Deli & Dine — Restaurant in Wollongong City Council

After seeing so many great reviews for this deli/cafe, I went here for Sunday morning breakfast with a group of friends while visiting Wollongong. In summary, it was close to one of the worst breakfasts I've had, and most friends agreed.

It took 30mins to get coffee which had clearly been burnt, and they had "run out of cups" so half of us were given paper cups - which I mean is fine, but how does a cafe not have enough cups? It wasn't overly busy.

But the food that was eventually brought to the table was really embarrassing for the place both in quantity and quality. My own breakfast burrito had cold baked beans, non-existent avocado, and the extra $4 I paid for bacon was a half slither of barely cooked meat. The 'smashed avo' that two friends ordered were so light on any avocado that it was spread as thinly as you would with Vegemite on the burnt hard toast - I don't think avocado is that expensive that it needs to be portioned so sparingly like a truffle. Even one of us ordered a side of mushrooms for $3 which came as 3 tiny white button mushrooms. Scrambled and poached eggs were overcooked as well.

I don't normally like to review places so negatively, but my experience at this deli was outstandingly bad. Other meals we had over the weekend in the same area were really great. I can't understand where all the top ratings are coming from for this place, unless it was an off morning...

I don't like to complain, but there is not really much I can say about our visit today which is positive.

The place was between 10% and 30% capacity during our visit, this is an important fact. Especially when considering that the following events were blamed on us coming during a "rush". The place was almost empty the whole time.

Our food took forever to arrive, hashbrowns were missing from one meal and when they finally did arrive, they were frozen in the middle.

The other meal was an eggs Benedict, from which the eggs (presumably a fairly obvious necessity for such a meal) were missing.

The replacement hashbrowns, when they arrived were soggy and limp, definitely not worth the wait or the surcharge. By the time the flaccid hashbrowns did arrive, the rest of the meal was cold.

The coffee was decent, pretty good considering it was the Barista's first day.

When the missing and subsequently poorly cooked food items, the response was that we could have some free slices of cake. An interesting offer when we have waited an hour to have a hugely disappointing meal.

When I did go to the counter to get a muffin, they forgot their offer and charged me. I was too disappointed in the whole experience to make a scene, it didn't feel worth it.

I'd give them 0 stars, but the Barista did bloody well for her first day, she was the only positive aspect to an otherwise wholly...

It seems this shop front is the portal to a catering firm that according to the reviews does great work. I know nothing of that side of this business.

My experience with them was simple. I missed brekkie and was desperate for a simple toastie. The public areas of this shop front were spotless, the menu of sandwiches classic rather than adventurous and the staff immaculately presented.

My simple toastie of aged cheddar and provolone came out quickly, perfectly prepared and nicely wrapped with their logo on a sticker sealing the bag a nice touch.

I sat at a long bench across the front window. The stools were way more comfortable than they looked - just right for a short stop for a snack. I was particularly pleased to see the front of house staff cleaning the bench area of a just departed customer. I am over sticky tables in cafes.

This is place is a good find and worth investigating for their...