The Sawmill

Had a burger and a beer, outstanding quality and really nice location! Id love to come back for a live gig (:

We had made a reservation for lunch, which was confirmed, only to be told when we arrived that they were "too busy" and were serving drinks only. Very poor customer service that's for sure, a phone call would have been nice as it was a very long drive to get there. I would give them 'zero' stars if I could.

Travelled up on a very hot day just wanting a cold drink and initially standing around waiting to be seen/seated and in the end after 5-10 mins of no one turning up went inside. Young lady who looked totally confused said to wait and then came back to say sorry they are full and long wait for food. Again stated just wanted a drink no food on one of the hottest days of the year and she went away again. A few mins later another lady came out and looked annoyed and stressed and asked what the issue was and clearly why we hadn't left and again just said wanted a drink it was midday on a weekend and could see empty seats and tables outside? She was dismissive and rude and then said they had a large booking arriving soon so no one else could enter. No sign outside or anything advised this after our long drive up and certainly no apology for the hassle and inconvenience. Not sure if were short staffed but clearly lacking in customer service and all in all a very unpleasant waste of time and won't ever go back again for sure. Very poor indeed. Would give zero stars if an option.

The Pizza's are back to EPIC! Loaded with super tasty toppings, on a wicked thin base (don't like it all doughy myself) Well worth the visit for one of these gems!

Haven’t been up here for quite a few years, popped in for a buffalo chicken pizza and fries topped off with cider.pizza was delivered and atmosphere was great. Staff were amazing! Thank you

I enjoy the Sawmill Cafe - nice outdoor area, good play space for kids, diverse range of beer and drinks, tasty food. They also have regular music gigs which provide an eclectic array of musical genres and artists.

EDIT - been a few more times since my original review and things have got much better. Table service and quick deliverly of food - back to five stars

Nice venue and staff, Cleo was very bubbly and attentive. Drinks came quickly although limited choice, only 1 tap beer. Food was the biggest let down, we ordered food at 5.30pm and it didn’t come out until just after 8pm. Entree and main came out together after a 2 and half hour wait and chicken was so salty it was inedible.

Great spot, with great food and drinks.

Interesting building to look around with shoutouts to its former life as a sawmill.

We will be back to enjoy the expansive outdoor area when the sun is shining.

Very good food. We came on a day they were short staffed. Still, they managed to provide us with lunch in half the time they estimated. We had a group of about 15, so they did okay.

Disappointing & won't be returning in a hurry.chefs were having a loud yelling match argument in the kitchen for a good portion of the time we were there, super uncomfortable as we could hear every word and slamming bowl!

Food was OK, burger & pizza was pretty good - one of the meals didn't get eaten as the coleslaw tasted old, when we requested a partial discount the Manager was very reluctant and defensive of the feedback.

Only saviour was the exceptional waitress & the cafe dog!

We stayed in the apartment area of the backpackers accommodation – it was disappointing for the price.
When we arrived, we couldn’t turn on any ceiling lights in the main living area. It was very dark inside, even at 2pm. I spoke to the manager, who told me that the wiring was bad and the lights didn’t work. This was a known issue for which they didn’t tell us beforehand. After I spoke to the manager twice, they provided a standing lamp, however it was a very large room and certainly did not make up for no working ceiling lights.
There was a hole in the bathroom above the shower where the extractor fan used to be, which leaked water when it rained. There was nowhere to hang your towel in the bathroom either, as they had removed the actual rod from the towel rack.
There was no oven in the kitchen, and no microwave either. There was also no alternative option for cooking, as the backpacker kitchen was very much under construction.
We ate dinner at the pub that night – food was great and very enjoyable. The lackluster experience could have been made up for here with a complimentary drink or dessert, however nothing was offered.
Overall, the accommodation was nowhere near worth $250 per night, and we left feeling unimpressed

A lovely spot for a drink or two, welcoming to dogs and super friendly staff. Great music concerts and heaps of fun stuff always take place there. If you’re into good music, affordable accommodation, and a bit of kiwi culture this is your place.

Friendly service but some disappointment about the Pork Schnitzel which was overcooked and dry. The mushroom lasagna had flavour but a bit underwhelming. When we walked into the main foyer I thought it looked grubby and messy. Just looked tired and unloved. Time for the owners to crisp up the place.

Plenty of options on the menu, I had my usual favourite of Fish and Chips. Fish was fresh, and just the right amount of fries. In the same area is an interesting antique and curio store. I like the way they have used old bits and pieces from the sawmill days in the cafe. Some meals were a bit delayed, but to be fair it was a large bus group.

Food was great. Unfortunately the service was below standard. My friend was told "better order your food now as we could run out of food". His attitude wasn't nice. This was at 5.30pm, to early for us to eat. I know that they were short staffed, but there is no excuse for rudeness. Won't be going back. We were recommended to go there by a local, they also won't be going back. Very disappointed

Amazing place to eat near Goat Island. The staff were very friendly and provided great service. Food was delicious, generously sized, and at a reasonable size.

Lovely staff, great service, What an amazing atmosphere! Ben, Sam, Luke, Cleo really look after you. I never want to leave. Thanks for yet another awesome evening guys.

Had a great time here. Stayed two nights in really lovely accomodation. Food was amazing and really well priced. Sam, the manager, and all the staff were so welcoming and couldn't do enough for us. Thank you for a superb weekend.

Super friendly staff, taken care of immediately and got our food and drinks so fast even though they were busy. Very yummy everything all the while being in a gorgeous setting. Thank you, we will be back

Need to stick to making beers, Great beers but the food was average.
Took a long time to come out and when we got it, it was average at best, the beef croquettes had 1 tiny piece of beef and the other three were all potato.a few options on the menu