I had the Sourdough toast with portobello mushrooms and my wife had the Eggs Benedict with bacon…read more She really enjoyed hers, I thought my mushrooms were a little undercooked for my liking. Still we both enjoyed out breakfast. My coffee was OK, a shame as I was quite looking forward to it. There was a minor issue between diners over the opening of a window, one of the staff gave the go ahead, the group opened the window fully, and it took another diner to go up to the group and request the shut the majority of it. I felt the staff should have spoken to the group or requested a limitation when it was opened.. There was a marked chilliness on the fully opened window. Apart from that it was a pleasant breakfast.

For lunch my sister, her husband and I checked out this cute cafe in Raglan…read more I ordered the Hoki Fish Burger which came with French Fries and a sweet Aioli sauce for the fish burger which came on a seed bun. Everything would have been perfect if they served it on a soft bun. They toasted the bun too long that my burger was practically a cracker bun making it very difficult to eat so we had to eat it seperate. Other then that, the fish was very soft and tender. My Sister ordered the Seafood Chowder and her husband the Fish and chips with poached eggs. They seemed to have enjoyed their meals, besides the two milkshakes they ordered in Mango and Caramel flavor. Took one sip and pushed to the side of the table. Cafes are suppose to be pretty much perfectionist at drinks they offer.. Guess they need more work on their shakes.

Nice setting with large interior, coveted balcony and lovely garden area. Right on the main read…read morenext to Alexandra Hotel and Five Stags restaurant. With the awning around the balcony down it looked closed and sign hard to see. Worth stopping to make sure. Very bubbly friendly staff. Delicious banana and fudge muffin and good coffee, but could have been hotter. Recommend it as a good stop off. Opposite is the small heritage and visitors centre. And just along the road is a walkway down to and looping back along the river (45 mins) taking in the remains of the Redoubt (fort)

On our way from Karuma to Waitomo, we stopped for breakfast in Pirongia on Franklin road…read more We tried the first roadside cafe, we came upon (don't remember the name), but we weren't impressed with the menu or the seating. It was only then that we noticed "the Nest" next door. Not a very attractive building, we would have easily overlooked it and we were hesitating to enter. But once inside, we were pleasantly surprised by the cheerful, slightly hipster vibe. The seating areas with ample room for small and bigger groups, comfy chairs and couches for having espressos and a pleasant sunroom. There even appeared to be some kind of picnic area complete with blankets and so on. We ordered our food at the counter and then seated ourselves in the sunroom. With the decor between antique, vintage and eclectic, the statement piece was definitely the giant antique copper / brass espresso machine by Elektra. A real beauty that I wouldn't mind owning myself. The business owner himself served at the counter and was good for conversation and interested in his customers. My husband ordered the scrambled eggs and I had the poached egg with avocado and the most delicious hashbrowns I have ever had. We both had capucinos too. The only thing I would have liked to see is a little more generous servings of bread. Maybe 2 slices per person instead of one. But, I have to say that when my husband asked for extra bread, the owner didn't charge him for it. The breakfast was served on warm plates (YES!!!!), tastefully plated, capucinos presented with coffee art. Both eggs and bread fresh and flavorful. We wanted to come back here the next morning, before driving back to Auckland to catch our flight, but why oh why weren't you open yet at 8 AM??? I had so much looked forward to a repeat of the day before, but alas, it was not in the cards..... Perfect breakfast place!

We had an adequate dinner here. Nancy very much liked her arugula salad (I didn;t get a taste) and…read moreher pumpkin risotto. I had whjat purported to be a Thai beef salad, and although the greens where very nice and the beef well prepared, it was not discernibly Thai -- no lime juice, no fish sauce, no spiciness, and no cilantro. Nice salad, but not an accurate menu listing

This was a great place for us to stop at while visiting the Waitomo Gloworm Caves. We got here…read moreright as the cafe was opening, which was probably a good thing since we didn't make a reservation but we were still able to get a table since we were early. I would recommend either making a reservation, or getting there early because it's a pretty small cafe and the dining room can fill up really quickly. Their parking spots out front is also pretty limited, so getting there early ensures that you have a place to park without having to circle around and find street parking. We got one of their salads and their fish and chips and both were absolutely divine. I loved the freshness of their salad and their flavor combination. The citrus dressing really tied it all together. The fish and chips, as a staple in NZ was so fresh and crispy here! I truly enjoyed it. The table next to us got the mini lamb burgers, and if I had more stomach space, I would have loved to try that too since it looked juicy and mouthwatering. The views in this place was also really great and and I truly enjoyed my visit.

