Alby & Esthers — Restaurant in Mudgee

While on a visit to the region, we thought we'd drive the 2 or so hours to Mudgee to check out this cafe that had such lovely photos on their website and seemed like just the place for a relaxed brunch on a rainy weekday. Upon walking in we were rudely told by the woman in charge that there was not enough room for our family of four - there were a few people already seated and only two more people were allowed inside due to the current restrictions. As it happened, two of the people already inside were finishing up and kindly offered us their seats, so we decided to stay despite the unwelcome start. Upon sitting down, the woman marched over and demanded that we pull the other table over, ’since no one else can sit there anyway', so my husband obligingly got up and did so. By this point I was ready to leave, but not wanting to upset our kids who were hungry after a long drive, decided to stay and and be understanding of the stress that many businesses are feeling at the moment and ordered some coffee, food and drinks. From that moment on, for the entire time we were there, every customer who walked in was loudly told by the woman (while pointedly looking at us), ‘I’m so sorry [inset name of local Mudgee resident], but I just don’t have room for you, you’ll have to try coming back later etc etc. At one point, I heard the woman complaining loudly to the younger staff member (who was lovely and helpful), about a staff member standing around and slacking off work! I mean, really, standing there and behaving like that just a few meters away from customers, including children?! I cannot recall being treated with more hostility, contempt and disrespect by a business owner, and it especially stung as we'd driven a fair way with the intention of eating out and doing our bit to support small towns at the first opportunity. To make the experience even worse, the meal took forever to arrive, and when it did the portion sizes were ridiculously tiny for the price - the one exception being the soup. Needless to say we finished as quickly as possible and left. I was so appalled by the experience I was almost ready to just get back in the car and leave Mudgee altogether, however fortunately we soon wandered into some lovely shops and other establishments that were much happier for our business, and ended up enjoying our day in the town. Possibly if you are a local / regular you might be treated well here - otherwise I would really advise spending your money elsewhere. Yes it’s a picturesque setting but there are other cafes in town far more deserving of...

It wasn't the greatest start when we only realised how limited the Easter menu was after ordering coffee and then it was all downhill from there.

The coffee took a ridiculously long time to arrive and all came separate and people who came in after us got served before us. My coffee was wrong and came in a glass that was too hot to pick up. One friend had a caramel latte with no discernible caramel and another friends tea was completely forgotten and when he got it after chasing them he was given a dirty cup and got attitude when he asked for a clean one.

Despite the coffee taking so long we had still finished them by the time the food arrived. I'm not sure why our jaffles took so long when again the people on the next table who came in after us got theirs first. The saving grace was that the jaffles were really tasty when we got them though $14 is probably a bit on the steep side.

Even paying seemed to confuse the staff despite us paying on just one card. At least 6 people working and not one appeared competent. We could hear everything that was going on and it appeared ours was not the only orders getting messed up.

Overall it was a terrible experience and I would not come back or recommend...

The design is simply beautiful, stepping inside feels like entering a Parisian antique café. The camellia tree out front adds a charming touch, and the interior artwork and thoughtful details create a warm, artistic atmosphere.

The food has consistently impressed me, especially on my first few visits. The jaffle and the spiced bruschetta were standouts, the flavours were well-balanced and clearly crafted with care. It’s evident the chefs have put genuine thought into their dishes, adding a creative flair that elevates the experience.

Lately, though, the coffee hasn’t been up to the usual standard. It tasted burnt on my last visit, and I only had a few sips les than half the cup, hopefully just a few off days for the barista. I’ve also noticed the portion sizes have shrunk, though the prices remain the same.

Despite these recent hiccups, I’ll keep coming back. The ambience is lovely, and the food still holds up. I’m hopeful it returns to the high standard it once had. If anyone is looking to go, I'd suggest going in quieter times if possible as it does get very busy and a...