Review St Heliers Bay Cafe & Bistro - Auckland Central

We ordered the sweet corn and Rosti egg Benedict. Portion is small but plating and atmosphere makes up for it.

We booked a table through google however when we arrived they said there is no reservation made under our name saying they did not check today’s google reservation. Manager was pretty rude did not even apologise when she messed up the reservation. Started with coffee which had to be sent back because they gave us wrong coffee.. food took 35 mins to be served , one dish came out first and got cold while we waiting for the other dish. Great location with beautiful view * It was booked under my partner's name Edit: We were happily surprised when the owners got in touch, had another lunch here and the service, food and hospitality was top notch. Breathtaking view & exceptional gnocchi. Would definitely visit again for sure

Great Cafe... Food was very good... Friendly helpful staff... Will come again...

Awesome food, great service and great atmosphere. You can't ask for more. There is a reason the place is always busy. It is a great local and the views of the beach and Rangitoto are a treat. The music is normally good and cabinet pastries to die for. A+++

The price is decent. Lunch is good quality & quantity. The atmosphere was quite loud, which we didn't mind because we could hear ourselves talking anyway.

Come here for one of the best beachside views in Auckland. A local favorite with great happy hours and light bites. Great place to sit solo or with a bunch of pals and just take it all in. Incredibly friendly staff!

I've been coming here, on & off, over the last 15 years. The staff are consistently attentive, friendly & helpful. I can never fault them & I love the feel of the place. I also love the way the menu never gets boring & the food is always on point. Keep on being awesome.

Love everything about this place. Ambience, food, service. Ended up lingering around for a bit too long. The staff were so patient with us. The only downside is that I can't bring my dog here otherwise I'd be visiting almost every weekend for brunch and ice cream.

This is the number one place in St Heliers for food and coffee and lots more. The food is simply the best around. The managers and wait staff are just the most delightful, attentive and helpful people and greet you with a big smile!! They care.

Thanks Kerry for the great service this definitely adds to the experience. Food nicely presented and great taste. Prime spot at the front window let's you enjoy the view. A bit pricey.. but isn't everything today.

Great hospitality and views. Pricey for the portions. Especially the pasta is tiny for well over $30 a plate. My spinach and pineapple smoothie was quite bland and watery. It's definitely a bit of a treat but won't be back in a hurry.

The food was delicious, had the beef short ribs and veggie risotto. Absolutely loved it. Friendly staff and professional welcoming. Will definitely be back.

Oh yess, my new favourite St Heliers restaurant! In fact new favourite Tamaki Drive place to dine. Divine eye fillet, excellent specials, well priced alcohol and cocktails, fabulous wait-staff. Excited to dine here again and bring more friends and family A+++

Came in with my partner today; loveliest staff, gorgeous oysters & focaccia! we will definitely be back! Thanks for the awesome service 💓

With the entrance hidden off street, you could easily pass by unless you knew it was there. Stopped by for lunch and it was quite busy when we came. We had to wait about 30 minutes for a table, enough time to walk around the beach for a bit. The cafe was busy but didn't feel too crowded. The service was good. Although busy we didn't feel like we had to wait very long to order. The menu had quite a few interesting items on the menu. I went with the special salted caramel hot chocolate and the pork chop. You had to make the hot chocolate yourself, pouring the hot milk over the molten chocolate and topping it with marshmallows. The hot chocolate had too much caramel since you couldn't taste the chocolate anymore. The pork chop was quite good. The kumara mash was a bit cold and some people may have thought the pork chop was a bit undercooked but I liked it. It was well seasoned but the fat wasn't rendered until crispy. Nice place with nice food and service. Edit: We stopped by fro ice cream after walking down from Kohimarama. They had quite a few flavours and there was a window just for it on the side of the entrance.

Went here with very high expectations after reading about it in several places and was left pretty disappointed. The presentation was bad which was the first questionable mark! The eggs bene was extremely salty and the big brekkie was nothing special at all. <br/>Average staff interactions but amazing decor love the vibe of the place! <br/>Won’t be back in rush but would try again during a non peak time

St Heliers Cafe & Bistro(本人工作的地方）<br/><br/>就餐环境4.5分<br/>这餐厅位于St Heliers Bay，有机会日出日落时候，在这里哪怕是喝杯咖啡。那已经值回4刀的价格（我工作了5个月了，风景我还没有看腻）😝 推荐工作日就餐，相对安静，个人发呆或者和朋友聚会很开心。<br/>食物出品4. 7分<br/>🐠Market Fish, 🐑Lamb Shoulder, Beef 🐂Sirloin, Green Beans, Brulee<br/>我们餐厅主要是seasonal的western fusion, 如果需要一点惊喜的朋友，我们餐厅一定满足了你。基本每三个月menu都会更新，保证可以用最新鲜当季的食材提供顾客。PS: 除甜品以外，所有菜式都不会添加糖😎哦<br/>咖 啡 ☕3.8分<br/>我对咖啡算是挑剔的，就算工作的地方也不例外。我只会向其中3位咖啡师order咖啡（总数有5位）<br/>中国女生Michelle ：专业，只要你给她提议，她会尽量满足你的咖啡要求（我只喝她做的Flat White ）<br/>印度男生Alex: 老员工，速度快不用等，味道还不错<br/>韩国女生Claire : 标准高, 但是只会周末上班<br/>总体评分4.5<br/>Zomato评分4.3的餐厅，环境服务食物性价比很高，而且我们餐厅是新西兰Hipgroup饮食集团打造（旗下有Amano, The Store, Ortolana等餐厅）值得信赖。缺点是周末顾客太多，等待时间长，食物也会有一点影响。<br/>最后提醒：虽然是我工作的地方，但是😂🤣我只是一个外来务工人员, 没有任何折扣可以给到你的😇但是还是非常欢迎你们来找我打个招呼

Fab bistro with interesting well priced menu & backed up by fresh superbly presented dishes - at least mine were. Loved the fish & interesting sides complemented by fab location, super efficient & friendly staff and interesting wine choices. Highly recommend.

First of all, the food was good, but the service was terrible.<br/><br/>Food:<br/>Ceviche and octopus were perfect - recommend! 5/5<br/><br/>Steak: simply delicious, the only thing is we asked for medium-rare but it was more close to medium, still nice tho 4/5<br/><br/>Cucumber salad, chicken, courgette dishes were good too, but if they can add just a little bit some more seasoning would be better.<br/><br/>Service:<br/>O.M.G.<br/><br/>Took more than 20mins to bring up a glass of wine - did you just start to make it from the grapes when you get the order?-Not trying to be mean but we've asked 3 times for the wine, don't think it's something too difficult to do.<br/><br/>Took the used plates and cutlets away when we finished the entrees which was great! BUT, not bringing us the new one? Seriously?<br/>So when the mains started to come, we had no plate and cutlet to eat! And people who served the food didn't feel anything wrong with that- just drop the food on the table and go, so we were just sitting, waiting and watching the food get cold. A very special dining experience in my life👍

Business dinner. Great atmosphere and good service provided by the team. I had a ceviche to start (delicious), beef for main (well cooked) and a Pavlova for desert. Plates are not big, but delicious.

Good cafe to chill out with friends, especially during sunset time. Love the vibe and deco here. The food here was pretty good previously but now the taste wasn’t that great.

Very tasty food! Not the usual flavours I would choose but was definitely delicious. Really great coffee too. Had some lemon curd yoghurt ice cream after which I have to say, is definitely one of my favourites. Highly recommend.

Brilliant friendly service, super clean space, light and bright. Foods fantastic although portions are on the lighter side (my partner prefers a bigger breakfast).

This place started very nice , but is no good any longer . I had the scampi pasta today , only very very little scampi , and very little undercooked pasta . It was under mains, $34 but stater size . Very disappointing , would not go back again .

I have been living in eastern bay for a long time. It maintains many years great customer service and quality food. Definitely the local cafe

One of my favorite in town. Love this area, the design and atmosphere. The menu is colorful and tasteful. I had a wonderful fish. A great local experience.

2 people had coffee here. It wasn’t very busy. A glass of water was given to us both on arrival. This is a nice gesture. Sadly both glasses had lipstick 💄 on them. My glass was very bad. Good coffee but attention to hygiene is crap. We won’t be back to this place.

Disappointing. I tried a burger for lunch. It looked homemade but that was all I can say in its favour. The meat was quite thick but overcooked (I wasn't asked how I would like it cooked so I guess it wasn't to be treated as something at that culinary level) and dry and with little taste. The bun it was in was burnt and therefore inedible in several places including a large area on the very top. Aside from the meat, there was little else to the burger but a messy slathering of nondescript white sauce. The only accompaniment was a few chips - also overcooked (not crispy on the outside and fluffy within as one might hope - just quite hard and tasteless) along with a couple of little pots of some tomato relish and some mayonnaise, both rather insipid, for dipping. This cost almost $30. A gourmet burger it was not. At well under half that price it might just have passed in terms of value but it would still have been a let down in terms of preparation, presentation, and, especially, taste.<br/> (If I had made it myself at home I would have been embarrassed to serve it up to friends but might have forgiven myself and put it down to a learning experience if it were my first go at it.)<br/>On the plus side, people come round and supply you sparkling water...

Absolutely delicious food. Highly recommend the omelette with burrata. I swap the bacon add-on for prosciutto and really enjoyed it. Great ambiance and location in front of the beach. Service was algo good.

