Machine Laundry Cafe — Restaurant in Hobart

After being a loyal supporter of this cafe for over 20 years I’ve had a to call it quits. This is the first review I’ve ever done. I’ve felt compelled to make it because I’m that devastated. We go with our family (3 nearly adult sons) for a catch up most Saturdays.

Today we arrived and the service was so bad I approached our waitress and told her how rude she’s been. We sat down at a dirty table and when we asked her to clean it she flicked food at me. Then taking our order she was rude. Having been coming for so long we know what we like and we request changes to what’s on the menu. Things swapped out and things swapped in.

This time the waitress said she would check with the kitchen which we were fine with. But she was so sour and rude I approached her afterwards and told her we were regulars who have been coming over 20 years and we still get treated like strangers. Her response? Yes she recognised us. Doesn’t that make her manner even worse? I explained we are treated like we’re off a cruise ship and not locals but she just repeated the fact she knows we are regulars. I told her she had flicked food at me and got nothing.

So out comes the food which was as it always was. But not. As vegetarians my son and I swap out the bacon in dishes. But the haloumi had been cooked in with the bacon. How do I know? Because there was pieces of bacon melted into the haloumi and I’ve had diarrhea for the past 3 hours. My husband even fished a pice of eggshell out of his dish.

Now I’m not sure whether we received ‘special treatment’ after I complained but I get the distinct impression regulars and locals are not welcome here. Lesson learned.

I’m sorry Tom. We have always loved coming to your cafe and supporting...

They got the take away order wrong. Staff member storms off without a word, like a 5 year old throwing a tantrum. So if you want over-priced coffee, plus a surcharge, from extremely rude staff, then this is the place for you.

Edit in reply. Your response is exactly like how you acted today. You don't say a word to your customers when you realise the order is wrong and you stormed off. We were looking at each other saying what did we do wrong to deserve that? When I asked you if one of the coffees you made was correct so we could drink it, you ignore me and loudly say: " I am fixing it, IS THAT OKAY?" Karen mode engaged, and with as much insolent rudeness as you can muster. Agressive and rude. Such a big man because you own a coffee shop. Wow. Why don't you set an example for your staff, instead of being rude and arrogant. We were not bothered in the slightest about an order being incorrect - we were quite rightly bothered by your rudeness. You were one hundred percent responsible for the atmosphere you created. I do hope people read the review, it is accurate, and i hope people read your response. It is a good reason to avoid your establishment. No one enjoys being treated that way when they are a paying customer. And you would not let me speak, you kept talking over the top of me. If you hate customer service, and you despise your clientelle, stay away from front of house. You don't belong there. The fact that you want to act the victim now is laughable. I mean, you understand the purpose of...

A small cafe in the corner of Salamanca Square; this was the first place my partner and I stopped having just driven into the city from the airport. We decided upon it because of all the amazing reviews this place had received online. Sitting off to the side, watching the people stroll by (and a family playing giant chess on the adjacent board) was a nice relaxing start to the morning.

The service was friendly enough, although not quite as attentive as other places we have been in Hobart. The price was moderate for the area, although overpriced in general compared to other areas.

The food was good, but I don't think anything particularly special compared to every other cafe in the vicinity. The definite standout were the chocolate, banana and peanut hotcakes, which were amazing. I ordered eggs benedict and had immediate food envy once the dishes came out and tried a bite of the hotcakes.

The on-premises laundry is handy if you spill any of the hotcake syrup on your clothes while you are stuffing the sugary goodness...