Cafe Esplanade Cafe in Palmerston North

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Reviews
#227 From 299 in Palmerston North
6.2
10 Review
Ambience
6.2/10
Food
6.2/10
Interior
6.2/10
Prices
6.2/10
Service
6.2/10
More details
Price & Cuisine
$$ New Zealand
Establishment type
Cafe
About
You can come to this cafe after visiting Victoria Esplanade Gardens. Cafe Esplanade offers New Zealand dishes. Nicely cooked beef, soup and burgers can make a favorable impression on you. It's worth coming to this place to try good ice cream, Scones and brownies. Great tea, iced coffee or smoothies will make your meal better and you'll certainly come back. This spot is suitable for guests who have lunch in a hurry as they can order food as a takeaway. Most visitors point out that the staff is cute. Prompt service is something clients agree upon here. Most people mention that the dishes are offered for democratic prices. You will definitely appreciate the comfortable atmosphere and terrific decor. But this cafe hasn't achieved a high rating from Google users.
Reviews
10 reviews
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6/5 star 🌟 honestly great. Simple bacon and eggs are phenomenal. Simple touches i really appreciate, like buttering the toast before piling it on the plate. Loads of eggs 🥚. Mocha was really nice too. I came early before they opened and they more than accomodating and welcoming. I love how they know all the older customers names. That’s so sweet. Staff friendly and busy. Beautiful cafe. Even had a fire place and lots of space so no bumping shoulders with strangers. Great place. Great prices too! Service Dine in Meal type Breakfast Price per person $10–20 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5
Nice place, good food...bit expensive for the portion of Eggs Bene, my mum's friend got though. Nice little treat. Hot chocolate was great! Service Dine in Meal type Brunch Price per person $20–30 Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Recommended dishes Iced Chocolate
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Noel J
Source: google
8
5 months ago
Nice little cafe in the gardens, perfect place for a snack, coffee, or ice cream before exploring the rest of the esplanade area. Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4
Called in for lunch on my way home from work. Pretty busy, but that's to be expected at lunchtime. Fast service given it was busy, friendly staff members and the food arrived at an expected speed for that time of the day. Food was nice, enjoyed my experience overall. Service Dine in Meal type Lunch Food: 3 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4
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Maria C
Source: google
2
2 years ago
I bought my mother here for her 84th birthday, 23rd Feb.  Thoroughly disappointed in the meals. We ordered corn fritters for $17, small wedges $11 and a kids ham and cheese toastie. As you can see by the pictures, this is what greeted us.  I'd just like to mention I had just driven from Wellington to Palmerston North to take my mum out for lunch for her birthday (I was freaking starving). First off, the very salty and small corn fritters, I often order corn fritters so I have experience to say, that these were the smallest, saltiest and very expensive corn fritters, I have had in a long time.  Couldn't believe I would have had to add $5 for bacon. Next, the wedges - its definitely a different type of bacon for it to be cut up like so, an inexpensive bacon, or maybe, ham?   Just awful, also super salty, the cheese wasn't freshly melted so premade? or just badly made. Next! The easiest meal by far - chips and a ham and cheese toastie - ordered, because there is just no doubt my 6yo wouldn't eat it, but wait!!! a few bites in, she didn't want it, said it tasted funny, on closer inspection there was a tomato in it! WHAT! We pulled out the tomato but the damage has been done, she wasn't going to eat it.  Further to this - I had to ask "where is my coffee" as it hadn't arrived - I had finished my AWFUL fritters and so I had my coffee for dessert. I actually want my money back - Café Esplanade - can I have my $50.20 back please? Then to add insult to injury - it was freezing inside - I have heaps of padding - but I was freezing, my mum and child were freezing - this is a place that seems to cater to over 65yo's - the aircon was on to cold, the fans were on and the door was open - unsure if the chill was to cater for the waitstaff. This meal was an utter disgrace - I wasn't going to make a scene on my mums birthday but oh boy, any other day I would have. Apparently there is an ad going around on the radio - best food in town - It ISN'T!  The worst food in town 100% If you get them on a good day - consider it a miracle.  We won't be back.
Four tiny overcooked chicken fries (not strips) for $17?? And took AGES to come out pretty sure they forgot me. Bring on the food trucks, a bit of competition is definitely required here. The two stars is for the coffee which was reasonable and fast.
We tried to swap our $8.90 heated sausage roll for a larger one that was in the display cabinet. A fairly simple request to which the owner responded by bringing out another unheated sausage roll which was a little bit bigger than ours (to try and sarcastically prove a point). We then asked her again could we please have one of the larger ones in the front of the food cabinet. The owner then laughed at us and said “why would I do that?”. She then gave us an option of a refund or to have the one we had paid for - we chose to refund our entire order (including our smoothies that were watered down and not even full) - our request for the refund was based predominantly on the way she treated us. She showed zero regard for her paying customers and was just so rude it was disgusting. I barely ever write reviews even when I’ve had a negative experience but she actually went above and beyond in her mistreatment of us. With such a nice setting and area you would think that the owner would make a concerted effort to at least try and treat people with respect. Service Dine in Meal type Brunch Food: 1 Service: 1 Atmosphere: 3
Staff at front counter was rude. They don't smile. Not very welcoming. The food seemed bland. The burger and fries were expensive. $25.90 for a very basic burger. Should have gone to mcDs. Food: 3 Service: 2 Atmosphere: 4
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Alex Millar
Source: google
8
2 years ago
Came in for lunch, had the beef burger and corn fritters. The food was average for the price we paid for it. There are many other places you could go for a nicer lunch. Have been here many times for the coffee and drinks and have been pleased every time. Coffee is always great. Staff were happy and helpful, with quick service. Highly recommend for a coffee or drink and something from the cabinet.
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Ebony
Source: google
6
A year ago
We sat outside as we had our dog with us. However the dog still wasn’t allowed in the outside area of the CAFE which we found disappointing. We ordered two drinks and a large bowl of fries. The latte I ordered was good! However the milkshake that we ordered was not mixed properly. The straw was too small for the thickness of the milkshake and all the flavours were at the bottom of the cup. The fries were the most disappointing, the fries themselves were really good they were warm and crispy. Personally they were slightly underdone. The sauce was good however there wasn’t enough of it for the amount of chips that we ordered. There was about half a bowl of chips left to an empty pot of sauce. When I went back in to ask for more sauce I asked one of the waitresses she said I think you have to pay for more sauce, this was disappointing as I wanted more sauce for my chips and I was also disappointed that the waitress said “I think” this is because it shows that the waitress doesn’t have enough knowledge of the products she is selling. Previously I was given sauce without a fuss. I have given a three stars down to the disappointment I felt while there. However the area was nice and clean and the atmosphere was lovely to be in! For business growth could be an idea to get outside heaters as it allows for more customers to come in during the winter especially as inside can get very packed. overall happy with my visit as I still enjoyed the meal just minor errors that would make the place better! Thank you Service Dine in Meal type Lunch
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