Brown Sugar Cafe

It was yummy but the food we ordered was a little over cooked and hard to eat.
Atmosphere was warm and inviting. Staff were friendly

Must have changed hands. Warm welcoming atmosphere is gone.staff milling around behind counter and clearly out of their depth. Asked for yogurt with lemon cake.attitude and a tsp full slapped on plate. Over 30mins for pot of tea? So sad.this cafe has been local icon for years

Always our favourite cafe when passing through Taihape. Good food and coffee, lovely outdoor area under the quince tree, sandpit for kids. Cool merchandise to browse and buy. Gluten free options too.

Popped into the shop over the long weekend for a breakfast. A great looking shop and wonderful atmosphere, however was rather disappointed with the breakfast served. The open toasted sammy was quite bitter and only managed to eat a small portion and at $14’s I was rather taken back while the big breakfast had to be one of the most average big breakfasts I’ve had and that at $22’s.

Small portions but very tasty. Presentation a bit lacking. Not as good as I remember from a visit a few years ago

Upon walking in, my first thoughts were that it was a lovely little cafe.

However, that soon changed, the prices were rather shocking ($9.50 for a piece of bland lasagne? I’ve had bigger pieces for other cafes for $6-$7, that actually had flavour).

When we got to the counter to order, I was met with a unpleasant stare, as if we were an inconvenience to the TWO girls taking out order, no smiles, no pleasantries. Went to sit down to wait for our lasagne to be heated with the rest of our group who had ordered cold food, so they already had there’s and were eating (take note of this for later.)

We sat there 15 minutes waiting for our lasagne, before we asked someone where it was.they didn’t know but apologised for the wait and said it should be there soon before heading back to the kitchen (the only friendliness we got the entire time there.)

5 minutes later a lady came out with our food and a member of our table curiously asked why it had taken so long, as everyone else had long since finished and were waiting on us to eat so we could leave and we all felt that it had been way to long.the lady got snappish and at first said “i don’t know I’m not the cook, ask them” and started walking away before turning back and continuing to say “ it is rather busy and we don’t normally serve groups as large (8) as yours” in a snappish accusing tone (note: half the tables were empty and if they were so busy, why did that have 2 people taking one persons order?)

Now remember when I said that everyone else had ordered cold food from the cabinet and received there’s immediately? How would that make heating up 3x lasagne from the cabinet take 20 mins? We ordered seperate from them and they didn’t have anything that needed heating or making for that to be a valid statement! Nevertheless, last time I checked that is not how you respond to a customer.

Needless to say, never returning. I’ve had better service from a McDonald’s.which is saying something.

Always enjoy this cafe. Food choice offers variety. Service pleasing. Good toilet facilities. Popular.

Great options, beautiful setting. Can sit out front if you have dogs. Inside or outside in the garden if you don't

I have made a point of stopping here for the better part of 15 years, maybe more. Decor is great, and the cabinet food too. However I share the opinions expressed by others that it's expensive for what you get, and the coffee I got was frankly terrible; cold and over extracted. If that was sorted, I'd continue coming.

Lovely setting, and clean restaurant. Food tasty and nice and fresh. The let down was the iced coffee and chocolate as these weren't mixed properly. Very busy little cafe.

Always a pleasure to stop at this little treasure. We were late so missed out on foods but the coffee was bonza!

Don't get me wrong.the location, next to the service lane is great - as is inside & outside spaces; but, the prices & portion sizes don't compare to the likes of Murrayfields - and.there's no all-day breakfast!

Sorry guys not good. We asked for simple toasted sandwiches but not go. Instead offered an open toasted sandwich, being grated cheese with cooked bacon chopped into this and melted on 2 slices of toasted vogel bread. Very heavy and oily. Not a good taste. Service very slow four the number of girls working there about 10ish am. Also ordered coffees which again were slow in coming.

Awesome but quite expensive. Order a $18 pizza and it’s just a slice. The food is good and the coffee acceptable most of the time.

Great little cafe on a side street in Taihape, seems to be popular as cafe was well patronised, good food & coffee- outside tables an option. A variety of small gifts available to purchase

Always a great coffee! Excellent place to stop for a break from the road. Good choices for food and awesome area outside if you've got kids along. Lovely gift selection too if rather on the expensive side!

Very quaint/charming cafe with great coffee and tea, treats, sandwiches and a patio garden. I highly recommend stopping here if you are passing through town.

Good location of the shop with a great wider outdoor area in the back. Busy place but fast service, few people staff members inside. Souvenirs available as well. Wheelchair people are welcome. Car parking on the kerb side near by. Toilets available.

We walked in, the lady at the counter looked at us then looked away with no acknowledgment. We turned around and walk out.
You did us a favour as we went across the road to another cafe which made us feel more comfortable and a pleasant experience it was.

Tasty food, great coffee, smooth service, lots of space and memories of Rolling Stones music - but couldn't find the Honky Tonk Woman