Paragon Cafe Parkes — Restaurant in Parkes

It WAS a public holiday. Coffee was nice. BUT

BEWARE THE AGGRESSIVE MANAGER.

My friends and I were travelling through town and stopped to enjoy a coffee. It was nice there was a coffee shop open even though it was a public holiday.

As customers we understood the crowd inside, acknowledged that service may be slow and also in these trying times aware that having sufficient trained staff available to work was a difficulty of business. This is evident in most Towns we passed through on our 23 day touring holiday from Brisbane to SA via Broken Hill and Adelaide. Returning from Kangaroo Island via Parkes on our return trip.

What my friends and I were appalled at was the way staff working that shift were openly, loudly and verbally abused and criticised. The Manager or owner?? was clearly used to addressing his staff in this manner. I did not address this at the time. By remaining silent did I condone this behaviour. But I reasoned this was neither the time nor place. But I did thank the lovely staff who were attending us.

Whatever the reason, it was not a dining experience. To any person seeking employment opportunities I would not recommend this as a source of training. For future customers only...

If I could give ZERO stars I would. Disappointing would be an understatement. On a Sunday morning breakfast food that is on the menu should be available, many items weren't. There were 6 people in our group and none of us were impressed with the our food. The poor waitstaff were doing their best but the owner and cook kept sticking her nose in (trying to be cheap) saying that anything we add on the plate will cost more, but anything they didn't have that was supposed to be on the plate didn't make it any cheaper for us. When the food came out it looked as if your grandma had made your breakfast for you (back in the 70's style) cheap white bread, toasted with margarine (not butter) squashed down onto the toast making it flat - The food looked NOTHING like the photos on their website. I also pity the waitstaff, the way the owner/cook spoke to them was awful, the poor things were doing the best they could, but it was never good enough for her. This cafe needs a good spring clean as well, it is not as clean as you'd expect it to be. Parkes is a beautiful town, just do yourselves a big favor and...

A visit again to Parkes and decided on the Paragon Cafe for breakfast this time - a big mistake! In the middle of winter, the front door was propped open to let the freezing cold air blow in on us where we were seated.. Breakfast food was awful - poached eggs undercooked, most items looked deep fried, cheap, fatty sausages. Toast was only half buttered with margarine. Coffee was lukewarm, no English breakfast tea! Had to ask for cutlery, serviettes and salt and pepper when food was delivered. These were basically just thrown down. A quick grab by myself, as the cutlery was heading for the floor. Noticed the backs of chairs down the centre aisle were dirty with a build up of fingerprints, a little Jif would do the trick. Cranky lady kitchen staff was rude to a fellow worker in front of us, when she snapped at him. A clean uniform would be a good look for wait staff, rather than an oversized grubby sloppy joe. All this for $56.75 for two people. Shame it's gone downhill from previous visits, completely different now.. won't be going back! Would rather go to...