L'Arté Cafe & Gallery, Cafe closes at 3pm weekdays, Gallery open till 4pm — Restaurant in North Island

I took my nana here for her birthday. The art area is lovely although very pricey! There are some beautiful pieces, although you may need to take a loan out to purchase them. The mosaic area is very beautiful and detailed. The cafe was pretty full when we arrived but we were able to get a table putside on the heated porch. My nana wished that the benches had cushiobs ob them like the outdoor chairs because it was very hard and cold to sit on. The food was good especially the eggs benedict which was delicious. I wasnt a big fan of the open steak sandwich or the french toast which I got to try from my husband and daughter. The food prices are also steep. Almost $100 to get 4 plates of food...

Ordered an open bacon sandwich, a third of the bacon was burnt to the point that it turned to dust when I touched it with my fork, the second third was overcooked and tough, the third was fatty.

I told the lady at the counter when we were heading out to look at the art, who apologised...and that was it. I was at least expecting some sort of "would you like a replacement?" or "would you like a refund?"...I even came back through the cafe to grab some motorbike gear I had left there thinking she'll approach me with a solution...that didn't happen either.

So basically they burn food, say sorry and that's the extent of their accountability.

Will not be...

Much of the architecture of Acacia Bay resembles Auckland suburban blah. But if you drive up the hill a little you encounter L'Arte.

What a relief. Beautiful higgledy-piggledy concept of rising paths and huge mosaic scenes you can sit in. They make anything in any expressive media they think might catch your roving eye. Nicely laid out gallery/shop and endlessly surprising views of imaginatively coloured metal or pottery in a dramatic green setting. You would never have guessed from the road. Good food at uninflated prices. All the buildings neatly complement the site. An excellent way to spend copious holiday time. Take...