Journal Cafe — Restaurant in Howick

Not the first time having an Issue at the cafe.

1st time was a few weeks ago. Came in and got told to order at the counter and we asked what time they close and got told 4pm by 1 staff….. when we went to order another staff told us they close at 2pm and kitchen was already closed that they were only serving drinks.asked why that wasnt mentioned before the women told us she did tell us but all she said was to order at counter thats it…..

As for today 16/03/2024.. went for coffee and cakes.. cakes were disgusting and super dry…. When telling staff they told us it was “delivered today” but it clearly was 2-3 days old and dry. The icing was hard to eat. They were fine with removing the 2 cakes from the order…. Both the coffee & Matcha latte were barely hot … more like Luc warm milk… used to like this place when first opened. Servers seem like they dont want to be there, food/drinks last 2-3 times of going there are not even average on those days.

As for the bathroom….. staff should atleast clean it/ customers should help keep it clean by throwing tissue in the BIN/ toilet paper IN the toilet… both toilets are filthy, sticky floors

Update: To owner reply….I was there at 1pm! Not end of day..

I actually used OWN a BUSY Café in Brisbane, Australia for SEVERAL YEARS before moving back to NZ….I am well aware of how “ freshly delivered” cakes should look and taste by 1-1:30pm!!( NOT END OF DAY as stating by you and your staff!). Ive had cakes with perfectly soft texture to Butter Cream icing still the very next day! And scones/Muffins still tasting soft & fresh by 5-6pm from a 7am Delivery on same day!! What I got served that day… was not “delivered” that day and you can taste/Feel the texture in the icing AND the muffin part! Was sooo dry having to dunk in LUC WARM...

Been wanting to come to this cafe for a while since it’s been mentioned by a few instagram foodies. Finally got to try it out and tho the food was decent, the service wasn’t. We went in around 10:30am and they were quite busy, told them we got 3 people and a baby, but I guess she misheard or misunderstood it as 2 people since my mom wasn’t with us yet. Got seated in a small table that’s meant for 2 people, which is fine, but we also ordered quite a bit of food. So when the table next to us left, we just moved the table over to get a bit more space on the table. One of the servers came over with quite a bit of attitude asking why we moved the table and if we asked the staff before moving it. Told us we said 2 people when we definitely said 3 when we came in. Our table was so small for our 4 plates of food plus drinks, yet no one offered to help when there was other bigger tables available. But we saw them offer other groups that came later bigger tables. Let alone we had a baby with us. We ended up moving that table back anyway, and they did apologize for the bad experience they’ve caused. Thus, I give 2 stars instead of one, but I think this is the first and last time we will be here. Not that they care since they’re so...

With a hungry toddler in tow trying to find somewhere to eat I decided to pop into here for the first time.

No idea I had to have a table first it seemed? But was assigned one to sit at. Ordered Chicken Chips and Salad for my baby and Buttermilk Chicken on slaw for myself. Total of $31.

Appreciated the coloring in pencils and water being given with bubs being in plastic (working in the industry i know how many glasses kids can break!). However wasn't given the option for a water bottle/carafe so only had the small glass of water.

Meals came out and to be honest could of been almost identical. The salad on the kids meal was just shredded cabbage; not really a salad persay. Chicken was cut with the grain so wasnt easy for my little one to eat fully. And the slaw on the buttermilk chicken was the same just shredded cabbage. A very sweet dish due to the combo of three sauces. Probably doesn't need the sweet Chilli sauce on it when there is a heavy soy sugar base sauce on the bottom covering the cabbage. Feel the slaw could of had more potential to it.

Bathroom has a change table in the accessible toilet which is great for parents. Was clean and tidy though and staff...