Poppys Cafe — Restaurant in Bay of Plenty

My spouse is a superb cook with a wide repertoire so I am a bit fussy about food. I don't care if it isn't fancy or even well presented but it needs to be good.

I've been almost a weekly customer for years, always for breakfast or brunch and coffee with a companion or two. The coffee is still really good, the staff are nice the owner/manager is a friendly, hard working guy. The bathroom is clean. I like the seating even though the single, big room is an echo chamber and the acoustics could use addressing to make it easier on the ears. At least it has good air flow and you can sit outside which we do. It's nice to have a blanket if required. The cabinet food varies from very good to ok. The toasties were nice and the fries too. The battered fish is frozen, give it a pass. If you want fish and chips there are other places you should go.

What I used to come for was the French toast served with a fried, split banana in the skin, bacon, a few chunks of pineapple, wedge of orange and a half dozen grapes, some syrup and a dusting of icing sugar. Plus the coffee. I am a creature of habit. I rarely change my order.

Unfortunately I'm here to report the French toast has gone really downhill. I didn't mind so much when the bread size shrunk radically and suddenly had no crusts. Then it went from two to one pieces of bacon. Even when the bacon reduced in quality to more fatty I could still cope. But some months ago the bread stopped being what used to be real bread and became something along the texture of a pancake. Ew. It isn't just me either. My friend remarked on it too.

Then two weeks ago my friend and I both ordered French toast again and the French toast was undercooked. My friend left half of hers because of it— she hates to complain and chose to send her message that way. I was starving and ate mine. I had one more shot at the same order the following week (last week) and it was cooked but still that same, weird pancake texture. Add that to the rest of the downgrades to the dish and it's the last straw. No more French toast at Poppy's for me.

Additionally, if you go up the highway in summer to Julian’s Berry Farm you can buy their HALF order of French toast which costs two thirds the price and has double the portion size as Poppy's (can't eat a full order at Julian's) with the same fried banana, better and more bacon, better French toast with actual bread, Berry compote (I take mine on the side) and excellent coffee and sit in the garden-like setting to eat it. It's really good. I miss the grapes though but you do get a strawberry in season.

So my buddy and I are going to change it up for a while and try some cafes we haven’t been in lately and see how that goes.

Yes, Poppy's, I'll be back occasionally but I won't be having...

We visited Poppy's recently during a family weekend get together. Our visit began with an introduction to Whakatane by the owner and explained how they had a New coffee machine so if we were after one they were more than willing to oblige but that there could be a bit of a wait due to live teething issues accident. The staff were on hand very smartly to clean and clear up the mess left behind by any tables and to answer our questions about the place and the art fixtures hanging on the walls. They were just amazing in their response and caring attitude.

Meantime the rest of us enjoyed our coffees and the beautifully presented brunch meals. The brunch menu was extensive and with a good range of options, some rarely available elsewhere such as lambs fry and bacon - my choice and it was divine. we were served by the owner who was very friendly and efficient .And other staff were clearing and wiping tables down after customers had left the tables . The place was spotless and had lovely paintings round the fairly new painted walls. The down side was the length of time before we got our coffee's but they were worth waiting for as excellent The cafe has some lovely New Zealand landscape photographs and pictures to add to the ambiance. I, and my family, can highly recommend Poppy's Cafe for their food selection, service and presentation; for their coffee and especially for their well trained, efficient and...

I love their French toast. You get bacon, a slice of melon, grapes, a perfectly fried banana, two pieces of French toast and a container of maple syrup. That's a perfect combination.

Updating my review in 2022: I eat here about three times a month, usually brunch. The French toast itself has changed a little since my last review with smaller pieces and a bit of cinnamon added and still delicious, as is the coffee— I get Latte, my friend gets a flat white. The owner is nice too. Their fries and toasties are excellent and ANZAC biscuit is nice. From memory their burgers are good and they are big. My friend loves their eccles pastries and egg sandwiches. The outdoor seating and good air flow make it Covid safe. Toilets are clean. Water available to help yourself to. It's been a warm winter this year so it hasn't been an issue so far but on a chilly day in previous years it's been too cold for me and I head for somewhere warmer.

To owner: no need to change the amount of egg in the French toast now, it's fine since my old review. If you want to change anything can the French toast slices be just a little bit bigger? Thank you for your response to my review, I didn’t think you'd be...