The Corner Stone Cafe — Restaurant in North Island

This cafe has always been a favourite of mine, and I have always gone out of my way to stop here when I am out and about. Sadly this morning, after encouraging my friend to meet me there for brunch in lieu of the many alternatives in the area, when ordering our food, 2 adults and 2 kids, I asked for a pot of hot water so I could have my herbal tea which I carry around with me. A note here I am often on the road, and wherever I go to eat I usually ask for a top up of hot water, and I have never had any issues, or been asked to pay, although I would have been happy to pay if asked. So I honestly didn't think about it this morning when I asked for a pot of hot water. I certainly wasn't trying to be dishonest. Anyway, we were sitting down waiting for our food and the owner or manager came to our table, and in front of our kids basically very rudely told me that I was out of order and had no right using their pot/cup and staff to deliver it. I apologised and offered to pay, but that didn't seem to appease her. If was incredibly embarrassing, and my bad if what I did was not ok, but she could have communicated it without the rudeness. I am still the customer and we spent around $100 all up, so seriously, for a pot of hot water i dont think I deserved that. Time to check out the many other cafes...

Interesting experience here yesterday. My wife and I have stopped several times before. Food usually good, service 8 out of 10 depending on staff member. I usually get a receipt and yesterday was given an itemized one. I learnt we had each been charged extra for a fork to eat our cake with!. Not asked for specially "To cover overheads I was told" when I enquired. So I asked did they charge extra for a spoon to stir coffee or a knife and fork to eat other food with. Of course not I was told our prices for those items are all inclusive. Then why not with a piece of cake be all inclusive?,. "Policy" I was told ask the Management. Get your itemized receipts and don't expect logic when you visit :-) Find out what is being charged extra for today to cover overheads! and what other hidden costs they charge their customers. Maybe I am the illogical one what...

Great food - shame about the service and check your docket for over charging. Charged $27 for a keep cup with an $18 price tag on the box. When queried was told by staff member that "that is right, it is about what we charge for them". Spoke to a second staff member who said they would check and then spent the rest of our time there looking the other way as they passed us to serve other customers. Would appear from reading the docket that the price charged for the keep cup probably includes the 1st coffee(?) as my husband had an iced coffee and I had a regular flat white served in the keep cup, but $9 for a regular flat white??? . NB - staff members did not offer this explanation - just our assumption from reading...