Artisan Cafe and Bar — Restaurant in North Island

If only you got the eggs right....

Once again the menu looked a tad expensive, but I was saved once again by the display cabinet (make sure you look at them).

Was torn between an eggs benedict croissant (i.e. poached egg, bacon, hollanaise on a heated crossiant) versus a roast chicken panini. Opted for the panini, which came very toasty, that the cabernet cheese was nice and goey. The savouriness was nicely offset by the peach/apple chutney.

Other dish was the big breakfast (hearty breakfast). Instead of the hash browns, it came with a home made potato rosti, which I can't say Im a great fan of, i love hash browns, but i could taste the work that went into it. Sausages were full size snags, not the frankfurt sizes. At least one full rasher of bacon noted. Not very much mushrooms (or the wife ate it all by the time it came to me...), spiced baked beans.

I will however need to reduce the point slightly due to the eggs. I requested "fried eggs, please no sunny side". What I got was........I dunno, but it does not look like it was flipped at all. The fried side was very white, hence it was rushed, needed at least 2min more on the heat to set and crisp. The yolk had a layer of white on it, which means on top of frying heat, they put a lid in it and somewhat steamed it. Yolks remained runny. Now, when the order is "not sunny side", I intend, and hope it understood, as "not runny pretty cooked pretty crispy". The order was repeated to me as "sunny side eggs", which I properly corrected, so there should not have been mistaken at the order taking step.

Nonetheless despite the issues with the eggs, this place still deserve a good score on account of its lovely servers, lovely service and lovely food overall. Can be a bit more value for money, but I suggest looking in the display...

My partner and I arrived on a Thursday morning on a rainy day after seeing the positive reviews and vegan options, as we both have specific dietary requirements. We were seated and served promptly by Goku who was very attentive and kind.

We both ordered the sunshine breakfast with some changes to accommodate our diets. When the food arrived, we noticed that my partners breakfast had dairy in it. We asked the server, Goku, to swap over the granola portion (as it had milk and yogurt) to which he said, no problem! When he returned to the kitchen I noticed a chef arguing with him about the change. Then, to my surprise, the chef came out to our table to argue with us about the fact that 'vegans don't eat eggs' and that we were 'not real vegans'. We were utterly shocked that the chef came out just to argue about our dietary choices and then tried to charge us for the new granola.

Overall, the food was good, if not a little over priced at $22.50 for one piece of toast with some sides and some granola. Goku was also great! Really kind and apologetic for the confusion. Those two things are the only reason this place gets 2 stars instead of 1. Do not reccomend if you have specific...

A Cozy Culinary Haven

As we trudged through the sulphourous streets of Rotorua, the fresh ground scent of coffee tickled our noses and drew us like a moth to a flame. Nestled in a welcoming atmosphere, the Artisan Cafe exudes warmth and charm from the moment you step inside. The service is consistently friendly, ensuring a pleasant dining experience from start to finish.

What truly sets this place apart is its diverse menu offerings. There are ample choices that cater to every palate and preference. This inclusivity adds to the restaurant's appeal, making it a go-to spot for groups with varied dietary needs. The portions themselves were unexpectedly generous and delicious.

In conclusion, if you're seeking a cozy dining spot with exceptional service and a menu that caters to all dietary preferences, look no further than this gem. It would be a true tragedy to leave Rotorua without sampling this...