Conversations The Cafe is a café at 944 Heretaunga Street West in Saint Leonards, Hastings. It is the first café for its owners, who bring 22 years' hospitality experience from large hotel groups. The menu says it avoids added sugars, colours, additives, canned goods and syrups, and the café is fully licensed.
The menu covers breakfast, brunch and dinner, with sourdough and brioche dishes, eggs with bacon or sweet chilli chips, and a New Zealand lamb shank with rice and side condiments. Butter chicken, lamb and vegetarian patties, and southern-fried chicken with slaw are also on the list, along with fries. Drinks include coffee, masala chai and soft drinks, and the café is known for its wingettes and drumettes. Babies are welcome. Diners with allergies are asked to call ahead or tell staff. Hours are 8am to 2.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, 8.30am to 2.30pm on Tuesday, and 8am to 9pm from Thursday to Saturday. Our pick in Hastings for a late dinner with a lamb shank or a brioche breakfast.