Burnt Butter Diner

Owner-operators sometimes say they’d like their restaurant to feel like an extension of their home. This doesn’t always translate – but at Claudia Long and Ryan Pearce’s West Auckland cafe Burnt Butter Diner, it does feel like they’ve welcomed you into their personal dining room.

Maybe it’s the shelf of eclectic, thrifted crockery or the fact that they don’t do frothy coffees (there’s Coffee Supreme filter). The Rosebank Road space is compact with a high ceiling, textured plaster walls and a warm peach and mustard colour palette.

Long and Pearce are both trained chefs (Long in pastry) and have worked in hospitality for years. They're also Avondale locals and have a loyal customer base thanks to their food truck Ol’ Mate – a sunny yellow caravan that’s permanently parked 60 seconds’ walk from Burnt Butter – and Long's Instagram baking business Sweet Cheeks. Ol’ Mate’s beat is mainly takeaway coffees and cabinet food, while at this spot Pearce cooks a menu of interesting, wholesome breakfast and lunch dishes.

You might order the house-made crumpet with smoked kahawai, a soft-boiled egg, red onion pickle and sumac labneh. You can get preserves on toast or buckwheat porridge, a flatbread with Middle Eastern-spiced mince, or a daily protein and salad for lunch. Long's baking has a cult following, including a crispy caramel-topped creme brulee-inspired pie.

Drinks-wise, order Supreme’s single-origin filter by the cup or bottomless for a dollar more, with the extra option to “make it naughty” with a mixture of cow’s milk and sweetened condensed milk. There’s also tea, a couple of juices and a coconut milk hot cocoa.