We'd spent an amazing day exploring Wellington Botanical Gardens, arriving at Begonia House, site of Picnic cafe, mid afternoon.
"Wellington on a good day".
Nation's Capital city sunny, clear cool....
but a lovely 25C 80F + in the glassed in structures housing the cafe and tropical type flora.
We were lovin' it!
Kitchen closed / finished for the day, just past 230pm, so just beverages and cabinet food which looked FINE.
LOCATION location location...
One can sit indoors as we did, or OUTside in the rose gardens, a tad cool for the writer, but summertime...THIS is as good as Wellington gets.
FOOD...
Cheese scone served with a little packet of processed butter and a tiny ramekin of mango chutney was very tasty well baked and not outrageously expensive considering the BEAUT setting.
Wife pronounced it best ever cheese scone in her experience, my little 'quality control taste' seconded that emotion, twas perfect texture, full of flavour, had the right crunch crust.
Chutney was piquant, added a touch more Kaitaia fire hot sauce,
(no Crystal here folks) = a fine snack indeed.
they could lose da plastic packets o butter imho, but hey.....
BEVERAGES:
We both ordered their version of de caffeinated coffee, heated almond milk on the side, however it wasn't delivered that way.
At this price point, professional barista made = unacceptable when it was mixed into and not as requested (on the SIDE please).
My coffee was thin and taste free, and a personal polite request for additional almond milk brushed off condecendingly by barista = unacceptable
SERVICE:
Didn't spoil MY afternoon, but couldn't help sensing the workplace VIBE might have been slightly 'toxic':
Bussing behind the curve, not a lotta smiles on display, laboured "attitude", certainly unworthy of the food/beverage concessionaire for such a prestigous location. (Begonia House)
In a city with SERIOUSLY good coffee culture = a below par performance / product.
Plenty of room for improvement, people.
Would return, perhaps during KITCHEN hours, try some menu items, AND give em another shot at it.
Yelp rating for our visit today, all things considered = 2.3
pics will follow in due course read more