Brown Sugar Cafe — Restaurant in North Island

Upon walking in, my first thoughts were that it was a lovely little cafe.

However, that soon changed, the prices were rather shocking ($9.50 for a piece of bland lasagne? I’ve had bigger pieces for other cafes for $6-$7, that actually had flavour).

When we got to the counter to order, I was met with a unpleasant stare, as if we were an inconvenience to the TWO girls taking out order, no smiles, no pleasantries. Went to sit down to wait for our lasagne to be heated with the rest of our group who had ordered cold food, so they already had there’s and were eating (take note of this for later.)

We sat there 15 minutes waiting for our lasagne, before we asked someone where it was.. they didn’t know but apologised for the wait and said it should be there soon before heading back to the kitchen (the only friendliness we got the entire time there.)

5 minutes later a lady came out with our food and a member of our table curiously asked why it had taken so long, as everyone else had long since finished and were waiting on us to eat so we could leave and we all felt that it had been way to long.. the lady got snappish and at first said “i don’t know I’m not the cook, ask them” and started walking away before turning back and continuing to say “ it is rather busy and we don’t normally serve groups as large (8) as yours” in a snappish accusing tone (note: half the tables were empty and if they were so busy, why did that have 2 people taking one persons order?)

Now remember when I said that everyone else had ordered cold food from the cabinet and received there’s immediately? How would that make heating up 3x lasagne from the cabinet take 20 mins? We ordered seperate from them and they didn’t have anything that needed heating or making for that to be a valid statement! Nevertheless, last time I checked that is not how you respond to a customer.

Needless to say, never returning. I’ve had better service from a McDonald’s.. which is...

Don't be tempted to stop at Waiouru when you get to the end of the Desert Rd; just 25 minutes further down State Highway 1 is Taihape and this absolute gem. Not immediately obvious from the main street, it is worth parking in one of the many roadside parking bays and walking 50m up the side road to the unobtrusive door that marks the entrance to Brown Sugar. Inside you'll find a delicious selection of reasonably priced savoury and sweet treats. There is plenty of seating indoors for those inclement Taihape days, or wander through to the quiet courtyard out the back, lovely and warm when the sun shines. Out here you'll also find the most civilised toilets on SH1.

A special note for tea lovers: Brown Sugar gets it right. No teabag here, you'll get a pot of loose leaf tea (with a strainer), a small jug of milk, and an extra pot of hot water. All of which produced four teacups of tea that lasted longer than it took for me to eat my large,...

Tuesday 12 July 10 a.m. Cafe not at all busy. Being very Covid conscious at present we purchased food and coffee (lovely) and tucked ourselves into a quiet corner to take off our masks and eat. Had noticed only one staff member with a mask and she was in the kitchen with it hanging off one ear. A maskless woman appeared in our little corner and began to tidy the socks on the round display, moving to some towels on a nearby rack and back to fidgeting with the sock stand. This went on for more than 10 mins. We were not able to have a private conversation and were perturbed about her close proximity (less than 2 metres at times).This was disturbing behaviour in a time of pandemic in a food place. Of the other maybe ten customers six arrived wearing masks. Clearly customers are generally aware of the social need. Brown Sugar needs to up it's...