Cute little cafe on a blueberry farm. They feature products made with the very same blueberries…read moregrown there such as jams, spreads and even wines. Great spot for tourists too as they have mini containers of jams and wines that are perfect as souvenirs. I only wish that I bought more of everything. As for the service they were very pleasant and helpful. My parents had ordered what appeared to be sort of an eggs Benedict and they were pretty good. Since I had a ton to eat on the plane I decided to hold off eating and instead got one of their signature drinks. It was kind of like a blueberry lemonade with ice cream. Side note they also won the 2024 New Zealand Fruit Wine and Mead Award for the Table Fruit Wine category. I believe they had 2 different kinds; a dry and a semi sweet. I def recommend coming if you're ever in the area.

Had dinner here after we saw the menus online with df options. Had the tandoori chicken & the veg…read morebowl with the blueberry cider & ale. Must say the meals were phenomenal. Particularly the cider and the falafel. Staff was nice. Interior is gorgeous, so is the view. This was my favorite place to eat in NZ. Got the blueberry juices to go. Fair warning the sorbet turns your mouth blue.

Our tour stopped here so we can get coffee and food. The ladies didn't stress out with the amount…read moreof people coming in to place take away orders. They were calm, friendly, and made our drinks and heated our food quickly. I ordered one of their Japanese teas, which was really good. I also got their butter chicken pie. One of the couples in my group told me about them and O Cafe is the first time I saw it available. The ladies knew time was of the essence and asked if we wanted our pies heated in the oven or microwave. I appreciated that because of the tight schedule we're on. As for the pie - wow! It was my first butter chicken pie and I'll never forget it. The crust was flaky and the chicken was moist. The butter sauce was yummy. This pie was my gateway pie lol. I knew I had to get butter chicken pie wherever I saw it. I'm addicted and I plan to learn the recipe so I can make it at home. The cafe has plenty of tables and seats. It's a casual, welcoming vibe where you can get good food and coffee.

This seems like a good place for breakfast or lunch. We stoped for lunch; I had a ham and egg club…read moresandwich, and my wife had chicken and brie. Both were excellent. Good selection of interesting drinks plus a full espresso bar.

The cafe is all part of the blueberry orchard which is the main reason why people come here.I give…read moreit top marks as is a great way to get out of the city, get some fresh air , form of exercise though light and get blueberries for a real cheap price compared to in the shops. Only $10 per kg, and is only a short drive from Auckland on the road to Thames. And of course there is the café where you can sample a selection of blueberry delights and just relax after picking. You can pick for as long as you want, eat them while you are doing so and their hours are quite long during the season. in the café there is a good selection of blueberry delights including cakes, smoothies, ice cream and you can buy more blueberries as well as those you picked. They do also have available sandwiches and paninis. We sampled the blueberry and white chocolate cheesecake......delicious ...and a blueberry smoothie. Nice!!! Can highly recommend to anyone who likes the blueberries, wants some nice relaxing activity and to get out in the sun for a while and eat as much as they want while doing so.

The cafe has a wonderful selection of food that pairs well with any coffee. The service was very…read morekind and welcoming. The ambiance is what sets this place apart, a great outdoor sitting area with plenty of space.

When our car started smoking on the highway, this cafe was a very welcome sight. The cafe is big,…read morewith a nice outdoor sitting area. They have a large variety of food, from pies to salads, sandwiches and desserts. We had the delicious carrot cake and a strawberry rhubarb pie. The staff is super friendly and helped us with our car. Consider me a fan.

Great place for a quick stop with tasty breakfast and what looks to be a good lunch. Full coffee…read morebar and great seating outside and indoors! If your traveling on this road consider stopping for a coffee or a bite to eat! Nice and friendly staff!

A quirky cafe. The menu is fairly standard but we chose cabinet fare as we wanted quick and…read moresmallish. Also we were curious to try a couple. Mr had the focaccia melt with meatloaf and Mrs the tarakihi turnover. The coffee came very quickly and the meals not far behind. Both were heated and served with salad. The meatloaf sandwich was deemed very nice. The bread was tasty. The fish calzone was unusual for including tomato and beans but it all worked surprisingly well. A fun selection of gifts for sale and reading glasses to borrow in case you have forgotten yours made a nice experience.

Delightful breakfast. We saw they marked items dairy free and we tried it out…read more Everything was cooked really well. The green dust garnish is green pea power. Coffee was pretty good too!

Atmosphere is friendly, and has relaxing vibe to it. It's a little confined, but there are enough…read moreseats at any one time to spread out a little bit, so I'm not complaining. The price isn't too expensive, but it's not a cheap eat out. Good for a "going-out" breakfast. During very busy days, service is above 7 minutes, but on average, it's a short wait; not too long. Hot chocolate isn't strong, and definitely isn't weak. Perfect milk:chocolate ratio. Coffee is exceptional, creamy and strong. Would definitely recommend for a morning coffee place, and isn't too expensive for drinks. Make sure you arrive before 10 and after 10:45 as the cafe is at its most busiest, and service is slow. 4 stars.