Robert Harris Cafe — Restaurant in Christchurch

Yesterday we had an quick, early lunch at the cafe. Walking in it was obvious to see many of the tables had not been cleared from the diners before. As bar stools and tables do not work for us we had no choice but to sit at a table that had been vacated but not cleared, expecting someone would come over and clean it for us. My food arrived with the table still not cleared and as the waitress turned to walk away we had to ask if she would mind clearing the dishes which we had pushed to the front to enable our food to be put in front of us. She took the plates from my side with no expression or apology, we expected her to come back for the rest and wipe the table at the same time, but she didn't. My husbands food arrived and then she cleared the table, but didn't wipe it down. I apologised to her for asking for the table be cleared as I thought maybe the cafe was short staffed, but she said no. The people next to us left 5 minutes after we started to eat and the table sat with all their dishes on it for almost the whole time we were there. We observed the odd table being cleared but not wiped. People were coming in and looking around to see where they could sit. One lady even cleared her table and got a cloth and wiped down the table herself. All the while we sat and observed the disinterest of the staff walking straight past vacated tables covered with dishes and not clearing them away. They looked like they had tunnel vision to where they were serving and no interest in anything else. We were disgusted watching one staff member spending most of her time talking and laughing with the the Barista. We were wondering who was in charge as there didn't seem to be anyone who was in the remote bit interested in the place. The Owner of this Cafe needs to give his/her staff proper training in the etiquette of running front of house. Staff contribute to any cafe/restaurant experience. They are often the reason people will come back. However, in this instance we will definitely not be frequenting this cafe again. The food was luke warm, the coffee and hot chocolate were quite good. I have read the owners answers to other reviews and suggest the owner take responsibility and interest of his/her cafe and staff. The Robert Harris brand does not want reviews like mine and many others who have written complaint reviews bringing their name down. Don't make excuses for this, fix it. There is nothing worse than placing an order in hope that a clean table will come free by the time you are ready to sit down to find you are in the predicament we found ourselves in yesterday. Grubby cafe, disorganised, disinterested staff all falls back on the person who owns the cafe not paying attention to detail. No photo's, we don't use our phones...

The lady who severed me by the counter with purple hair and and had glasses one. She was so rude because last time I went n purchase a drink it was a free voucher so I didn’t use it and asked the girl who served me last time if I could get anything if I have a full stamp and she said yes you can get anything, but when I went today the women with the purple hair told me you will only get free drink not pastry or foods which is pathetic . We are paying for the large hot chocolate or whatever which is not even worth. Sometimes they spill the hot chocolate into the mug dish and serve as thinking we are dogs .to the owner of this shop I recommend you to teach your staff good communication and a smile on their face when they serve a customer. I know work is busy but a smile can be always there to serve customers. Very pathetic service at the counter IMPROVE...

Had the WORST EXPERIENCE in a cafe here!!! I was with my 2 toddlers waiting for the take away coffee order and after 15 minutes I went beside the coffee machine to see if my order was done. The manager on Saturday morning (June 1), old lady with pink coloured highlighted hair, asked me in a straightforward poker face and firm tone, "what are you waiting for?!", I told her that I order a Mocchacino half choco. She then added, " THE PEOPLE SHOULD LEARN TO WAIT THIS DAYS". I was really shocked on what I heard, I told her that that's not how she should deal with the customers. She denied the remarks was for me and said that she was talking to her collegue which was a meter away and not part of the conversation at all. I didn't even get any APOLOGY! I DON'T THINK THAT SHE'S QUALIFIED TO BE A MANAGER of that well known coffee shop. SHAME ON...