Te Ākau Roa Restaurant — Restaurant in Northland

Disappointing Service – Would Dine Elsewhere We stayed at the hotel for three nights and decided to try the Te Akau Roa restaurant located directly below. Unfortunately, our experience was far from satisfactory.

Our first visit was on Thursday night, where we waited 1.5 hours for a steak dish. The meals did not arrive together, meaning some of us had already finished eating while others waiting for their steak. On top of that, our drink orders were repeatedly incorrect, and multiple items appeared on our bill that we hadn't ordered.

Hoping it was just an off night, we gave them two more chances—once for breakfast on Friday and again on Sunday. Both times, service was equally disappointing. On Friday morning, we waited over an hour for breakfast, only to be told they had just one chef in the kitchen. Sunday was no better—while the first two plates arrived quickly, our kids' meals took 45 minutes, and our friends waited over an hour for their coffee. They also ran out of waffles.

To add to the frustration, split billing was an issue. The cashier struggled with the system and asked us to pay as a single bill and sort it out among ourselves. At one point she asked us to help her find the “flat white” option on the screen.

If you're in the area, I’d recommend skipping Te Akau Roa and instead trying Schnapper Rock (great food and service), Village Eats (best waffles), or Marina Woodfire Dining...

Terrible service. This is the third time Ive been here in a week and each time it’s been disappointing. The first time we were told to take a table for lunch then spent ages waiting for someone to take our order before flagging a waitress down only to be told we had to order at the bar. However, the bartender was so busy spending time chatting with locals five of us waited a full five minutes in front of her before I finally asked to be served. The second time the guy behind the bar took my drink order and payment then left me standing at the bar and started clearing tables (despite the place being virtually empty) then exited in the direction of hotel reception, returning to load the dishwasher until I finally interrupted him to tell him he’d not actually given it to me. Today the female staff member ignored two sets of customers at the bar in favour of emptying dishwashers or filling water bottles until I, again, finally asked to be served. No wonder Schappa Rock and Marina Pizza are heaving and this place is not. We are regulars every year and it seems to have deteriorated each year recently. The food while ok is also expensive for meal sizes...

Exceptional food and absolutely fantastic service. Awesome restaurant environment out at Tutukaka Coast. We ordered the Sirloin which was cooked to a perfect rare as requested, Fish of the Day was Pan seared Terakihi, I thoroughly enjoyed! An accompaniment of Garlic bread which gave us the satisfaction that only freshly home made bread can give! :) All this topped off with the best Apple and Berry crumble we’ve had in a long time. Top marks and our highest appreciation to the chef’s for making our anniversary dinner a memorable one! :) Our waiter for the evening was energetic, friendly and knowledgeable of the menu dishes. Tem! You made our first experience at Wāhi an awesome one, and you totally deserved our tip! :) This was our first time dining at Wāhi, and it definitely will not be the last! Return customers for sure! We highly recommend to anyone looking for that...