Denny's New Lynn — Restaurant in Whau

SO.... I Saw the Dennys billboard and decided to treat my boys to dinner tonight to a place we haven't been before, also invited a friend, thinking this would be a pleasurable dinning experience.... and well, where do I start!? 1st, we felt rushed to place an order.. 2nd, Whilst my friend and I were looking at the menu, my boys tried their hand at the 'claw machine'. Whilst doing so the machine swallowed quite a few coins. When my eldest reported it to Rose - our waitress - she rudely told them there was nothing wrong with the machine. 3rd, Once our food arrived we requested some tomato sauce. After receiving two EMPTY bottles, my friend got up to get a half full bottle from the kitchen. The food was great and portions were substantial, , however, once we were done, my friend had to clear the table which prompted a different waitress to attend to our dessert and 2nd drinks order. Being my second drink, I wanted to ensure that what I had previously ordered, which was supposed to be a double and it CLEARLY was not. I asked for another double without any ice or water... Rose brought me a single glass with ice and water and I then asked her to please bring me what I had requested. She then did so with a huff and a few blocks of ice. This confirmed my suspicion that it was a diluted single which they were passing off as a double shot. I then questioned this and was met with a horrific and distasteful attitude from Rose who then scoffed in my face in front of my children and challenged to prove me wrong. On her way to the kitchen she was making quite a scene and pointing and blatantly bad mouthing me. When she returned to our table with the tot measure and an ample amount of sass, she attempted to show me what a tot looked like (I have been in the industry) to which I challenged her lack of knowledge and she once again scoffed at me, prompting me to ask for the manager. Rose duley stormed off to the kitchen (visible to all customers) waving her hands and ranting to fellow co workers. The poor manager (very attentive) came without hesitation and looked like this was not his first rodeo with customer complaints from this waitress. He tried to diffuse the situation and offer an explanation which we agreed to disagree upon. We were then anxious to leave but still had food left which we wanted to take home, but once again, no service, so my friend had to go ask for take away containers, which arrived with attitude and was tossed on the table by Tina (a waitress friend of Rose). Collected our belongings and went to pay and still had Rose and her collogues bad mouthing us in the back ground, which I did not appreciate and expressed my distaste to the manager who was more than happy to provide said waitresses names to me for this bad...

New Lynn 3&4 grade why not 5?, nothing wrong food was great atmosphere nice with 3 customer dining in including us. Always the grand slam, daughter crackerjack and grand daughter hotcakes and bacon. Waitress lovely and abliging to our request in orders. Food was great with one drawback would be having breakfast sausages or fresh sausages not precooked sausages as having freshly cooked meal is spoiled by orecooked sausages as the taste to a fresh sausage is so different in taste and it's appearance. Had also a bottomless coffee and request it be filled to the brim as I take it black only half a mug. However the Manager said once I finish this one she will top it up on next round well did not see that but ok and as I started with my meal she came and filled it up which I thought was nice. All in all the breakfast all day was good. Toilets clean foyer decal walkway was dark and drab with lighting but the colour made it dull. Air conditioning on making it cool first thing in the morning hardly any customers can be turn on later in the day as it was too cool fist thing in the morning however must be connected to kitchen units that autos on. Something to look at as an adjustor to control the air flow and temperature in the restaurant. The overall decal makes the place old and drab with heavy colors purple, yellow, black green, orange, blue heavy dark paints why not put vibrance in the colours light colours to bring out the historic history of Denny's frames speak of its heritage beginnings. This is why the grade, colour scheme lost for words. Ceiling painted dark blue or black and some areas not finished painting. Table tops need refurbish or changed table tops. Floors need Polish as they were sneaky when walking. Great to know you can still get discounted on your birthday which was great. Be happy to come back but for experience and customer interaction I would go back to Dennys Queen Street for customer relationship as they enjoy customers, here was very minimal interaction but it may be because of the community area or the staff are just like that keeping small talk small. The main entrance had signs of dose and donts on the booking area. Shoes required , no abuse etc, Is this why the small chats I don't know but customer interactions and it's body language spoke volumes of "just here to work " and complete my routine responsibilities. Maybe a smile or two or how was your meal? Is all okay? Did you enjoy your meal? Or even it's your birthday...

We normally dine here as a treat. I have been coming here since the 90s and now I live in Manukau. I still have long since introduced this Dennys to my husband and our school-teen aged children. They know New Lyn Dennys is a Treat.

HOWEVER TODAY the service was disappointing. Time: 11am-12-10pm Date: 09/01/2025

Waitress got our coffee order mixed up. I had a coffee and my husband had to wait, even when we mentioned it to the waitress when she came to bring ONE COFFEE. Simple mistake but they did not think about us "As the customer" they assumed we were just sharing one cup between us and getting refills?! We assumed they knew too, until I told the waitress when she came 3rd time to refill - That my husband also has a coffee order he would like to have with me please. She then went to check with the original waitress who took our main order, returned to tell us we only have one coffee and went through the menu as to point out which menu has a coffee inclusive. To which I corrected her I actually ordered my own separate to any meal deal.

Its just annoying we had already been sitting there for 10-15 mins waiting for our food tolerating the invasive issue about one coffee. Brunch already tainted.

THE LARGE PANCAKES FOR $14.50 WERE SO SMALL THIS WAS THE WORST PART OF OUR VISIT!

We normally share a plate of these between myself and husband. They were pathetically small. The waitress herself looked at them confused in telling us they were the large pancakes and we did say to her really? Because normally they cover at least 3/4 of the plate in circumference, these looked like a little bigger then a saucer size.

Its just horrible we spent $109.00 in good faith over our other Dennys spots like Manukau and Pakuranga... Both closer to us.

Love the older Pasfika guy who does orders he is professional and warm. We have had him host us before including both our birthday visits last year.

The girls today were lovely but just step it up and be aware of their customers in an ethical manner that supports your place of work, your role and customer care...