European pastries, a creative breakfast and then light meal
menu projected onto a concrete back wall, gourmet hot dogs, and a carefully
chosen wine list.
Imperial Lane oozes industrial charm and European
sophistication. I hesitate to use the word European because why do Europeans
have the monopoly on sophistication? The Imperial Building on Fort Lane in
Auckland has a style all its own and is one of the many reasons New Zealand is
starting to make quite a name for itself on a global foodie scale.
Ostensibly a dimly lit laneway with brick walls and exposed
pipes, Imperial Lane is housed in the historic Imperial Building, a former
picture theatre, in Auckland’s vibrant viaduct precinct, along with bar and
eatery, Everybody’s and nightclub, Roxy.
The team behind Imperial Lane have left nothing to chance. Coffee
by New Zealand’s iconic Wellington roasters, L’Affare. Melt in your mouth almond
croissants, fruit tarts and apple strudels are supplied by Michelin-star Danish
baker Kristina Jensen, of Elske. Meat for the hot dogs comes from boutique
butchery, Neat Meat. You can decide whether you are feeling more Spanish,
Moroccan or Danish as you select your El Matador, Marrakesh, or Polser sausage
with all the trimmings, nestled in a brioche bun. Now I understand you may well
question ‘nestled’, but believe me, a baseball hot dog may well not carry off
any kind of nestling, but these babies...they are nestling with the best of
them.
Small wonder that Imperial Lane is so impressive. The
inspiration and savvy business genius behind it, Pack and Co, have already
proved they are a force to be reckoned with. Having taken over the reins of 51
year old Wellington Institution, Matterhorn; brought champagne, cocktails and
excellent food to Queens Wharf, Wellington, at Fox Glove; delivered town to the
beach at Takapuna’s The Commons, not to mention the other various gourmet pies
they have their fingers in, the Imperial takeover was always going to work. And
it does.
7 Fort Lane or 44 Queen Street, Auckland
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