Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, this is a hidden gem. You can taste a wide variety of Puhio…read moreValley's natural cheeses, and learn about the creation process. The cheese lady (sorry I forgot her name) was great about ensuring we ate certain cheeses in order for our palate, which was delightful advice. We ended up eating there, and I'm so happy we did. In our two week NZ tour, the sandwich from here (salami, brie, chicken, and veggies) was by far the best thing I ate. The cheese melted wonderfully and the combination of flavors with sauces was drool worthy. I wish we didn't get stuffed quickly, because I've heard their ice cream is amazing (one trip regret). Also, I have to say the price was so reasonable. You'd expect fr a fancy cheese place to have high priced meals, but my sandwich was massive for a small price, and the pizza my husband got was juicy not greasy, and also a super shocking low price for as large as it was.

There is something magical about a factory shop. Especially if it's a factory that makes cheese,…read moreyogurt and ice cream. Puhoi valley cheese was fully packed today at 1pm. So I just ordered some award winning ice creams and some coffee. The ice cream is fantastic, so creamy and yummy. Same thing can't be said about the coffee, it was almost as weak as water. I m not a big cheese person, but I can't resist a bargain. So I bought the single cream Camembert that is on special. If it wasn't pouring down outside, I would take a stroll around the grounds and maybe even had a play on the swings to work off those guilty ice cream calories.

Good coffee. Nice range of counter food and big menu too. Date and orange scone delicious. Great to…read morefind a dog friendly cafe for our pampered pooch

A visit to Matakana Village would not be complete to me, without a stop at Black Dog Cafe for a…read moresilky smooth mocha and a slice. Neatly located on the main strip of town, and with a great sunny deck out the side of the cafe; you can soak up the atmosphere of the street as you watch the community and visitors swirl around you. I like the fact that the owners welcome friendly dogs in, to sit with their owners in the outdoor area while they enjoy a meal. Friendly staff, and clean cut cafe style, makes for a well enjoyed visit every time.

When we went to the Farmhouse Cafe today at around lunch time, there was quite a lot of competition…read morefor a seat outside - definitely have to be onto it to nab a table during the busy lunch hour. It is quite obvious from the setting of this place why this competition takes place though - most of the seats look out to the placid Mahurangi River and the attractive boardwalk next to this, with ducks ocassionally quacking as they wander past. The service was mostly pretty good, however they were not so flexible with adjustments to the set menu; for example my mum wanted an extra tomato instead of a hash brown and they said they could only do this if they charged her extra. The food itself was also pretty disappointing - the pancakes I ordered were quite small with a total of 5 berries on top and two small slivers of banana, and my mums poached eggs came with supermarket sliced bread and hash browns that were obviously commercial ones that had previously been frozen. My 'smoothie' was also pretty average; $5.50 is quite pricey considering it was just syrup and milk. The coffee was good, but I don't think we will be coming back here just to enjoy that and the idyllic setting.

Had lunch here the other weekend, having dropped some people off at Sandspit. This place lacks…read morecharacter, it seems to me, both in terms of decor and food. It's nondescript from start to finish; not unpleasant, but just completely lacks flair, which is a pity given it has the best locale in Warkworth. We sat outside, overlooking the beautiful reserve/stream area. A very calm, cathartic place, good spot for a heart-to-heart over coffee and a light lunch. Speaking of which, neither of us being all that hungry, we decided to split a plate of potato wedges. We were surprised by how small the portion was ~ near half of what we'd expect. The flavours were there (esp. nice seasoning on the wedges themselves), but the size just seemed teenie-tiny, even given how neither of us was inclined to gorge ourselves. Plus it lacked flair or 'love', as did everything else about this place. Coffee was very good though. Staffers were adequate in their service but otherwise complemented the (non)ambiance of the establishment. On the whole, a place with heaps of potential by virtue of its great locale... hence it's especially a pity to see it not being taken full advantage of.

Cute café by the waterfront. The view of the water islands are definitely a plus And people…read morewatchers it's definitely entertaining. Spacious, clean and service is good. Friendly waitress without being overbearing. And most importantly the food was good. Seems to be in line with typical New Zealand prices. Came here for brunch only so can't say how it is at night.

From the owner: We are a beachfront restaurant, offering a modern tasty NZ menu. Freshly prepared using the best…read morelocal fresh ingredients. As a fully licensed restaurant, relax and enjoy the panoramic ocean views with friendly service and a memorable dining experience.

