The Blacksmith Eatery & Bar — Restaurant in Papakura

Booked a table of 5 for a belated birthday dinner for my youngest daughter. We all have had both covid vaccinations and both my wife and I have had booster shots. My daughter had tried all day to download the covid passport without success. So we thought to be on the safe side, we would sit outside in case there were any problems with my daughter. She had her card showing she had had both vaccinations. To cut a long story short, we were not even allowed to sit outside even when we explained the situation that 4 out of the 5 of us had covid passes and one didn't. The person on the door advised that we could not sit outside and have dinner which ultimately resulted in my daughter bursting into tears. So we politely told the staff member to cancel our reservation and we will go elsewhere. Considering this is/was one of the kids favorite places to go for dinner, I am now reluctant to recommend or even return to the Blacksmith if this is what customer service from them is like. I understand rules are rules and entering the premises would explain the need for a covid passport, but we choose/attempted to eat outside. If the Blacksmith are trying to lose customers, they are going about it the right way. After lockdown I would have thought common sense would prevail but obviously it does not apply in this case even when suggesting eating outside. Great way to lose current and future business.

Update: After speaking to the Blacksmith today, I was advised that our experience was not within their control. They have to abide by New Zealand law which states the outside part of their establishment comes under the same terms and conditions as the inside of their establishment. Just to add, my daughter had to create a new email address and finally was able to get the covid passport. If you are reading this review, please note my frustration was initially targeted at the Blacksmith but after discussing our experience with them, it became apparent this was beyond their control and hence I have edited my rating to reflect past experience...

Went there on the 19 June 2021 - The night started well and we spent quite a bit of money with the 3 Litre beer promo, every 3 Litres gets you a free pizza. This costed about $60 a round. After quite a few rounds plus ordering a tower and a few food items the quality got very poor. Attached photo is what is margarita pizza...... Disappointed we told the staff about this who said the kitchen was closed but gave some wedges. all good. then the staff served us another two jugs of beer and came out only a few minutes to tell us that we had 2 minutes to finish our drinks because they are closed, asked if he meant 10 minutes and he said no two minutes and that is it you need to go. . Why serve us another two jugs when you know you are closed? this is not the first time we have been here. This time was for my birthday, the blues game was also on and showing on the tv. After the game they showed the highlights and almost everyone that came to watch the game had left, we asked kindly if they could change the channel to a music channel and we were told no because they had a contract to screen the game. explained that the game finished over an hour ago and nobody was there to watch. They then screened the replay and refused to play any sort of music in the outside are even though it was just our party occupying the outside area. Everyone of my guest including myself feeling very under valued and disappointed that we came there to support the local bar and had to leave in that way. This was the first time after coming to the blacksmith a few other times that we have felt this way. Ended up leaving on the table the pizza attached, a few glasses of beer and the remainder of the jugs as we did not have the time to finish it after they sold it to us knowing that they...

Went to dinner last nite 24/04/2018 for our 42nd wedding anniversary. There were 5 of us including our grandson. We were seated at our table and our drink order was taken. 45 minutes later no one had come to take our food order. I went to the bar and asked why. Shortly there after a waitress took our order. My husband ordered fish and chips, large, my grandson ordered garlic bread I ordered salmon my friend ordered lamb shanks and her husband ordered pork. The fish wasn't cooked properly, the garlic bread was doughy the salmon was really over cooked and the pork seemed as though it had been boiled and had sauce brushed over the top of it. The only meal that was ok was the lamb shanks. When I went to pay for the meal I told the young waitress that I wasn't paying for the fish or the garlic bread and explained to her why. She then asked a woman whom I assume was the manager, came back to me and said that's ok then she proceeded to deduct those 2 meals from my invoice. I told her that this was my 42nd wedding anniversary dinner and it had been spoiled with food that was not really up to scratch, in my opinion. She apologized whole heartedly and offered me a $50.00 gift voucher. I must say that she was really great with her customer service skills but I was REALLY disappointed that the manager did not once come over and speak to me. She was standing behind the girl who was serving me, admittedly she was busy but 2 minutes of her time................. I'm sorry I did not take the girls name as I give her 10 out of 10 for the way she dealt with the situation. We have been here 3 times before and found the food was really great. They were pretty busy last nite but they have been busier on the other occasions...