The Cove Cafe — Restaurant in North Island

If I could give half a star I would. My partner and I are not complainers. We give credit where credit is due but what we experienced this evening left us in shock. After a very hard stressful year we booked in for 2 days at the Waipu Cove camp ground where we have camped before and booked for early 5pm dinner at The Cove. A treat we were so looking forward to. I booked three weeks in advance and asked for roadside sitting in th sun. We stopped in at 3pm for a glass of wine because it was a beautiful sunny afternoon . We asked the lovely waitress if we could have this same sunny table when we returned at 5. She assured us we could. So we returned at 4.45pm. Two people were at that table so we said we would wait for them to go. No problem said the same waitress, the table was reserved for us. We sat at the end of a tressle table in the sun and ordered two margaritas. We were actually happy to stay there even though a waitress said it was only available for just over an hour. Then the couple left from our original table so we went to move there only to be told no it had been now reserved by others. My partner was completely frustrated by the lack of communication between staff by this stage and did not take kindly at being told to "calm down" when he queried why we could not sit at the table we had booked. But we chose stay at the tressle table and order food and something more to drink anyway. Then enter Lloyd. Supposed manager or owner but with an ego far exceeding his position. He loudly proclaimed that we would not be served because his staff had been sworn at. That had NOT happened. My partner tried to explain the frustrating table fiasco since we had arrived but all Lloyd could say was "I don't care". Really? We had remained calm but his approach was the most unprofessional display in hospitality we have ever experienced. We walked out and they have lost respect and custom. We were going to have dinner, brunch in the mornng, then dinner the following night with our Michelin star chef friend and brunch again the last day. Looking at past reviews it actually appears that Lloyd is the problem,...

After booking with these people from their website for our wedding function for 17 guests weeks before the wedding, to our horror we were seated outside on picnic tables that had been shoved together with umbrellas for semi shade. Our elderly guests were expected to lift their legs up and over the seats to be seated. No table decor had been put out or the wedding cake that had been delivered priorly. The events pavilion area remained available to the general public but was empty and remained empty for half the time we were there. This is where I assumed we were supposed to be seated, in the shade with a lovely backdrop for photos. So we asked if we could be seated there and were firmly told no. Their staff could not be bothered setting up tables. So we moved ourselves to tables with chairs with backs at least. But we still remained outside and in the sun. Half the guests became seriously sunburnt. After the main meal, the Bride actually had leave her seat to ask the staff to clear the tables and for the cake to be bought out because we had once again been forgotten about. In the end $1k spent on food with very little service. No discount for getting sunburnt and the inconvenience. I cannot recommend this place for the safistication that is advertised on their website. Zero communication from emails asking about function menus that are also advertised. The manager even tried to imply that we had been confused with another restaurant in their chain of restaurants. It was embarrassing; the whole experience on what should have been a very special day was embarrassing. We are locals. And we used to love dining here. Me, my wife and our 15 wedding guests will never step foot...

First let me start by saying I had no intention to leave a negative review for this establishment as I have worked in hospitality and know how hard and stressful it is.

Second I have no food allergies or intolerances and I have background in health care.

I stopped for lunch yesterday with a friend on my way home to Auckland.

The cafe was beautiful and bustling with people. I loved the atmosphere and I did not mind the long wait and the steep prices as it was a public holiday and I was paying for the experience.

I ordered the Buddha Vegetable Bowl and added 2 poached eggs on top ($35 for the meal), I had no dinks except water.

After I finished my meal I went for a walk on the beach. I started feeling unwell and within 40 minutes of my meal I was nauseous.

I started my drive back to Auckland, but had to pull over 2 times to empty my stomach on the side of the road. As my lunch left my stomach I felt immediately better. I made my way home with difficulty as I needed the bathroom the entire time.

I had no other symptoms and I am not sick in any way except the vomiting and diarrhea.

This morning I called the cafe with the sole intention of alerting them of the potential health hazard that might be in their kitchen.

The man that answered the phone was abrupt and dismissed my concern as nothing more the some flu that is going around. I did not ask to be refunded nor did I want to make this review but the disrespectful way I was treated today while trying to share my health concerns was unacceptable.

I hope no one else got sick and that the cafe will at least investigate...