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Recommended Reviews - Fat Dog
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This place is a 10 out of 10 from the atmosphere and the food and drinks you will not be disappointed. Me and my wife were staying in Rotorua for five days and we've had breakfast here twice. That's how good it is. The customer service was top-tier and if you are a fellow copy lover, like myself you will enjoy this place. They also serve fresh pastries.
A solid breakfast place with quick and friendly staff and a charming style! Love the look of the handwritten menu (and if you have a hard time reading, they do have the menu printed out). My family and I ended up going there two mornings in a row. The first morning was a quick breakfast - had mostly muffins (huge!!), coffee chocolate cake or bagel (never had a marmite & cream cheese bagel before and it was delicious!) Second day was a bit slower pace since we had more time so we had some of the larger breakfast plates - bene, mushroom on toast and the corned beef hash. I mostly ate my corned beef hash and can't speak much on the others (although the hash brown with the bene with really good! Not what Americans would call a hash brown but just as good - more like a block of potato with a soft interior with a crispy outside). My hash was delicious - legit the perfect breakfast with the gooeyness of the egg, creamy hollandaise and saltiness of the corned beef. A+ Drinks were solid and straightforward. My only criticism is that their chai is made with syrup :(
We came into Fat Dog Cafe for lunch on the recommendation of my sister-in-law. When we first arrived, the restaurant was quite busy, but we were able to find a seat. After a quick scan of the menu, we went to the register to place our order. We ordered the Classic Kiwi Fish & Chips, Tropical Fish Burger, Crispy Coated Wings and The Wings & Ribs Combo. So far most of the food we have had in New Zealand has been fairly bland and not very flavorful (not much sugar, salt or seasoning) for American tastes, but to our surprise, Fat Dog Cafe, pumps out really delicious food and the serving size was decent for American standards. Small portion sizes in New Zealand has also been one of my observations, but not here! We actually had to request boxes to take leftovers back to our hotel to finish later. At first, I thought the prices were slightly steep for the type of food they offered, but when I saw the potion size and tasted the food, it was worth it! When in Rotorua, this is a must try!
This review is really just for their hot chocolate. I have never ever seen another place serve hot chocolate with a marshmallow and a small cookie! I think this might be the best hot chocolate I've ever consumed. How can chocolate syrup and steamed milk taste so good!! Aside from the hot choco, this looks like a nice spot to relax and study at. I really like the decor inside. I would definitely come back for another hot chocolate if I visit this part of New Zealand again.
Fat Dog looks like a fun local place with good food, but my salad was disappointing. Not only was the price on the high side, but the ingredients were not impressive and the chicken was drenched in satay sauce, basically drowning out the formerly crispy lettuce, which was completely wilted from the hot satay sauce. Also, the salad portions were modest and definitely not "huge", as another reviewer said. I was still hungry after eating every bite. I did see someone with a large burger and another with a giant plate of fries. So maybe the idea of huge portions would apply to the grilled items. But the salads are definitely not the forte this place. If you're looking for a great salad, move on...
Hearty juicy burger. Unique ingredients, I had a pork burger mixed with black pudding, which made for the best kick I've had in a NZ burger. My toppings were massive, I definitely got dirty eating this haha Open Wide! The fries were crispy, and the basket felt endless. I was using the burger topping juice to dip fries in : ) My husband got the Bollox burger which was a ridiculous stack of burger perfect after a long day of hiking. The spiraled beets on top were a new ingredient I quickly fell in love with. I wanted to order some to add to mine. Definitely worth a visit. The staff was also super friendly, they gave a free muffin to a toddler, and helped me google stuff nearby since I was a lost tourist asking about whereto go.
Extremely large portions, share a meal! We just wanted a small lunch, luckily we had decided to split a burger. This thing was huge!!! It had 2 large patties on it with a side of chips (fries). It was really good. Service was normal. Good place for a good lunch. Fries were really good as well
Ordinarily, I would shy away from any place with "fat" in its name, but I ventured in here for lunch. The menu is vast and I chose the Falafel Buddha Bowl. It was pretty good - falafel, coleslaw, tomato salsa, avocado/pea mash, hummus, and tzatziki (with flat bread - but I left that off my order). It came quickly and was very fresh. I enjoyed it, although the falafels were quite dry. They would have been impossible to eat without the sauces. I would come here again though - it's very popular, but no trouble getting a table as it's spacious.
This meal was just what I needed after a few days of lackluster meals. After walking down Eat Street and not really seeing anything that drew us in, we continued onto the street behind Eat Street and found Fat Dog. I liked the coffee house and relaxed ambiance, and I was surprised to find they offered entrees and not just burgers and sandwiches for dinner. We ended up getting the pork belly in broth with bok choy and rice noodles (28NZD) and the lamb shanks with kumara (sweet potato) mash and roasted veggies on gravy (30NZD). Both entrees came out piping hot and, as true to the other reviews, in a huge portion. The food was delicious and reminded me of something you'd find at a tasty gastropub, not at a low-key cafe. The lamb shank fell right off of the bone, and the dish had the perfect amount of veggies to meat ratio. The pork belly had a crispy, caramelized layer on top as the bottom sat in broth and rice noodles. If we didn't already have breakfast provided through our accommodation, I would definitely be coming back here to try their extensive list of drinks, breakfast, lunch, dessert, and bakery items.
