Basin Cafe — Restaurant in Launceston

TLDR: horrible service by very young, poorly trained staff and very expensive menu

I ordered an iced soy latte. I was surprised at the price of $8.50 but waited and then was served a soy iced coffee with ice cream and whipped cream. I can’t have dairy so I tried to say politely ‘I’m so sorry I ordered it with soy, a soy iced latte’ and the girl who took my order, probably around 16-17 was so visibly angry at me she got bright red and I could see the muscles tense in her neck and she snapped ‘you said iced coffee but it’s fine I’ll make it again’. I was not rude to her, in fact I’m told I am excessively nice to service staff, probably because I worked service for years. I have not had dairy in coffee for about 10 years so I think it unlikely that I asked for iced coffee but nevertheless, why would someone order with soy milk if they wanted dairy? At every hospitality place I’ve worked at if someone asked for soy or some sort of non dairy swap out I was always instructed to inform them that the item contained other dairy (I thought this was obvious?) I have no idea what I did to this girl to offend her so much that she slammed around the make bench muttering to other staff about me and then didn’t even call out my drink, just put it up on the bench and scowled across the cafe at me. I even saw an older lady (manager?) trying to talk her down. I must have looked shocked standing there because another staff member said ‘sorry about that’ somewhat dismissively. There had begun quite a line behind me waiting to order and I was too shocked but if it was quieter I would have asked for a refund. I paid $8.50 to be yelled at by someone whose job it is to be nice, over an iced coffee that took a minute to remake (iced latte is just milk and a shot of coffee). I ended up throwing the drink away after a few sips because I was a little afraid she’d done something to it. I just sat down outside and cried and left. I’ve never known this place for great service, they rely on location alone and the staff have always been indifferent to me rather than polite. But it would be really nice if owners explained to them that they are hired to be nice to people - that’s the job, that’s ‘hospitality’, just be friendly, it costs nothing. I’ve had customers personally insult me, make outrageous demands, sexual advances - the lot - and I have never once treated them like this. It’s entitled and awful - do teenagers these days think they’re too good for the service industry? Save your money and get a coffee on the way...

Dining Experience @ The Basin Cafe. . Located within the Cataract Gorge Reserve near its entrance and main chairlift, The Basin Cafe serves all-day breakfast, lunch, and desserts. Established in 2019 and offering spectacular views, The Basin Cafe offers a relaxing refreshment point while you enjoy the natural surroundings. . The Fish And Chips (AUD $26) features Blue Grenadier fish that is lightly crumb battered and deep-fried, resulting in a crisp exterior, a moist tender flaky interior, and a delicate sweet salty savoury flavour. Served with medium-cut chunky potato chips that are fluffy crisp with starchy salty savoury flavour, and a fresh crisp mesclun salad (baby spinach, rocket leaves / arugula, red onions, mizuna, sorrel, cucumber, cherry tomato) with vegetal sweet earthy herbal bitter flavour. . The Raspberry French Toast (AUD $22.50) features egg-coated oven-baked brioche bread that is soft fluffy with bready sweet savoury flavour, stuffed with chunky raspberry coulis and topped with fine coconut crumbs, which combine for fruity earthy floral sour sweet flavour. Garnished with a thin white chocolate mousse with milky chocolatey sweet flavour, and a medley of juicy fresh fruits (blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, red apple) with fruity sweet flavour. . Loved the Zucchini And Corn Fritters (AUD $27), with its wholesome taste, tender chunky texture, and bright vegetal sweet earthy savoury salty flavour. The poached egg on top lends a semi-runny silky feel, and good eggy sweet flavour. . The Chocolate Mud Cake (AUD $9) here has a dark, dense, and gooey texture, with rich chocolatey sweet...

Travelled to Launceston with a toddler to see this beautiful place that we heard/read so much of. Everyone we met in Launceston we’re so nice, friendly and accomodating—until we met Laura (apparently the manager and daughter of the owner).

As a Mom, you would understand how picky eaters our toddlers can be. First I ordered nuggets and chips for my hungry toddler (which he had been having for 5days in a row now), when I saw they served macaroni as well from the kids menu, I added in the order coz I know how much my toddler loves macarano in childcare.

When Laura served the macaroni I asked if I can have the apple juice that came with the kids menu and she commented for ‘who the order really was for?’ and ‘its UNSUAL for kids to order more than 1 meal’.

I won’t even start to express how her comment offended me in so many ways, in so many different levels! i told her she would understand one day if she becomes a mom too. Then she said she was a mom too! I don’t know what kind of mom she is and how she feeds her kids.

But my point is, her comment was unnecessary and uncalled for especially to a paying customer and especially from her a manager or as the daughter of the owner of the cafe. I was furious and angry but safe to say i’m still sane. Imagine if she said that to the wrong person who had a lot of things going on being a mom with all other things going on in life.

Laura you have just ruined our beautiful visit to Launceston. But that aside, Launceston is still a place I will recommend to my friends and yes this story is one...