A beautiful eatery situated along the waterfront. Nautical-like decor reminiscent of the beach just a stone's throw away, attentive service & a killer menu. The food's a bit pricey but I guess you pay for the location too, the views don't disappoint. Our meals were presented beautifully - everything was cooked perfectly & the staff are accommodating. There's a decent selection of gelato & cabinet baked goods too but what I loved the most was the hot chocolate! haha

Top 5 favorite cafe. Located at the waterfront with excellent beach view. Cozy environment suitable for a couple of friends. Consistent food quality and great presentation. Their staff are always friendly and helpful. Their entrees and sides are always at decent quantity. Complimentary sparkling is always a bonus too.

We tried this place once so far for breakfast and tried the eggs benedict. Overall is wan't too bad, the presentation was nice, however I found the hollandaise sauce not lemony enough and bit plain. It's bit pricey but I guess it because of the waterfront location.

One of our favourite go to cafes, located in St Heliers by the water front. Very cozy with a lovely view. I really enjoyed their avocado smoothie and the scampi folder eggs is our must order every time we go there. They offer a good selection of gelato as well. I normally go there for brunch but keen to try their dinner menu as well.

Love any place by the hip group and this was no exception! Had the courgette, chorizo on sourdough w/ poached egg and it was delicious! My friends had the eggs bene and the falafel which also looked yum! So cool that we came at 11am so were able to choose from brekkie and lunch menu which was ideal! Also ended with a choc hazelnut ice cream for the road which was so good!

Regular visitor at this cafe. Great food and service. Consistent service as you’d expect from any other cafe in the Hip Group.<br/><br/>Great coffee too to grab and go sit by the beach or crab a milse ice cream.

Good relaxed atmosphere despite the full house.<br/>Staff were very attentive to detail and empathetic, offered my partner and I the window seat as soon as it was available and helped us move all our things there.<br/>Food is plated very nicely so theres some good pics for you instagrammers out there.<br/>Taste is abit on the safe side and abit calm but I suppose it's better to be safe than to remake the whole dish.

One of our favourite cafe by the bay. Beautiful location with full view of the beach. We ordered a spinach omelette and asparagus with chorizo and eggplant though I am sure the eggplant was omitted. Couldn’t see or taste it on this dish. Still nice, though. The service was a bit rushed ie cleared our plates and took away the salt and pepper as soon as we finished eating. We would have ordered a piece of cake/slice to share as we usually do but today, the service was not too friendly.

A popular choice for brunch & dinner on the waterfront at St Heliers. Service is friendly & efficient with a menu full of unique twists on favourite dishes.<br/>Coffee is well made, and if you feel like a sweet treat for a walk on the beach after, they have ice cream to go <br/>We ordered a range of dishes including the gnocchi which was delicious but a little oily, the avocado smash, and the flat bread. The kids menu was great too.

A lovely spot on the waterfront for a coffee/ brunch! Lots to choose from the menu! Ice cream a definite 5/5 not tasted ice cream like this for a long time!! Coffee 3/5 and food very yum 4/5. Staff could have been a little more helpful!

Popped in here for late breakfast ... big place friendly staff ... not a big menu selection ... but all sounds good. <br/>We ordered lamb & potato and the smashed avocado with bacon..<br/>Lamb dish looked nice and was<br/>The smashed avo was abit strange being very cold with the one poached egg on toast .. the bacon was yummy looking on one side but on the other it looked undercooked.<br/>would give them a 3.5 as it was ok smallish meals for the price really.

Food was absolutely horrible. Ordered an ice chocolate that required assembly (I did not pay $10 to assemble my own drink) and tasted like milky melted ice cream. The flatbread was drenched in oil and tasted soggy and disgusting. The wagyu beef burger was not only overcooked, despite them saying it would be medium rare, but overpowered by the thick slab of beetroot relish. The only reason this is even getting one star at all is that the wait staff were decent and the fries were ok.

The food here is absolutely divine. The chicken I ordered was perfectly cooked with the most amazing crispy skin and well matched condiments. My table's food was all fantastic. Service seemed a bit slammed but the atmosphere made up for it. Definitely order the ice cream if you get the chance.

Quick service, nice presentation and combination of flavour, horseradish mascarpone is the best among the dish, fresh baby leaves show the quality of dish. Both dish Cooked to perfection. Loved kale of chicken and sweet beetroot of pork. Seasoning of each component was nice. Only little thing that i want was little bit more salt on the chicken. Lucky that i have found this place.

One of the best, absolutely enjoyed the view and my mushroom dish

Very accommodating to kids’ allergies! They were willing to take away some ingredients to make sure my son can eat them safely. I am super grateful for that as a mum with a son who has food allergies. It just shows that they know what its in their food. Staff were amazing!<br/><br/>Food: i ordered the wood mushroom pasta and that was absolutely delicious. Our group mostly ordered burgers and i was told theyre good too. <br/><br/>Will definitely come back here again!

Having been a regular at Amano, thought we better give this a try and we weren't disappointed, food was excellent, service may be not quite up to Amano, but is a bistro, so no real complaints, we had the crudo with blue cod, a radicchio salad that was pretty special And the vension which was beautifully cooked, dessert, 2 glasses of wine and a glass of French sticky which was pretty yum, all up $110 which for the quality was not bad.<br/>Probably the only eating establishment that I would recommend on the whole of tamaki drive, most serving up pretty mediocre over priced food. As of recently this establishment is no longer owned by the Hip group.

Loved the location where it looks over to St Heliers Bay. <br/>Great atmosphere. Staff were attentive and we were seated straight away. <br/><br/>Food: We ordered the Baked eggs, Folded eggs,Eggs benedict and a bowl of fries.<br/>Scrambled eggs were well cooked and flavours worked well. However found the bacon a little too salty than what Im used too. Great place for a morning brunch :)<br/><br/>Atmosphere: 5/5<br/>Service: 5/5<br/>Food: 4/5

This cafe is part of the Hip Group. Unlike the one in Takapuna this one is actively dog hostile. No dogs even allowed in the icecream area to the side of the main restaurant. I came with my puppy and a very elderly friend. There was no where to tie up my puppy outside and also no dog water bowl. After hostile reception we walked away without icecreams. Much as I love most Hip Group restaurants this one I will in future avoid.

St. Helier's bay & bistro is perfectly situated if you want to go for a catch up run or walk with a friend along the water. They have an open space with clean décor. The Eggs benedict with smoked fish is a surprisingly good dish!!

Such a nice place right by the beach. We ordered slightly overpriced Iced Coffees but were not disappointed. Milk, coffee and ice cream all cams extra so you basically made your own! The food looked amazing so next time I will be back, i‘ll definitely have to have a meal as well😊

Came after Round the Bays race. Was very busy and took a long time to get seated and for the waiter to come and order the meals. Eggs Benedict was fish was too salty and the bread was too stale.

Quality.<br/><br/>It’s been awhile since a place has impressed me so much and it was with little wonder why on a Saturday lunch the place was absolutely packed. With a wait time of an hour, it was rather fortunate for my group that one fellow had sacrificed his time by getting an hour earlier to get us a table. We were seated right in the middle of the bistro and although I felt the tables to be a little small, the atmosphere was fantastic. Chatter everywhere with rays of sun streaming down over us, it was definitely one of those ‘Sunny Auckland’ days. <br/><br/>We ordered the Market Fish, Burger, Ribs? Potato cakes and some smoothies to go with our meals. I am always curious about how seafood and especially fish would be done in restaurants and it was to my surprise that the market fish here was delicious and my favorite dish at the bistro. Smelling wonderfully fresh and a delicate presentation, cotton candy soft, the flavor of the fish was accentuated by the herbs and olive oil.  <br/><br/>Showstopper: Market Fish for a light, flavorful lunch or the burger which was filling and awfully satisfyingly.<br/><br/>Overall Grade: A-

Love this place to bits. A forever easy choice when I’m deciding where to go eat on a whim. Delicious food, great service, the place is stunning with beautiful beach views. It’s usually busy, and you need to wait 15-30 mins for a table, but always worth the wait.

30 March 2018<br/>We are back here again fir breakfast. We had to reserve a table for 12 as we would not have been seated together. The Charred corn salad was rated 4/5, baked eggs with aubergine tomato was 5/5, Brisket was 4/5 and the folded egg in potato was 4/5. Pretty good and then there is the dinner menu to try . . .<br/><br/>Hats off to the interior designer for making it feel grand and personal at the same time. Love the wood finish and black chairs. We were well looked after by the manager and waitresses. Our water glass were always filled up. I had the Egg Bene for brunch. Eggs were cooked perfectly but found the smoked fish very dry, thank goodness for the water. This place fills up quickly in the morning so will come back earlier than 8:30am. Just a note, the door to the toilet is hidden on the kitchen green tiled wall. Just to keep us coming back, we saw the sweet counter on the way out.

Below average and overpriced. The food was nothing spectacular it special. Can't really give a highlight on anything particular. It was just annoyingly satisfactory. It's overpriced for what it is and I would probably not go again.

Really attentive and efficient service. Great location with fresh and modern flavours. Highly recommend popping in here if in the area....<br/>.

Great looking place. The waiter found a seat for us and brought us sparkling water. Customer service was outstanding. However, the quality of coffee needed huge improvement. My mate’s flat white was too foamy and my espresso tasted very sour. Allpress blend should have good body throughout however, there was no body in that espresso at all.

Probably the grandest cafe in St Heliers. Sure to entertain as the view is magnificent and the interior deco is on point. Ample car parking space. However, the downside is thay its bit pricier and portion a bit small.

This place have an amazing and delicious range of gelato that we really love. Had the salted caramel and it was yummy as expected. However, it would be nice if the staff scoop and serve the ice cream with finesse as this melts quicker than a regular ice cream.

