Bowmans Restaurant

You know those weekend days where you skip lunch but then you get hungry around 3? Well one day when this happened, I stopped off at Next Door for a bite to eat and a caffeine hit. As we all know, shopping can be pretty tiring!
I shared a breakfast panini (bacon and eggs) which came with some salad on the side and declious relish for $ 9.50. It really hit the spot!
We enjoyed our coffees and there were newspapers to read. I thought Next Door was a nice, relaxing café — just a little further on from the hustle and bustle of the village cafes. Another plus side is that there is easily accessible parking on the street.
Whenever I walk past this place, I often look at the chalkboard outside and think to myself that the meal they have written up on their sounds pretty good!
Next Door is open Tuesday to Sunday, 7.30pm-3pm in the same building as Bowman’s Restaurant.

Bowmans has been a Mt Eden institution for many years ago but I’m sorry to say, is seeming a bit dated. The clientele is primarily of an older vintage as well, most probably due to the steep fine dining prices. While the loyal locals keep coming, it feels like the place needs a bit of a shake-​up, especially given the vast amount of choices now in the previously small-​ish fine dining market.
A few years back Bowmans added Next Door Café which for me was so much of a hit we hired it for our wedding reception. Mainly because the theme fitted and it’s close to home, but also because the food is (usually) excellent. Service not so much.
When we went back the next day for brunch with a couple of friends we were pretty much accused of stealing some coffee saucers off the top of the coffee machine the night before. Um, yeah, whatever. My friends also told me that while they were decorating for the reception, one staff member was particularly difficult and at times, outright rude which is a horrible attitude to have on someone’s special day. I can’t say the waiters were any better and the whole team at Bowmans seems very disinterested in their customers.
We have gone back for dinner and nothing seems to change so I guess it’s working for them. Although Next Door closed down shortly after our wedding so maybe not. They now operate as a daytime café from the main restaurant.
I’ve heard from friends that the food is often less than fabulous but have only experienced that myself once and it was years ago. So go for the food but expect a superior attitude from the staff.