Crafty Trout Brewery — Restaurant in Waikato

Worst eating experience in the last 20 (twenty) years. We made the unfortunate decision to go on Monday 8th of July 2024 to have dinner at Crafty Trout Brewery. We wanted to have some nice schnitzel that we hoped will remind us of our visit in Europe. Ordered schnitzel, a burger, some soft drinks,a beer, prezels,.. The soft drinks came with metal straws that I avoid using even at home due to not being able to properly wash them on the inside. This didn't go down well, to start with. We found the beer to be a bit wattery. Might have been just a matter of perception, but this is how it felt to us. We got the schnitzels and a burger. All with some things that supposed to be chips, but all soaked in oil and a bit burned. Our son did not eat them after he tasted one. The chips that came with the schnitzels were the same (burned) and well hidden under the schnitzel on a plate that was well undersized. Schnitzels also burned. I ordered my schnitzel to come with some horseraddish sauce/mayo and I really struggled to identify the horseraddish in that thing. The "SauerKraut" came in a teaspoon-size quantity, obviously insufficient; however, it was the only tasty item that was served to us (except the icecream for our son). We also ordered some garlic bread. All slices literally BURNED. I could only eat one and I really struggled with that one. As we hoped for a "German" dinner, we also ordered some prezels. What a big mistake!!!! They came deep-fryed and soaking in oil. I NEVER saw deep-fryed prezels in Germany or Austria, or even in NZ for that matter. I actually believe this place does not even have a proper chef, they try to cut corners everywhere (metal straws?!?) while maintaining high prices for sub-standard food. Almost forgot.... the place was rather cold as well. At some point it crossed my mind that people who never visited Germany may feel sorry for Germans, thinking that they usually eat the kind of food that we've been served at Crafty Trout Brewery. I felt sorry I even paid for that thing that was served to us (I really cannot call it "food"), I believe we actually had to be paid for wasting our time there and ruining our evening. Sorry we did not take photos, we've been overwhelmed by the shocking experience that we had at Crafty...

Called in to see what was on offer to purchase beers to takeaway. Service was inappropriate about her employers, openly informed us that the couple are separated and the lady owner is running it herself. Took a selection of beers anyway to bring home and try. Long story short - have never tasted such horrific beers! All tasted bitter and off, no carbonation. We tested the pH and it was way off . All beers we tasted were tried by 6 people, and we were all in agreement - they all tasted revolting and were unable to be finished. Good money was wasted here in our purchase. Feeling sad for the couple who have obviously run this business into the ground, lost passion for craft beer, checking out their previous reviews, pleased we didn't go for food and service. We see its on the market for sale - so needs new, passionate owners with a new name,...

Big thanks to the staff because they are really lovely and so is the atmosphere.

However the food and beverages were terrible across the table. My wife said “well atleast the chips are warm” that was the best we could come up with. We had acouple beers and soft drinks and hot drinks as well as starters Mains and desert. So much was wrong there wasn’t anyway it could be changed in the short term and we won’t lost it all. Worst food out weve ever had.

When we lived in Asia we learnt you only go in a food place if it’s full of people or it shows the food is no good. And we were the only people in here at 7 on a Saturday night.

We should have known…

But seriously the staff were really lovely, fireplace was great! Sofas very cool and the chips were infact warm. However not somewhere we will ever return to unless that’s all...