Food:<br/>We had 1 appetiser n two mains a fish n duck dishes... all were super yummmmm. Nice presentation, good portion size n tasty.<br/>Service:<br/>Excellent attentive n friendly service.<br/>Ambiance:<br/>The restaurant was full when we arrived. After few minutes of waiting we got a table. Restaurant was clean, staff were quite professional, lighting n decor was good. Great sea view during the day time as the location is perfect for a nice afternoon brunch or a romantic dinner whatever you prefer. Great restaurant to take your family, friends or a special someone

With the entrance hidden off street, you could easily pass by unless you knew it was there. Stopped by for lunch and it was quite busy when we came. We had to wait about 30 minutes for a table, enough time to walk around the beach for a bit.<br/><br/>The cafe was busy but didn't feel too crowded. The service was good. Although busy we didn't feel like we had to wait very long to order. The menu had quite a few interesting items on the menu. I went with the special salted caramel hot chocolate and the pork chop.<br/><br/>You had to make the hot chocolate yourself, pouring the hot milk over the molten chocolate and topping it with marshmallows. The hot chocolate had too much caramel since you couldn't taste the chocolate anymore. <br/><br/>The pork chop was quite good. The kumara mash was a bit cold and some people may have thought the pork chop was a bit undercooked but I liked it. It was well seasoned but the fat wasn't rendered until crispy.<br/><br/>Nice place with nice food and service.

Such friendly staff, and the food/coffees are great! Has a beautiful view, and you can feel the good vibes within the cafe. Lovely place to come after a walk along the water front. <br/>Overall hygienic, tasty and beautiful place to eat 😊

Visited here on a busy Sunday lunch. We were greeted by a staff member who presented us with menus to peruse and took our names. Advising it would be a 10 minute wait- all good We weren't in a rush :)<br/><br/>We ordered the lamb, the market fish (John Dory) and the veal carpaccio.<br/>It lamb was cooked perfectly- melt in the mouth! Roasted veges were cubed and ok. Maybe a little dry. The dish itself could have done something extra... a tasty sauce or Jus maybe?<br/><br/>The fish was cooked well and the skin was crispy. Pearl cous cous came with pepitas and thinly shaved/sliced carrot. Again something was missing... it needed some acidity and sweetness. Maybe the carrot could be pickled?<br/><br/>Veal carpaccio - the veal itself was delicious maybe a little too thickly cut. Could have used some lemon or vinegar or capers?<br/><br/>What I loved- meals were served with sparkling water on the house and constantly filled up. Plus 2 kinds of delicious toasted bread with yummy olive oil. Love little bonuses!<br/><br/>What let it down: The staff... unfortunately. C'mon guys! Where's your personalities? Where's the smiles?some staff coaching could really make this place come alive. The meals although tasty with fresh ingredients slightly missed the mark. Also the freshly squeezed juice at $7.5 was a bit of a rip as it came in a small tumbler with a few bits of melting ice.<br/><br/>It wasn't bad but then again it wasn't amazing either!<br/>I'd give it another go when the summer menu comes into play. Hopefully with some funky tunes playing next time.

Visited here more than 5 times before reviewing. Highly consistent coffee in superlative surroundings. Excellent service with friendly reception and immediate assistance which continues throughout your stay. Very good selection for tea drinkers. A fine menu. The interior design and fit out harmonises tastefully with the panoramic coastal view. In all aspects, a standard of presentation well above most establishments on this side of town.

I don’t usually go to Cafe’s in East Auckland because I always feel like CBD has a lot more options. However, as my mum wanted us all to have some family time together, I dragged her and my brother to Saint Heliers Bay Cafe & Bistro, which is right by the water front. It must be pretty obvious by now but cafe’s are probably one of my favourite places to visit no matter the occasion. The first thing I noticed was how crowded this place was – even for a Tuesday morning, most of the tables were already full and the place was bustling with people.

This place is crowded everytime I go, for a good reason. The food is excellent! Only issue with the place is the noise making it hard to have a decent conversation.

Beautiful views, exceptionally clean and......Consistently good food, quality ingredients, happy staff who bend over backwards to accommodate your needs. This is a regular post exercise meeting place for my friends and me and the consensus is the food is great but the coffee is served weak....the smallest cup they serve shouldn't have to be "double shot"!! For the sake of five or so coffee beans they could improve this.

Went there for brunch with a friend and must say that the smoked fish (made in house, according to staff) was very good, same for the sorbet.<br/><br/>Price is OK, not as expensive as I expected considering it's in St Heliers and the contemporary decor with beautiful and conform table chairs.<br/><br/><br/>Nice place to have coffee, a meal or drinks with a good view of the beach.

The service here was so excellent but the food was kind of bland and disappointing. I was excited scanning through the menu as everything sounded really promising but the two dishes and the smoothie we got was really flavourless.

It's wonderful.my friends love it. They ordered boths breakfast and lunch for one meal, the size of one plate is great as well, we could try more different choice.

Despite being a busy place, the service here really stands out. Extra attentive and accommodating staff made our short wait worthwhile. We were seated by the window which looked out to the ocean - couldn't be more perfect for a relaxed weekend lunch. <br/><br/>I had the market fish and i was extremely happy with it - seared perfectly and a lovely vinaigrette in the salad made it a light and perky meal. I would totally recommend ordering this one. <br/>As for the lamb dish, the meat was tender but together with the quinoa it ended up tasting a bit bland. On the whole, this place has awesome quality food - worth revisiting for sure.

Being part of cafe and kohi that we didn't realise until we were looking at menu and seen a staff member from kohi we had to try, this group never fails everything they do is AAAA class overall everything is 100% food staff decor etc I'm sure we will be back we always do 😜

Came for lunch. Food was okay. They were happy to adapt most things on there menu to make them gluten free. We waited in my opinion to long to get our drinks. With people receiving theirs before us even though they had ordered after us. Was okay. Not bad, but not amazing either.

Had high expectations coming here as all my friends raved about it. Was really looking forward to it. I ordered a pizetta (more like pizzthetic) for $16. Absolutely ridiculous prices for such an average "pizza. Not to mention it was tasteless. I also had a caramel milkshake and this was so gross I coudlnt finish it. Exceptionally disappointed. Would never come back.

The Crème de la crème of St Heliers 😍. If I'm honest with you all, I've thought about this place for weeks since I was there... it's just so dreamy. A hip group property which definitely holds up to their high standards, there's a reason I always rate them<br/>5/5 😉. Location, location, location, need I say more?? You also get treated like a queen or king here 👸🏼🤴🏼. Keep going you say? Well.. the god damn food 😭😍. Every plate has so much care and love put into it with a large sprinkle of fine dining, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven eating here. Just go, you aren't a true Aucklander if you don't 😘

This place has coffee!

Most pompous and overrated establishment in the area. They believe that they can hype up and poshify their dishes with words in menu descriptions borrowed from Romance languages, which works right up until the actual food is in front of you. Portion sizes are ridiculously small considering the price. Only properly satisfying dish they have is their big breakfast, whatever it's called. Their pizettas are awfully hard, and many children could probably bake something more interesting. Their staff are some of the most condescending people I have ever met. Only saving graces are the modern decor and the view. Please do not fall for the place.

Very disappointed with the experience i had this morning. The service is slack for an off peak hour on a weekday. My empty glass has never been filled up the whole time i had my brunch there. The table and chairs were not properly clean and full of bits and pieces from the previous customers. Ordered the hotcakes which were one of the worst i have ever had. Didn't even finish it and left the restaurant with empty stomach. Will still give it a try next time i am in the area given the high rating, and hope this time is just an unlucky experience.

What an amazing place! Outstanding service and incredibly friendly and polite staff. Not to forget about the food as it was unforgettable. Such a special place. Highly recommend!!!

I rated this restaurant 5 stars previously and had always enjoyed dining there. However after this afternoon's experience, I had to delete my previous comments and change to this!<br/><br/>We walked in late Saturday afternoon hoping for a coffee and snacks. The restaurant was half empty. A female staff were sweeping the floor when we walked in. We were RUSHED to a table and menus were pretty much dumped on the table by the male waiting staff. <br/><br/>Another staff arrived very quickly with water. However I can barely bring myself drinking that water as I can see he was holding the glasses with his fingers INSIDE the glasses. We were rushed and pushed to make orders in the few minutes we sat down. When were approached by the same staff (who served our water) 3 times in 2 minutes asking to take orders, even we clearly told him we need some time to decide. <br/><br/>This staff showed NO respect towards his customers and I don't even think he knows how to serve properly. He had NO idea what it meant by having standard manners. He might have very different values in his own culture, but certainly not the one I know of in NZ. Providing good service to his customer is clearly not a priority to this staff. In fact by the look on his face, he showed no interests working at the restaurant at all. <br/><br/>Also the whole time we sat there, the female staff kept  sweeping the floor around us. The restaurant opens till late and there're absolutely no reason to sweep the floor while your customers were sitting there. All I can see are dust, rubbish and dirt around me. This is extremely off putting! Besides that's an opened area, whatever she sweep out will just get blown right back in.<br/><br/>We walked out in the end with disbelieve! We were thinking "what the hell did we just experienced?" ! It's beyond words and I'm still in shock. I have been here several times during weekdays when they're very busy and each time the service and the food was spot on! I felt like I've been to a completely different restaurant. I would not expect this kind of experience from this restaurant and in this part of Auckland. <br/><br/>As a result of that, I don't think I will be in a hurry returning to this restaurant.

The nicest meal I have had in a very very long time!  Thank you for the delicious lamb, the wonderful dessert and the excellent service.  I cannot fault this restaurant.  I have visited for coffee and lunch in the past but last night was the first time for dinner.  I was not disappointed and will definitely be back.<br/> <br/><br/>$250 for 4 people who had 2 courses each with sides and wine is (in my opinion) very good value - especially when we all walked away raving about the food and service.

