Number Eight Cafe — Restaurant in South Island

Normally one of my favourite coffee stops as I travel this road often. However today I was majorly disappointed in the barista.

I ordered an oat milk latte as I’m lactose intolerant but it came out as regular milk. Both my partner and I confirmed it was dairy as we are very familiar with what oat milk taste like. It was also visibly dairy as dairy milk foam holds.

When we asked the waitress at the counter, she offered to remake it for us which was amazing. We sat outside and were waiting for ages only for me to come in and ask about it with the barista.

The barista today pulled out the order and (after telling us they would remake it because milk is like food poisoning to me), said that she wouldn’t make it because she already made it with oat milk and she personally bought it out to us. This was an absolute lie as it was the girl in the counter who delivered us the coffee. I could not believe the audacity of the barista to have been talking to me the way she did. I decided it was a loosing battle and walked out. Felt like a waste of money and time.

I do like the cafe but will probably just walk out if I see that barista servicing the machine next time 😅. A warning for anyone with dietary...

Would we return here? Gladly! Can we recommend it? Yes!

Background: After a long day’s drive we decided to see if we could get takeaways or a meal in Cheviot. The only place we saw on GM that was open was Number Eight, so we walked down, expecting to be served fish and chips by an expressionless person behind the counter… What a surprise it was to be welcomed to a bright, clean room by a cheerful and friendly lady who know her stuff: answered questions about the menu, made suggestions, but let us make our decisions in our own time. I had a steak meal and my wife a starter and a salad; the steak was cooked as ordered, tasty and tender; the accompanying greens and potatoes are just as I like them, cooked but not cooked to death. My wife was also very satisfied with her chicken starter and salad. We decided to round off the meal with a dessert, and when I asked for a modification to one of the items the response was, “No problem”. The toilets were newly equipped, clean and spacious. The bill was appropriate for the drinks and food the two of us enjoyed. The free WiFi...

Well what do you say about Number Eight Cafe, umm let's start: was acknowledged by the person making coffee as soon as I stopped at the counter and was told she would be with me shortly. A lady came out from the kitchen area and silly me thought she was going to take my order, how silly could I be, she stood there and said it wouldn't be long. The person making coffee left the machine to bring the coffee to waiting customers. The lady from the kitchen just stood there. The coffee lady came back to the serving area and started to make an orange juice, the lady from the kitchen went oh yeah I came out to do that and continued to just stand there. I ordered from the coffee lady as she finally asked what I would like. She finished the orange juice and brought this to the customer who had ordered it. Came back to the coffee machine to make my order and finally the lady who came out of the kitchen got the meals and brought them to the customers. Will I be back: no. Would I understand if the person at the coffee machine left ...