Cafe Aqua — Restaurant in New South Wales

The experience started off when making a booking over the phone. The woman was in a rush to get me off the phone and couldn't tell me where we would be sitting as she had “a lot of bookings”. I was left with the distinct impression that my question was bothersome and I should feel lucky to be granted a sitting. I gave my name but was cut off as I tried to say my surname.

My sister called back about 10 minutes later to add two more people to the table and was asked "will there be any more changes because we aren’t taking bookings for more than 6 people”. The tone used would not be described as welcoming or professional. I thought that the hospitality trade would be thrilled to have customers and treat them in a way that didn’t make them feel that they had made a mistake in calling. I understand the current restrictions but it’s unacceptable to be treated as an obvious inconvenience.

The sign instructing that there was no table service was small and not obvious so we sat at the table wondering if we would be served. On the positive side, the food was nice and the portions were generous. The green tea that my mother ordered was a non standard blend which wasn’t to her taste. This was quickly dealt with by a lovely young waitress who replaced the drink.

The cutlery wasn’t suitable to cut the toast which was so thick it seemed to require a chain saw. Even the steak knives had their work cut out for them!

It was very loud and talking without shouting was impossible. It is very difficult to find somewhere in Coffs Harbour in which to take elderly parents that isn’t loud and has chairs that are comfortable. If there was more choice in the area that catered to people who want to have a nice meal and talk then I would have told the delightful woman on the phone...

You know is sad that in todays world every time you “apparently” come across a reasonable establishment where you are comfortable paying for the service and meal you receive from you order; such is , ooooppps sorry was this café’  - new to Coffs we thought we would try this place(recommendation) and yes very nice for the first 3 times we visited;  perhaps a smile from the wait staff! Anyway 4th visit we bring friends from Melbourne, and you guessed it a meal that I have had on two occasions and was excellent now turned into something I can’t say here, it was this stark! , Melbourne ref(sorry) like the difference between La Luna and maca’s;

Look if you can’t ensure consistency of size, quality, preparation; for the money you are charging ; sigh I’m at a loss for words(Mr Ramsey come on down)….as someone who was in hospitality in another life, if this was my establishment; many changes would now occur in the roster at this point.

Was happy to make this a regular venue, now...

Have visited here a few times now. It’s pretty decent. Food is good - it does lack any “wow” factor, but is a good honest feed - would love to see it come into the 2020’s though somewhat. Coffee was decent. Staff are friendly and happy. The prices are acceptable - just - but this is where they fall down and lose the extra star in their rating. For the prices charged, table service should be a given. Check backs on customers are non existent, so they’re losing valuable interaction in which to gain feedback and provide a level of service commensurate with the prices. I would have personally ordered another 2 or 3 coffees, but couldn’t be bothered collecting all my belongings from the table, getting up and waiting in line for such, so settled for the one coffee I ordered with my food. These check backs would have seen me spend twice the amount I did, and also would have left with 5 stars on the review. In all, good and I’ll...