The Good Earth Cafe — Restaurant in South Island

As a first-time visitor to Dunedin with my daughter for the Otago University Open Day, we visited The Good Earth Café on Saturday. It’s a beautiful café, and the food and coffee were lovely. After our meal, I ordered a second coffee—a long black—to take away.

When I returned to the counter to check if it was ready, I noticed a cup on the bench and politely asked if it was mine. A staff member with braided, coloured hair responded in a condescending and disrespectful tone—slowly pointing to each letter on the lid as if to say, “are you stupid?” It was unnecessarily rude for a simple, genuine question from someone who doesn’t look at coffee lid codes every day.

I told her that her tone was uncalled for, but instead of apologising, she laughed and brought her colleague into it, making a joke at my expense. I felt mocked and humiliated.

I returned again on Sunday, not wanting one person’s rudeness to deter me from a place I otherwise liked. But as I approached the counter, her colleague turned to her and clearly indicated I was “that woman” from the previous day. They both looked at each other and smirked. If they thought they were being subtle, they weren’t. It was uncomfortable, childish, and deeply unprofessional. Even my daughter, a young adult, noticed and felt uneasy—she immediately wanted us to leave.

I rarely write reviews, but this behaviour was unacceptable. It costs nothing to be kind. No customer should be made to feel belittled for asking a simple question. Our trip to Dunedin has been wonderful overall, and I don’t want this to define it, but I do hope management takes this feedback seriously and reminds their staff what respectful customer...

We have frequented this cafe many times when in Dunedin. today my husband our son and his girlfriend queued to take a seat. The staff serving tables seemed very stressed with one shouting at customers to move tables and create space for staff. My husband asked what was the procedure for a table and the first staff member ignored him the second helped us merge two tables together. My husband and I ordered while my son and girlfriend nipped out to buy memorabilia from University shop. When they returned they queued. I was served my bagel. When they got to the front of queue they were advised that the kitchen was closing for an hour so staff could take a break. The waitress was quietly telling her when the waitress that had previously shouted at a table became very aggressive and said they couldn’t order kitchen food and she was locking the front door. She then began to say if they had a problem to write a letter to the hospitality association! I explained they were with us and she just glared. She then walked to front door and locked it. The cafe came to a hush and all ate quietly quite bizarre! There was a very strange atmospheri and we managed to eat my bagel and share husbands food before leaving out side door. The table next to us reached out as we were leaving to ask if we were ok. They also were very uncomfortable. I suggest hiring new staff or politely asking that certain staff member to cut her losses...

The name implies it all - anything that is good for our Mother Earth, this cafe utilises organic produces to make its food, uses biodegradable go cup & lids, takeaway containers, serviettes and cutleries. They even offer reusable straws, and recyclable all glass, paper, plastic, cards, tins, spent coffee grinds and food scraps.

Another reason why I chose to have breakfast here was to look at my university for one last time. It is just directly opposite St David Building overlooking the giant University of Otago sign. ◾BBQ pulled pork in toasted artisan bun with apple slaw - pulled pork is something that I can't get enough of. ◾Moroccan Roast Chicken with preserved lemon couscous yoghurt & organic salad ◾Free Range Poached Eggs, bacon, organic spinach & lemon hollandaise on artisan toast. ◾Croissant with butter and jam - a simple request from the eldest one. Crispy, fluffy and aromatic ◾this cafe is proud of their locally roasted, fair trade coffee.. each and every cup prepared by their trained barrista.

Well.. this concludes my NZ write-up and next.. Melbourne! FYI... Melbourne trip was actually in...