Winona Forever

The place was nice, the staff was quick but the food was a bit disappointing, or at least didn't make as much of an impression as we were hoping for. We had the "crab and chili scrambled eggs" and the "green mushroom with bacon". The crab dish looked amazing but didn't deliver on taste and the mushroom was the reverse, didn't look the part but the taste was good. All in all breakfast here was "just" okay.

A very small nice and popular cafe in the city! Good customer service and tasty food! The crab and chilli scrambled eggs, savoury croissants and desserts which are a part of cabinet food are amazing! The coffee.. especially Mocha is delicious! Definitely worth a visit!

Their food from both menu and cabinet are nice in a decent amount. I could feel a vibrant atmosphere of Parnell area in this cafe. Staff were ok but I should often wait to get their attention maybe because they are busy.

Great selection of cabinet food with plenty to choose from. I tried the cheese and chive scone—packed with flavour and (I swear) a hint of sweet chilli or chutney that made it extra wonderful. My coffee was consistent and great—I enjoyed it so much I had two. The space is cool, busy, and popular, with loads of seating. Only downside: there wasn’t much customer service, so the experience felt a little impersonal.

Really enjoyed this place. Got the big breakfast (pictured) and a cappuccino. Couldn't fault anything, although note that the online menu hasn't been updated to reflect the menu in person. Prices are reasonable too and the food was delicious.

Came here for breakfast with my partner. The inside looks great and the food is even better! There’s a menu and foods on display. I saw a falafel salad that I wanted but unfortunately it wasn’t vegan friendly. The chef came over to me to say she can make a vegan version from scratch. I really appreciated this and it was absolutely delicious. My partner got a chicken curry filo that he loved and we got two fresh apple juices. This all came to $41. A bargain if you ask me!

First time breakfast with eggs bene and veges. Wasn't expecting that. Reasonably quick to bring food out but no communication, smile or cheery persona. Lovely place.

For presentation of food 10/10. Coffee was good temperature was maintained. But the disappointing part is bread was too hard in our both the dish. Somewhere chewy. Veggies in the dish are not that cooked well. But cafe is always busy Staff are nice

Its hard to put this experience into words. All I know is ill be sad eating any breakfast back home. It was a busy Sunday morning but still got seated promptly. The place is very aesthetically pleasing with lots of light coming in through the floor to ceiling windows all around. The menu isn't long but still has enough variance to please everyone. We had a full brunch feast with two savory plates and a sweet one. The pork belly benedict had the eggs made to perfection and the pork belly was perfectly juicy without feeling like it was all fat. The french toast was super tasty and not overwhelmingly sweet, of course the variety of colors made it such a fun plate. The bowl had the most amazing mushrooms I've ever had along with the freshest vegetables! I dream of the day I'll be able to go back and eat here.

Bright, bustling cafe serving picture perfect dishes. Service was top notch, multiple people came to check in on us, fill up our water, and all were friendly. We were in and out of there is about 40 minutes. The service was fast, which is understandable given the amount of people they must get through every morning. Coffee, pastry, breakfast, everything was on point. Food was very instagram-able but tasted like what you'd expect. Standard fair, in a good way. I.e A lot of flowers for garnish, but its an omelette and tasted like a normal omelette. If I had any feedback it would be to pull back on the garnishes and focus on things that add flavor, it'll look just as tasty with a more rustic no fuss aesthetic. Suitable for a brisk sit down brunch. It was so loud and busy in there that you wouldn't want to stay hangout anyway.

I just loved this little breakfast restaurant! The decor is super cute. I visited pre covid and it was buuusy! I had the beans is beans breakfast and it was like a work of art. It was so colorful and beautiful and tasty. I'd definitely recommend!

This place was aesthetically pleasing and very busy even on a weekday. I ordered the eton rifle ($18 NZD) which was basically cake for brunch! I have a big sweet tooth and loved this dish. Beautifully presented French toast topped with crunchy meringue and fresh berries.

One of my favourite spots in Auckland to have lunch, always busy so be prepared to wait a few minutes for a table at peak times. Staff are lovely and the service is relatively quick considering how busy it is. My go-to meal is the Eton Mess which is a chocolate French toast brioche, with a poached pear, meringues, topped off with a dollop of mascarpone and a combination of fresh and freeze-dried fruit. A beautiful contrast of textures and flavours. Beautiful interior design, outstanding food presentation and lovely atmosphere. The coffee is also delicious.

