none strong enough unfortunately even though we request double shots each time. For a caffeine hit, go elsewhere!

Zus and Zo beats the others on environment hands down. If you want to feel part of the ‘in-crowd’ – whatever that or they are – this is the place, as they say. It’s on trend in terms of what cuts it in cafe decor these days and the menu is different enough to be interesting and away from bog-standard cafe fare. The other two – well Dellows is just tired, although their food presentation is good. Five Loaves primarily caters for deli takeout items and the clientele appear to be mummies meeting early before yoga/beauty therapy/shopping. No indoor tables either so only go to Five Loaves if you want al fresco.

The bathroom at Dellows requires cramp-ons to get there. The stairs are the steepest I’ve ever negotiated ruling out the older/infirm/very young. Hygiene here is a little lacking.

Overall, it has to be Zus and Zo. Downside is maybe having to wait for a table – it’s clearly the ‘cafe-du-jour in these parts.

Next time it’ll be the Rabbit Hole (yes, really) and Didas.

Sayonara