Verve Cafe & Bar — Restaurant in Gisborne

1:10 Not Impressed at all. Regret going there. First and last visit to Verve. COULD NEVER RECOMMEND. We found the cafes in Peel St and the Roastery in Gladstone Rd (just over bridge) were light years ahead in all of the below points including excellent service and product. I explain why:

1. Was ignored like I was invisible while standing at counter waiting to be served, staff member was at no more than arms stretch from me, could have simply said I'll be with you shortly.
2. Table we sat at had many dirty dishes from previous customers, we pushed them to one side, a staff member removed a couple of items on his way back to kitchen and did not say a word (that invisible treatment again), could have apologised for uncleared table. Plus the whole time we sat at the table he did not return to remove the rest of the previous customers dirty dishes.
3. The number of flys hanging around our table was rediculious, if all surfaces are clean and dirty dishes are not left lying around this does not happen. And certainly did not at other cafes I visited today.
4. The cappuccino was good but much more like a flat white.
5. The Lemon Slice was barely OK, was just average mass produced and stodgy. If I wanted that I can buy it at a supermarket and get 4x the size and a lower price and better quality.
6. Not once did we feel like we were welcome in this cafe. Maybe they think they are so popular they no longer need to try very hard or be curtious to new customers to remain...

The eggs benedict tasted great and the eggs were cooked absolutely perfectly. Had a table for 4 of us and coffee came out quick and was quite nice.

Positives aside, it's sad that the bacon wasnt "crispy bacon" like how it is written on the menu, also sucks that spinach wasn't part of normal eggs bene even when written on the menu as if it is. A singular thin slice of tomato isn't acceptable. If tomato is on the menu, make it something WORTH the $18 you have to pay for it. The icing on the cake though, was the tall skinny barista. She was exceptionally rude. I'm exempt from wearing a mask and all I got were death stares and rude remarks as soon as I stood up. Sorry for not realizing covid only spreads when I am standing, not sitting.

She was abrupt and arrogant towards us, gave all of us death stares and looked like she hated her time there. Don't think customer service is the right profession for her. I think Rhonda needs to change her...

The setting was wonderful we went to a cafeteria further up Gladstone Road to find it was a eat in bakery we were looking to have breakfast. we asked the lovely staff member where we could find a place to have a cooked breakfast she told us to go to Verve that we will be well served and the food was lovely we walked in it was quite busy a lovely place with seating from the entry to the back of the building the staff were friendly the menu was a variety of food available everything...I of course had bacon/salmon eggs benedict my friend had Spanish Breakfast which was choritzo with spicy topping bacon and eggs it was lovely plus a bowl of mushrooms on the side they were next level yumm....A pot of tea for 2 which was and I decided to have a American chocolate brownie to top off my yummy breakfast Thank you Verve lovely atmosphere staff and best of all FOOD I recommend Verve for a very enjoyable breakfast very busy but very much a...