We don't normally give 5 stars for cafe food these days, but we have no hesitation in doing that…read moreafter calling in to DD's Country Cafe in Waitoki today. It was Sunday and raining and because of the slips in the Dome Valley we were diverted on to SH16, heading back home to the Bay of Islands. There was a huge selection of freshly made and delicious food. The sandwiches were so good and the light and tasty scone was nothing like the overheated lump of lard that we seem to have served up in cafes now. The coffee was hot and of a good strength and the young staff was very efficient. What an unexpected find. These people deserve to do well.

great place to go for a morning tea or lunch closes 3:30 great staff totally recommended! place…read morehas a real charm to it!

Heard from Google that this place was great! Definitely loved the location, staff, and food!…read moreEnjoyed the organic ingredients, scenery. Great for morning stop on the way to the beach or back. Enjoy!

Alas I can't post videos onto Yelp, but CG is one of the best little cafes i've been to a a very…read morelong time, the food is exquisite, crossing several boundaries between standard eggs Benedict and some truly amazing burgers .. The people are friendly and helpful the atmosphere is open and well spaced with both indoor and outdoor seating options. If you're in the Silverdale area, ground control is a little bit off the beaten path but otherwise is a brilliant option if you want some really decent food at a good price

Great cafe just off Silverdale. The ferry was cancelled so my husband and I had to drive into…read morebritomart. Searched for a place and found this one. We were pleasantly surprised. It's fresh and modern, great menu - breakfast options are amazing. Great location as well .

This would have to be one my favourite cafe's. It ticks all the boxes for me and Im a fussy…read morecustomer. Where do I start. First up the coffee is consistently great! The food is always fresh and made with love and passion. The environment is a total blast, this cafe has easy parking and its plentiful, fabulous out door seating also the beginning for walking and bikes pathways. Art gallery next door. Great thrift shop behind. Facing north and flooded with sun, coffee to die for, food to delight. Go there!! The young man who owns this cafe just oozes enthusiasm. If you own a cafe near here be very worried or sharpen up you act now!! PS Free WiFi

We drove all the way through town to get to this place based on the other review here. And we were…read moredisappointed to find that there was only cabinet food available. It all looked nice and fresh but cabinet food is just not what we're into. And I certainly would never rate a cabinet good cafe higher than three stars ever. I normally wouldn't review a place I hadn't eaten at either but wanted to save other people from going out of their way as we did just now.

Love Shack coffee stall at the Matakana Farmers Market (every Saturday) and Matakana Indie Markets…read morewhich is every third Sunday of the month is the only spot to enjoy a delicious brewed cup of coffee while enjoying time at the artisan markets. Superbly crafted cups of coffee based on international sourced top grade beans. Not only do they sell amazing coffee to go, but also packaged coffee to take home and keep enjoying. The food is also delicious, my partner let me have a sample of his BLT, the bread was divine, a type of wholesome Turkish flat bread, with lots of bacon, aioli and yummy fresh lettuce. If you are after something sweet, they have muffins, biscuits and slices to entice. The first time I tried Love shack coffee I was impressed by the flavour and aroma and this impression has stayed with me over the years. I know they are a super busy stand at the markets, and well respected in the community.

Love Shack Coffee is one of the busiest stalls at the Matakana Farmers Market, the line for coffee…read moreoften spills out the entrance. The reason; it's damn good. The Mochachino is my choice of poison, some may argue that's not a 'real' coffee, but they're wrong. Anyway Love Shack do a lovely Mocha. You don't just have to wait until Saturday for your Love Shack fix either, they have been open every day during the summer. A mid week visit is nearly the complete opposite of a Saturday. The markets are empty and it's dead quiet and peaceful. There are some lovely outdoor chairs to relax into, it's a good place to sit for a chat

Super delicious. Even more delicious when you've been hiking continuously for about four weeks. You…read morego right by it on the Te Araroa trail and it's an excellent place to stop in even if you are just driving past. I stopped in late one afternoon after hiking all day and downed an amazing milkshake and I had some other tasty snack too. The service was great. I actually stopped in again the next morning before continuing my journey - originally just to get a hot chocolate but I ended up ordering a full breakfast which turned out to be an excellent choice. No doubt my body needed all the calories it could get but it was a good-sized serving, well-cooked and super tasty. I had another milkshake because the last one was so good. Yum. I would totally stop here again on my way through next time I'm heading north.