Wintergarden Cafe - New Zealand — Restaurant in Waitematā

I recently dined at this café. My experience was average to below average. The food portions are small and there is nothing at all special about the food that would set this café apart from any other, certainly not sufficient to justify the price. You could get the same quality for half the price and twice the quantity at another establishment. This may seem harsh, but I've been to cafes in the $10-20 price range that served more memorable food. Presentation is average. Quite a let-down for a place in such an iconic location.

The atmosphere is okay, not too noisy. I believe this place is understaffed since the staff seemed busy and on-edge, which I don't blame them for. My biggest gripe is that my group were told we must leave after just over an hour because they had another booking. We had to rush to finish our food and then had to go outside to finish talking. Perhaps they should not be booking groups of people so close together - I'd understand an individual or a pair being expected to come in and out of the café quickly, but more consideration is needed to accommodate bigger groups who need time to sit and chat. If we wanted a quick feed we would've gotten takeout.

All in all, I think the main thing this café has going for it is the location. I would not recommend it for any other reasons than it being a close place to stop if you're taking a trip to Auckland Domain, the museum or Winter Garden. Otherwise give it a miss.

Edit: Regarding the reply from the staff of Wintergarden Cafe, 1. We did in fact have a reservation. I just hadn't previously encountered a restaurant that booked its customers so close together. So I'm saying if you're looking for a place to sit and talk with your friends or chat with colleagues, this place is not it. and 2. I didn't ask them to sell their items for $10, I'm just saying the...

We booked High Tea for two adults and two children at a cost of $176. Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from the outset. Our table was initially set in the usual High Tea area, but this space was also used for a private baby shower. As a result, we found ourselves surrounded by guests from that event, with baby shower confetti thrown on our table and confused glances directed at us, as though we shouldn’t be there. After expressing our concerns, the staff kindly relocated us to the main café area. While we appreciated their willingness to move us, this location did not offer the ambience we had expected for a special high tea occasion. The food and tea served were underwhelming, simple and average, with items that looked like they had been bought from a supermarket. The children's offering was also very basic, with no alternative options. Ironically, the cabinet food in the café looked far more appealing and of higher quality than what we were served for High Tea. I am unsure if the owners understand what a High Tea experience should look like.

Sadly, the overall experience did not justify the $176 price tag. I had hoped for something special to mark our wedding anniversary but instead felt let down. Although the staff were polite and helpful, I was disappointed that no refund or gesture was offered when I raised my concerns at the time of payment. Instead, I was told to pay in full and follow up later with a complaint, hence this review.

Sadly, I wouldn’t recommend this venue for High Tea, especially for a special occasion. It’s a shame, as the location is lovely, but the operations and management are obviously on a tight budget and lack knowledge when it comes to delivering a high tea experience. I hope others can avoid the same...

Every weekend I bring in a group of 5 people to the cafe…come on Wintergarden cafe charging 50cents for decaf (most brands of are the same price if you buy beans that are non-decaffeinated coffee) and then a whopping one dollar for oat milk (like 1/4 of a cup and its from a box. So I’m paying an extra $1.50 for a coffee compared to everyone else. Oat milk is pretty mainstream now and other cafes dont charge extra for plant based milks like 10 years ago, you get a good bottle barrista style oat milk for four dollars. I know the you’re the only cafe in the area but still charging for extra things like this makes me want to reconsider bringing my group to your cafe on regular basis - hopefully you get with the times like other cafes, otherwise will be losing my business for sure. Services sort of okay - person that serves us doesn’t smile at all so could be more friendlier for sure. Thanks for your reply back I understand that supplier costs have gone up however I've been visiting your cafe since 2021 every week and that means having to pay an extra for oat milk I've paid $150 more compared to the other coffee drinkers! If you want to keep clientele you must do some comparative pricing - the maximum I've seen in CBD is a $0.50c extra and there's now far more availability of more plant based options than in 2021 so doesnt warrant charging more for it - other cafes also don't charge extra for decaf. Unfortunately I'll be taking my group of five weekly elsewhere in Parnell from now to eat and...