Wai Roto Eatery — Restaurant in Devonport-Takapuna

We called in to this cafe (its a monopoly) again for a light meal and once again couldn't get what we required, same excuse.

Why is it that when you call into this "captive market café", there is always a reason why they cannot either supply you what they have on the menu, or supply it as you have requested.

Their standard response being either they are short staffed or the chef is on their break.

Same story, different day, see previous review below:-

I did say last time it would be the first and last time I would call into this place, but being a monopoly, they have you, as there is no other real alternative.

There is another small shop opposite this place, I believe it is supplied from the same outlet, but it is just not at all convenient, they need some real opposition.

We called into Wai Roto for lunch (at 12.30) on the way for an appointment.

Placed our order and was then just told no, we couldn't have that meal because the chef was on his lunch break.

"The chef was on a lunch break at lunchtime", well that's a new one for me.

I would have thought that lunchtime would be the busy time, or more importantly, the time the chef should be on duty, how wrong could I be!

The coffee is just okay, the toasted chicken pannini was only just warm, poor.

First and last time here, however it is the...

Went with a friend for a coffee. I ordered a green tea for myself and a hot chocolate for my friend. Then we sat down and waited. After over 15 minutes, they brough out my tea which was an Earl Grey tea and not a Green tea. I politely spoke to the server who was extremely rude and argued with me that I had ordered an Earl Grey and not Green tea. She then took the Earl Grey tea back and brought out Green tea but looked very angry and slammed it on the table, spilling some of it. She didn't say anything to us during this time. We then waited over an hour and the hot chocolate never came out. I went out to enquire and the server staff argued that we never ordered the hot chocolate. They kept rolling their eyes and looking at each other. No one ever offered an apology or acknowledged that they may have made a mistake. We left without getting the hot chocolate. I have never have encountered such rude cafe staff. All their actions suggested that they were trying hard to discourage any...

Have been frequenting this place over the last 2 months while visiting. Strange one to review cos the people that work here all seem great and service is always great. The coffee is good, especially when made by the little asian dud and the tall european guy... sorry ladies. Problem is the owner or someone appears to have taken a 'we have a captured market' approach and priced everything that way. $4.50 for a mini croissant with a little cheese and ham in it is over the top and I can get sausage rolls down the road twice the size and at half the price than what they sell here. It's a shame really as people wud probably come more often and maybe buy more if the prices were reasonable. Not choose to get food in and only go here when I really really really have too. But then the times I have been here it is always full and busy.....like I said capture!! Extra star cos...