Nice brunch with my friend after a walk along missionbay. Good services and atmosphere. I ordered the market fish dish and it was soooo good. My friend had the lamb and she liked it as well. Hope to come along again some time!

You can't really go wrong when visiting any Cafes by the hip-group. Especially St heliers cafe & bistro. Always quick & friendly service, have been multiple times and will definitely be back soon.

My second time here, always enjoy their lovely service - genuine host, friendly staff, very welcoming atmosphere. Great food, definitely recommend their Pizza, perhaps the best I've had in town (thin base with rich flavorous toppings). What's amazing about this place, I think, is you are given a fine dining experience with a homy warm touch.

Stunning views, food and service. I cannot wait to come back!! We didn't have to wait for a table, we were seated right by the window gazing out over the beach and the food was prompt to the table. I ordered the agria galette with bacon and it was scrumptious! The agria galette was soft and flavoursome, the egg was perfectly cooked and so was the bacon. The salted caramel gelato shake was a perfect addition to the meal. Light and creamy and perfectly sweet.

One of the nicest Cafe /Bistro in Auckland loved the atmosphere. Super busy..at dinner but lovely service and amazing food. Highly recommend to all.

Very nice environment to start with, a little bit hidden but it's really nice to be in. Food was amazing, I ordered the lamb and it was so yum. The meat was so tender and risotto was yum. I would love a bit better seasoning but over all awesome experience. My mates ordered burger, pizza, fish and chips and pork. But the lamb was the best dish to stand out. Highly recommended.

Always busy and an improvement on the string of below par St Heliers cafe's/restaurants.<br/><br/>They are well staffed, so despite being busy you will feel well attended to. I would love to rate this place higher, but the food just hasn't quite done it for me. They try and put their own spin on things, generally simple food with a twist (a few weird/gourmet ingredients thrown in maybe), but on the meals I've had it's came up short - the food just hasn't tasted as good it's reputation/prices demand.<br/><br/>I love the building and location. The design and architecture is fantastic.<br/><br/>The other factor dragging this place down, in a BIG way, is the coffee. If they are trying to position themselves as the quality foody/coffee location in the area, there is no excuse for the coffee (the flat whites at least, and also the long blacks/espressos I've had were very poor too) which taste like something I'd feed a toddler (in other words a warm cup of steamed milk). The blend they use (Allpress) doesn't taste that great, then they use a single shot (at least they charge me extra if I ask for a double!), and make it way too frothy and milky.  Maybe, when I was 3 and liked flavorless milk drinks, I would of liked their coffee; as it stands their coffee is worse than the typical coffee you can get from a service station, or a pod machine at home.<br/><br/>Too much trying to be cool and hip, but not enough focus on making the food and coffee actually taste exceptional! Almost there, but not quite.

No cafe is ever going to satisfy everyone, but I'd say this cafe is pretty perfect. Judging from how busy the place is, St Heliers Bar and bistro maintains a consistently top notch cafe experience and they are generous with their staff numbers who are well trained- they make sure the customers are enjoying their meal without being overbearing. <br/><br/>One of my all time favourites has to be the market fish, which they slightly vary every now and then. The duck fat potato are consistently good, buttery and crispy. I've had minor issues but honestly, I can't fault the cafe. The owners are just very passionate people who know good food and a good cafe experience and I wish them well in all their future ventures.

Shocked. Amazing looking place, nice atmosphere but was charged $9 for the most horrible iced mocha ever. :-( Was almost room temperature and had nothing worth $9 about it. Couldn't believe I paid so much.

My second burger adventure in Auckland. The recommendation came from a website claiming a definitive list of the best burgers here. There was some pressure with this pick. I was at a trade show, where I was talking up my burger knowledge with a fellow exhibitor. Best way to get a burger eating companion when travelling OS alone. We headed out with much anticipation.

Beautiful view and gorgeous staff. Although it's a busy cafe, you still feel you are well looked after. Had brunch, market fish was fresh and crispy on the outside, hubby had wagyu burger, the bun was soft,beef patty was tender and the whole burger was easy to bite into(most cafe brioche buns look shiny and lovely but let's be honest it's nearly impossible to consume the burger as a whole). House soda was reasonably priced but way too sweet for me, we end up mixing complementary sparkling water with the soda and squeezing the whole wedge of lemon in the drink, which turned out much better tastewise. Also we ordered cabinet dessert, how nice you don't have to wait in a crowd to get a treat from Milse!

Nice dishes n good customer service by a French waiter. Love the chocolate tart for dessert :) Definitely gonna come back to try the lunch next time

Came here a couple of weeks ago for a date night. Seated almost immediately and by the window overlooking the bay which was a surprise because they were so busy! Service was amazing throughout the night and water etc was always topped up. I ordered the parpadelle which was absolutely amazing! A well balanced dish with a perfect flavour combination and perfect pasta that wasn't too heavy or thick. My boyfriend ordered the lamb which he also said was amazing. Highly reccomend the salted caramel gelato if your looking for a sweet treat to end the night! Overall A for service and A for food, would definately go back for round two!

I went to St Heilers Bay Cafe & Bistro for the second time in December and was once again very happy with my dining experience. Cafe's in Auckland can be very hit and miss; in terms of service and food presentation. Personally, when dining out for breakfast/brunch I am looking for that extra finesse that cannot be so easily recreated at home and St Helier Bay Cafe definitely delivers this. There are the standard breakfast menu options on the menu, but cooked and presented in a modern way. I ordered the Agria galette, poached eggs, hollandaise which was delicious with a side of hand cut chips and aioli. A glass of Bollinger went down nicely as well! The service at St Heliers Bay Cafe is really good, the cafe always seems to be quite busy but the waitstaff are attentive and the food arrived quickly. The cafe interior is modern and open with a nice view of the beach. This is now my go-to place for a cafe breakfast/lunch.

I've been here a few times now and always love the food! Great location being right on the waterfront and I love the floor to ceiling, glass windows to enjoy the views. <br/><br/>Same vibe and I think the same owner to places like Rosie and Takapuna Beach Cafe - which are all on trend. I ordered the chicken cotoletta and my friends ordered the lamb. Everything tastes really fresh and healthy, I did prefer the lamb to the chicken as it had more flavour! Portion size, it was perfect for me being a small girl, but if your extra hungry I'd recommend ordering a few side dishes as well. <br/><br/>The cabinet food and gelato also looked amazing, I'll definately be back!

Lovely staff<br/>Usually very busy so quite a wait for food<br/>Their duck fat potatoes were very yum but pizzas were quite different to what we imagined! Very healthy 😂<br/>Right by the beach area so a very lovely location<br/>Perfect for a weekend drove through mission bay and a food stop here :)<br/>A tad pricey but worth it

Heard amazing things about this place so though I would check it out. <br/><br/>When arriving we were greeted nicely - the place was packed but the guy told us it would be 10 min wait. We were seated on the waiting table they gave us menus and water while we were waiting. Like I said it was super busy and yet they gave us the best service from the beginning most places would just forget about you but the staff here are super friendly and well trained. <br/><br/>Food was soooo good I got the Waygu burger (3/5 of us did) and we all like it and really enjoyed our food. <br/><br/>Would recommended this place to my friends and family 👍🏻

This is my first visit with my partner. Very nice ambience. Staff are very professional and deliver outstanding service - couldn't even tell that they work there because it seems like they are enjoying themselves which is nice to see.<br/>Food was EXCELLENT - Definitely recommend the slow roast lamb, it was so tender and flavoursome. On the other hand, the duck fat potatoes was so delicious and roasted to perfection! We'll definitely be coming back for dinner sometime and look forward to try the panna cotta 😋<br/><br/>Second visit: Got the smoked fish pizetta for entree and it was lovely. The pizetta was very thin and crispy. <br/>Mains - I got the confit duck which was just outstanding. Everything on the plate just went well together and I wish I had more !! My partner got the fish of the day and he really enjoyed it. <br/>Dessert - Finally got to try the lemon balm panacotta and it was AMAZING! Nothing to fault, it had a nice creamy and smooth texture and it's hands down the best pannacotta I have ever tasted. <br/>The only downside were the cocktails - the first one I got which was the Citrus Blossom just tasted like orange juice. However, I do recommend the second one I tried which was the passionfruit mojito.

One of my favourite restaurants! Never ever fails to satisfy the cravings I have. Beautiful food and excellent service 👌🏼👌🏼 the prefect place to catch up with friends

Know this restaurant from Zomato.Found out is the same as Takapuna Beach Cafe. Cheaper price with more variety of choice. But if you like fish and chips you can go to Takapuna Beach Cafe. Bigger portion.

Very hipsterish place with a great view and a nice ambience. <br/><br/>Service was attentive and food was amazing. The pizzetta with mozzarella, mushroom, watercress was just doughy goodness. Pillowy soft flat bread with stringy mozzarella and mushrooms that is packed with flavour. <br/><br/>For main my favourite is the pappardelle, courgette, macadamia, feta. Classic summer flavours - tangy and very tasty. <br/>The pappardelle was cooked al dente and along side the courgette was an interesting difference. The feta tied it all together and gave the dish just the richness you need. <br/><br/>The confit duck leg, green peas, fregola was yummy too. Unfortunately I did find the duck a tad too salty and wish there was a bit more green peas purée and fregola to go with it and rebalance the flavours but as a whole it's a great dish. And it seemed every second dish that came out of the kitchen was the duck confit!<br/><br/>My least favourite was the shorthorn brisket, white beans, summer greens. It's still good for what it is but it is not usually a cut of meat that I like to order. flavours wise it had just the night amount of flavour slow cooked into the beef and the salad that went with it balanced the heaviness of the beef. <br/><br/>Lastly we ordered the duck fat potatoes and that's a good side to have.

