Country escape: Route 72 Cafe Bar & Emporium
A trip out to the country for brunch or lunch is a wonderful respite and tonic away from the daily grind of the city.
When that brunch or lunch is combined with some fabulous shopping, the recuperative therapy is complete.
Route 72 Cafe Bar Emporium in Cust Village does indeed combine the best of shopping and food served up by friendly staff all in one establishment. Owners Steve and Annette Thomson say that their cafe is one of the few places in the country that has a true à-la-carte menu available at lunchtime.
As we head towards winter, they have delicious new dishes to tempt the taste buds. Try the citrus crusted fish of the day, baked and served on a red curry coconut cream, or the manuka smoked duck breast sliced on char-grilled vegetables with a zesty orange and tarragon glaze. Perhaps the grilled salmon fillet, calamari, and steamed mussels in a spiced tomato and red wine salsa might be more to your liking. There are also three different homemade soups on the menu every day.
Replete with food, you can “hit the shop” with its superb selection of homewares and gifts. There is a clearance of kitchen items, utensils, knives, oven gloves – at great prices, and the Helga May linen clothing range is as popular as ever.