3 months ago
Fun lunch on a quiet Sunday afternoon. This restaurant has been here for 30 years and I could see why. My husband and I split the chicken satay salad. It was plenty of yumminess for both of us. Lots of tender chicken served in a bed of greens, red onion, tomatoes and crunchy noodles. The chili sauce as generously poured on top. We had a large cappuccino to accompany our meal. We chose to sit outside and appreciate the warm summer air. Win win read more
This place is so cutely decorated, like out of kids coloring book. The service was super fast, you order up front, pick a table and food was served within 15 minutes. I got the mushroom on toast which was yummy. It could have used some citrus or spice to cut the creaminess but still good. My husband got the salmon Benedict, the eggs were cooked perfectly and the hashbrowns were crispy read more
6 months ago
Came at opening time and service was super quick. Staff were friendly and they gave us a zebra for our table. Food portions were large and pretty tasty. Happy we came read more
3 months ago
This place is a 10 out of 10 from the atmosphere and the food and drinks you will not be disappointed. Me and my wife were staying in Rotorua for five days and we've had breakfast here twice. That's how good it is. The customer service was top-tier and if you are a fellow copy lover, like myself you will enjoy this place. They also serve fresh pastries. read more
A solid breakfast place with quick and friendly staff and a charming style! Love the look of the handwritten menu (and if you have a hard time reading, they do have the menu printed out). My family and I ended up going there two mornings in a row. The first morning was a quick breakfast - had mostly muffins (huge!!), coffee chocolate cake or bagel (never had a marmite & cream cheese bagel before and it was delicious!) Second day was a bit slower pace since we had more time so we had some of the larger breakfast plates - bene, mushroom on toast and the corned beef hash. I mostly ate my corned beef hash and can't speak much on the others (although the hash brown with the bene with really good! Not what Americans would call a hash brown but just as good - more like a block of potato with a soft interior with a crispy outside). My hash was delicious - legit the perfect breakfast with the gooeyness of the egg, creamy hollandaise and saltiness of the corned beef. A+ Drinks were solid and straightforward. My only criticism is that their chai is made with syrup :( read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Food is fresh and all delish! The fat dog is gobup order they bring it to you go up to counter to pay. Casual food. Next to it is the fainting goat which I could not find on yelp. Delish too! I had cauliflower wings very good. Dude salad is an entree salad so big! Service is fantastic, read more
10 months ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
We came into Fat Dog Cafe for lunch on the recommendation of my sister-in-law. When we first arrived, the restaurant was quite busy, but we were able to find a seat. After a quick scan of the menu, we went to the register to place our order. We ordered the Classic Kiwi Fish & Chips, Tropical Fish Burger, Crispy Coated Wings and The Wings & Ribs Combo. So far most of the food we have had in New Zealand has been fairly bland and not very flavorful (not much sugar, salt or seasoning) for American tastes, but to our surprise, Fat Dog Cafe, pumps out really delicious food and the serving size was decent for American standards. Small portion sizes in New Zealand has also been one of my observations, but not here! We actually had to request boxes to take leftovers back to our hotel to finish later. At first, I thought the prices were slightly steep for the type of food they offered, but when I saw the potion size and tasted the food, it was worth it! When in Rotorua, this is a must try! read more
7 years ago
This review is really just for their hot chocolate. I have never ever seen another place serve hot chocolate with a marshmallow and a small cookie! I think this might be the best hot chocolate I've ever consumed. How can chocolate syrup and steamed milk taste so good!! Aside from the hot choco, this looks like a nice spot to relax and study at. I really like the decor inside. I would definitely come back for another hot chocolate if I visit this part of New Zealand again. read more
2 years ago
Fat Dog looks like a fun local place with good food, but my salad was disappointing. Not only was the price on the high side, but the ingredients were not impressive and the chicken was drenched in satay sauce, basically drowning out the formerly crispy lettuce, which was completely wilted from the hot satay sauce. Also, the salad portions were modest and definitely not "huge", as another reviewer said. I was still hungry after eating every bite. I did see someone with a large burger and another with a giant plate of fries. So maybe the idea of huge portions would apply to the grilled items. But the salads are definitely not the forte this place. If you're looking for a great salad, move on... read more
8 years ago
Hearty juicy burger. Unique ingredients, I had a pork burger mixed with black pudding, which made for the best kick I've had in a NZ burger. My toppings were massive, I definitely got dirty eating this haha Open Wide! The fries were crispy, and the basket felt endless. I was using the burger topping juice to dip fries in : ) My husband got the Bollox burger which was a ridiculous stack of burger perfect after a long day of hiking. The spiraled beets on top were a new ingredient I quickly fell in love with. I wanted to order some to add to mine. Definitely worth a visit. The staff was also super friendly, they gave a free muffin to a toddler, and helped me google stuff nearby since I was a lost tourist asking about whereto go. read more
3 years ago
