VIBE Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Kaipātiki

First time visiting, my partner had had their cabinet food before so was excited for our sit-down breakfast this morning. Things started well with our coffees coming out within 5 minutes of ordering. And that's also when it went completely downhill. Ordered a Chicken croffle and Shakshuka. Waited almost 40 minutes for food to come out. We had to follow up multiple times to check on it, no check-ins by the staff or heads up on the wait on food at all. I even paid for the food while we were waiting to quicken up the process, as no one else had regard for our time. It definitely set us off by quite a bit for our later appointments. The cherry on the cake was when the people who sat next to us were served within 10 minutes of being seated - much before us, when we had been sitting for over 30 minutes. When the Duty Manager was called in, she laughed it off and her attitude towards the whole issue put us off even more. She ended up asking if we wanted a cake or coffee, gave us a card for free coffees - but after the dismal service would you reckon anyone would be back? Coming to the food that we waited half an hour for - average at best. My shakshuka had 4 bits of chorizo, the croffle was sub-par as well. If we were indicated the wait time before hand, we would have happily had the cabinet food and that would have been the end of the saga.

Disappointed would be an understatement. Thank you for ruining a good Morning for us. Hope you are able to teach your staff to provide better service and check-ins for others. Having worked and managed a busy hospitality venue myself for a long time, I know how to have managed such a situation as I have faced issues from long wait times to poor staff behaviour. So I am not a Karen/entitled diner saying this. Just a highly disappointed paying customer who is never coming back or recommending the cafe. What a shame.

UPDATE: Although the owners have responded after months, their response to the whole situation only reinstills the poor service faced by us. As stated in my review, your Duty Manager only "offered" while laughing off the wait, did so only after we had approached them twice for the holdup. If you were aware of the situation and how busy it was going to be - a simple heads up before or even after, would seem the logical thing to do. Dismal - wish we could give a...

When it comes to the coffee, I have to say I've had better. It didn't leave a lasting impression and failed to meet my expectations. As for the salmon in the eggs benedict, it was quite disappointing. The fish didn't seem fresh at all, as its distinct fishy smell was hard to ignore. Additionally, the seasoning was uneven, leaning towards an excessive saltiness that overpowered the other flavors.

Now, let's talk about the hash brown. It appeared to be over-fried, resulting in a texture that was far from enjoyable. It felt as if it had been prepared the night before and then deep-fried again in the morning. It was difficult to chew and swallow, leaving me dissatisfied with this particular dish.

Furthermore, the garnish used on the plate was a bit puzzling. I couldn't determine whether it was alfalfa sprouts or something else entirely. Whatever it was, I believe the chef went overboard with its usage. In my opinion, it didn't complement the salmon well. Instead, I would suggest using two or three kaiware sprouts on top of the salmon for a more balanced presentation.

Moving on to the cheesecake, it was decent overall. However, personally, I'm not a fan of gelatin being used in cakes. It affects the texture and taste, and I find it to be a detraction from an otherwise enjoyable dessert.

On a positive note, I must commend the cafe for their lovely food plating. The presentation had a nice vibe, and it added to the overall dining experience. However, despite this positive aspect, I can't help but feel that this cafe is somewhat overrated. While it has its merits, there are certainly other establishments in the area that offer a more satisfying culinary experience.

In conclusion, my visit to this cafe left me with mixed feelings. While there were some shortcomings in the food, such as the subpar coffee, fishy-smelling salmon, overly seasoned dishes, and unappetizing hash brown, there were also highlights, such as the decent cheesecake and appealing food presentation. However, considering the overall experience, I can't help but think that this cafe doesn't quite live up to...

Good vibes all around! We visited VIBE Coffee Roasters for brunch and had a fantastic experience. From the moment we stepped inside, the aroma of freshly roasted beans created a distinct and inviting atmosphere that set it apart from your average café. While the location, tucked away in the industrial center of Wairau, can be a bit tricky to find, it certainly makes an impression once you arrive.

From the menu, we ordered the Vibe French Toast and the Smoked Salmon Croffle. For drinks, we were in the mood for something sweet and refreshing, so we chose a Hokey Pokey Iced Latte and a Vanilla Iced Latte with oat milk. I initially expected the Hokey Pokey Latte to come fully mixed, but instead, the coffee, milk, and hokey pokey bits were served separately which was not a bad thing.

One aspect that stood out to us was the variety of food options on their menu. It includes classic dishes like a big breakfast, eggs benedict, and burgers, alongside fusion-inspired creations that blend elements from different cuisines - They did smell good, and I would love to try them later.

This was our first visit, and we were really impressed with the experience. We’re looking forward to returning and trying something more savory from their...