The Tearooms at Shamrock Cottage — Restaurant in Howick

Whilst I love the gluten free food at Shamrock Cottage I would love it even more if I knew what the cost of it was before I ordered it. So I would be prepared for what I was going to pay for it.

Soon after Shamrock Cottage re-opened its doors I went to get my usual gluten free baking and asked about prices and was told that the prices were still being decided upon.

I went in today and that was the same answer together with a douse of irritation and a stony attitude followed. The question and suggestion about displaying prices came about because when the person told me the price of my 2 items of baking it sounded like $10.70. So that's what I handed over. Then she said its $13.70. I apologised and handed over $5 more and she returned $1.70 change to me.

That is obviously the incorrect change. I did not request for the rest of my change after all it was 30 cents but I noticed her stony irritation when I asked about why the prices were not displayed and go that answer.

I was there with a friend a couple of weeks ago who invited me to out a lunch. We paid $57.30 for a Ham of the Bone Sandwich with cheese and a Gluten free option of the same with a Long black coffee and a Chai Latte . Pretty steep for a sandwich and a drink I think. But hey apparently businesses like this can charged exorbitant amounts of money just because of their monopoly. That's an argument for another time.

I really wondered about whether I should even write this because one of the things I thought I might do is just boycott your establishment. However where is the fun in just doing that without saying anything.

THE LONG and SHORT OF THIS, PLEASE PUT YOUR PRICES ON DISPLAY , IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR US NON ELITIST, PARTLY EMPLOYED FOLK WHO LIVE ON A BUDGET TO KNOW BEFOREHAND WHETHER WE CAN AFFORD YOUR HIGHLY PRICED FOOD OR NOT! After all it is usually for a treat that we can visit your establishment from time to time. Unless of course the lowly are not...

I haven't been to Howick in years, and must admit drove past the tearooms because it blends in to the residential homes on the street. It is a historical site, one of many in Howick, and as such was quite tight in terms of tables, and chairs. It felt like visiting a friends home who invited all the neighbours for brunch and tried to accommodate us all by puting as many tables, and chairs in each room as one could. This meant manoeuvring around the tables was awkward at times and in our case the whole table having to get up to accommodate a guest who needed to use the amenities. Conversation was kept light because of the layout also. The food was excellent I opted for the French toast, from memory it had a few macaroon type swirls that I personally didn't like the texture of, and didn't add anything to the dish for me. The coffee was hot, and strong, with the service being a bit disjointed because of the mid morning rush, as a result our table ate at different times. Living in Central Auckland where you are spoilt for choice in terms of excellent cafe food, by the time you left this place it had cast the spell of feeling that you were in a friends cottage who cooked your food with love, which makes you want to visit that friend again, and again despite the...

We had a very filling lunch consisting of omelette with salad, and the other dish was eggs benedict on potato cakes. The fare on the menu will often show ham or bacon as ingredients, which we don't eat, but they will accommodate your diet. So if you are gluten free or vegan don't hesitate to ask. The portion sizes were good, and it was well prepared, although it could have been heated through a bit more. One of us had a custard square for dessert, and the other had apple shortcake. Both were nice, but a bit too sweet for our tastes.

We would have preferred getting our coffee after the meal was served, but I guess we needed to specify that when we ordered at the counter. As we ordered at the counter, we wanted to order everything rather than have to get up and leave our table to order anything else, hence the list of everything was given all at once.

The space around the tables was rather tight, and I do not believe you could fit a wheelchair inside. But on a nice day you are able to eat outdoors. Indoors was cosy and warm on the first day of winter and the wood burner for warmth was very...