Basker — Restaurant in North Island

I have been to Basker with my family many times now and the service there has always been top notch. Even during the busier periods such as long weekends and the festive season. The staff are lively, charismatic and very helpful. The food is delicious, and the drinks are always of a premium standard.

Having read some of the other reviews made here, it's rather perplexing as to why everyone wants to write about certain issues rather than address the issue directly with the staff while they're actually on the premises.

I implore obtuse minded individuals to perhaps "Relax" and not take themselves too seriously while they're on holiday, rather than feel the need to take up arms on their keyboards to belittle a business and the staff members who are still very much in their infancy as an operating business. I'm more than happy to spend my money here and look forward to many more visits in the future.. less the negative food critics who feel obliged to write about every minor inconvenience they encounter on their life journeys. Say less if you have nothing positive to say.. business owners live and breathe their work, and quite often, a few bad kneejerk reviews can be highly detrimental to the businesses and their owners moving forward. Constructive criticism is always welcome in my opinion but blatant "Main Character" energy and the need to throw your toys out of the cot just to get your way is out of line. Having worked for many years previously in the hospitality industry, the people writing bad reviews about businesses and their staff wouldn't have the minimal amount of fortitude required to be able to endure the grueling hours and rude self absorbed customers that the hospitality workers endure.. and yet they smile through it all. Stay at home if all you want to do is project a negative opinion that's been hastily constructed in the confines of your small, disgruntled and entitled minds.

With all that being said, I'll continue to highly recommend Basker to any of my friends and family that come to...

Okay, so the place was very busy however... there seemed to be plenty of staff available. Service was very slow, even waiting for the coffees took forever. Waiting for the food took even longer. I ordered the Basker Big Breakfast with fried eggs, whilst my two sisters ordered Creamy Mushrooms. First rule of hospitality is all food for a table should be delivered at the same time. Apparently this rule does not apply at The Basker. My Big Breakfast arrived at least 10 minutes before my sisters Creamy Mushrooms. However, it was served with scrambled eggs, not the fried eggs I ordered. The eggs were cold, indeed the only item that was warm were the mushrooms included with the breakfast.

Then the first of the Creamy Mushrooms for my sister arrived. It came served with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce, which was not shown on the menu. She said the eggs were in any case cold although the mushrooms were again quite warm. Finally a further 5 minutes or so later my other sister finally got her Creamy Mushrooms in the same condition.

In the time we were there, we noted other patrons approaching the staff to advise of missing items from their orders or querying when their orders might arrive. We too had queried how long it was taking to get the food.

The food was nothing special overall and the poor service certainly would not encourage...

Well… Generally reviews are not my thing but definitely felt the need to do this one. We are well traveled couple and know a thing or two about good hospitality. Have driven pass this place a couple of times and looked like a nice spot so we ventured out off our normal hangouts here in Whitianga to try this place out… what a waste of time that was. The place was busy (50-60%) with plenty of tables empty inside and out… we stood by the counter waiting…. Staff walking pass in and out without any acknowledgment, as if we were invisible… a few minutes went by which felt like hours, we inconveniently interrupted a staff walking by to see if we can grab a seat and she said well, is it a takeaway otherwise we are fairly busy sorry and their are no seating available. We wine and dine ALOT as we can and I am happy giving my money away doesn’t matter if good value or not if the service is good and this place does not live up to even the worst here in whitianga. Perhaps send some of your staff to Espy, Omalleys, Coghill, the fig to learn what customer service is all about as when economy get tight, which is most definitely going to, places like this will be the first to...