I love going to St Heliers cafe as its location is stunning! One of our favourite spots for a girls' brunch. The food is great and the service is great. The only downside is that everytime we go we feel a bit pressured to leave (due to being super busy all the time).

Another to add to the Hip group collection- St Heliers cafe achieves the same standard of quality as its sister cafes. I like the location of this particular cafe because when wait times are long (as they often are in summer) you can hang out at the beach across the road. Lovely high ceilings and tall windows, adds a summery feel to this modern chic cafe. I would say however, that the cafe is a little cramped, with small tables too close together, and no outdoor dining which would be nice at a beach. <br/><br/>The menu isn't as extensive as some of the other Hip group eateries, but again comes with all the usual unique food items and flavour combinations. We had the smashed eggs, the eggs bene, and the courgette omelette. The smoothies aren't all that flavour-full here, but the milkshakes are just delicious! Would recommend the double chocolate milkshake. Good service and prices are on the upper end.<br/><br/>Overall, a chic cafe to enjoy a summers meal in. Would recommend a visit, but perhaps not worth an extremely long wait during peak dining times.. Although if you were willing, no where better to wait than the beach!

Love this place for weekend lunches! The oysters are some of the best and most fresh that I've tasted in a restaurant! They had a good selection of wine to match and an awesome atmosphere with attentive staff and right across from the beach so you have amazing views to match!

Attended this cafe around 2 pm for a late lunch with my family, it was around a ten minute wait for a table, which was not too long but after getting put at the wrong table and then being moved to a table equally as small (one small table for four people) which also had a wobble which cause us to take matters into our own hands and fold up a slip of paper and use that to stop our food from wobbling off the table! But I ordered the fish and chips, which was good, the fish wasn't incredibly fresh but the chips were delicious, I also ordered the vanilla and malt smoothie which was also delicious but quite small in size, finally for dessert I ordered the rhubarb sundae which was absolutely delightful and the vanilla ice-cream on top added to the scrumptious taste.

The food here is good - fresh, original and well-cooked.  If you're looking for a cafe with a different and interesting menu, this is the place to go.  With great big windows letting in plenty of natural light and wonderful views of the beach, this place is really great on a sunny day.  We enjoyed our meals and I like they have a good range of non-alcoholic drinks as well.<br/><br/>Although it has a kids' menu, this place isn't all that kid friendly - they don't have high chairs if you have a toddler with you.  Although the staff were mostly efficient, with the exception of one of the men, we found that the other wait staff weren't particularly friendly and it took us a little while to flag one down to take our order.<br/><br/>Overall, a mostly pleasant experience though, and it helps that this place has amazing gelato if you just want to grab a treat to have while relaxing at the beach!

Love where this restaurant is located. It's so nice in summer with the big windows open and the view of the sea and nice breeze🌤 The food feels very healthy and fresh, but there is not a variety of food choice on the menu but overall still good👍 (the espresso and vanilla gelato dessert .. Love it!)

Recently this cafe was rated as having the 3rd best burger in Auckland so we thought we'd try it !! <br/><br/>It has a casual atmosphere with great views of the harbour. The staff are great, helpful and attentive. If I was being a fussy tart the only thing I dislike was how the chairs scrape on the tiles.<br/><br/>Cocktails are different and awesome !!! <br/>Burger was great very balanced not over powered and tender as ! Delicious! !!!! <br/><br/>If you feel like a relaxing evening, delicioys dinner and yummy cocktails then it's a must ☺

The place was full, but I didn't have to wait for long to sit. All the staffs are friendly and have good manner. The food is normal, taste good. And also the good view from restaurant is the supporting factor.

The pizetta... Omg... I could be happy with two as my dinner haha!<br/><br/>The food, service and ambiance are all great here! We came here on a Saturday night and it was busy! We ended up sitting closer to the kitchen on a shared table where we were happy to stay - they made sure to ask if we wanted a seat when it became free :) <br/><br/>The mushroom pizetta was absolutely hands down my favourite ! The lasagnette was less than satisfying but for a vegetarian is probably a good options. I would've appreciated more carbs on the dish though. My friend got the burger which was good but nothing special. The pie coming out of the fire looked soooo good though so we're definitely coming back to try it. <br/><br/>The gelato was only 3 scoops for $9 - salted caramel is my favourite ! The vanilla honeycomb and coconut chocolate are good as well. The coconut isn't very strong in the gelato so it was good for me since I'm not too much of a coconut fan. <br/><br/>We got the panacotta which was amazing when all ingredients were together :) <br/><br/>I've also had lunch here where I got their interpretation of a big breakfast which wasn't so good a lot of meat cooked well but the rosti was more like a potato stack so it was really disappointing and just felt like i would expect more than other cafes. Again my friend got the burger which was good but again nothing special. <br/><br/>I would still come back and recommend St Heliers Bay cafe :)

Was in St Heliers with one of my friends during the day today so we decided to pop into this neat complex. She had seen photos on Instagram before and said that the food and place looked really good - so we googled and decided to give it a go. <br/><br/>We walked in and it was buzzing. It was around 3ish so seemed as though it is quite busy pretty much all day round! There were a lot of people catching up for meetings and a couple of people having a glass of wine or 2. <br/><br/>As soon as we walked in a table freed up for us to relax at and we were quickly handed a glass of water and menus. My friend and I had just walked up to St Heliers Point lookout so we were in need of something refreshing and the smoothies looked enticing! We both ended up ordering the rhubarb and vanilla smoothie - such a good choice, it was amazing! 👌🏽 Our waiter was very good with selling the food on the menu and talked us into getting the hand cut fries as well! Another good choice though as they came with roasted garlic aioli on the side - the best I have ever tried. It was literally to die for! <br/><br/>We both said that we would definitely be coming back to this place, with all our friends, for a bigger meal! It was a good way to end the afternoon.

Immaculate establishment that sets the standard in fine dining, the view from this place is amazing! The eggs benedict and salmon I had here were magnificent! the staff were friendly and very much attentive! wonderful spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner! #g1

It's a really busy and nice cafe. Love the food and environment here ♥️ Staff are really friendly. I've got Egg Benedict with smoke salmon. It tasted so goooood. I think it's one of the best Egg Benedict I've had. Two other friends ordered the maker fish, bacon & sausage and they were all really happy with their choice. <br/>Overall: 4.5/5 (bonus: it's at beautiful location, right by the beach 👌)

Met my friend here this morning. Luckily already had a table by the window. Seating a little too cramped for my liking but you got used to it.<br/>My friend had the porridge with the rhubarb and chose the hotcakes with apple and toffee sauce. Not sure the sauce was a sauce. More like a sugar syrup. Also the apples tasted like they were out of a tin, but tasty nonetheless. I found the breakfast pretty average but couldn't fault the service. Considering it was father's day it was pretty busy but service was excellent. Sparkling water constantly served.

Went there this morning for brunch with my best friend from welly. I had the granola with the poached pear and a flat white. It was a nice light and delicious start to the day. The ambience in the restaurant is always very vibrant.

One of Auckland's lovely new delights. The interior design is great and the service is outstanding. Attentive, friendly patient staff real enhance the wonderful experience. The good comes quickly, and sparkling water is constantly topped up. The granola is amazing 8/10 and I would definitely recommend it. #yum

Came here recently for brunch and was overly impressed but thought I'd give dinner a go... Much better! Monday night, restaurant was about half full and we had an awesome seat by the window looking over St Heliers. Had a lovely glass of red (good wine list) and the lasagnette for main. Was a vegetarian dish recommended by our awesome waitress and it didn't disappoint. Gorgeous fresh pasta with kale - so fresh, just lovely. Trusted the waitresses recommendation for dessert too and ordered the chocolate tart with poached pear. Not something I'd normally order but one of the best desserts I've had in a long time. My friend had a hot chocolate that you can see in the pics which looked pretty special too! Can't stress how fantastic and friendly the service was!

Love this cafe! Service has been brilliant every time I've been and the meals are always excellent. Love the atmosphere and friendly staff. The images are from two separate occasions. <br/><br/>The first time I went, I ordered the eggs benedict which was so tasty and filling. The next time I went I ordered the mushrooms and eggs and it was an equally tasty and filling dish. Highly recommend both meals. <br/><br/>The set up is fresh and modern which is super appealing, and has a wonderful view. The only downside is that it is extremely popular and there can sometimes be a slight wait for a table but it is normally not long. <br/><br/>Would love to come back again to try more of the sweet dishes on the menu!

This seems to be an 'in' place at the moment and came with good recommendations. I had the hot cakes with apple and salted toffee sauce - the latter of which I barely tasted, let alone saw. The Mascarpone on top did make up for this though, but the meal didn't quite stack up to the race reviews.

Yummy! Good atmosphere and good food! My partner ordered the smoked fish and i got the smashed eggs. The combination in our food sounded a bit odd but after we have our food, we had no complaints. It suprisingly worked well. We also ordered a small pizza to share. By the end of it. We were satisfied and full!

