Waikino Station Cafe — Restaurant in Waikato

A 10 minute queue to order, 15 minutes to heat a panini, bap and two pies which arrived 5 minutes after missing the train.

To give some context, the queue placed us third in line and the lady behind us handed her partner the an ice block as the queue was moving so slow, it would have melted before being paid for. The food ordered was all from the cabinet where the sign said to order from if catching the train.

While ordering our food we asked where to buy tickets and were told the next door would open soon, although it didn't, so we approached the friendly train driver, who advised that tickets can be purchased on arrival at the other end.

Delays happen, however, if the food is taking longer than the time remaining before the train departs, this should be communicated.

Thankfully, we drove to Waihi arrived in time to buy tickets, and had a lovely train ride, thanks to Sam, the friendly young host who made the trip interesting and fun...

What a shamozzle !! 1130 train was overcrowded despite the website saying that there were only 10 spaces left 3 hours before we arrived , 20 people must have just wandered in between us arriving and the train leaving . When we got to the waikino station there was a line 15 people deep on the outside of the cafe , by the time we ordered we had to get cabinet food as anything else would not have been cooked in time , we got a milkshake from the other part and the young lady there was great to deal with , this was the only good part of our experience. To top it off as we were having our milkshake one of the train staff was smoking very near to kids and other passengers with his fetid pollution wafting straight into the shop where we were eating. The cafe people and the train people need to communicate more , also why book online when you can't pay online your system saves neither time nor money . Your operation is not complicated just...

My name is Lance Ramanui.This review will be a little different. It will not be about the food, service or decor of this quaint little cafe, but more about this building and its historical significance it has for me. On 26 October 1974 this train station was located in Paeroa. This is where my family hosted a 16th birthday party for my younger sister Vicky. This is also where I met this beautiful local girl called Jackie. She was 16 and I was 18. Jackie and I travelled, lived together and eventually married. We had a couple of kids and are now proud grandparents. Now getting back to this long review (sorry), Jackie and I plan to call in to this popular cafe, where it all started, and have lunch on 26 Oct 2024 and celebrate our 50 years together. We will then continue on to the bright lights of Auckland...