Switch New Brighton — Restaurant in Christchurch

Hospitality = zero! The business model is unusual at Switch coffee, New Brighton. Maybe they should rename their business Fawlty Towers due to their apparent liking of arguing with new customers over ridiculous store policy around 'take out' containers. I ordered a couple of hot teas and two cakes to dine in. They said that it was not policy and we had to have mugs (cheap ones not bone china!). I explained that I wanted take out containers, as we planned to drink half of the drink and take the rest away. We were served with take out containers and proceeded to sit on the outside tables to drink, as per the plan, and then leave hoping to enjoy a little peace and afternoon sun. Within 1 minute of sitting down, a server came up to us and said 'I thought id told you what store policy was'. At that moment the beautiful atmosphere was ruined and I said 'we ordered take out!' She replied' well you are sitting on our premises even though we'd walked out of the door and intended to leave after drinking half of our drinks'. We were not welcome and I did not want to spoil our day out any further and got up and proceeded to walk 10 metres down the pathway where there were council seats to sit! The point here is that what should have been a relaxing time, turned out to be a nightmare. Safe to say, after trying this place out once, I will never visit a Switch cafe again. I just remember the awful abuse and ridiculous rules! After contemplating whether to write a review, as people like this should not be in the hospitality business and should shut up shop and try running, maybe, prisons or security. I thought that people should be warned so not to suffer similar embarrassment of being thrown off the cafe premises for misunderstanding ridiculous rules. After deciding to write a review, I checked out the facebook feedback and to my astonishment, this establishment as not learned to listen to its feedback from customers and has been operating like this for years. Good luck with this business model of upsetting customers. Best 20 minutes spent airing out my grievance...

A little gem in New Brighton. Well worth stopping for a coffee, however, if you have time (and you'd be best to make some if you don't) try the food!

Whether it's one of the sandwiches or sweets from the cabinet or something off the menu, you won't be disappointed. Top this off with friendly staff and great service and you'll be wondering why you didn't come sooner? 😁👍

Just an update: This hasn't changed. If possible, it's only gotten better. You can still see the staff smiling, even under their masks and the food is still incredible. I recommend the Switch breakfast. So yummy! 😍

Another update, (lol) new menu item!! I still love the Big Switch breakfast, but the new Cherry Berry French Toast (see pic). So sweet and yummy! [insert Homer Simpson drool here] Just another reason to check it out!

Yet another update (caus I can 😜) I've been away for 3 months for work. Just got back to Christchurch and came for breakfast. I didn't realise how much if missed quality food until now. Even something as basic as bacon and eggs is so much better here. The bacon is better quality and the eggs seem to taste better here, even though poaching should be somewhat standard.

Google keeps asking for updates so all I can say is the wonderful, friendly staff just keep getting more and more awesome! Using awesome should date me? lol The food is consistently great and even when they think there's a small hiccup (there never really is) they go out of their way to ensure the quality and service are second to none. 😁👍 Always an great choice to go here.

This is my mist favourite cafe and I've only found one place that gives Emily's coffee a run for it's money, and they're in Timaru so no chance of me going there instead! 😉 Unless um down there, but I digress.

Just go to Switch! It's a bit off the beaten path (look for Carnaby Lane in Google 😁👍). Even the cabinet food is awesome and not the ole typical cabinet food, plus they try to cater to various dietary needs like vegetarian, vegan, glutton...

On Saturday I took my partner and 9 year old daughter to what I thought would be a nice place for lunch...

I WILL NEVER EAT AT THIS PLACE AGAIN!

Firstly my 9 year old daughter needed to use the toilet but came back saying she couldn't go because the bathroom smelt really bad and there was stuff all over the floor.

WORST OF ALL, THEY GAVE ME A HORRIFIC BOUT OF FOOD POISONING!!!!!

I was up until 5am Sunday morning with chronic vomiting and diarrhea which I am 100% sure came from there lukewarm bacteria laden uncooked sausage that came with my breakfast type meal.

I have spoken to health officials and they agreed with me that the food poisoning definitely came from eating there food.

This place is not clean!!

Gross

Thanks Switch for a good 12 hours of HELL on earth!!!

IN RESPONSE TO YOUR REPLY

This is not an ACCUSATION or CLAIM, it is a FACT that the sausage that you put on my plate GAVE ME FOOD POISONING!

I knew as soon as I had swallowed it that it was bad and I should not have eaten it.

I did not say it was a raw sausage, obviously it was a pre-cooked sausage but you still need to cook a pre-cooked sausage and you can still give someone FOOD POISONING from a pre-cooked sausage! (which you did).

Experienced chef's?? How hard is it to cook a sausage?? The chef I saw looked like angry when i asked to switch my mushrooms for something else.

There were NO PRECAUTIONS taken with my sausage.

I have been in touch with health officials and the advised me that they will be paying you a visit. They also advised me to go to the doctor and get some samples taken but lucky for you I could not be bothered due to the zombie like fatigue I was...