Great Sunday brunch to start the day. We were a group of 4 adults and a 7-month old and though it was very crowded the morning we went - they managed to accommodate for space with a carriage and seated us within a 20-minute window!<br/><br/>Waitresses were patient when I asked multiple times about which items could be made nut/peanut free- it can be a bit deterring to ask on busy mornings when you see waitresses stressed running around- but they took the time- thanks!<br/><br/>I ordered the wagyu burger which wasn't particularly jumping with 'difference' to other burgers I've had but the fresh cut fries were well seasoned. My 3 friends were happy with their choices but not jumping! <br/><br/>The restaurant itself is a pretty sight overlooking the beach! Great assortment of take out items as well! Will come back to try on a less busy morning! <br/><br/>Peanut-Nut Friendliness: - YES - Extra points for patience with my questions! !<br/>Environment: 6.5/10<br/>Taste: 6/10

Weekday brunch siting by the window overlooking the bay with coffee and the paper is probably one of the best spots in Auckland... and a completely spoilt way to start any day!<br/><br/>The menu is really fresh and bright - brimming with great seasonal combinations - brussel sprouts (I know - not everyone can do a brussel sprout) broccolini, tossed in butter and almonds with 'smashed' eggs on top - It was really a wonderful 'winter' version of a salad.<br/><br/>Agria potatoes layered with bacon then eggs and topped with a perfect hollandaise - again a winter version of eggs 'bene'.  Really felt seasonal versions of brunch.

I've visited a few times for a quick ice-cream stop while at the beach; the flavours are true to the names and so delicious, while the texture is always very creamy and smooth. I love the location of the cafe, and it's so nice to sit by the open windows on a warm summers day. As with the other HIP group restaurants, their service is always very professional & friendly, but they do have the option to add a tip at the till, so sometimes it can be a little bit intense..!<br/><br/>Sarah Reynolds #challenge

Oh how I love this place ! The food is beautiful and seasonal the view is great it never fails to disappoint. I've brunched here more than once on a Sunday morning with my girlfriends and everything always sounds amazing, looks amazing and more importantly taste amazing. The coffee is always great too! Would highly recommend for a Sunday brunch catch up with the girls

Mmmm the hip group know how to do cafes right! It's on the expensive side, however your paying for quality food and service! I never leave disappointed. There is an art to great scrambled eggs, and St Heliers Bay Bistro have it mastered! Highly recommend. Great for Sunday brunch, however I must warn that it's popular, so it may take a while to be seated.

Good food, great,stylish fitout and yummy food.the sparking water is a nice touch! Great menu selection! Like many of its sister restaurants (Rosie and Takapuna Beach Cafe) it's a stylish venue! Only quam is the number of people that are crammed into and inside space in winter. Great tho and a purge cut breakfast or lunch choice -best of the bays!<br/><br/>

Always delivers good food and a great environment. Definitely recommended, get their apple and rhubarb crumble and their affogato, it was delicious.

The best thing about this place is the staff. So professional yet so friendly at the same time. Such a great location<br/>Oh and then theres the food! Such a great selection and great flavours! Loved the lamb Pizzette<br/>And then theres the cake deli... the jam doughnut WOW love love love<br/><br/>you must try this place

This was my second visit to St. Heliers Cafe & Bistro - after a fairly average first experience, I decided to give this place another chance. Sadly it was an overall disappointment, particularly in comparison to their sister store, Ortolana, which I had a delightful visit to last week. <br/><br/>Service upon arriving at the restaurant was great - the waiter was attentive and immediately brought us to our table. The atmosphere in the restaurant is nice, with soft lighting and blankets too. I did feel however that the tables weren't spaced apart very well and it was not much fun when one table next to us decided to watch YouTube videos while the other chatted on her cellphone. <br/><br/>Things went downhill when I asked about the vegan offerings - I don't think this place should have "vegan and vegetarian friendly" listed in its highlights! I was told that the ONLY thing on the menu that I could have as a vegan option was the beetroot salad minus the feta - I had this dish at my last visit and found it less than impressive, so I declined this and asked the waiter to ask the chef what would be arranged. He came back and forth, told me to "make up what I wanted out of ingredients on the menu," and made me feel rather awkward about my dietary requirements. Not that he even really seemed to know what "vegan" meant - "do you eat dairy?" He was a lovely guy but just really wasn't too skilled with his job. <br/><br/>Eventually I managed to order a salad with roasted potatoes, brussels sprouts, broccolini and some very odd looking (i.e. black) walnuts on a pumpkin puree. It was very dry and incredibly bland tasting - something I could easily make at home for a fraction of the price (it was $22). <br/><br/>My partner ordered the beer-battered fish and chips, and comments "their version at creating flair with this dish was adding a lump of dry coleslaw on the side." <br/><br/>This joint really needs to work on becoming more veggie-friendly and seasoning their food properly. <br/><br/>Not somewhere I am likely to return to for dinner.<br/><br/>Overall: <br/>Food: 2/5<br/>Service: 2/5<br/>Value: 2/5<br/><br/>Instagram: @recoveringraw

I come here nearly 5 days a week.. The service is second to none... They are really friendly... The food is just amazing... They really care about you and how you feel... I have been to every single cafe in St heilers and mission Bay.... Look no further... You have found your utopia... The only problem is that when you try another place to eat at... You always comparing it to this place...

Went on a Saturday afternoon for coffee with friends. Coffee was really good! Service was good and was to nice to have sparkling water, staff also really onto it with re filling - would definitely come back!

Great place I go there every day for coffee and pastries the staff is very friendly.<br/>I recommend this place to anyone. <br/>When you are in St Heliers that's the place to go. Nowhere else in St Heliers <br/>

Perfect Saturday brunch, even on a rainy day. Not the best for kids but faultless food and coffee. Would definitely come back. Even had Almond Milk for my dairy-free toddler!

Great place great food amazing service<br/><br/>Pros:<br/>Location - 10/10<br/>Food is yum<br/>GELATO IS THE BEST <br/>Gelato > Food (sorry)<br/>Service is amazing<br/>Sparkling water <br/>Don't have to wait that long<br/>Prices are worth it<br/>WiFi<br/>Good for breakfast<br/>They open the door for you  <br/><br/>Cons:<br/>Seats and tables are slightly small and cramped ( if you're big )<br/>Tables are obnoxiously close making it awkward when you eat (e.g. someone stares at you as you eat)<br/>Limited Menu

I love st heliers cafe and bistro!<br/>The food is always delicious and fresh. <br/><br/>You can honestly taste the quality ingredients they use. There is always a perfect balance between the flavours of the meat, veggies and sauce. It's never over powering !<br/><br/>If you're feeling extra hungry I recommend the duck fat potatoes to share or a small pizza to share!

Fantastic food, well priced. The presentation and care in presentation is certainly noticed. Service staff very attentive and patient and would highly recommend.

Just love everything about this place! <br/>Have been in for both lunch and dinner and have never been disappointed.<br/>Well thought out set up with a nice ambiance. Lovely quality decor which often gives that cosy feeling but still manages to give the professional feel too.<br/>As for food- always perfect both sweets and mains! <br/>Their market fish dish is always lovely for dinner.<br/>For brunch, we normally grab the pancakes or order from the cabinet which is surprisingly still fresh. Coffee is consistent and up to standards.<br/>Service is 5 star. Attentive, polite and professional. Hard to find this whole combination! <br/>

This is our local- great coffee ( as per the store in Kohi) amazing selection of food, love having a sneaky vino with lunch when coming here plus there take away selection is good to get a sneaky brioche in the side <br/>

this place is amazing. the interior is warm, inviting and the ambience is perfect. the iced mocha was great as well. i loved how it was customisable — you could add as much coffee or milk as you wanted. the hot cakes were fluffy and the flavours mixed well together. aaaaargh!!! definitely coming back here again.

Very disappointing.... The smashed eggs were a big let down.. Two tiny eggs on a bed of lettuce with some beans and zucchini. It was plain and boring..It was drowning in dressing but lacked any flavour.. The portion size did not justify the price.. <br/>The atmosphere was nice and looked inviting, but the menu did not compliment it at all. We will not return..

Lovely cafe by the beach. Service was excellent and the juices were lovely. The handkerchief pasta with zucchini, asparagus, feta and pine nuts was a standout and a beautiful light dish for summer. A definite local favourite on this visit to auckland.

Wow! What a cafe. Great staff topped off with excellent good and not bad coffee. Well done.

Starting the New Year how I mean to go on, I decided to drag myself out of bed last Saturday morning to join my sister on a run around the bays. <br/><br/>We ended up at St. Heliers which is a lovely suburb to be in in the morning. But I think it's best appreciated sitting in St. Heliers Bay Cafe and Bistro being poured their very own sparkling water with a view of waves lapping the shoreline. <br/><br/>We were stopping in to get a healthy juice or smoothie mid-run but I couldn't help myself ordering one of their sliders and a cinnamon brioche...oops. <br/><br/>In my defence I picked up a healthy juice as well. <br/><br/>The juices had a smooth texture and were very refreshing. I'd recommend trying out a couple of the flavours as there are a few to choose from and they were reasonably priced as well. <br/><br/>The Slider was egg which I'm not generally a fan of but this was good. Nothing out standing but the price wasn't ether so no complaints. <br/><br/>I would closely compare the cinnamon brioche to the one I had at Cafe on Kohi which is a compliment. Both soft and sugary! <br/><br/>This place has the sophisticated, modern vibe down to a tee. Although it's a bit out of the way for me, the beach view and excellent service is worth coming back for!

Mmmm. Gorgeous view, better menu. Yay for the fish and chips - chunky wedge style potatoes, fresh sea food. Reasonably priced. I liked the presentation too. Batter on the fish was not too oily, sufficiently crisp - well salted but not overwhelmingly so :) I can't wait to try more.

Generous portions and fantastic coffee, the view is lovely too. Great breakfast spot, eggs benedict and pancakes in the morning is the way to go, shame about the delicate wobbly tables.

Today I came here with my sister for brunch. It wasn't busy (being a Tuesday morning) and we got greeted and seated immediately. <br/>I ordered the 7 seed granola and house hot chocolate and my sister ordered the hot cakes and iced mocha. I was pleasantly surprised to find out they had a big range of different milk, so I chose to have almond milk! My granola was awesome! It was crunchy and the rhubarb and yoghurt that came with it was delicious. The hot cakes were also delicious. The pear and mascarpone that came with was so good. They were also perfect sizes! The drinks were also really nice. I love having deconstructed drinks so points for that!<br/>The food, service and atmosphere were all great, I can't wait to go back.

