Walnut Cottage Cafe — Restaurant in Hibiscus and Bays

Don't bother going here if you're vegan. They have nothing on the menu that's vegan, and are totally not interested in trying to help. When I asked what they could do (as I was with a small party for lunch) the owner told me there was nothing they could offer.

Looking at the menu I politely suggested they could use some of the other items from the Big Breakfast (beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, potato roasties, toast). The owner told me they couldn't do any breakfast items as it was already 12 (it stopped at 11.30). I asked if I could have some sides (avo, salad, beans, mushrooms, chips etc.) and was told no, as I had to have them with a main. Obviously not very helpful since they didn't have any vegan mains?

Fortunately she agreed that since my friend was having a main, I could order some sides, but was told that they couldn't do the mushrooms vegan (?), the chips were not vegan, and they were out of avo. In the end we agreed on side salad and chips (which were at least cooked in canola oil and sounded vegan to me?), but only after some debate at the counter which was pretty awkward and included the owner initially saying 'well we cannot take this order then' and asking me 'why are you vegan?' (imagine that can of worms🤣). I checked the salad didn't include any dairy or egg, but when it showed up it was covered in mayo. They switched it out but it was all just a bit tedious by this stage for a salad of iceberg lettuce, cucumber, onion, tomato and carrot. And to top it off, the chips were cold :-/

All in all pretty stressful, and a real shame, because it's a lovely location, and the previous owners were very accommodating around hacking the menu to allow for some veganisation (like most restaurants nowadays). It's so easy to make things vegan and quite unusual not to have at least a couple of items on the menu. I was made to feel really uncomfortable & like they really didn't want my business. Oh well. Hope you have...

Where do I start... It was my birthday and for weeks I had been preparing to go out, which is something I rarely do due to severe health issues. I was so looking forward to going out with my 2 friends & my husband... The experience of going to this cafe was to say the least upsetting and humiliating. My friend had spent around $40 on food and drinks which was all fine. Due to my severe health problems I am unable to eat 98% of food because I have severe allergic reactions (sometimes anaphylactic). As I said I'm literally allergic to MOST FOODS not just gluten or Dairy! !!! Because of this I had bought one small muffin that was specially made for me to eat so I was not left out of the occasion.

We were told that it was against policy for me to eat my muffin without paying a surcharge. Now this would not have been a problem had they politely mentioned this policy in a kind way.... However, the way in which I was spoken to and especially by the wife (owner) was disgusting... She dared to question my illness and the necessity of me bringing my own food! She literally rolled her eyes & insinuated I was lying. I would not have had a problem to pay a surcharge had I been spoken to respectfully! However, this certainly was not the case! I am a person who is homebound 98% of my life and this is pretty much my once a year outing. Thanks so much for ruining this outing for me! It was disgusting how you spoke to me... I would not recommend this cafe in any way and my friends were not happy with their food either. Hospitality is certainly something they do not understand that's for sure!

For the record invisible illness is real!!! I should not have to prove to a person I don't even know how ill I am and why I need to bring my own food.... Ignorance is a choice! People with life altering challenges deserve to be treated with respect not humiliated and interrogated :-(...

Beware if you go to this restaurant check the rules about payment. Only one star review. Our second time to go to Walnut Cafe it’s a beautiful spot in Orewa and we met four other friends there making a total of 6 people. We noticed we were not separated at all from the other tables in fact our table was backing on to the people behind. Not one meter and no register visible. The food selection was very good and the prices medium, portions generous, our waiters were brilliant, we should have had one but two serving us. All went well through the lunch until we came to pay the bill, the owner who was on the till said only one bill per table. We were all ok with that and decided to split the bill three ways, this was not acceptable to the owner, she said thank Jacinda for that rule only one person can pay NOT three, we said we are not paying cash only card, still NOT acceptable. We said we are not happy with this decision as we do not want to pay each other back. We walked outside to discuss who was going to pay no intentions of walking off and doing the wrong thing, it was a payment issue not a food issue. The owner then decided she would spilt the bill into two, how crazy what is the difference to splitting in two or three. No que at the counter as we were the last ones in the restaurant at 3pm Very dissatisfied in the end one of our friends paid the bill and we paid her outside the restaurant, very poor service for a small request. Totally spoilt our lunch and also going back to the place, someone tell this owner one bill per table is ok splitting the bill is also ok especially if the clients are happy with an equal split. Before you go make sure you know this rule in this restaurant. Very arrogant owner and non negotiable...