Savoire Cafe & Wine Bar — Restaurant in Christchurch

Further update:

We went back for another go at breakfast with Savoire this Good Friday, and I'm extremely pleased to report that everything was absolutely sublime start to finish!

Not only was all of the food cooked to perfection this time around, but they had taken a previous suggestion of having colouring pages for the kids on board (keeping our two happy for the very brief wait for their food to arrive), and even had mini Easter eggs on hand for the little ones.

In summary, we caught these guys on a bad day but the service recovery that followed is amongst the best we've received anywhere in the world. They were let down by staffing issues, but true to their word, when the A-team was back on duty, both the food and service was absolutely top notch.

We will be returning many times again, thank you Yogi and the Savoire Cafe team! 🤜🏼🤛🏼

Edit:

The owner has been in touch personally to provide an explanation for our experience today (which fits with our previous positive experiences of Savoire) and invited us to return free of charge later in the week so they can attempt to put things right (can't really ask for anything more than this from a service recovery POV, so keeping 🤞🏼 for our return visit).

I have amended my review to 3* on a placeholder basis, and will hopefully provide a further, more positive update again after we return for another go.

Whilst we've been here a few times before and it's always been a solid 4* experience, on this occasion, we were served up the worst breakfast experience of at least the last 20-years (Wetherspoons in Harrogate, England...the fork stood up in the eggs).

This morning, every part of our big breakfasts other than the tomato and hash brown was completely saturated in really grim, old-tasting oil, and was burnt well beyond the point it could be called Cajun, even.

This resulted in everything tasting like the same burnt oily disgusting mess forced into different shapes and colours (only texture could discern the difference between an egg and a sausage... seriously, just wow).

If the waitress had bothered to come and check-in on us at any point, I'd have raised this catastrophe in-person, however here I am writing this review, about to drive my daughter to get something edible to eat instead.

Just,...

A Brunch to Remember

I had the pleasure of visiting Savoire on Father’s Day, and it turned out to be a delightful experience. The first thing that struck me was the warm and inviting atmosphere, complemented by the friendly and attentive service. The baristas here are exceptional, crafting coffee that is nothing short of perfect.

The food, however, was the real star. We opted for brunch, and everything from the cabinet looked fresh and inviting. The a la carte menu did not disappoint either, with dishes prepared from scratch—a detail that adds a special touch to the meal. When I asked the staff, they mentioned that everything here is made from scratch, whether it’s the salad dressing, the chimichurri with the lamb salad, or the aioli served with the fries. This commitment to quality was evident in every bite.

We sampled a variety of dishes, and each one was outstanding. The eggs benedict were perfectly poached, with rich hollandaise sauce and a bed of fresh spinach that added a nice touch. The smashed avo was another highlight—creamy and flavorful, served on crunchy toast with a generous sprinkle of feta and a hint of chili that made every bite delicious.

I ordered the big breakfast, and it was absolutely spot on. The dish featured an abundance of mushrooms, perfectly cooked bacon from Peter Timbs (which I consider the best in Christchurch), and homemade hash browns that were simply to die for. Each component was cooked to perfection, making it a hearty and satisfying meal.

My dining companion chose the lamb salad, and it was exquisite. The flavors were well-balanced, with tender lamb and fresh ingredients that came together beautifully.

Overall, Savoire delivered a fantastic brunch experience with top-notch coffee, amazing food, and impeccable service. It’s a spot I’d highly recommend to anyone looking for a...

Visited today for breakfast. The staff all seemed busy, which is a good sign, but because of that, I did have to wait a bit before being noticed—not a huge issue.

I ordered the eggs Benedict, and for the price, I expected something either larger or of higher quality. The hash browns tasted and looked like basic frozen ones from a supermarket, and the eggs were overcooked with no runny yolk. If I hadn’t been using a First Table deal, I would have been pretty frustrated.

The drinks were fine—neither amazing nor bad. Overall, everything about this café was just okay but felt overpriced. Given its location and aesthetic, I expected more.

If you do visit, the cabinet food looks more appealing than the menu items, though still on the pricey side.

Edit: Thank you for the lovely response. Maybe I'll give this place another go in the...