Went a few nights ago with a group of four—we all ordered a glass of wine and an entree from the woman taking orders. She seemed a bit confused, but we assumed all was well. Later, however, only two of the entrees came out. We figured the other two were on their way, but it was taking quite a while, so when the man who appeared to be in charge walked past, I said we were still waiting on two meals. He looked me dead in the eyes and said, no, you didn’t order anything else. Baffled, I assured him that we had, yet he continued to argue with me and insinuate that I was lying. It was so jarring and strangely aggressive, I thought it must be an odd joke, but he was quite serious. He eventually put in the orders and we all got our food, but his response to the situation really turned us off to the whole experience. His demeanor when we paid afterward was so different, it seemed clear that he had realized there had been some miscommunication between the server and the kitchen, but he did not apologize. The food was fine and it would have been a lovely evening, even with the delayed meals (such things happen), if only there had been a modicum of...
Read moreI happened to stop by The Olive Tree Café for breakfast, and it turned out to be such a delightful experience! The cappuccino I had here was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had – smooth, rich, and crafted with real care.
The service was excellent from start to finish. The staff were friendly, attentive, and created such a welcoming atmosphere. It felt like more than just a café stop — it felt like a genuinely warm experience.
What really stood out for me as a parent was how family-friendly this café is. My child was completely engaged and happy with the toys and playthings available, which made the visit so much more relaxing. It’s rare to find a place that looks after both the adults and the kids so thoughtfully.
The café itself has a cozy, inviting vibe, with a sunny backyard that makes it a perfect spot to unwind. Their menu is also impressive, offering everything from bubble teas to homemade treats and hearty breakfasts.
If you’re ever in Te Anau, I can’t recommend The Olive Tree Café enough. Great coffee, wonderful service, and a place where both adults and kids can truly...
Read moreAfter a walking around for a while we settled on eating here. We ordered starters we got the chicken skewers and the garlic bread with and without cheese. These were all okay and tasted nice as well as being presented well.
For the mains we ordered the chicken schnitzel, steak and roasted lamb. The chicken schnitzel was particularly overcooked so it was chewy, the chips and sauce it came with were nice though. The steak- we asked for medium-well and it was cooked fine but the quality of the meat was pretty terrible. Having lots of gristle and being very chewy again chips were okay. The only main meal that was good was the roast lamb.
Another notable thing, the staff and atmosphere were quite uncomfortable. Most of the staff members didn’t want to talk to people/answer questions either. It was really quiet and the music just made it all a bit awkward. It was quite expensive...
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