Royal Gardenia — Restaurant in Bilpin

Went for a drive in the mountains in my sports car. Came across this quaint unassuming cafe at 2.00 pm on a Monday. Had been driving for a few hours and wanted sustenance. The cafe has a good size eating area and a large area for retail. Looks like the stock was reduced after the Christmas / New Year period, mainly selling cider, at that moment. The proprietors are a married couple and are well mannered and easy to talk to. I asked if they had any pies left and they said that they had sold the last of the days quota. Nevertheless, I was offered a pie, if I waited 15 minutes. I ordered a Steak Pie and a pot of English Breakfast Tea, with Soy milk. The pies are all made inhouse, by them, so that is a good reason to stop by. I found the steak pie was full of well seasoned, lean beef with several good size chunks, the pie top is flaky pastry and it melts in your mouth. Succulent describes the pie and its contents. The tea was fine as well. If you would like strong tea, just ask. I found the male proprietor is a gentleman and he sincerely tried to cater for my needs and enquire if I was happy with my choices. Not too many cafes offer that type of service. I will return with my wife in coming months during the apple season in February / March. I really enjoyed the calmness of the venue and the views from my window table. A clean inside toilet is available, should you need it. A meal of home-made pies, toasties, pizza, desserts and a good variety of beverages at the Royal Gardenia Cafe, is highly...

I love these road side stores and this was the first time in years l stopped at this one. It was a disappointment. The pastry a total disaster for flavour and texture and it over road what was generally a good meat filling. I found the apple pie slightly better in as much as it was not too sweet as the mass cooked apple pies in the Bilpin area have been in the past. Again the pastry was just tolerable but saved by the lack of sugar topping. Yay! The icecream was necessary. I'm told the coffee was 3.5 out of 10. We would have simply forgotten about it and moved on but for their exorbant prices. Dinner last night in the mountains was 5*, fabulous chef cooked large meat pies with chips and salad at top restaurant quality cost us less. This place has the potential to be successful and great if the owners choose. It's a fabulous location and guests will overlook the rustic appearance as a work in progress but if you specialise in pastry goods you need to specialise in cooking it. Branching into local cider and other local goodies is a good decision. Hang in and make each day better than the last and you will succeed. Honest feedback will help you make your business a success. ...

I stopped in yesterday on my way home from the Blue Mountains. The sign saying fresh apple pie got me. So we stopped only to be served by the worse customer service I’ve ever encountered. The older gent with grey hair and beard was so rude, it’s like he didn’t want to be there. I asked which I should go, the Apple pie or the custard tart that looked amazing, he literally pointed to the apple pie in a very rude tone we make that, we don’t make that. I ordered a sausage roll, small coffee and the apple pie, I can see by the pictures you can have it with berries and cream, I was not offered this option. He gave me a buzzer for me to collect my apple pie when it was ready, but another table had their apple pie brought to them. On the way out I asked where the bathroom was and the gumpy human being again just pointed to the direction of the toilets, again like I interrupted him. I had also bought a small 400g jar of honey and my total was $42. Overpriced and such a let down this place. I do not recommend all. There are many more amazing places to enjoy on the...