When I think of food heaven, I think of doughnuts oozing with jam and cream, decadent slices filled with a thick layer of caramel, dense and fudgy chocolate brownies, freshly baked cookies, cakes piped with meringue, white chocolate truffles, fresh salads, Ciabatta sandwiches with salmon and avocado, breakfast baps, and last but not least, beautifully presented plates of brunch fare, my favourites being French toast, pancakes and eggs done various ways. And now, thanks to owners Fran Mazza (an amazing pastry chef) and Aaron Carson (former owners of Hello Friends + Allies), a beautiful new cafe has opened up in Parnell, namely Winona Forever, which will transport you to ultimate foodie heaven and I guarantee you will never want to leave. We visited on the weekend, and the cafe was bustling with people. We headed to the main counter to be seated and at this point, I had gone into foodie shock. My eyes lit up, my mouth dropped open and out came the camera, because each slice, doughnut, cake, roll, brioche, scone, cookie and meringue out of their glorious food cabinet will be a feast for your eyes, nose and mouth. I have so far tried a slice of their Coconut Caramel (pictured below) and a Cheesy delicious scone (both melt in your mouth). Winona Forever definitely has one of the best looking food cabinets in Auckland. While coffee is usually the morning choice of beverage, we loved the sound of their hot chocolates which came with hot milk to pour over your chocolate on a stick, while watching it melt. We recommend their Dark Chocolate & Orange and White Chocolate & Coconut flavours. On the side were Turkish Delight marshmallows - yummy! If hot chocolates are not your thing, then Winona Forever also serves Supreme Coffee, sodas, smoothies (try their peanut butter and jam), Fine & Dandy teas and fancy lattes, like turmeric and beetroot. They are also licensed, serving a small selection of wine and beer. We then ordered from their all day menu, which consists of 17 dishes, with the likes of eggs your way, coconut chia seed pudding, mini ricotta doughnuts, a green breakfast bowl, mushroom crepes, the usual big breakfast and most surprising, prawn tortellini. While all of the dishes sounded like perfect brunch fare, I was set on ordering The Eton Rifle, their twist on the classic French toast. Picture brioche French toast with Eton mess, piped meringues, whipped mascarpone cream, summer berries and raspberry gin compote. Sounds amazing! The dish was beautifully presented, not overly sweet (which meant I could have the hot chocolate We also tried their Anzac Granola, with maple, pecan and pistachios, complete with coconut yoghurt and seasonal berries. The granola was very sweet, but combined with the yoghurt and fresh fruit, the flavours balanced out well. too) and I loved the crunchy texture of the meringue and the addition of freeze dried berries. Food aside, we loved the quirky decor, with the spray painted pillars (look out for the lightning bolt) and the painted mural on the benchtop counter bar overlooking Parnell Road, the hanging plants and space-like lights. The cafe also has ample seating, both inside and out, and despite the incredibly busy day, the staff were welcoming and friendly, plus we didn't have to wait long for our food - always a bonus! So, if you find yourself drooling over the likes of their Eton Mess French toast, something sweet or savoury from their food cabinet, or fancy an extra-indulgent hot chocolate, then Winona Forever should be next on your foodie list. And an important note to Johnny Depp: you really should have kept your tattoo, because you would be extremely proud of this Winona and her brilliant food!

Unfortunately, my experience here was awful. My parents and I had possibly the worst service you could ask for. Albeit, their food was good and we know they're new (teething problems etc) but in the end we were all frustrated and to be honest, mortified at how terrible our experience had been. Once our orders had been taken, it took an hour for them to arrive at our tables - coffees included. After we started to get a little restless, the staff informed us that their machine hadn't taken our order. We were peeved, but understanding. We clarified what we had ordered, and emphasised that we would love our coffee asap, even if we had to wait a little longer for our meals. Time goes by and we still don't have them. The place is getting busier (good for them, bad for us) but at least our orders had gone through properly this time. We eventually get served our coffees and one out of three meals. It then takes three mistaken deliveries for them to successfully deliver our other two orders. One hour after we ordered them. There was one staff member (manager maybe) who was apologetic and explaining how it was the machines fault at first, but in all honesty - aside from the time issue, the service was generally not that spectacular anyway. The staff didn't acknowledge us, they didn't smile when we walked past them and when my mother asked for a spoon (to use the sugar on the table), they just walked off and served someone else (so by the time they finally came back, my mother had already got one off the table next to us). As I said above, their food was lovely. But as lovely as it was, it was not worth the hassle. I was late to an appointment (due to how long it took to receive our orders) and overall felt disappointed about our experience. We try to be understanding, especially to new places, but we can only be so patient! Once they've been around for a while (teething problems sorted) I may try it again, as we all had high hopes for this place, but for now - no thanks.

