Stanley’s

Just paid a visit here for a wee birthday celebration with my dad. I wasn’t hungry though I nibbled at his eggs benedict with salmon, which was pretty good, no-​frills but tasty. The crispy bread really ‘made’ the dish and the hollandaise was thick, creamy, good. Eggs were cooked perfectly. Coffee was pretty good too. Décor is eclectic, but ‘deliberately’ so, so the effect, whilst a little strange, is pleasing. You can tell they were angling for the ‘artfully mismatched’ look. It’s bright, sunny, spacious, unassuming, a friendly place to sit. Staff could perhaps use a personality injection… and the patrons tend to be of the ‘tarted-​up’ variety, pseudo-​snobs as we facetiously like to call them. I’ve been here a couple of times before, it’s often quite quiet and what with the sunny, spacious interior it makes for a good place to sit and work while sipping a long black.

Busy and noisy but nice touches like the beaker water bottles and antique cash register parts for table numbers. Nothing too unusual but good service and tasty food, nicely presented. We had the mushrooms on rye and the deconstructed mince with spud. Accompanying cappuccinos were yum.

Stanley’s is one of those good cafes popping up in suburban shops. The coffee is always good and worth the trip to pick up a takeout.
The cabinet food is tempting and the pies. This weekend was a double visit. On Saturday a coffee and blueberry muffin was a mid morning treat. The muffin wasn’t the biggest in the world but was lovely and moist with lots of berries.
Sunday was a working bee and the homemade chicken and beef and ale pies hit the spot at lunchtime and provided the energy to keep going with the wallpaper stripping.
If you want to eat in they have an excellent menu with old fashioned favourites such as savoury mince.

This place is a right little pearler! The coffee is terrific, as is the food! Whether you’re having tea and tiffin or settling in with the paper for a full brekkie or lunch, this place is consistent, delicious and doesn’t do ridiculous prices. The sun streams in during the morning … All is right with the world!

Had the service been even approaching friendly and good, I would have given this place 4 or even 5 stars. Mince on toast came in a short glass jar, topped with crispy little fried potatoes which extended generously and deliciously onto the plate alongside crunchy toast. A rectangle of butter came wrapped in greaseproof paper. Fabulous. But, oh dear, the service. We waited and waited in an almost empty café for one of the two waitresses to stop twiddling their thumbs, pick up their downcast mouth corners and take our order. Even the offer of a glass of water would have helped. Finally, after my companion waved her arm high and often, one of the girls sauntered to our table and said: «Yes?»
“Can we order? Do we need to come to the counter?” we asked nicely with friendly smiles hoping to lift her mood.
«It would be easier,» came the reply «but I suppose I can get a pen and pad and write it down.»
Really? Really? In spite of the tasty meal I will not return. Churlish service is not a seat filler.

This was my second stop of the day for coffee and catch up with friends. Didn’t I make a New Year’s resolution to do a little work every day before I headed out for coffee? Anyway, this was my friend’s café and I haven’t been since the new owners have taken over. It still has a good variety of cabinet food and the same menu. I can recommend the Anzac caramel slice. But what happened to the homemade doughnuts? Buzzy atmosphere, nice décor and a great position away from the hustle and bustle of Milford makes this an easy choice for a coffee stop. There’s a new café coming…

Have come here once before but this time got to try something off their menu!
Had their Rosti with bacon, as they were sadly out of their corn fritters but this was an excellent substitute! Arrived simply presented with 2 eggs benedicts cooked to a nice runny inside with their nicely crispy Potato rosti and a wee pot of hollandaise sauce!
Delicious! Such a good choice.
Paired well with their tropical smoothie which was refreshing and brought back summer memories. Got to sip my friend’s berry smoothie which was also nice with a neat sour tang.
Loved the metal straws that came in the glasses– never seen the like. As well as their cool conical flask water jugs and neat decorations around the walls.
Great interior with glass windows for lots of light as well as outside seating if the weather is good!
Recommend!

Excellent coffee. Best I’ve had in quite awhile. Small flat white was $ 4.20, soy milk is an extra .50c.
I visited Stanley’s on a Tuesday morning, ten o’clock. The place was busy, all of the tables inside were occupied. The place is bright & airy with mismatched art works on the walls. They have a couple of highchairs and a little table with some children’s books which was a nice touch. The all day menu focuses entirely on breakfast and there is a limited lunch menu that runs from 11−2pm. However they do have cabinet food with lots of sweet & savoury items to choose from. I had a ‘raw energy salad’ with beetroot and quinoa ($ 6 for a side order size) and a ‘veggie melt’ for $ 8. The salad was well presented & yummy, the veggie melt could have been warmed up for longer — the cheese on top had only just started to melt and the bread was still cold. It was still very good with homemade hummus, caramelised onions, and slices of roasted eggplant, carrot, kumara and pumpkin.
Friendly, attentive service. I will be returning again soon :)

Reminds me of Melbourne. Beautiful venue, atmosphere, food, cakes, everything. No table service though — need to order at counter which I always find strange at such nice cafés. Definitely highly recommend and will go back as soon as I can to try more of their delish menu.

A surprising delight tucked up the hill and away from the main crowd of Milford cafes.
Good coffee, a full menu and a cabinet bursting with tempting options to satisfy all tastes.
I had pie-​jar mince with cheese and potatoes, because it was a rainy day and it was exactly what I felt like before having to spend the arvo outside working, yum! It is not a pie, as I embarassingly first thought, rather the mince is served in a pie-​jar.
The place was full in no time and the atmosphere was relaxed, local and upbeat. Stanley’s is the kitchen of 3 ladies who love great food we were told by one of my favorite café people who I’d lost after the last place she worked closed down. Another bonus was finding her.
I’ll definitely go back!

I can’t believe I haven’t heard of this place earlier. What an absolute treat!
I stopped in here last Friday lunch when it was cold and blustery out and I was in desperate need of soup. As per, I was in a bit of hurry so I was chuffed that their daily soup, Tomato and Leek Soup with Cheesy Toast, was available takeaway.
Whilst waiting for my cuppa soup, I grabbed one of the only seats available and took it all in. Stanley’s was absolutely packed; there were ladies who lunch, businessmen in suits, grandmas enjoying a cuppa and a hipster teen out with his mother. It struck me that this is the kind of place where everyone feels comfortable. The interior is simple, clean and fuss free with ceiling to floor windows that make it beautifully light inside (even when it is miserable outside). Of course, there are also exposed light features but in this case they work brilliantly with the fresh, white interior.
Within 10minutes my takeaway soup had arrived with the bag of cheesy goodness and boy, was I excited. When I got home, I transferred the piping hot soup to a bowl and noticed that they had served it with fresh sage and a drizzle of cream. The little things really can a difference. The soup smelt absolutely devine and tasted equally as good; thick and hearty with a rich tomato flavour. Combined with the cheesy toast this was most definitely a substantial lunch. I was satisfied, full and ready to steam through an afternoon of work!
I will most definitely be back, on the reg.

Stanley’s provides a much-​needed addition to the café scene in the ‘burbs of the North Shore. We ventured in for the first time today (Sunday) and at 1pm the scene was lively and bustling. They have counter food plus a decent a la carte menu, and you order at the till.
My first coffee was a little burnt and I sent it back but the staff were very apologetic and I received a fresh coffee within minutes.
The open sandwiches are reasonably priced and just the right amount for a light, weekend lunch (leaving just enough room for that sweet treat afterwards).
I can’t help but think they’ve copied some of the area’s more established cafes in terms of their styling and décor but hey, it works.