New Zealand Herald

Reviews for Mecca Chancery

by Zoe G.
13th May 2013

Went with a deal voucher, initially tried to book and was told it was booked out, but called last minute in the afternoon and managed to get a booking. Impeccable service, very tasty salt & pepper squid starter, nicely done fish main, with amazing dessert and a great wine selection. Try the apple and walnut cake! Very friendly, helpful, honest and prompt service by our waiter (unsure of his name, he had a ponytail) which can be a rarity at some places when using a voucher. Thanks for a lovely night

by leannex
12th May 2013

Went for an early dinner and shared Bread & Dips and Salt & Pepper Squid for entree then both had Scotch Fillet Steak for main, followed by Afogatto and Tiramisu Cheesecake. The food was excellent as was the service. The only reason I didn’t award “full marks” was that the Pinot Gris @ $40 on the menu wasn’t available and they had no replacement for the same price, and the gas patio heater warming our area ran out of gas half way through our meal and they didn’t have another gas bottle – I feel sorry for anyone that came after us as it was a very chilly night.

by Ninan G.
28th March 2013

Nice choice on brunch menu, slightly overpriced – overall good service

by Paula M.
15th March 2013

This place has a stellar location which is why I decided to visit. The waiter was very pleasant and attentive but the food was disappointing. It appeared to be prepared by someone who didn’t give a damn. Their “signature dish” was some reheated pre-cooked beef served on miniature croutons with a sauce made from pureed canned tomatoes and served with some unseasoned grilled zucchini. Bland, sloppy and unappealing. And it wasn’t even served with the pide that was stated on the menu, which when I asked for was told I was wrong – the croutons were the pide! That was it – $28. Will not return.

by Natalie B.
25th February 2013

Wow, what great service and food. Decided to go for brunch on Sunday and was greatly impressed with everything, we were seated very promptly and did not wait long for our delicious pancakes and French toast and not to forget the best hot chocolates ever….yummmmmy!
The manager/hostess was very attentive and friendly and we will be coming back soon. Thanks Mecca Chancery for a great start to my day!

by Eugene J.
13th February 2013

We had lunch there yesterday. Food and service was excellent. I had a schnaper with a lime dressing on mash that was very good. They looked pretty busy but we were looked after throughout

by Hamish P.
11th November 2012

I had brunch this morning at Mecca in the Chancery. Since Invito really went downhill, and after the rudest restaurant experience I’ve ever had from a waiter at Caravanserai, I decided that Mecca is the only Mediterranean place worth visiting in the Chancery.

The service this morning wasn’t fantastic. It took twenty minutes to be served, and then another forty minutes for the food, a chorizo and mushroom breakfast, to arrive. The original waiter was polite but not particularly attentive. The second waitress was apologetic and very pleasant when she learned how long we had been waiting.

My friend’s order, a muffin, came twenty minutes before my breakfast did. My coffee, a simple long black, took twenty minutes to make. Wait staff twice forgot cutlery, and had to be reminded twice about bringing water.

The Chancery was reasonably busy, but not overly so. There really isn’t much of an excuse for this kind of delays. The food was of a good standard, as it always is at Mecca: the staff are pleasant and friendly, but a little bit more could be done to improve wait times and ensure that everybody is being served promptly.

by Nicky
17th October 2012

Disappointed – went with a friend from Australia and a friend from Wellington, hoping to show them Auckland cafe culture and good coffee.

Service was fine, but the coffee was less than satisfactory. Bitter and I had to ask the waitress for another coffee as the first one was so bitter. The second one was unfortunately not much better.

I really like the ambience and location but they need to improve their coffee making skills. All 4 of us were disappointed with the coffee

by Jana
14th September 2012

Had Sunday brunch at Mecca Chancery. The food was gr8, good portion, lots of flavour and lovely presentation – reasonably priced for the quality and quantity. Would have liked a more friendlier service but never the less will go back again for the food, location and ambience.

by princemadison
26th May 2012

Mecca is my ultimate meeting place I go there on a regular basis. I meet friends and I also have business meetings there quiet often.
Great location, good food and the service is good.
Although, the staff turnover is high, they friendly and they look after you.
There is one disappointing thing lately what makes me not wanting to go back is a person a manager or somewhat walking around the place, his rather rude and not helpful at all.
I just had a complaint from one of my clients who went to Mecca after one of our meeting as I recommended the place and he had a same disappoint experience with the arrogant manager.
Unprofessional and I don’t think he knows what his duty is as his just walking around trying to look busy but he doesn’t really find his place.
Annoying and makes you feel uncomfortable.

by M
21st April 2012

I don’t know why we paid our bill. If you like microwaved frozen pitta served by rude waiting staff then you might like this place. The food isn’t much, the service is awful and the meals arrive at completely different times so you have to sit and watch your companions eat for 40 minutes before your food arrives.

Comment from Andrew v. of Mecca Chancery 30/04/2012    Hide »

As the owner of this business we have investigated the comments…    More »

As the owner of this business we have investigated the comments made above. The review refers to food that we do not sell in our restaurant and we have also written to the writer seeking clarification of where they dined, with no response to date.
Mecca Chancery has neighbouring cafes who have set them selves up to imitate our product in an attempt to lure our customers by passing themselves off as Mecca.
For those visiting the Chancery for the first time, Mecca is the cafe in the centre of the courtyard.
The cafe next door is named Caravanserai, however please be aware that they may tell you that they are also Mecca
For bookings we ask that you confirm your booking with the manager on duty when you arrive.
Mecca works hard to uphold its service and product standards at all times. Unfortunately we cannot control how others choose to operate. However, one thing that cannot be imitated is our genuine service and ethics built up over the past 15 years we have been in business.

Mecca Chancery

by Maloo22
20th July 2011

Great food at great prices – quick, efficient,good value – been going there for 7 years willingly.

Have spent much more in supposedly better restaurants and had much worse than Mecca – bfast are excellent and the coffee bar in the middle one of the best around

Summer lunchtimes are packed, and rightly so

by Nynette
10th August 2010

Friendly wait staff that arnt overbearing – like a few of the other chancery cafe staff. Good coffee, it gets quite noisy in the evenings, but thats not really something that can be helped. food is great, and tapa/ snacks are just divine!

by georgie
20th May 2010

Mecca is one of my favourite places to have a group meal, its full alot of time, which just adds to the jolly upbeat vibe. They have some exquisite dishes and great coffee.
The staff are very competent and polite, and as busy as they get I never seem to wait as long as I would expect.
A warm, welcoming, positive place to eat drink and be merry.

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