New Zealand Herald

Reviews for Cafe Cuba

by Sarita G.
24th April 2013

Best food and great efficient service!! Would recommend to all when visiting Palmy. I have tried multiple items on the menu and they all have been amazing. Worth the money and great cafe atmosphere. It is suitable for all age groups and food types. The slices are amazing as well as the hot food and salads.

by Emily
21st April 2013

Still great coffee, and the eggs bene is the best. Always a favourite.

by Sherron B.
13th January 2013

Visited Cafe Cuba yesterday, first time for a number of years. The food is OK, not fantastic but good cafe food. Unfortunately my experience with the person on the till makes me think a return visit wont be happening. She was abrupt expressionless and verging on rude. My EFTPOS card was practically snatched out of my hand. She didnt speak apart from. “Yes” when we lined up to place our orders. We sat and observed her manner with other diners. She smiled at the people in her own age group, but no-one else. Other young people working there seemed OK. Not brilliant, just OK. They need to make more of an effort or move on. Its a service industry. We give them money and in return they give us food drinks and a pleasant attitude. Not hard is it.

Comment from Michael H. of Cafe Cuba 14/03/2013    Hide »

Thanks for your feedback. We have discussed your comments with…    More »

Thanks for your feedback. We have discussed your comments with the staff and have offered extra support in terms of customer satisfaction training. We hope you will return to see us again soon!

by Audrena
24th October 2012

Am a regular. Nice coffee nice food would recommend the antipasto platter. However the cafe its self needs a make over, dated and needs a good scrub

by Danielle W.
26th September 2012

Dined for breakfast on a Sunday, the place was packed. We managed to find a nice spot outside in the sun. Definitely a great place to dine if you want to sit outside – plenty of tables and buzzing atmosphere. The food and coffee was unfortunately hit and miss. I had eggs benedict with bacon. The good – the toasted foccacia it was served on was delicious, crispy and light. The bacon was great, good quality and nicely cooked. There was a hash brown under the eggs which added a nice extra touch of crispy to the dish. The hollandaise sauce was fantastic – rich, with a hint of wholegrain mustard and there was plenty of it. Unfortunately the star of the dish – the eggs, were not runny – they were hard. This let the whole dish down. However I still enjoyed the meal and it’s flavours. My caramel latte was also quite burnt and bitter and not enough caramel. On the upside the service was good, fast and although so busy we didnt have to wait long for our drinks and food.

by Stacey H.
24th September 2012

Beware these people will try to overcharge you for their already overpriced food. Two other people I know have been overcharged the last two times they have gone there also.

Comment from Michael H. of Cafe Cuba 14/03/2013    Hide »

We are very disappointed to hear that you were not charged…    More »

We are very disappointed to hear that you were not charged appropriately during your visit to our cafe’. Please rest assured that this is not a common problem and I would welcome the opportunity to talk about this the next time you happen to be in the area.

Thanks
Darlene

by Hailey T.
18th September 2012

The food here is definitely overpriced but as an ocasional customer to coffee shops I still chose Cuba Coffe most of the time, probably just because I like the busy atmostphere here?!? Fortunately I haven’t got a problem with their service quality so far.

by John
16th August 2012

I am a regular and even though often I find the noise of the place annoying, and also the fact it is hard to get a table, I am never disappointed with the food here and only once have had a meal that I was not happy with.
Totally recommend this place.

by Brent R.
31st July 2012

After a few great breakfasts here in the past and generally always great coffee, I thought I’d give dinner a go.
I ordered Lamb Rump – Roasted lamb rump served with homemade mint sauce, jus, spinach and peas and your choice of potato.
What I got was a frozen pea and limp spinach soup with undercooked potatoes and grisly lamb.
The lamb was well cooked (rare) even though I wasn’t asked how I wanted it cooked (rare would have been my choice) but very chewy and a bit fatty, not unexpected from a rump, but disappointing.
The potatoes might have been boiled for a few minutes, but even the supplied steak knife had a time cutting through them.

The whole meal was swimming in a lot of mint sauce with sparing leaves of spinach floundering among the potato ships and frozen pea sardines.

