Essence Cafe Nelson Bay — Restaurant in Nelson Bay

Visited with my husband this morning. Unfortunately, I witnessed a staff member wipe her nose with a used tissue and then immediately carry over my husband’s coffee and my teapot—still holding the tissue and without washing her hands. I was so grossed out, I couldn’t drink the tea and ended up not eating my breakfast.

The staff member came over to ask what the issue was, and I explained what I had seen. She apologised and said she hadn’t realised it had happened.

Still, this highlights a serious issue with hygiene standards. Staff need proper training in basic food safety and hand hygiene—especially in a hospitality setting

Response to owner

Hi Roxy,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I appreciate the apology and the offer to make it right.

However, I have to be honest—your response comes across as somewhat dismissive. While I understand there may be “different perspectives,” hygiene is not something open to interpretation. I saw what I saw, and it was clearly unacceptable. No matter how busy the café is, basic hand hygiene (especially after using a tissue) should never be overlooked.

It’s concerning that the staff member didn’t “realise it had happened.” That in itself points to a gap in awareness or training, which is exactly what I highlighted in my original comment.

I’m not looking for a free meal, I’d just like to see meaningful steps taken to ensure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again, to me or anyone else.

Thanks again for...

Walked in on a Friday morning and couldn't find a table that was available that didn't have past customers dirty plates etc on them. Sat at one and pushed dirty coffee cups to end of table. Went up and placed order. Breakfast meals and 2 coffees. They took takeaway coffee orders and filled them before we got ours. Ended up getting our food well before our coffees come. Food was given to us with no cutlery and we were told to get them from a communal area by the door. Where anyone can touch them (post covid I would have thought maybe not letting everyone touch everything would've been better). No teaspoon given with coffee so had to go up again to communal cutlery box to discover only dessert spoons available. Water dispenser was empty also . Noted that as customers left, tables didn't get cleaned off for a long time if at all while we were there. Food was ok, poached eggs were hard though. Pretty average all round to be honest,...

Walking into this Cafe you are met with a very dirty, disorganised Cafe that looks like it was fitted out using the trading post as it's only supplier. I proceeded to order my staple, a single piccolo to "have in" when I was asked for $3.50 I was a little taken aback but thought why not, the place have received some positive sounding reviews.

While waiting for my coffee I asked to use a restroom where I was given a long lost of instructions to find an unmaintained outhouse in a court yard out the back which again raised concern for the cleanliness of this establishment.

Shortly after returning to the dining room I was served my piccolo in a tea cup and saucer! The coffee wasn't terrible, a nice mild to light roast with a somewhat caramel after taste, no obvious signage advertised the brand. The milk was pourded over the shot making an almost complete separate puck of milk on top which really ruined the otherwise...