Monica's Eatery

About Monica's Eatery

Monica's Eatery is a cafe and restaurant on the corner of King and Queen Streets in New Plymouth's West End Precinct, inspired by the life and spirit of Monica Brewster - a locally respected figure described as progressive, innovative, creative and generous. The venue proudly features Taranaki's finest seasonal produce, supporting local farmers and showcasing the region's rich flavours.

The kitchen runs all-day, brunch and lunch menus, with dishes ranging from eggs benedict and house-made crumpets to a crispy glazed pork belly, lamb kofta, and a prawn linguine, many suggested with a wine or beer pairing. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options are marked throughout, though the kitchen notes it isn't a fully gluten-free environment.

The drinks list covers Ozone Coffee Roasters' Hodson Blend coffee, matcha, chocolate and chai, teas, juices and smoothies, plus a full bar of bubbles, wine, beer and cocktails including an espresso martini and Aperol spritz. Bookings for groups of 10 or more are taken by phone, while smaller groups can simply walk in.

Monica's Eatery: Taranaki Produce in New Plymouth's West End Precinct

On the corner of King and Queen Streets in New Plymouth's West End Precinct, Monica's Eatery is an environment inspired by the life and spirit of Monica Brewster - a locally respected figure described as progressive, innovative, creative and generous for her time. That spirit carries through into a menu built around Taranaki's finest seasonal produce, supporting local farmers and showcasing the region's flavours.

All Day, Brunch and Lunch

Monica's runs a genuinely broad kitchen. The all-day menu covers everything from house-made crumpets with boysenberry compote to a crispy glazed pork belly with labneh and green apple, a lamb kofta with kumara puree, and a prawn linguine finished with gremolata. The dedicated brunch menu, served 7am-2:30pm, adds dishes like a kedgeree with smoked kahawai and a scrambled tofu bagel with harissa, while lunch brings in a beef cheek ragu rigatoni and a garlic mushroom risotto. Many dishes come with a suggested wine or beer pairing, from a mimosa with the crumpets to a hazy with the fried chicken.

Dietary Care, With a Caveat

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options are clearly marked throughout the menu. The kitchen is upfront that it isn't a fully gluten-free environment, since it prepares dishes containing gluten, and asks guests with specific requirements to talk to the team so they can do their best to accommodate.

Coffee, Cocktails and a Proper Bar

Behind the counter, Monica's pours Ozone Coffee Roasters' Hodson Blend, alongside matcha, chai and hot chocolate from West Coast Cocoa, a tea selection, and house-made juices and smoothies. The bar covers bubbles, Marlborough sauvignon blanc, rosé and pinot noir, a small local beer list, and cocktails including an espresso martini, margarita and Aperol spritz.

Visiting Monica's Eatery

Monica's Eatery is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 2:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 3pm. Bookings for groups of 10 or more are taken by phone, while smaller groups can simply walk in. Credit card and PayWave payments incur a 2% surcharge.

Signature items

• Monica's Braised Beans
• Crispy Glazed Pork Belly
• Lamb Kofta
• Kedgeree
• Prawn Linguine
• House Made Crumpets

Menu

Sides

• Toasted Sourdough — With olive oil
• Streaky Bacon — Side
• Field Mushrooms — Side
• Spinach — Side
• Halloumi — Side
• Chorizo — Side
• Rosti — Side
• Fries — Side
• Egg — Side

All Day

• Hash Browns for the Table — Grana padano, chive sour cream
• Overnight Oats — Chilled oats, Clevedon buffalo yoghurt, chia, seasonal fruit, working bee honey, oat crumble (vegetarian)
• Free Range Eggs — Served on Volare sourdough or grain bread, add bacon (vegetarian)
• Eggs Benedict — Bacon, free range eggs, English muffin, potato rosti and hollandaise
• Eggs Florentine — Spinach, mushrooms, free range eggs, English muffin, potato rosti and hollandaise (vegetarian)
• Omelette — Soubise onions, provolone, potato hay, chives, add bacon
• Monica's Braised Beans — Charred Turkish bread, Irish pork sausage, picante pepper salsa, add egg
• Creamy Mushrooms on Sourdough — Pickled red onion, sage, lemon gremolata (vegan)
• House Made Crumpets — Boysenberry compote, chocolate mascarpone, sweet pumpkin seed crumble, add bacon (vegetarian, pairs with mimosa)
• Morning Brioche Bun — Pork and fennel sausage, house made potato rosti, swiss cheese, pickles, Monica's sauce (pairs with mimosa)
• Avocado Smash on Turkish Bread — Poached egg, honey ricotta, spiced almonds, add bacon (pairs with sauvignon blanc)
• Roast Beetroot & Carrot Salad — Roebuck leaves and shoots, smoked paprika cashew cream, grain salad, dukkah, add fried chicken or crispy pork belly (pairs with sauvignon blanc)
• Fried Chicken Burger — Pickles, swiss, Monica's sauce, roebuck leaves and shoots (pairs with sauvignon blanc)
• Crispy Glazed Pork Belly — House made flatbread, roebuck greens, Spanish onion, labneh, green apple (pairs with pinot noir)
• Lamb Kofta — Tahini yoghurt, mint, chickpea salad, Spanish onion, kumara puree (pairs with sauvignon blanc)
• Fried Chicken on Grain Salad — Hot honey and lime glaze, chive sour cream (pairs with hazy)
• Prawn Linguine — Lemon, caper cream sauce, gremolata (pairs with lager)
• Beef Schnitzel — Winter slaw, radish, pickle mayo, add egg (pairs with hazy)

