Drive Café — Restaurant in Victoria

I have been frequenting Drive for much of the past year. It is close to my house; has a nice atmosphere with good music and an enjoyable outdoor space. However, I won’t be returning because the service is so often frustrating and unacceptable.

The wait staff are too casual and indifferent to customers. Today, we sat at our table with the dirty plates and drinks of the previous customers for nearly 45 minutes despite our waiter being at our table several times. We were not given water, and had to ask a young waiter for it on two separate occasions. We were not given cutlery for our meal, which is a common occurrence. Customers around us were becoming frustrated at the inattentive service, with the people next to us entering the cafe to order rather than wait longer for table service. Several other patrons were becoming frustrated at having the lone waiter ignore their table.

Having waited nearly 50 mins for food on a Thursday at 11am, my bacon and egg roll was inedible because every piece of bacon was charcoaled. They were good enough to void our bill of coffee and the roll, but it will be hard to return when Ballarat has so many cafes with excellent and attentive service. I am disappointed as I have previously found Drive’s food as being good enough to endure the poor service for. I hope they can...

Dined in today - Saturday, 9 Dec 23. We ordered coffees and brunch. The coffees were average to almost undrinkable, and the food was okay, with the poached eggs tasting heavily of vinegar. We wanted more drinks after our meal and a waffle desert. Staff were frantic, rushing about mostly cleaning tables and attending to people who they seemed to know. Eventually, I approached a staff member behind the counter (female with long hair & pony tail) to ask if we could have waffles. She appeared appalled that I dared approach her (Im sure she's important in her world) and barked at me to sit down and wait for staff to serve. I told her we had been waiting and zero service or anyone bothering to see if we needed anything else. She slammed down something, sighed, and rolled her eyes...shes clearly in the wrong job. The cafe was no more than 50% full at any time. Im sure there is a culture issue going on here, but it's not nice to be treated in this manner. Going by other real reviews on here, the 'cafe owner' will respond with their arrogant response, blaming the customer. Go for it! We won't be back - but this cafe owner won't care, which is why the rude and...

Drive Cafe has such a warm and inviting atmosphere that you instantly feel comfortable the moment you step in. Even though we only stopped by for a quick takeaway, the friendliness of the staff left a strong impression. They welcomed us with genuine smiles, spoke to us in such a pleasant manner, and made the whole ordering process feel effortless. It’s rare to find a place that manages to combine efficiency with a personal touch, but Drive Cafe certainly does.

The café itself has a cozy vibe, with a simple yet welcoming layout that makes you want to linger longer. While we didn’t dine in, it was easy to see how people would feel at home here, whether dropping by for a casual coffee or staying for a relaxed meal.

As for the food, though we only had takeaway, everything looked freshly prepared and nicely presented. The menu offered a good range of options that cater to both quick bites and something more filling. Our order looked so appetizing that we made a mental note to return and sit down for a proper meal next time.

Overall, Drive Cafe isn’t just about food—it’s about the warmth and hospitality that make you want...