Wild Rose Cottage — Restaurant in Ipswich City

Terrible all round experience. I booked a high tea for my sisters baby shower. At the time of booking I was offered a “mini high tea” or a high tea that was a dearer cost but offered more sitting time and food options. At the time of booking I paid $57pp and paid the booking in full. High tea was booked 6wks in advance for a Saturday at 2pm for a 2hr sitting. When we got there we had been seated in the back of the shop which is actually outside the store at the carpark entrance with our table being beside the toilet. My mother had to ask that we not be seated right outside the toilet at which point we were given the table next to us. When the food came out our options were ham & cheese or egg sandwiches which were very stale, cold toast with feta and avo that was so old it had started to turn brown, mini quiche that had been defrosted and was watery with rubbery poached salmon on top, macaroons, carrot cake mini muffins and slightly stale scones. At the price we had paid I would have expected more options and much fresher! We were given a pot of tea for our sitting so my sister and I both ordered coffees at an additional $7ea. After the first hour my mother then also went to order a coffee and was advised that the cafe was actually shut as they shut at 2:30pm on a Saturday. When I rang the manager to discuss our poor experience I was laughed at, informed that everyone has different tastes so she couldn’t say whether the food was actually bad or just my taste, and told that as she had taken over management in the last 2wks my problem was actually with the previous managers who had taken my booking 6wks earlier but she would be happy to pass on their contact details to me. Terrible food, terrible service, and...

Dietary requirements accomodated nicely in beverage and sweets. I was served by a very nice, smart girl who observed everything herein with grace and appreciation. I paid $10 (gasp) for the milkshake I had been so looking forward to. The shake sat on the table untouched while I used my phone to catch up on my day. The atmosphere was pleasant enough, but the space was tainted with an air of privilege. When I was done with my drink, the cashier was approached by a man seeking a charity in the form of a drink, His enquiry was passed to the person in charge, but the response returned to disappoint him, and he left. I followed, retrieved his order, filled it myself, and delivered it. My question is: WHY, if someone is so clearly in need, could the management not accommodate it, given the profit margin they are claiming? My shake price covered the cost of both our beverages, probably twice over. It was a pleasant enough place to sit, but amongst those who determine their own company as a good example of what is right and proper. A sad example of the lack of compassion found amongst those who may never see the...

How this place got so many 5 star reviews is beyond me. Used the table QR code to order. Only 2 options were pick up or delivery. Pickup time was 30 min after I ordered. Which was fine but we saw our coffee's get made moments after ordering. So their plan was to have our coffee's sit there 30 min. Being a barista of 13 years, I know what to listen for when someone makes a coffee. That milk squeal was hard on the ears. The coffee grinder clearly wasn't calibrated. That coffee pour time was just shy of 40 seconds. I had vanilla in my coffee my partner had caramel, it didn't mask the burnt taste. My partner and I couldn't drink our coffees. I could forgive that if it was some new employees first week. But it was the manager who made the coffee.

I will give praise to the atmosphere. A very nice cottage like feel.

The chef was nice. He saw us sitting there waiting and asked if we were the ones who ordered on the QR code. He brought out our food as soon as it was ready. And the food was definitely value for money.

If you plan to do breakfast here. I recommend getting a coffee...