Handasydes - Cafe, Strawberry Farm & Play Area — Restaurant in Western Australia

Don’t bother going unless you’ve booked. A massive parking bay with 40 spots and a big overflow parking area would elude to them being capable of handling a lot of customers, turns out there’s only 10-12 tables available. They were all either full or reserved, asked if we could sit at one of the reserved tables as the booki s for another 3 hours but was told no. Stood in line to get gelato only to be told that you need to pay before you can bd served. Stood in line to pay only to be told we needed to have a table first if we wanted coffee or cake. Let the kids have a quick play on the playground, then went and payed for the gelato and got given the ‘tokens’ so we could be served at the gelato stand (which is literally right next to the till), we asked and paid for double scoops but only got single scoop tokens. The poor girl serving us the gelato was trying her best and was visibly upset about it, despite it not being her fault at all but the girl on the till. So left having paid $40 For a bunch of small single scoops of pretty average gelato that we had to eat in the car park. Saw several people leaving due to no availability of tables while...

(Updated, slightly more considered review)

It's probably the most popular cafe in Albany for people with young kids. The food is reliable, there's an ice cream bar that works on "tokens," and the playground area has been expanded quite a bit. Most of the tables are now undercover too, so rainy days aren't such a challenge.

I'm reliably informed by several mums that the Birthday Party Shed is booked out every weekend, morning, and afternoon - so book your event early if you've had enough of doing it yourself. The party food is sort of aimed towards the older end of childhood, bit it seems like BYO catering is also allowed. Ring them to confirm, I'm just a guy on the internet.

We do come here often, though, mostly because of the ice cream demands made by the kids, but also because we can usually get a table without too much trouble. Weekends are packed, though, so lots of tables are reserved at different times. I'm not sure if they have an 80/20 policy on bookings or not - when it opens, a lot of the tables are marked as booked for 2...

EDITED FOR REPLY FROM OWNER - I totally understand the training of new staff, I've been a manager myself. Thank you for taking the time, (& so quick) to.reply. truly appreciated.

Extremely crowded. Bought strawberries from one staff member but when I asked for a slice of cake, was informed go to other till. Far enough, not problem. Did that, ordered a slice of cake & a gelato. This staff member told me the girl behind 1st till will get my gelato & she did. Then I waited while the current staff member kept serving customers including getting them their food while I waited for my slice of cake that was in display right next to her. We finally asked ANOTHER staff member that we would like the slice of cake & yes it was takeaway. Thankfully didn't ask for receipt since I had declined needing it.

However it's clearly popular & the locals etc must know how things work.

But for someone who's never been and walking in & seeing can go to the right, straight ahead or to the left it's...