This is a popular cafe. Luckily my companion and I arrived about 10 minutes before a queue formed out front for Saturday brunch. I can see why though. The menu is varied and all the dishes I saw looked generous, interesting and delicious. It has a very comfortable vibe, with lots of home-cooked delights in the cabinet. Nothing mass produced here! My companion had a Cheese Scone, brimming with cheese and warmed through to make it even more delicious. Coffee is good and - regardless of their busy-ness - the service is responsive and quick. I'd come here again.

A busy new cafe popping up on the street of Parnell, where it seams to be the trend of new openings, bringing back a reason to come to Parnell and not to just stuff our face with chocolate at The Chocolate Boutique. If you have been to Hello Friends and Allies, you will be happy to know the now previous owners have opened Winona Forever which you will see similar trends with their display food setup. Who can't agree that brunch is the best meal of the day and if you want to walk away feeling stuffed and satisfied, this eatery will be next on your list. There really isn't an item on the menu that doesn't sound appealing. Going for the lighter option besides my 3 fatty dining partners, the Beet Street was beautifully presently but delicately light and fresh to eat. Though as much to say I wasn't much better by ordering the Peanut butter and Jelly Smoothie which I actually couldn't finish but wished I was fat enough to. I was tossing up on ordering the Beans is Beans which my mate ate being slightly jealous of her dish when placed on the table, but I am a sucker for a go to avocado dish and I was really wanting to try something different. She couldn't say a bad thing and the portion size was well worth the money! If you are typical eggs bene eater, the Bacon Benedict is for you. the only negative from the dish, was the bread tasted nice but was very heavy and dense, which can be quite overwhelming with a thick hollandaise sauce. Would I return? Hell yes! They are still trying to find their feet, as service was pretty slow but I dont have a doubt they will be running smoother in the near future. Rating: Food: 9/10 Service: 7/10 Value for Money: Very Good 100 Parnell Road, Parnell Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-430pm Sat-Sun 8am-4pm

We've walked past this place twice, mainly because it looked so busy. However today we were lucky to get a seat. Extremely well presented fast food- the service was friendly. One of the best breakfasts I've had in Auckland

This place is outstanding. Creative, satisfying and quaint. I actually loved my experience here. Limited breakfast menu but delightful and inspired at the same time.

Best breakfast in Auckland! The French Toast and Big Breakfast are amazing. I could eat their melt in your mouth pork belly for an entire meal. Seriously, you can't go wrong here. If you're in Auckland, you need to make it a point to check this place out.

I don't know how to describe Winona Forever, I don't think the words exist. The food is elegant, out of this world, interesting, flavorful, and fresh. When you look at pictures, it might scream "instagram!" but it tastes just as good as it looks. The Eton Mess French Toast features a large slice of brioche with a crispy shell and fluffy interior. On top sits a crisp meringue, topped with roasted fruits (pineapple, pears, etc). On the side are dollops of either marscapone or heavily whipped cream. Try to cram everything on one bite - it's worth it for all the flavors.

Soft shell crab omelette was edible, omelette lacklustre but crab was delicious. Would also recommend the hot cakes. Good coffee, and atmosphere, would come back again but avoid the omelette.

This is probably my favorite restaurant in Auckland for brunch. The coffee is great (coconut milk absolutely recommended). The eggs Benedict are my favorite, but I've loved everything I've tried on the menu so far.

Why Winona, why? Great location, good intentions but the attitude and service consistently miss. I come for breakfast twice a week never quite knowing if it will be poor service or very average service. It is never great service. Same with the coffee - average usually but occasionally poor. Food ok. Could be so much better with very little effort. Offhand is probably a good word here.

Don't believe the hype. Throbbing Sunday morning, party of 3. Seated quickly - gold star. Left to our own devices, sure thing, perused menus and chatted about options, orders taken in adequate time frame. We also requested water for the table. Uh oh from this point. No table service for the next 20 mins. Eventually we had to ask a (different) waitress for water, and she quickly delivered. 15 minutes later, our coffees arrived, burnt and inedible. 15 minutes later, we were perplexed and waiting for our food. A nearby waiter returned to us and said, you guys haven't eaten yet, right? That's a hard no, sir. To our irritation, I notice that the nearby table with patrons who arrived after us had their food out already. Cue ANOTHER 15 mins before 2 out of 3 meals arrived (Lady Bowl and Hello Bowl). The last meal had to be apologised for by the waittress as there was a mix up in the kitchen, due to new staff. 5 mins later, the last meal arrived. Granted, the meals were gorgeously presented and okay-tasting. By this point, the fairytale was fading. It was loud, busy, cramped, a rigmarole to pay + find the bathroom. In short, I won't be coming back in a hurry.

Overpriced at $22 for three bites of old overcooked salmon on an oversized bun. Fries would have been wonderful if they had been cooked as the potatoes were quite nice but as a result of being rushed were starchy, undercooked, and oily. Friendly staff, but will not be back.