Extremely large portions, share a meal! We just wanted a small lunch, luckily we had decided to split a burger. This thing was huge!!! It had 2 large patties on it with a side of chips (fries). It was really good. Service was normal. Good place for a good lunch. Fries were really good as well read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
Ordinarily, I would shy away from any place with "fat" in its name, but I ventured in here for lunch. The menu is vast and I chose the Falafel Buddha Bowl. It was pretty good - falafel, coleslaw, tomato salsa, avocado/pea mash, hummus, and tzatziki (with flat bread - but I left that off my order). It came quickly and was very fresh. I enjoyed it, although the falafels were quite dry. They would have been impossible to eat without the sauces. I would come here again though - it's very popular, but no trouble getting a table as it's spacious. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
Famous brunch spot in Rotorua - Overall, standard good - had the classic breakfast with eggs, toast, sausages, hashbrown - everything is cooked well but does not leave a particularly memorable impression - Large portion - Good coffee and very friendly service read more
This meal was just what I needed after a few days of lackluster meals. After walking down Eat Street and not really seeing anything that drew us in, we continued onto the street behind Eat Street and found Fat Dog. I liked the coffee house and relaxed ambiance, and I was surprised to find they offered entrees and not just burgers and sandwiches for dinner. We ended up getting the pork belly in broth with bok choy and rice noodles (28NZD) and the lamb shanks with kumara (sweet potato) mash and roasted veggies on gravy (30NZD). Both entrees came out piping hot and, as true to the other reviews, in a huge portion. The food was delicious and reminded me of something you'd find at a tasty gastropub, not at a low-key cafe. The lamb shank fell right off of the bone, and the dish had the perfect amount of veggies to meat ratio. The pork belly had a crispy, caramelized layer on top as the bottom sat in broth and rice noodles. If we didn't already have breakfast provided through our accommodation, I would definitely be coming back here to try their extensive list of drinks, breakfast, lunch, dessert, and bakery items. read more
Definitely a cool place to go when visiting Rotorua! It's a great place for breakfast and lunch, and the portions are HUGE! The place has a decent amount of seating so it's not hard to fit a group in there. My group got the butter chicken, the steak sandwich and fish & chips. All amazing! From checking out other people's orders, the breakfast looked really good. Definitely worth stopping by! read more
Stopped in here for a steak sandwich before continuing a drive up to auckland. Definitely kitschy vibe, the lion King soundtrack was playing at one point. My sandwich came out quickly and was fantastic, good cut of meat, cheese, focaccia bread, lettuce and slaw, potato wedges that were perfectly cooked and salted. At just over $21 NZD I think it might be on the expensive side, but it's a lot of food and we'll worth it if you're hungry - it's stacked so high you have to eat it with a knife and fork! read more
Great breakfast place open early and with a very tasty selection of savory and sweet options. The staff was very chipper, and our food arrived very fast to our table. Husband had the fry up and I had the beetroot salmon bagel. Don't know who's was better...ok, it was totally mine. Good selection of coffees and teas as well. They have lunch options offered after 11am. Seems to be a favorite of locals as we saw several walkers and newspaper readers in early. read more
3 years ago
12 years ago
Whoa what a selection to choose from! Where do we start??? Well we had the salmon salad, eggs bene, and the the kids had the kids breakie. The eggs bene was very good. The bread (not sure what kind) and the bacon blended perfectly with the eggs. Our salad was good. The blue cheese was especially good and the smoked salmon was nice and fresh. The kids enjoyed their breakfast mixed plate (eggs over easy, sausage, bacon, and hash browns) The portion sizes were very generous, and I would say this is a place easy to recommend for sure. read more
Came here with a group on our way back to Auckland when we stayed in Rotorua. Got to try several things and the food was very hit or miss in my opinion. The chowder they had was delicious but the bangers & mash were so sweet it was strange. A friend of mine ordered the most tasteless hot dog I've ever had but the chocolate caramel pie was out of this world yummy. Don't remember the staff being particularly friendly but we did come in fairly close to their closing time. Atmosphere is casual but very cute and inviting. All in all if I were local I would definitely give this place another try as I'm sure I would find a handful of things to enjoy. read more
8 years ago
6 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
Good service. Plenty of options to choose from, all the way from Breakfast to Lunch/Dinner to Dessert and some local beer. However, the food was okay - the servings were quite large but the quality could be a tad bit better. For example, the meat could be less dry and the ribs could have more substance in relation to the bone. Other than that, the place had plenty of seats and nice casual cafe feel. read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
9 years ago
12 years ago
Every time I come to Rotorua, I always make a trip to the Fat Dog Cafe. Despite the Dog's Bollux burger being difficult to eat, it's so tasty and alluring. Love the vibe of the place and the drinks on offer are always well selected. I also love the fireplace and the unconventional order markers. Only criticism is sometimes their menu seems a bit overwhelming, but overall really one of the best! PS: my partner gets the BLAT everytime! read more
7 years ago
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