Goodness Bistro

The Verdict

Goodness Bistro is aptly named – as soon as you walk into the elegant eatery in the newly refurbished Britomart precinct, you won't stop saying ‘Oh My Goodness’. Not least, because everything they make is gluten-free, vegan, organic, paleo and free from refined sugar.

When Scott and his wife Ruth realised their daughter wasn’t able to eat gluten, Scott set off on a journey to create gluten-free bread that didn’t taste like cardboard. This evolved into a mission to create the best sandwich anyone had ever tasted… and he succeeded.

Now OM Goodness is across three locations and counting. There’s the OMG Hastings Bakery, the Auckland Bakery in Silverdale and the Goodness Bistro in Britomart Train Station.

Bite into their ‘open’ OMG bun—an absolute steal at $7—and you’ll be treated to a burst of freshness and layers upon layers of goodness. Their poppyseed variation features cashew cheese and hummus topped with red onion, cucumber, spicy chipotle relish and a balsamic glaze with the gorgeous tang of sourdough. Hearty, delicious and healthy, this is an absolute winner you could totally eat every day (and we plan to!)

Other offerings include herby ‘cwackers’—which go down a treat with a lick of hummus—generous servings of chia pudding, and a rainbow sandwich that Scott promises will ‘take over your entire being’. After a drink? There's an almost endless selection of nourishing options like creamy coconut milk vegan hot choc, dandelion coffee and blackcurrant with fresh lime juice. 

The cafe also features some inspired collabs: perfectly pulpy OJ from Henry’s in Hawkes Bay and dainty detailed delights by Twins Blend Lab if you’re after a sweet treat. 

At the heart of OM Goodness is a deep need to change people’s lives for the better, alleviating food anxiety and removing the barriers between hungry bellies and great food. Doing this, sustainably, is also a huge focus. We love that bottles have been eschewed in favour of sparkling water, kombucha and OJ on tap to reduce the cafe’s eco-footprint. 

And then there’s the bread itself: fresh and organic, spongy and delicious. It comes in varieties like date and orange; roast pumpkin and fennel seed; and rosemary and black sesame sourdough. Grab it hot and buttery by the slice (plant-based of course!) or nab a loaf for later. And if you’re head over heels in love, which we know you will be, the team sells no-knead pre-mixes so you can have all this magic at home for a fraction of the price, just add water.

Image credit: Goodness Bistro