Monica's Eatery occupies the corner of King and Queen Streets with an all-day style inspired by the progressive, creative and generous outlook of Monica Brewster. The kitchen grounds that idea in seasonal Taranaki produce, working with local growers and farmers rather than keeping the menu static throughout the year. Its daily service can cover coffee and breakfast, a relaxed lunch or a more composed evening meal, all within the same central New Plymouth venue. Seasonal change is therefore part of the experience rather than a small adjustment around a fixed list.
Breakfast and brunch balance recognisable cafe favourites with more distinctive combinations. Eggs Benedict and creamy mushrooms share the menu with house crumpets, while a brioche plate brings pork-and-fennel sausage together with rosti. Smoked-kahawai kedgeree gives the morning menu a local seafood direction, and beef-cheek ragu served with eggs makes a richer start. Zucchini-and-potato fritters and a scrambled-tofu bagel provide alternatives that do not depend on the usual bacon-and-egg formula. This range lets the early menu move comfortably between light, plant-based and deeply savoury choices.
Later in the day, the cooking becomes broader without losing its seasonal focus. Lamb kofta and beef schnitzel sit alongside prawn linguine, and handmade tagliatelle can be paired with New Zealand green-lip mussels. Rigatoni with beef cheek builds depth through slow cooking, while chicken cassoulet and mushroom risotto offer contrasting routes through a comforting main course. The menu's strength is its ability to move from a casual flatbread or salad towards pasta and slow-cooked dishes as the occasion changes.
Drinks reinforce that all-day rhythm. Ozone coffee anchors the morning, with tea, matcha and chai providing different warm choices; juices and smoothies suit a quick daytime visit. Wine, Taranaki craft beer and cocktails take over naturally when the table shifts towards lunch or dinner. Because the kitchen and bar both cover a wide span, Monica's can feel like a cafe early in the day and a neighbourhood restaurant later, while the emphasis on Taranaki ingredients keeps those two sides connected.
Address: Corner King and Queen Streets, 42 Queen Street, New Plymouth 4310, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
Monica's Eatery Menu
All Day
hash browns for the table
grana padano, chive sour cream
overnight oats
chilled oats, clevedon buffalo yoghurt, chia, seasonal fruit, working bee honey, oat crumble (v)
free range eggs
served on volare sourdough or grain bread (v) + bacon 7.8
eggs benedict
bacon, free range eggs, english muffin, potato rosti & hollandaise
eggs florentine
spinach, mushrooms, free range eggs, english muffin, potato rosti & hollandaise (v)
omelette
soubise onions, provolone, potato hay, chives + bacon 7.8
monicas braised beans
charred turkish, irish pork sausage, picante pepper salsa + egg 3.0
creamy mushrooms on sourdough
pickled red onion, sage, lemon gremolata (vegan)
house made crumpets
boysenberry compote, chocolate mascarpone, sweet pumpkin seed crumble (v) + add bacon 7.8 pair with mimosa
morning brioche bun
pork & fennel sausage, house made potato rosti, swiss cheese, pickles, monicas sauce pair with mimosa
avocado smash on turkish bread
poached egg, honey ricotta, spiced almonds + bacon 7.8 pair with sauvignon blanc
roast beetroot & carrot salad
roebuck leaves & shoots, smoked paprika cashew cream, grain salad, dukkah + fried chicken or crispy pork belly 9.9 pair with sauvignon blanc
fried chicken burger
pickles, swiss, monicas sauce, roebuck leaves & shoots pair with sauvignon blanc
crispy glazed pork belly
house made flatbread, roebuck greens, spanish onion, labneh, green apple pair with pinot noir
lamb kofta
tahini yoghurt, mint, chickpea salad, spanish onion, kumara puree pair with sauvignon blanc
fried chicken on grain salad
hot honey & lime glaze, chive sour cream pair with hazy
prawn linguine
lemon, caper cream sauce, gremolata pair with lager
beef schnitzel
winter slaw, radish, pickle mayo + egg 3.0 pair with hazy
All Day – Sides
toasted sourdough
olive oil
bacon (3)
mushrooms
shoestring fries
egg
Brunch 7am – 2:30pm
toasted rye
anathoth raspberry jam, house made peanut butter (v)
one egg on potato rosti
roasted pumpkin hummus, crumbled feta, crispy shallot, aleppo pepper butter (gf) (v)