Great location looking out over the water at St Heliers, nicely laid out with seating and an internal courtyard where you can wait and order cabinet food to takeaway. Even though the cafe was chock full we didn't have to wait long for our buzzer to go off. Table size was a bit small, but then it's probably necessary considering how popular it is here, and did I mention how amazing the cabinet food / desserts and gelato looked! I had the smoked fish omelette which I couldn't fault (although I don't think it's necessary to serve omelette with toasted bread), and the service was super friendly, so can definitely recommend this cafe!

I've had breakfast an lunch here numerous times because it's a great place to eat! The menu has lots of very good food, you really can't go wrong with any choice and the coffee is good. It deserves its reputation as one of Auckland's best.

What bumps this cafe up that little more for me is the location and design. It's a delightful view of the waterfront, especially if the weather is being kind and the modern, comfortable interior gives it that feel of sophistication while dining. Food is simply yum, with prices and portion sizes fair - bacon was in the right amount unlike other places that often skimp out, I also like the different combinations offered on the pizzettas. Service good, with a lovely atmosphere, what's not to like.

Food outstanding - Coffee poor.<br/><br/><br/>We stopped in for Sunday brunch. The wait wasn't long for a table. We ordered the smoked fish omelette a clear 5/5. I enjoyed every mouthful. My wife had the hot cakes. She loved them. Coffees were a bit of a let down. Her small flat white coffee was incredible weak. 1/5. We let the wait staff know and they proceeded to explain with excuses. "It's weaker because it's one shot. Would you like two shots?"  Actually it was very milky and clearly the barista was out of their depth. It tasted like a 1/4shot. My large coffee was better but not great. 2.5/5. My wife explained to the waiter that the problem was not a single shot. She's a top barista. She said it's just weak. No offer of a replacement coffee. My wife didn't finish her coffee. When we paid we let the person taking the payment know. They asked what was wrong with the coffee and again we explained and again no offer to drop the price, or no apology just an acknowledgment of our comments. <br/><br/>So why the 4.0. Well the smoked fish omelette was an easy 5. My wife rated the hotcakes highly. The coffee and response to customer complaints is weak. We've had coffee here previously and it was fine. If we get another dud coffee we'll probably bail on the place for a while. Oh and definitely send it straight back.

The Hip Group brings St Heliers Bay Cafe & Bistro. This place is a winner! My cousin and I dined here for lunch. <br/><br/>The decor is beautiful. Its very modern but warming at the same time. All though there a lot of tables and all quite close to one another it's not too over bearing. This place is done right. The food was delicious and those fries, so yum! The one little let down was that my fish was slightly over cooked, but I was too hungry at the time to send it back, however they were happy to take constructive criticism when I mentioned it after the meal.<br/><br/>You get an awesome view of the water whilst you eat and are served by lovely people. If you are in a rush they also have a takeout menu on side. Def recommend and come for a visit! Good food, value and service!

The most variable restaurant I've ever visited. From the time it first opened my wife and I have been regulars, averaging around 2 visits a month. Even so, no one ever recognises us and welcomes us back, even after spending over $700 on a lunch there once, then dining there the very next day.<br/>However I can say that the food is fairly consistent and the house wines always good. Service can vary but mostly it's very good.<br/>A little crowded and noisy at times.<br/>Worth considering though.

I agree with other people that there seems to be ongoing issues here in relation to the balance between style and substance. Well-presented wait staff are never likely to be the deciding factor in the overall experience. I went for lunch this week with a friend and was more than happy to pay decent money for a good quality experience. Sadly, the meals were disappointing. I gave half my lamb - slow cooked and tasty but insufficient moistness in the pumpkin purée and chickpeas made it too dry a combination to really enjoy) - to my friend who had chosen the beetroot and feta salad. This tasted good at first, but at $22, it was largely just beet root, with a few meagre crumbs of feta. Underwhelming, to say the least. The service was attentive, but still a few unnecessary slip ups. Stylish for sure, but only average food wise.

Its always good to hear from locals when reviewing restaurants and locals we are. We love this place and frequent it from dawn (after morning run or swim) to dusk (catching up with friends, family, work colleagues). We love the staff, the coffee the sparkling water, bar selection and menu. Its great bistro food, always fresh and well presented without being fussy. Favourites include the lamb, pine nut and tomato pizzetta as a starter and the lamb shoulder with labneh sultanas and lentils as a main. Finishing dinner with affogato is never a bad move. If there is a wait for dinner, enjoy a craft beer or prosecco at the in-house bar and enjoy the magnificent view and ambience, or as an alternative, take your lobster buzzer and wait at another bar or on the beach until you are buzzed for your table. This place outshines anything else the bay has to offer.

Great food and friendly attentive service.. Love your entrees, the breads were very tasty and a real surprise. First time visit to this lovely little Cafe and it certainly won't be the last. The lamb shoulder was excellent, the best I've experienced in a long time.. Cooked to juicy perfection and topped off with a harmonic blend of fresh and subtle flavours.. Another highlight for me was the Hallertau Pale Ale Number 2 beer.. wow.. that is awesome.. I'm planning to visit the brewery in the near future.. Thanks guys, great job, impressed.

We have enjoyed the Bistro since it opened as well as Cafe Kohi and the cafe in Takapuna, staff and food 1st class. However, last night we went down for supper and were greeted by a very pleasant young man who told us there was a wait. He thought about 30 minutes so we decided to stay, he was true to his word and it was just under the time he had said when we sat down. We ordered and received our starter very promptly but then had to wait an hour and still no sign of our mains. We told our waitress who apologised profusely but still no mains course. We then noticed people around us who had not been there long getting their meals and told another member of staff. Eventually a female who appeared to be management and rather unpleasant brought our meals and made a sarcastic comment of "have you been waiting"!!!!! There was no attempt of an apology from her and her attitude suggested she couldn't care less.<br/>On leaving my husband told the young gentleman who was extremely apologetic and said he would report the incident. Will we be back, not sure, as the menu is very limited and seldom changed plus the attitude of one member of staff is appalling, for one who seems to be in a managerial position.

A friend and I eat here for lunch recently. I have been to the other cafes in this chain before and always have been impressed by the staff and the individual attention and friendliness that is given. But a packed out restaurant does not mean that the food is fabulous. Expectations are very high now for restaurants to give us something a little different with the wow factor, because we are now cooking very nice food for ourselves at home in the style and quality of recipes from Jamie, Libby Weaver and Nadia Lim. It is so easy to be disappointed now when eating out.<br/>Why are places so stingy with vegetables? I want to see and taste zingy crunchy vegetables, mixed with fresh herbs and made in house dressings; colour, texture, crunch and innovation (how about spiraled carrots).<br/>The fresh squeezed juice was served in a cold glass but the juice was warmish having just come out of the juicer. A bit of ice would have helped. The chicken liver pizette was different but the livers were dry and there was just a sprinkling of micro-greens on top. At least they weren't those ghastly stringy pea-shoot things that get stuck in your teeth and throat that I've had at Ortolana. <br/>The chips and agria potatoes were good and generous.<br/>I feel this is a place for people to be seen with the food not so important.

Meet and Greet, sparkling water - Great!<br/>BUT the food far below par!<br/>The smallest menu in town.<br/>Fish and Chips, Burger and Chips, Pork dish.....<br/>I selected the pork dish.<br/>What a disappointment!!!! Dry as.... Tasted like cardboard!<br/>My wife had the Burger.<br/>Just another disappointment. No lettuce, no tomato, no nothing but yesterdays bun.<br/>We are local, but we will never be back.<br/>(And of course will tell our friends about this bad experience)<br/>What a disappointing evening.<br/>Desert was pony camp food.<br/><br/>BUT the service was great!

Excellent spot for waterside dining, either a lighter fare to a great meal....From the table service with complimentary sparkling water to marvelous fish dishes with lovely veggie presentations, this is a treasure on Mission Bay where the real estate values can overshadow the quality of restaurant dining...Definitely will be a regular there.

Popped in on the weekend for a coffee and brioche to take away. Service at the counter was lovely and friendly. A bit of a wait for coffee, which was fine given how crazy busy the cafe was. Just a shame the coffee I was handed was luke warm and the brioche i asked to be heated was cold. I could have complained and asked for another coffee and for the brioche to be heated, however the place was so busy, and I didn't have time to wait around for another hot coffee to be made. A cafe that can't get the basics right really needs to lift its game given the competition in the area. I may give it another shot if I'm in St Heliers again and won't write this place off just yet, but disappointing visit thus far.

Went to St Heliers Cafe and Bistro for dinner tonight. Fantastic food and wine and a very good waiter. The fish of the day was Blue Nose which was cooked to perfection and we also had the lamb which was easy to pull apart and cooked and presented beautifully. The desert menu is highly recommended. A great night out and very reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

My wife, son and I went there today for lunch. We got there early so no wait but it quickly filled up. The food was very tasty - My wife and I had the market fish which was pan fried Hapuka with the skin on, served on Pearl Barley. The fish was delicious and had a very nice green pea reduction with incorporated flavours of mint and lemon, that was drizzled around the outside of the plate. It seemed to complement the fish very well. My son had the Fish and Chips which he enjoyed. We also ordered a side of the Agria fries which were very good. Once it got busy though the service did slow down a fair bit. We all had a Pear and Hazelnut pie with Mascapone for dessert. Overall we were very happy with the food but would recommend you get here early. We intend to return to try some of the other offerings on the menu.

