Catalyst Eatery — Restaurant in South Island

Worst experience. I asked my mate if we should try this new cafe in town for brunch, so we headed over after work and picked up a menu at 11:15 and browsed the breakfast menu. I was unsure whether the kitchen had moved onto the lunch menu, so I asked a team member. She said simply "just cabinet" and gestured toward the cabinet of pre-made deli food. Still unsure, I clarified with her, "nothing from the menu at all?" She agreed, saying wait until lunch. How strange to prevent customers from ordering cooked food from the kitchen from 11am until 12 noon. My friend and I made it clear that we were unhappy, voicing that we wanted something cooked, and that the well-known buttermilk pancakes were the reason we visited. We came for brunch, the definition of which is a meal had between breakfast and lunch, of which 11:15am should be included. We thought this service was appalling and agreed that the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce is right to consider Marlborough's customer service it's Achilles heel. We won't be returning here unless we get invited back when things have improved!

Update: Management have responded personally and thanked me for the feedback. I am open to giving this place another chance one day should the occasion arise. Thanks...

Coffee was fine. My wife struggled a bit ordering a green tea because they didn't seem to understand what that was. But the fellow behind the counter was helpful and got it sorted. So why do I down-rate? Firstly, while we were chatting and having our drinks, a server just pushed in between us to restock some cutlery without an 'excuse me' or any words at all. Bad form. Secondly I saw the same server a few minutes later with knives which she was holding by the business end, not the handles. Yuck! Thirdly, a fellow who I presumed works in the kitchen returned to the cafe, looking filthy. Yeh, it gets dirty back there but this was really a bit much. Lastly, $12 for a very ordinary looking sausage roll?? I don't think so!!

We won't...

Called in for a takeaway coffee and thought for a moment I'd hopped across the ditch to Melbourne into the crazy world of treat your customers like they're an inconvenience.

The young lady at the front counter needs some guidance in how to engage with people. No greeting, no small talk (not even the smallest of the small), wouldn't look me in the eye and just clearly didn't want to be there.

The coffee was fine but the barista wasn't any better with her dialogue. Is it becoming a forgotten art to be pleasant or are cafes just becoming a pretentious playground for people to outwardly display their misery?

Won't be back to try the food, doesn't seem worth it. I hope management do some front of house training for...