beef cheek ragu
toasted turkish, poached eggs, grana padano
overnight oats
macerated berries, chia seeds, seasonal fruit, toasted oat crumb (v)
zucchini and potato fritters
labneh, blistered tomatoes, herb salad, poached egg (v)
house made crumpets
stewed apple, whipped vanilla mascarpone, toasted oat crumb, maple syrup (v) + bacon 7.9
kedgeree
smoked kahawai, clevedon buffalo yoghurt, poached egg, salsa verde (gf)
open omelette
onion and potato sofrito, chorizo, grana padano (gf)
scrambled tofu
public bagel, harissa, house pickles (vegan)
eggs benedict
streaky bacon, potato rosti, poached eggs, english muffin, hollandaise
eggs florentine
field mushrooms, spinach, potato rosti, poached eggs, english muffin, hollandaise (v)
eggs on toasted rye
scrambled, poached, or fried (v)
honey mustard fried chicken
house made pickles, tatua sour cream
lamb kofta
fried eggplant, tzatziki, pickled red onion, pistachio, yoghurt flatbread
handmade tagliatelle
green lip mussels, white wine, confit garlic butter, pangrattato
falafel salad
roebuck greens, roasted pumpkin, red onion, crumbled feta, tahini dressing (gf) (v)
mediterranean chicken skewers
chickpea salad, garlic yoghurt, fresh herbs (gf)
Brunch – Sides
streaky bacon
rosti
field mushrooms
spinach
halloumi
chorizo
fries
Lunch 12pm – 2:30pm
lamb kofta
fried eggplant, tzatziki, pickled red onion, pistachio, yoghurt flatbread
open omelette
onion and potato sofrito, chorizo, grana padano (gf)
scrambled tofu
public bagel, harissa, house pickles (vegan)
kedgeree
smoked kahawai, clevedon buffalo yoghurt, poached egg, salsa verde (gf)
handmade tagliatelle
green lip mussels, white wine, confit garlic butter, pangrattato
rigatoni
beef cheek ragu, grana padano
falafel salad
roebuck greens, roasted pumpkin, red onion, crumbled feta, tahini dressing (gf) (v)
mediterranean chicken skewers
chickpea salad, garlic yoghurt, fresh herbs (gf)
zucchini and potato fritters
labneh, blistered tomatoes, herb salad, poached egg (v)
confit chicken maryland
cassoulet, bacon crumb, fresh herbs, pickled shallots (df)
mushroom risotto
garlic, butter, fried mushrooms, grana padano (gf) (v)
eggs benedict
streaky bacon, potato rosti, poached eggs, english muffin, hollandaise
eggs florentine
spinach and mushroom, potato rosti, poached eggs, english muffin, hollandaise (v)
honey mustard fried chicken
house made pickles, tatua sour cream
eggs on toasted rye
scrambled, poached, or fried (v)
Lunch – Sides
streaky bacon
rosti
field mushrooms
spinach
halloumi
chorizo
fries
Coffee – ozone coffee roasters hodson blend
black
white
mocha
Matcha, Chocolate, Chai – west coast cocoa
deluxe chocolate
peppermint
matcha
strawberry matcha
Iced
iced latte
iced black
chocolate
mocha
Hawkes Bay Fruit Juices
apple
pineapple
tomato
orange
Smoothies
mango, coconut milk, honey & chia
berry, banana, yoghurt, chia & maple
banana, date, chia, cinnamon & honey
Bit of Fizz
antipodes sparkling water
coke
coke no sugar
lemonade
Beer
shining peak fanny fanthams lager 5.0%
shining peak petite pegasus session hazy 4.2%
garage project fugazi 2.2%
garage project tiny hazy ipa 0.5%
Cocktails
espresso martini
margarita
lychee martini
bloody mary
From Happy Menu members
Reviews from locals: every member has confirmed a New Zealand mobile.
Been to Monica's Eatery? Be one of the first to rate it.
+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in New Plymouth
- Eggs benedict Typical in New Plymouth: $25.25 $25.90
- Mocha Typical in New Plymouth: $5.50 $6.50
- Chicken burger Typical in New Plymouth: $24.50 $22.90
Around the corner
Within 1 km of Monica's Eatery
-
Ms White
New Plymouth · 30 m ·$
Italian · Pizza
-
Snug Lounge
New Plymouth · 40 m ·$
Asian · Fusion
-
Frederic's Restaurant & Bar
New Plymouth · 130 m ·$
- Tacos T Three Sisters Brewery New Plymouth · 150 m ·$ Tacos · Brewery
- Pub T The Dept New Plymouth · 150 m Pub
- Latin American E El Abrazo New Plymouth · 160 m ·$ Latin American · Spanish
More Café spots nearby
Within 10 km
-
Arborio Restaurant, Cafe & Bar
New Plymouth · 220 m ·$$
Pizza · Bar
-
Elixir Cafe
New Plymouth · 710 m ·$
Café
-
Joe's Garage New Plymouth
New Plymouth · 830 m ·$$
New Zealand · Café
- New Zealand W Wild Pear Kitchen New Plymouth · 870 m ·$ New Zealand · Café
-
Tartan Rose Cakery and Deli
New Plymouth · 1.4 km ·$$
Bakery · Café
- New Zealand A Ate Fortyone New Plymouth · 1.5 km ·$ New Zealand · Café