When we visited Columbus: Onehunga last year I commented that though part of a chain they do the job well. That opinion remains unchanged by a return visit. Actually it is deepened, this is how a good franchise chain works. Each Columbus we've visited has been reliable, coffee good (if not great every time) with a range and choice that could be familiar to a visitor used to another branch, food differs from place to place, but of solid cafe standard. The decor has standardised elements, but as in this old post office (what it was before becoming Blue Strawberry). Reliable and pleasant - just what you need from a chain, but often do not get. As for Steve's comment last time (that as an old Onehunga hand he missed the "soul" of the old blue fruit), perhaps he's right, but we have visited plenty of cafes now where the "soul" fail to deliver decent coffee, or sometimes food :( Columbus does.

This visit I'd rate the coffee slightly less than last time's at just Pretty Good, my long black was a touch bitter and made long by running the water through the grounds rather than adding hot water to standard espresso. Though B's Soy Cappuchino was pronounced "very good" and was superbly decorated with a hand drawn fern ;)

The food this time was good, very good "Jose Breakfast" with a delicious blend of flavours including guacomole. The eggs benedict came on sage flavoured potato cakes, a nice touch! Though not "very good" as the bacon was a workmanlike supermarket style rather than the more risky but usually more tasty butcher's special.

The service was again superb almost too attentive!

Columbus: Onehunga
120 Onehunga Mall
Onehunga,
Auckland
Phone: 09 622 2819
Fax: 09 634 3337

PS: We'd meant to try the cafe at Bunnings Warehouse, but they did not open till 9am, and we did not fancy 20 mins waiting after buying our kitchen jars. Maybe next time...