New Zealand Herald

Reviews for Big Beat Coffee & Kitchen

by John L.
15th May 2013

have been in on other occasions for a scone and coffee, nothing to write home about scone very dry and crumbly but fresh , need to get new recipies
Coffee was okay
But had a breakfast of scrambled egs on toast the other morning
What i recieved was two pieces of toast with a smattering of a grey sludge in the middle of one of the pieces of toast
I didnt eaty it as it looked like sludge , all stringy , how the hell can you muck up scrambled eggs, get them of a grey colour and a string consistency , what happened to yellow fluffy scrambled eggs
When I commented to staff behind the counter they couldnt have cared less
wouldnt return
the owner needs to take stock of what is happening around him and stop being more interested in other things , otherwise he will not survive
Read all the other reviews

by jarrod
21st April 2013

This Cafe has absolutely nothing to offer! Shocking service, shocking prices and the atmosphere is dull. The prices that they ask ($18.50 for Eggs Benedict), where you have to order your meal at the counter yourself. We had 6 people for breakfast and all eggs were overcooked, cheap fatty bacon, cold potatoe fritters not to mention the service of a fast food outlet. You would be crazy or lost to even bother going to this place. BAD BAD BAD

by Julie P.
19th April 2013

My local cafe but i’m unlikley to go back. I’ve found the food very nice, but the service is off. The young guys don’t seem to know how to treat the customer. And its all rather too self service for a nice cafe.

Get some better staff and this place will rock.

by Ashleigh
27th March 2013

After moving to the area, I drove by Big Beat a few times and looked forward to trying it out.
I visited this morning for the first time (for a takeaway coffee only), and found the guy at the counter unwelcoming. There was no smile and no greeting. I thought he may be having a bad day, but after reading the other reviews, I see that it’s a usual occurence here.
Oh, and $4.50 for a SMALL latte is a rip-off.
Really nice-looking cafe, but I will look for another local.

by Anna W.
6th March 2013

This is a local gem on Dominion Road. The coffee is consistently great, the menu great (especially love the date and brown sugar scones, shredded chicken salad, spanish eggs and eggs bene on a hash) and without doubt the best outdoor area I’ve come across in AKL so far. We’ve had many a morning gathering or weekend brunch in the sun while the kids are entertained with the coloring books and pencils.

Surprised by the other reviews as I’ve heard nothing but great things from all of the other locals I know who go here!!

The owner also went out of his way to make my birthday lunch there a special occasion with lots of little touches to the table and the cake we had.

I say support this great local!

by Janice M.
3rd March 2013

We live locally and were very pleased when this cafe opened with new name and new owners.
Our excitement was very short lived. After receiving poor service, we gave them the benefit of the doubt and thought maybe they were having an off day.
Yesterday we made the mistake of returning, very rude service, we were made to feel as if we had a problem when we asked questions. I don’t know why we didn’t just walk out then. It went from bad to worse. Waited an hour for bacon and eggs and a salad. Both were tasteless and way over priced. Definitely won’t be returning.

by Dee G.
21st February 2013

I have been to Big Beat four times, and the service is consistently bad. The staff are uninterested and rude, and every time I go there my coffee order either gets forgotten or mucked up. Its a shame, because despite the terrible service, the coffee is the best in the area, but after four failed attempts, it’s time for me to move on. It has become a talking point in my house, with all my flatmates experiencing the same. I can’t comment on the food, as I haven’t eaten there, but I will not be returning until the culture at Big Beat has changed.

by Lou
1st February 2013

We have visited Big Beat on 3 occasions now. The setting is fantastic, the food very average but the service appauling. On each visit they ave forgotten our coffees. The staff are very young, inexperienced and have too casual an approach. Such a shame as this part of Dominion Rd is crying out for a classy cafe. Big Beat certainly falls very short of the mark and is terribly disappointing

by Hannah S.
16th January 2013

I went to Big Beat for lunch with a friend after it was newly renovated, but don’t let the nice decor and lovely courtyard fool you!

If you are going to charge these kinds of prices the food needs to be up to the standard. The menu is very over ambitious for an average chef. And when they got our order wrong we got told it was a miscommunication on our part and charged to get our original order.

I gave this cafe a 2nd go against my better judgement! I ordered something which when it came was uneatable and when I asked to change my order was told that is what I ordered there was nothing they could do.

The coffee is ok but the customer service and crappy food make this place a big miss!!

by Lucia G.
13th January 2013

I recently came to Big Beat for breakfast. I ordered the Eggs Benedict for $18.50. For a price that high I expect something delicious… I was quite disappointed. The potato rosti was not crispy and tasty but soggy and lumpy. The mushrooms were bland and flavorless and it was all just thrown on the plate. The cafes renovations however are very good (The Sierra that used to be in the same location was horrible) and the coffee is very good… however if they are going to keep their prices that high they need to do some serious thinking about giving people what they pay for. This was my second Big Beat experience and the first time I had a dirty cup and a pie that had been heated in the microwave so the pastry went soggy instead of crisp and beautiful… as Big Beat is a new cafe I hope they improve.

by Valentino S.
2nd January 2013

Big beat is one of the best cafes in the Mt Eden region, the coffee is on point (the baristas are exceptionally skilled and do justice to supreme coffee), they have tasty and fresh cabinet food, and an awesome healthy modern menu.

The courtyard is wonderfully done and the staff is very friendly.

The only downside is finding parking on a busy Sunday afternoon but don’t let this stop you from visiting this place.

by Jacquie H.
17th December 2012

Coffee was bad, food was bad and service was even worse. Not interested in keeping happy customers.
When we complained about a meal we were told that was what we ordered and that was that – however when they also mucked up one of our orders it seemed it was our fault for not ordering properly.
Disappointing all round and won’t be back.

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