I think from now on I’ll stick to just the odd coffee from here now.
The frozen peas may have been been in an open packet in the freezer as they were noticeably freezer burnt.

Comment from Michael H. of Cafe Cuba 14/03/2013    Hide »

We pride ourselves on being one of Palmerston North’s top dining…    More »

We pride ourselves on being one of Palmerston North’s top dining establishments and want you to know that was not the typical Cafe Cuba experience.

Please stop in to see us again soon and I will ensure that you leave happy.

Thanks
Darlene

by Rich
23rd June 2012

I have since returned to this cafe after my first review and have to admit my experience was better on a number of fronts, coffee is still the best in town. The staff appeared to be a different crew than the first time I visited, were a lot friendlier more efficient and attentive. Overall I cant really fault the service. I enjoyed a slice from the cabinet and it was fine, although a little large for myself ( but that is certainly noting to complain about ). I will return as I enjoy the outdoor aspect, nice place for a catch up with friends in a relaxed environment.

Comment from Michael H. of Cafe Cuba 14/03/2013    Hide »

Sorry that your meals did not meet your expectations. Please rest…    More »

Sorry that your meals did not meet your expectations. Please rest assured that we are one of the cities best dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Please come in to see us again soon.

Thanks
Darlene

by Lara
6th June 2012

Cafe Cuba has got to be the best Cafe in Palmerston North. I am a regular to a lot of Cafe’s in Palmy as my work requires many informal coffee meetings.

I have also visited to dine both for breakfast and dinner, and it did not dissapoint! The staff are always friendly and work extremely hard to keep up, and give great service in this busy cafe!

It is not difficult to see why Cafe Cuba is constantly buzzing with activity, it has a great atmosphere unlike any other in Palmerston North! Keep up the great work Cafe Cuba

by paul
5th June 2012

I have been a regular at Cafe Cuba for years. I get a beautiful coffee every morning which is always made speedily and to perfection, some of the best baristas in the manawatu here! I have got to know most of the front of house staff, they are all friendly, efficiant and make you feel welcome as if you are part of thier family
Cuba is always my first option when out for dinner or dessert, and the savings im making using my smartfuel card are a huge bonus!

by cafechic
16th May 2012

Cafe Cuba is one of Palmys iconic cafes. The best eggs benedict ever, and coffee is always amazing!! Love the selection and there is something to suit everyone, so ideal for a big group. Open 7 days days a week, day and night. Great wine list, and the dinner menu is great! The staff are awesome and do a great job to keep the high standard of service, even when its hectic! Looking forward to seeing the new outside area.

by Greta
30th April 2012

People tend to make a bigger deal out of cafe cuba than what it really is.

I only really like it because of the atmosphere and like the outside area with the plastic that shield the wind!

But other than that, Everything is average and what you can get from any cafe in Palmerston North.

Staff aren’t all that friendly either… It only attracts people because of its alternative modern art deco feel…

by Maree
30th March 2012

Consistently the best hot chocolate and coffee in Palmerston North for over 8 years. Love the atmosphere – kinda casual and dark. Staff are always friendly and obliging. The meals tend to let this place down. And someone (poss the manager?) keeps writing notes on the whiteboard telling the kitchen staff off – and customers can read it! Bad image guys. Customers don’t need to know the issues management may have with staff – keep it in house.

by Hacked o.
17th March 2012

If it wasn’t for the silk cake which my wife adores I probably wouldn’t choose to visit this place. As per some of the other posts the staff seem uninterested in customer service, lack basic food handling hygiene skills, and make the whole experience of going there the least bit desirable.

Comment from Michael H. of Cafe Cuba 14/03/2013    Hide »

I am glad to hear that your wife adores the silk cake, but I am…    More »

I am glad to hear that your wife adores the silk cake, but I am very displeased to hear that the staff have not met your expectations. We are constantly giving staff support for increasing our Customer Service, and our goal is for 100% Customer Satisfaction. Thanks for your feedback.

Thanks
Darlene

by Lilwonder
24th February 2012

Silk cake to die for and best coffee in town and blondie coffee maker also best in town, keep up the good work

by Sam M.
8th January 2012

An absolutely fantastic little Cafe, it’s easy to see why it is constantly busy, the staff do a great job considering the popularity of this Cafe. The food is excellent. I have been there for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and have had beautiful food every time. Certainly this has got to be Palmy’s best Cafe!

