Mug 'n' Bowl Cafe & Eatery — Restaurant in Puketāpapa

We came here for brunch on Auckland anniversary day and ended up ordering a pork banh mi, beef pho, the special of the day which was a chicken noodle dish, two vietnamese coffees and some sweet treats from the cabinet.

Not only was every bite so balanced and delicious, the atmosphere and the amazing customer service really made this such a nice experience. The lady at the counter asked if it was our first time and we said yes and she said they were known for their bahn mis and pho so we were pretty keen on it. The owner came over to our table and mentioned there was a special that day. Whenever anyone came to say something it was so chill and relaxed, like as if you were visiting a friends house. You can see the love, care and passion put into each plate.

The owner took the time to make the dipping sauce for the pho at the table and talked a bit about how it's supposed to be on the side so you can enjoy the flavours of the pho itself. We watched the Vietnamese coffee drip into our glasses and that was a cool process to watch. Nothing felt rushed. Everything felt really calm and intentional. The coffee is imported from Vietnam and the taste was strong but went well with the condensed milk. The owner talked about how the pho recipe was his grandmas recipe and his uncle made the baguettes for the bahn mi.

The attentiveness to our table was so nice. We must have come at the right time because it was getting quite busy around lunch time.

Seriously when I left here I was like, can I do a welfare check on each one of the staff so that I can ensure that theyre happy enough to keep doing this amazing mahi cos I do not want this to end. What an absolute treasure. I need each of the staff to know that each of their roles have just made this experience what it was. This meal just made me so happy that nothing could ruin my day. I have not felt so happy about a food experience in awhile. Thank...

I visited Mug & Bowl Cafe for the first time on Mother’s Day, and while the food was fantastic, the experience was a bit chaotic. The staff seemed overwhelmed, especially a younger man (who I think might be the son of the lovely lady serving). He was loudly telling staff off and yelling about clearing tables, which really isn’t what you want to see as a customer-especially in hospitality. It was clear he struggled to keep his cool under pressure, and it made the atmosphere uncomfortable. On the other hand, the woman who I assume is the owner (possibly his mum) was the complete opposite. She stayed calm, polite, and kept serving with a smile, even when things got hectic. As someone who’s worked in the hospitality industry myself, I know how stressful busy days can be, but keeping your composure in front of customers is a must. The young man could definitely learn a lot from her professionalism and experience. Now, onto the food: it was absolutely delicious! The wait was long, but that’s to be expected on Mother’s Day or any busy occasion. I’ve seen some reviews mentioning bizarre things like a kid doing things to the food, but honestly, I doubt that’s true. From what I saw, the focus here is on good food and genuine service. Overall, Mug & Bowl is a lovely eatery with great food. My only suggestion would be for the staff-especially the younger ones-to work on staying calm and professional during busy times. If they can sort that out, this place will be even better. I was tempted to give three stars because of the service hiccup, but the food and the owner’s attitude really...

Food - I feel the food is a nice representation of the Vietnamese culture. When asking about what's on the Menu staff could educate me on what it is. It was delicious, healthy and simple with different flavours. I wanted to have a burger and fries which was sold out at the time and he offered me a different item on the menu which involved pork I cannot eat pork but he offered to change the menu by offering me the sandwhich but with chicken instead. The food on the menu is common food but with a unique twist that is different to other cafe food.

Service - you know they have good customer service when they can casually talk to their customers, recognise the regular customers, and purposely try go and engage with others. They educated on the food I was eating and would offer alternatives... They are kind, punctual, and always friendly to encounter. I look foward to going to this cafe every time.

Atmosphere - it is an interesting mix of wood, different browns and greens. The interior design help separate different areas not making it feel massively big. The soft greens and browns with the tree in the middle of the room makes the room feel calm and if we were in a Vietnam forest. The seating is a range for what you prefer, couch, chair, or outdoors. Overall the menu matches the atmosphere

Personal opinon. This Cafe is worth a shot and is different then other Cafes in the sense of its go a particular purpose and direction of how it is set up and the food that it...