Too Hands — Restaurant in Newcastle-Maitland

My husband and I took our 20 month old grandson with us to Too Hands Cafe to have a coffee and a bite to eat. My grandson has an EpiPen due to anaphylaxis reactions to eggs, peanuts and dairy. As we sat down, I pulled out a container of his breakfast, carefully prepared by his mum before we left home. A male staff member, seeing it unopened on the table, declared that we were not able to feed our grandson with food not purchased from the café. I told him that I appreciated this as a general rule, but I carefully explained his allergies, noting that he was attended, at home, a couple of weeks previosly by 4 ambulances and spent time in ICU with respiratory failure. The waiter insisted that the café had options that were appropriate for our grandson, but I explained that the possibility of cross contamination, especially the smallest amount of egg, was too great to risk and said we would leave. His reply, “ I will let it go this time, but next time, you may have a bit more trust in us.” My husband and I promptly left, feeling absolutely bereft and embarrassed after being treated in such a condescending manner which lacked any understanding or empathy. The email response from the manager stated, "As we are a cafe, we do not allow outside food to be brought in for consumption for a variety of reasons, namely liability and loss of potential sales. Food brought in by customers ... takes away the potential for a sale, and diminishes our potential to make profit." Clearly the venue manager does not fully understand the legislation, nor does he promote a safe, family atmosphere. A very disappointing experience. We now ask if it is okay to bring in food, however in our grandson's 20 months, this has never been an issue at any other cafe or restaurant. I suggest you try Chaddie's next door; great customer service and extremely...

This is the 3rd time I've been here whilst it has been Too Hands. I always give places 3 turns before giving a less than ideal review to give them the benefit of the doubt.

First time I went there, my partner ordered a vegetarian dish as she is vegetarian. Had traces of bacon in it.

Second time the music was honestly so loud you had to speak loudly to your dining company just so they could hear you.

This was the 3rd time, I really wanted it to be good. But it was just so mediocre. Ordered food and they got the order wrong (gf) so I waited for it to come out again. (I get it, it happens). I can say the waitress was lovely and the staff overall seem quite nice, but it just seems as though no one is steering the ship.

I frequented this place more than once a week in it's days of being the Locale. It was consistent, the staff were not only nice, but warm and on the ball. The music gave a warm vibe and the food was always rediculously good.

The food this time around was nice, ordered the smashed avo and it was the standard fare, nice but not imaginative. The coffee was decent so no complaints there.

But again the music was just so loud, I heard everything from spice girls to backstreet boys. I'm really not kidding. You cant relax here. It's very hard to take a place like this seriously when it seemingly has no aim other than to feed people in droves for maximum profit ($5 avo halves). It feels more like a cafeteria than a cafe. It's basically a "home brand" version of The Locale. I really wanted to like it but it needs to go back to the drawing board.

If you are looking for somewhere for a relaxed coffee look elsewhere.

If you have a hearing problem and you're easily pleased, come...

came alone, seated. they took my order for coffee… waited for my coffee.. saw others came later than me are being served already for their drinks whilst me having seated there for more than 15mins no one came to take my order. they were not that busy. Only two staffs serving with not more than 10 customers. some are already sitting. i approached the staff in the counter to have my coffee, not even sorry. just looked at me like Okay woman kind of look! very unprofessional! Ive been here several times but having a rude customer service is a big turn off!!!

Seriously? how do you explain that two customers came later than me and was served by their drinks straight away? How did it become abrupt when I asked if i can have my cappucino when i saw that two customers has their drinks before me? There was one lady buying a take away and I was on the emergency phone call. You trying to tolerate your poor service? or clearly your resto is racist? Instead, justifying your staff’s action that he clearly forgot my order and should practice accountability. Not being asked for impossible! that’s a fact! he forgot about it and educate him about owning to mistakes instead tolerating his behavior which will clearly affect...