Great place on a nice summer’s day, with outdoor seating to soak up the rays.

Big thumbs up Cafe Cuba, ill be back for sure!!!!

by Lois F.
4th January 2012

usually very good. Love their mochas, and the fact that you can get half portions of their wedges.

bit disappointed recently though.
1. The staff doesnt seem that interested in serving you.
2. They used to charge half price for a half strength lemon honey and ginger. No longer. disappointing, as they are only using half the syrup
3. Had beef nachos this week – no chilli in the mince. Just a nicely cooked plain mince with beans. Nice texture, but my husband had to go to the counter for a bottle of tobasco.

a pity, as it’s my favourite cafe. What happened since November? New owners? New staffing?

by B W.
29th December 2011

Love the food especially the eggs Bennie’s and the coffee usually always is consistant and great quality.
The staff are usually always nice and chatty but maybe should smile more………

overall fantastic always have been.

by Maarten B.
19th December 2011

usually very busy, so sometimes you have to wait a long time for your food

the staff are sometimes wonderful and friendly, and sometimes plainly stressed and overworked. Get more staff when you’re busy!!

the food is quite good, and the prices have gone up, so what used to be excellent value is now reasonable

nice place to go and will see us again

by Fiona
6th November 2011

The food continues to taste great, the prices have gone too high,the staff have deteriorated considerably, maybe you need to employ more mature people who are focused on good customer service…..food for thought…

by JC
28th October 2011

My experience of cafe cuba has normally been a good one and have been going there for years. However the last few times i have been there as recently as today the customer service has really let them down. I got given the wrong item and not what i asked for, when taking it back was met with blank stares from all the staff and then the person who served me asked if there was a problem. Then told me i got what i asked for to which i said no this is not what i wanted so then they walked off mumbling something so i just went and sat back down not knowing if it was going to be bought to me or what then the coffee girls had to make a comment like “what was her problem” in front of all the other customers etc. I probably had a confused look on my face because i didnt know what was going on and was treated like a nuisance but I think im entitled to ask for a replacement, i wasnt rude – but will not be going back there at all! Its become overpriced aswell and the coffee was burnt! How dare i ask them to replace something they got wrong?! you’d think i was asking for a free meal or something! Not cool Cuba – sort your grumpy staff out. If they dont want to give customers service maybe the should change jobs!

by Aaron L.
14th October 2011

Always good food and excellent coffee. It’s the most popular cafe in town and always very busy. The staff are often a bit disorganised, and sometimes it takes a long time to get food. But, I still have no hesitation about going back.

by Sarah
13th August 2011

Food is usually pretty good, and there is a good range of option, regardless of time of day. I do object to the increasing price of the cakes. Silk cake is great, but I don’t really think $9 a slice is justified. The thing that lets Cafe Cuba down is their consistently poor service. We have already had to wait a long time for our orders – both dine in and takeaway. Orders are regularly messed up, and waiter attitude is really indifferent. No mattre how good the food is, if the service is poor that’s enough to turn me away.

by Renee t.
26th July 2011

we had a work leaving dinner at cafe cuba on sunday the 24th of july. three people including myself ordered the beef scnitzel which was $19 i asked the lady if we could
all SWAP!!!! our salad to veges and if we could SWAP!! the fries to mash potatoes, she said yup you can swap thats fine. so we all get to the check out and the lady has charged us a extra $9 each. i then rang up the next day to enquire about this problem and the staff member was extremly rude to me and said well the waiter should of told you and we hope next time this wont happen. well there wont be a next time. i understand that mash potatoes and veges are $3 extra but they swapped are sides for these but still charged us extra as in we still got the salad and fries. we only got our Schnitzel mash potatoes and veges and got charged 28 dollars each. very dissapointed.

by Sam H.
26th May 2011

Its not hard to see why this Cafe is so busy, whether its for Coffee, breakfast, lunch or dinner, we always get greeted with a friendly smile and fantastic service from the staff, and i have found that their quailty of service is hard to beat in Palmerston North

The food is excellent and great value for your money. We went in as a group of 6 for dinner, and there was something on the menu for everybody, a great atmosphere in this Cafe, it was absolutely buzzing.

