RAW & WILD Market & Cafe — Restaurant in Bowral

Post update: This is a counter reply to the owner's reply. All the statements made by the owner are what SHOULD have happened. However, the reality of what really happened is the opposite. I was observing the actions of staff for more than an hour. 2 of the 4 hand sanitizers were clearly in my field of view. They were NEVER used by staff. Paper menus, plastic cups and condiments were clearly being reused without being wiped. Capacity limits were clearly exceeded. The indoor area cannot comfortably seat 75 without breaching Covid safe guidelines. A table was added right next to us to seat more. We were never informed that our food would take an hour. Our child's sandwich took 40 minutes to prepare. If a lone staff member were committing these offences, it could be excused. However, it seemed to be a decision handed down from management to flout the rules. Therefore, we did not bother speaking to the owner, as we did not believe he would listen. Roland, instead of more lies to cover your mistakes, you would be wiser to ensure your staff actually follow your Covid safe plan.

Not Covid safe! We had lunch on a weekend. There were multiple serious violations of their Covid safe plan. There was no hand sanitizer at entry points. Staff did not wear masks or hand santize between dealing with different customers. In fact, they never sanitized at all. Reusable items like paper menus, glass bottles, wooden condiments were provided. These were not cleaned between customers. They exceeded their capacity limit of 75 customers. There were about 100 people there plus 10 staff. In fact, they even added tables to seat additional customers. Social distancing was not followed or enforced. The toilets were unhygienic with inadequate cleaning products. We had to wait an hour for a burger and sandwich. The food itself was average and not worth the wait. In today's pandemic situation, it's sad to see that it's "business as usual". I'm not a germaphobe, but my family felt very unsafe here. We saw the owner present and very active, so he can't claim ignorance. Management needs to seriously evaluate and enforce their Covid safe plan or they risk being shut down. Or worse, they could endanger the health of their staff...

Tucked away in a snug corner on the Main Street of Bowral, it is easy to miss this local gem. Entering from the street, you are greeted by the earthy aromas of fresh, organic and local produce. Or, you can enter via the wheelchair-friendly rear door, where you will immediately be met by friendly and helpful staff who will treat you like family.

Upon ascending the stairs, this seemingly small shop front suddenly opens up into a secluded oasis of low-fi beats and trendy furnishings. Everything about this cafe has been designed to give the illusion of the low-key, whilst delivering far more than you would expect.

The coffee is divine. A strong and luscious flavour, perfectly prepared to preserve the acidity of the bean as well as the creaminess of the milk. Every item on the menu is cooked to perfection, with subtle fusion elements. You will be able to taste the difference in these fresh, organic ingredients. All dietary requirements are carefully catered for without difficulty, and you will finish your meal feeling refreshed and satisfied. Breastfeeding Mums and children are also welcome, and the relaxed spacing between tables is designed to ensure that prams and wheelchairs are provided with ample access.

Never again will you feel rushed to leave immediately after finishing your food. The organic produce market is a lovely way to enjoy some extra peace and solitude before rejoining the town centre. Browsing through the selection of healthy produce and snacks, you may be surprised to also find organic beauty and health care products. These make perfect gifts for the notoriously 'hard-to-buy-for' family members. Throughout both the cafe and the market, the staff go above and beyond to ensure that customers are provided with very best service and experience.

I highly recommend this cafe, which has become an all-time favourite of mine under the new...

I had a really good chai latte here with good flavour and temperature. I stayed a while with a friend and grabbed a matcha latte to takeaway at the end of my visit but it wasn't very hot unfortunately, but was made by the same lady. Hot drinks are a reasonable price at 5.50 for a large. No discount for bringing my reusable cup but a good price nevertheless.

The Eggs Benedict and the other food all looked amazing - quality ingredients and well presented on the plate. The date brownie dessert from the fridge was nearly $8 for quite a small piece so I passed - but it looked delicious. Prices in the fridge would perhaps entice me to buy something next time. I like to know what I'm buying and how much it will cost me without having to ask the waitress about every item I'm interested in and hold up people behind me by taking up the staff's valuable time. The beetroot latte sounded interesting.

Service was friendly.

Beware of the European wasps out the back which go for your food/sugary drinks and buzz around you. We moved inside and thankfully they didn't follow us. I would like to suggest they get an exterminator to find and kill the nearby nest of this aggressive, introduced species of wasp. Air conditioning was comfortable, as was the booth seating. It is dog-friendly out the back. Plenty of street parking in the area.

Could be a good place to sit and work on a laptop for a couple of hours, but I didn't notice any powerpoints so my go-to would still be Maccas for longer stints.

A good little shop at the front for pantry staples...