Bar & Wine

• Bubbles — Bandini Prosecco, Italy
• White & Rosé Wine — Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough; Astrolabe Rosé, Marlborough
• Red Wine — Astrolabe Pinot Noir, Marlborough
• Beer — Shining Peak Fanny Fanthams Lager, Shining Peak Petite Pegasus Session Hazy, Garage Project Fugazi, Garage Project Tiny Hazy IPA, Rain in the Face (Three Sisters Brewery)
• Cocktails — Espresso martini, margarita, lychee martini, bloody mary, Aperol spritz, mimosa, Juno Monica's gin and tonic, Juno Vesta vodka and soda

Cold Drinks

• Iced Coffee & Chai — Iced latte, iced black, iced chocolate, iced mocha, iced chai, iced matcha, iced strawberry matcha
• Hawkes Bay Fruit Juices — Apple, pineapple, tomato, orange
• House Made Juices — Carrot, apple, turmeric, ginger; or beetroot, apple, blueberry, orange, mint
• Smoothies — Mango coconut milk honey and chia; berry banana yoghurt chia and maple; banana date chia cinnamon and honey
• Soft Drinks — Antipodes sparkling water, coke, coke no sugar, lemonade, ginger beer, lemon lime bitters

Brunch (7am-2:30pm)

• Toasted Rye — Anathoth raspberry jam, house made peanut butter (vegetarian)
• One Egg on Potato Rosti — Roasted pumpkin hummus, crumbled feta, crispy shallot, aleppo pepper butter (gluten free, vegetarian)
• Beef Cheek Ragu — Toasted Turkish bread, poached eggs, grana padano
• Zucchini and Potato Fritters — Labneh, blistered tomatoes, herb salad, poached egg (vegetarian)
• Kedgeree — Smoked kahawai, Clevedon buffalo yoghurt, poached egg, salsa verde (gluten free)
• Open Omelette — Onion and potato sofrito, chorizo, grana padano (gluten free)
• Scrambled Tofu — Public bagel, harissa, house pickles (vegan)
• Handmade Tagliatelle — Green lip mussels, white wine, confit garlic butter, pangrattato
• Falafel Salad — Roebuck greens, roasted pumpkin, red onion, crumbled feta, tahini dressing (gluten free, vegetarian)
• Mediterranean Chicken Skewers — Chickpea salad, garlic yoghurt, fresh herbs (gluten free)
• Honey Mustard Fried Chicken — House made pickles, Tatua sour cream
• Eggs on Toasted Rye — Scrambled, poached or fried (vegetarian)

Coffee & Hot Drinks

• Coffee (Ozone Coffee Roasters Hodson Blend) — Black, white or mocha, regular or large, with decaf and alt milk options
• Matcha, Chocolate & Chai (West Coast Cocoa) — Deluxe chocolate, peppermint, matcha, strawberry matcha, spiced chai, vanilla chai, dirty chai
• Tea — English Breakfast, French Earl Grey, Sencha, Lemongrass Ginger, Chamomile, Peppermint

Lunch (12pm-2:30pm)

• Rigatoni — Beef cheek ragu, grana padano
• Confit Chicken Maryland — Cassoulet, bacon crumb, fresh herbs, pickled shallots (dairy free)
• Mushroom Risotto — Garlic, butter, fried mushrooms, grana padano (gluten free, vegetarian)

Frequently asked questions

Where is Monica's Eatery located?

On the corner of King and Queen Streets, New Plymouth, in the West End Precinct.

What are the opening hours?

Monday to Friday 7am-2:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-3pm.

Can I book a table?

Groups of 10 or more should call ahead; groups of 10 or less can just walk in.

Does the menu cater for dietary requirements?

Yes, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options are marked, though the kitchen is not a fully gluten-free environment.

Is there a surcharge on card payments?

Yes, a 2% surcharge applies to credit card and PayWave transactions.

What coffee does Monica's serve?

Ozone Coffee Roasters' Hodson Blend.

Are there wine and beer pairings suggested with meals?

Yes, several dishes come with a suggested pairing, such as a mimosa, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, lager or hazy.

Tips

• {"body":"Several dishes come with a recommended wine, beer or cocktail pairing.","title":"Try the suggested pairings"}
• {"body":"Groups of 10 or more should call in advance; smaller groups can walk in.","title":"Book ahead for big groups"}
• {"body":"The kitchen isn't a dedicated gluten-free environment - talk to staff about your requirements.","title":"Ask about gluten-free needs"}
• {"body":"Two standout brunch dishes built around local, seasonal ingredients.","title":"Try the kedgeree or braised beans"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options marked; kitchen is not a fully gluten-free environment","payments":"2% surcharge on credit card and PayWave transactions"}