Great job Cafe Cuba, we will be back for sure! A+++

by Carla
25th May 2011

I too wonder why this restaurant is so busy. We ordered lunch. My husbands bacon and eggs came and i was told that mine would be there in a minute. Coffee’s arrived. Husband has finished his meal and we are still waiting. It seems odd as i had ordered from the cabinet and mine only had to be toasted. Finally gave up and went in search of my meal. Amazing there were no customers waiting to order. Two pretty blonde’s standing chatting and three plates of food behind them under heat lights. Yep, mine was one of the plates. No apologises, just dumb looks. I then had to eat in front of my husband with no coffee left. Food was okay but the whole experience was less than enjoyable. Owner needs to get staff that are ‘on to it’.

by Judi K.
23rd May 2011

I ordered fish and chips and for close on $20 I expected better. There was a heap of fish – too much in fact, but the salad was pathetic. It was all lettuce with a “garnish” of sprouts and a quarter of a tomato. I wouldn’t bother eating there again.

by Rob
23rd May 2011

We were far less than impressed with what Cafe Cuba had to offer as far as dining goes.

We ordered the Fish and Chips, and the Spinach and Feta Ravioli. We asked what the Napoli sauce was as we had never had it before, and was told that it was “a really creamy sauce”.

When presented with our food, it turned out that the Napoli sauce on the Ravioli was mainly tomato based, and was very sweet, to the point where it collided with the smooth flavor of the Ravioli. The fish in the Fish and Chips was cooked perfectly, but the coating was almost the consistency of half cooked batter with no seasoning, and if I’m paying $19.90 for fish and chips, there is NO reason why they couldn’t have made home made chips, instead we got chips you’d expect to get from your local chippy.

The last straw was waiting for a desert menu. And waiting.. and waiting.. and waiting. In the end we gave up, paid our tab and went across the road to Grandma’s Roast House for coffee and desert.

And lastly, to add insult to injury, I placed the review above on a page where their representatives have a degree of control over, and it was removed. I have emailed them asking why this was removed, but to date, I have not received a reply.

We might go back to Cafe Cuba for coffee, but that will be about it.. sorry guys, you need to pick up your game.. both on the food front and on your public relations.

by Rich
11th May 2011

I’m only occasionally in Palmerston North but this is my 1st choice when I’m there. I have always had great food and service and it its always a good atmosphere. Whether its a quick coffee or a meal I highly recommend Cafe Cuba.

by Ben J.
8th May 2011

Breakfasts are consistently excellent. Rather good value for money considering the size of the meals. Im not a coffee drinker but the thickshakes are the best in town.

by James
2nd May 2011

I have always been puzzled me why this café is so busy, I guess it has the sunniest outdoor aspect or all the cafes in town. The food is reasonable but not great, the coffee is consistently good, the staff however are half asleep , away with the fairies, and frankly are so busy chatting with each other it’s a wonder the place functions at all. Big room for improvement, I do buy coffee here occasionally but only as other friends ( mainly smokers ) insist on returning. Room for improvement if the place was managed better.

by jayne
16th April 2011

The children’s pancakes are well loved by my daughter but every coffee I have ever gotten has been bitter.

by Hayley
1st April 2011

Delicious food, great staff. This cafē will go out of their way to provide good service. Sometimes the wait can take a while but that’s to be expected in this industry. Great coffees, even going out of their way to tailor a drink to suit my needs.

by Lovee A.
16th December 2010

There ice coffee is yummest in Palmy. Other cafes should learn from them how to do it. Yummmmm. I have never tried anything else we go there often for ice coffee. But my flatmate tried most of the food from there and she like it.
5 stars for these but

We went there for dinner on my birthday must say not good at all never ever think of going to Cuba for dinner. And also the meals were actually not very inviting just looked very plain and made by someone not very experienced. All the 8 meals not appreciated. I would give 0 star for that.

That makes average of 2.5 stars. Approx 3 stars.

by Nicole R.
14th December 2010

The desserts are to die for especially the silk cake but when I have come for a meal i have been disappointed every time.

Write Review