Lotus Cafe and Catering — Restaurant in Ipswich City

Unfortunately Lotus is just not what it used to be. The prices just keep going up while the service and quality goes down. We’ve been customers since they first opened and we used to frequent every weekend without fail for breakfast. The customer service is almost non existent now. Today we ordered breakfast and cold drinks and had finished our meals with no sign of our drinks. I had to mention it to one of the staff who looked quite put out and said she’d look in to it. After a while we were standing up ready to leave as we’d long finished our meals and I went to ask if they could be put in to take away cups instead and before I could get a word out was told ‘they’re coming’. Nice. A sorry about forgetting your drinks in the first place would have been nice.

They have water on tap but no cups out, you have to ask (again seems to put the staff out if you do that). No condiments - I mean I get the whole covid thing but I can’t say I’ve been to any other coffee shop recently who hasn’t either put them back out or at the very least asks you if you want any when they deliver your meals. I wouldn’t dare ask the staff for any and put them out even more.

The bread is never buttered which I’ve always found very strange. People don’t want to eat dry toast. Everything seems to come with poached eggs these days whereas previously they didn’t. To change my eggs to scrambled yep it costs extra but removing them from the avocado altogether (they never used to have them) will certainly not come any cheaper. They mention dukkah with the avo but it is invisible on the plate these days. It used to be so generous and really added to the dish. If you’re lucky they’ll remember to give you a tiny wedge of lemon, but often forget. Plain avo toast with no lemon or dukkah or salt is just not great for the price. At least they’ve removed the mention of balsamic from the latest menu as again that used to be amazing with their avo, now you can barely make it out as garnish on the plate.

This was my caramel slice today. Barely any caramel and the chocolate on top was spotty and tasted stale like it had been sitting there a while.

Such a shame what’s happened to this much loved spot of ours. Certainly won’t be...

I read great reviews of this cafe, and really wanted to award 5 stars. Friendly, helpful and professional staff 100% Food - i'm personally disappointed ANOTHER cafe serves eggs Benny with no option to have English muffins, I can't handle sour dough bread with E.B. But that's just me. coffee was very enjoyable, my compliments to the barista. No soft drinks on the menu - which is all i was seeking. For breakfast, as I avoided the eggs Benny, I settled for the Lotus cheese burger. $20 for the burger. No chips or salad. Just a burger. I was more impressed by a hamburger I paid $6 for at Nerang Soccer club yesterday. The missus got a chocolate milkshake cost $8 and she got what we consider half a milkshake by other cafe/ takeaway measures, it was a low profile glass? (the trendy re-purposed jar missing a screw top lid apparently). Granted she ordered eggs on toast, added bacon - $20 - lots on the plate. End of the day, we got a Lotus cheese burger, large chips, average aioli sauce (we couldn't stomach), eggs on toast with bacon, a small lactose free milkshake, a small mug of flat white, a bottle of cold tap water and payed $70. The seating had my back eventually getting hit with the sun on lowish height tables. Again on a positive note we sat amongst other diners who brought their furry friend - we love dogs, and have one ourselves. The atmosphere relaxed...

First time here & unfortunately not the best - but I believe there’s always room for improvement!

We ordered from the table as we could see the staff were busy but when my tea came, no eye contact or friendliness from the staff member. She forgot my spoon & sugar so had to ask another staff member who was lovely & brought them over.

The space although was nice, was not very clean. We had to clean the table we were on ourselves & we noticed other tables after us were doing the same - no one could get anyone’s attention to clean that one table even went up & grabbed a cloth & spray bottle that was on the side of the counter & cleaned their table - while the 3 staff members were at the counter busy making orders, but that was all their attention was focused on. Although it was windy outside, it was very hot inside & the fans were doing nothing for anyone, the sweat on us all was obvious.

Our meals came out & it was yummy, nothing fancy - except for the price. For $38.33 that I paid for, I mean you be the judge.

Free parking on the road & there is a paid open carpark. Accessibility available for prams & mobility vehicles but not sure about amenities. This is a dog friendly cafe.

Unfortunately I won’t be back, better to go to the shopping centre that was literally another block away & have options that are...