Tomorrow's Brunch – Kiss Kiss

Balmoral's now home to a cheerful Northern Thai-inspired eatery with long, shared tables, illustrated walls, pink lights and plants dripping from every surface.

Open from 7am, the daytime menu boasts an abundance of delicious breakfast and lunch options. Dishes such as chicken and kaffir lime scotch egg with pickled red cabbage, spiced pumpkin puree and coriander pesto atop sourdough appear alongside muesli and toast, ensuring broad appeal. We tried the Rum and Orange-Soaked Brioche French Toast served with banana and coconut dulce de leche, which made for an incredibly decadent breakfast. The Smoked Thai Fish Cake with poached eggs doused in sriracha hollandaise alongside a watercress salad is their clever answer to eggs benedict – it was both tasty and filling.

On the list for next time is their Burmese-style Pork Belly with curried black beans, eggs and sourdough and a Fragrant Crispy Rice Salad with herbs and homemade sausage. No doubt we’ll also be making a few lunchtime visits for their Bangkok Filled Rolls with pickled vegetables, crushed peanuts and a choice of pork or tofu.

 

A photo posted by Dish Magazine (@dishmagnz) on Apr 12, 2016 at 1:40am PDT

Kiss Kiss caters for every time of day, with a concise dinner menu and a line-up of Viewmasters with cocktail options inside. On a previous evening visit I opted for the Phad Si Ew: stir-fried noodles with gai lan, soy and tofu, which was simple but satisfying. My friend tried the Yum Woon Sen – a glass noodle salad with pork mince, chilli and fresh herbs, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Their Thai-style pork ribs are bound to be a popular side option, not to mention their sticky chicken wings. Two delicious dessert options await at the end of your meal: either Sticky Rice and Mango or Doughnuts with a gorgeously green pandan custard.

Both the service and the restaurant itself are cheerful and relaxed. During the mornings, the pastel interior is soaked in natural light; by night the hall is lit by pink lights and the long, shared tables are adorned with bright floral tablecloths. With a host of intriguing cocktails and Brothers Beer on tap, it’s a great spot to while away an evening sharing a meal with friends. You’ll probably be tempted to return in the morning for a long, late brunch.

Address
1 Rocklands Ave, Balmoral
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 7am–3pm; 5pm–late​
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