Everyday Eatery — Restaurant in North Island

This is a new cafe and a lot of money has been spent on it primarily the Hamilton City Council's and possibly its rate payers. It looks good and inviting within in reason. The cafe is attached to the Hamilton Zoo entrance so the location is great.

Would I go back to this cafe? No. Would I go back to the zoo? Gladly. Unfortunately this cafe was a huge let down.

Let's start at the beginning...the carpark is so cramped that just maneuvering around its corners is like playing a game of Operation blind folded. There are also some weird grass car parks which are divided by tuffs of white material that look like the bristle top of a scrubbing brush and I can only imagine how muddy the car parks will be in bad weather. The grass outside the cafe where the empty BBQ tables and umbrellas are set up hasn't been mown in some time and is full of weeds. The menu is limited and expensive with the average dish costing $25.00. A small bowl of shoestring fries with aioli not sauce so the chips snap while dipping is $8. Think McDonalds large fries. There are no prices on the cabinet food I don't think anyone wants to ask. The coffees although the Rocket brand are terrible.

But the main reason I won't be back is the atmosphere or lack there of. All of the staff were unfriendly, aloof and inattentive. No 'Hello, how are you today?'. In fact not even a 'Hi'. No one cleared our table or asked how everything was and three staff members stood around discussing the people who were drinking BYO orange juice on one of their BBQ tables. And last but not least no 'goodbye thanks...

A Great Café Experience for Our Group (Juna Friend)

Our group recently had the pleasure of dining and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Organizing a group meal can sometimes feel complicated, but the team here made everything smooth and enjoyable.

From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, friendly, and accommodating. The staff handled our group with patience and professionalism, making sure everyone was comfortable and had what they needed. Orders came out accurately and on time, which isn’t always easy with a large table!

The food was fresh, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. Whether it was the breakfast classics, healthy options, or sweet treats, everyone in our group found something they loved. The portions were generous, and the quality was consistent across the board.

The coffee was another highlight—smooth, rich, and clearly made with care. Whether it was a flat white, a long black, or a decaf option, every cup came out perfectly.

Overall, the experience was excellent. It’s not easy to keep a large group happy, but chefs and staff managed to impress all of us with great service, delicious food, and top-notch coffee. We’ll definitely be back—and we’ll happily recommend this place to others looking for a café that can handle both small and large...

If I could, id give my experience less than one star!!

A friend and I planned to start out our zoo day with a coffee & a slice whilst our kids had a quick snack here. Upon arrival I purchased my child a drink, myself a coffee and a slice, we then found a seat at one of the tables and I started to breast feed my baby. My friend arrived and her children sat down but before my friend could even order we were asked to move off the tables we were sharing because they were single tables (we chose them because we had two prams and we thought we were being contentious for other cafe goers) when we got ourselves sorted at a new table, we were asked to leave the cafe because our children were not eating food purchased at the cafe, despite my purchase of coffee and a slice or my friends best intentions of purchasing food. The staff member who dealt with us was rude and confrontational and did not seem to under that my child had food allergies which is why I provided her food.

There is no signage to state parents cannot bring food for their children.

I was very disappointed by the customer service and the way we were treated. It...