Raglan Roast Gizzy — Restaurant in Gisborne

It’s been over a year since I last visited Gisborne’s Raglan Roast, only to return and find it stripped of the vibrant life that once made it the place to go for coffee in Tūranga. Under new management, the atmosphere has taken a sharp downturn and the removal of the outdoor counter has left the place feeling empty and unwelcoming.

It used to be buzzing with laughter, cars parked bumper to bumper not just for coffee, but to connect, to kōrero. It was a space where Māori and tauiwi came together, sharing in the simple joy of good coffee and good company. Many of my whānau and friends met there regularly, but we’ve all been disheartened by the changes.

The removal of the local tribal artwork, kowhaiwhai created by a well respected artist was especially gutting the artform is native to Gisborne region felt discarged without care. It once adorned the interior walls and counter with mana and meaning. Now, it’s been replaced by a bland, corporate-style layout that feels more like a function center or Koru Lounge: polished, pretentious, and utterly lacking soul catering to the picket fence upper class demographic.

Even the staff seem to reflect the new vibe distant, unsmiling, and not into small talk. When my mum a regular customer was there with her friends who has been going there for years was told off by the manager for laughing too loud tells you everything. It’s just a place to order your coffee, then leave. The community feeling is gone. Honestly, I’d find more warmth and connection at a Starbucks or BP. And that’s...

Why is this place so busy? Coffee wasn’t exemplary and the (older) lady that was at the machine the day I went was unnecessarily snippy. I wanted a small cup for myself and a medium cup for my husband. I first politely asked to use my coffee flasks instead of the cafe’s paper cups. She immediately snaps at me asking if I wanted them full or half filled. I said, a small and a medium please. She repeats if I want them half filled or full, showing more annoyance. I said sure, whatever your sizes are what I want. She seemed even more annoyed and asked me again. Finally, I said, sure, half full for both. She asks what coffee, I said a latte and flat white. I actually wanted a mochacinno, but she might bite my head off. Mind you, I had ordered the same coffees days before from a different barista and there was no issue. Now, my husband likes oat milk in his flat white so I knew this was going to be fun. I tell the lady that and a regular milk for my latte. She turned then asked me again what milks I wanted for both orders. I repeated. She turned then asked again and yet again. I’m pretty sure I spoke clear English to her — as clear as my writing here so I wasn’t sure what the confusion was and her continued annoyance with me. I honestly don’t know what buzz is with this place, but after this, I’d rather go to Mcdonald’s cafe....

Was looking forward to a coffee here for the first time because I had heard from a friend that her experience was great. Sadly my sister & I didn’t get the same experience. We arrived & my sister ordered for us 2 cappuccinos take away. We waited for 10 minutes before we realised that every other person that ordered after us was getting their coffees before us. When everyone else left my sister asked how long our coffees were going to be all for the barista to say, oh did you order? To which my sister said yes. 2 cappuccinos. The barista then laughed & said oh that’s right the 2 cappuccinos to go right? Real sarcastically. All up we ended up waiting 25 minutes. May not seem long to some, but for those who have to get to their jobs is long to wait. If I’m being honest, I feel that we were racially profiled. Because not only did we get stared down but we felt unwelcome. Which is a strange concept given that it’s kaiti area where Maori are quite prominent in that area, I mean it’s Aotearoa. I grew up in kaiti so I can’t understand why people are still like this. With the world being the way it is, we need more positivity. So why not start with good positive...