Me and my family decided to check this place after reading the review in metro. We drove down from shore, but the host was very rude. She seemed to be not wanting us their. We left without eating.....I won't recommend St Heliers Cafe to anyone.

Friendly staff, excellent service . Food was average, lacked seasoning ( we nearly used the whole dish of salt ) .

Changed our mind about this place. Duty manager/maitre d not professional with dealing, kept telling us it is ok to eat pink chicken and that's the way it is cooked and the meat itself is naturally pink even after cooking. Sadly the other dish - hamburger is lacking in seasoning and tasted bland. We were blamed for making one of the wait staff upset with our initial complain hence I deemed this very unprofessional and uncalled for. Again, eateries should always bare in mind that some of your customers are in the hospitality industry themselves and would have firsthand knowledge on appropriate and professional complains dealing.

Terrible service!!!<br/>We were at the Bistro on Sunday afternoon with a group of 8 and were given the full menu while waiting for our table. We all agreed the menu looked good so decided to eat there. <br/>When we were seated we were given a smaller snack menu and were informed that is all they have at that time. We questioned the waitress about this menu and the limited availability of items on it. She was unbelievably rude to us and spoke to us like we were idiots. We couldn't believe how blatantly rude she was when we only asking reasonable questions about what was available and at what time! We were shocked and embarrassed and ruined the experience.<br/>I am really disappointed as I used to like this place.

My self and 3 friends went there for brunch. Great place - very busy but the staff were so onto it. The food was fab and the portions generous. The waiter was very attentive and entertaining. We will be back !

I am a local and have been a fan of St Heliers Bistro from the beginning. ...However - my last visit in early June was disappointing.<br/>The eggs benedict was still perfectly flavoured and balanced but half the size of previous visits.<br/>Obvious cost cutting and defensive waiting staff is hopefully a one off. <br/>The view,the atmosphere,the interiors and excellent Maitre D's still top class. The kitchen needs to pull its socks up to match.

I know this place is busy, but having to wait outside in the cold and rain mid June is pushing it a little. It would be nice to to be able to book a table if you have 4 or more so that you are not 'literally' left standing out in the cold with friends and family. <br/><br/>The smoked fish was on the bland side and the pulled pork burger is missing a 'wow' factor. However, mostly an enjoyable meal with great service which was nice and prompt.<br/><br/>A booking system for group diners would allow for a more pleasant experience - at least for busy times or winter.

St Heliers Cafe &amp; Bistro has become a new regular of mine. From the excellent food, to stunning views and great staff, if you are in St Heliers for a meal, look no further. For brunch I would highly recommend their Fried agria &amp; caramelised onion hash with rocket &amp; a poached egg. Simply delish!

We were looking forward to visiting but maybe we both picked the wrong meals and had too higher expectations. The pulled pork burger was okay, a bit dry and tasteless. The chips were great but was expecting the tomato sauce to be made in house. It seemed to taste like Heinz.<br/>We also didn't like the fact you were just given fizzy water... <br/>Great view and very proactive service but it almost seemed fake.<br/>Not sure if we will be back...

Great location. Great views. Great staff. Been there a few times now. The staff are always fabulous - well informed, friendly and helpful. <br/>For our last visit, over the weekend, we waited nearly an hour for a table. We sat outside in the sheltered courtyard under gas heaters - this we were happy to do given the staff are so nice and the food to date had been pretty good. <br/>So we were finally seated when they were getting near to the end of their service - the tables around us were finishing up their meals. The entree was fabulous - but our two mains were disappointing. I had the slow cooked lamb - it was raw - not rare, RAW. There was no evidence of cooking at all save a quick seal around the edges. Slow cooked should imply cooked, succulent, tender, melt-in-your-mouth etc - it was none of these. It was raw, grisly, and cold. My partner ordered the roast pork that was advertised with a number of things including crackling. There was no crackling. The pork was delicious - but no crackling :-( <br/>The only conclusion I can come to is if you arrive or are seated near the end of their service you are likely to get food cooked or prepared hurriedly - and you are likely to be disappointed. Unfortunately, they do not have a booking system in place, so if you want to get a table and GOOD food that is actually cooked, go early to improve your chances.

The location is really good an up until now we were regular guests. The food seems to be getting more average and no longer up to standard. We had a "slow" cooked lamb which was still uncooked and fatty and a very cheap cut. <br/><br/>Other meal qualities and quantities very too much.<br/><br/>Wine is being served not as cold as it should be and it looks like we are getting the same excuses as other guest,e.g "the wine has just arrived an is not chilled yet". <br/><br/>One other point is that whenever we visit we get either rushed to order or rushed to finish to make room for the next wave of visitors. The tables are too small to eat comfortably.<br/><br/>Not really acceptable. Will not go back in a hurry.

My friend recommended this place and my sister and I wanted to wanted to take our mother out for a special belated mothers day lunch. We were not disappointed at all, the service was excellent and my sister commented "slick, they just have it so sorted" while it was busy we didn't feel rushed, or stressed. I was a bit concernd bringing in my 4 year old boy but they made him feel just as welcome as us, offered a childrens menu immediately and asked if he wanted smaller cutlery. The waiter even took him to the freezer to see what flavour gelato he wanted. Our meals were all wonderful, eggs benedict, pulled pork burger, salmon salad (lovely to see lots of salmon) and a fish and chips meal for my son. <br/><br/>We will definitely return, and I will look forward to working my way though the menu.

Had lunch , table for 2. Good feel in the restaurant, busy, but not overwhelming. A bit of staff overkill, but better that than the contrary. Waiter was good, with a sense of humor! <br/>Ordered the tomato salad, and livers with bacon. Livers were cooked to perfection! <br/>I liked the sparkling water - nice change from the usual plain water. A nice point of difference with other places. Very European idea.<br/>Price is fair for quality and portion size.<br/>They serve Allpress coffee, which is always a bonus.<br/>Definitely recommend this place. Chef Marc has done a great job with this place.

Awesome food! Great service! Great coffee!<br/><br/>Always greeted nicely with an offer to sit down, a glass of sparkling water, and the paper! The owners of this establishment have just plainly got everything right!!

We have been regular diners at this lovely restaurant since it opened. We couldn't fault it on the first night and haven't on subsequent visits (generally one night a week). The menu is simple and the food beautifully executed, in fact we haven't ordered one thing we haven't enjoyed. Also congratulations to the owners as they have kept their prices where they are affordable to everyone old and young. Great friendly staff, superb views, what more can I say!

We visited this cafe on the spur of the moment, for a drink, hearth bread and chips. It was so enjoyable we returned with others the following weekend. Our visit was a roller coaster of good and bad. Waiting staff were nice, service good, BUT the Roasted Beet salad used tinned beetroot which was totally unacceptable, our bottle of pinot gris arrived warm (after complaining, we were told the wine order only arrived an hour earlier so wasn't chilled; funnily enough, two days later a friend got told exactly the same thing when her wine was warm! Not good), other meals were average, but the final straw was, the second we finished our coffees were asked to vacate the table as a group had been waiting for a table for 30 minutes. Totally unacceptable and something that ruined what had been a pleasant but disappointing lunch. We are reluctant to return.

We had lunch here a few weeks ago and it was outstanding. All of the staff there were attentive, friendly and the service was fast! We took our 5 week old baby (first lunch out!), so we didn't want to have to wait too long. Even though the restaurant was heaving, our meals came very quickly. There were other kids and babies there, a mixed clientele of all types and the atmosphere was welcoming, buzzing and friendly, as well as professional. The menu and food is divine, we were very impressed. All in all, the food, service, decor and location are all fantastic. We're really excited to have a really quality cafe &amp; restaurant in the area, with top notch food &amp; service to match!

First of all, just to be picky. St Heliers Bay Bistro and Cafe is on the waterfront at ST HELIERS not Mission Bay and is in the new modern glass building on the corner of Tamaki Drive and Maheke St not halfway along that block as the map shows. Once found though, it's a great venue - classy and modern with great views out to Rangitoto and offering something for everyone at anytime of day. We went for brunch and though very busy the service was friendly and efficient and we got our meals quite quickly The Big Healthy is popular and lives up to its name with plenty of veg and healthy grain toast. Eggs Bene was delicious with bacon and the wood fired mushrooms divine.The coffee is good but there's a huge selection of other drinks, teas and shakes and smoothies, a comprehensive wine list and several cocktails on offer. There's a lovely courtyard if you have to wait for a table and also a servery for muffins and pastries and cakes and ice creams to take away The two preschoolers with us were welcomed and enjoyed their scrambled egg and lashings of bacon! <br/>I'd like to go back soon and sample the lunch menu.and after that maybe dinner! The menus looked great

St Helier’s Bistro is well set up as a neighbourhood restaurant. It’s open all day, 7 days of the week, it’s smart casual and the menu offers everything from breakfast to supper and everything in between, even ice-creams for those walks along St Helier’s Bay. <br/><br/>It’s in the middle of the range of the HIP Group range of restaurants. It does not have the sophisticated range of Ortolana, but is more upmarket than Café on Kohi. The desserts come from Milse, the bakery and dessert restaurant of the group. <br/><br/>I have visited several times; for lunch, dinner and for a supper snack. St Helier’s Bistro comes alive during lunch; watching the passers-by on the beach, sinking onto the comfortable cushions, and sipping on their marvellous ice teas (Mango star is my favourite). They have the most innovative menu of non-alcoholic beverages I have ever seen; there’s sodas (try the rhubarb & apple), juices (there Kumeu red pear juice on offer), smoothies (even a dairy-free one), a list of hot chocolates and iced teas. <br/><br/>At dawn and sunset however, the sun’s glares hits the bistro, and you are offered sunhats. Best to bring your sunglasses if you are dining at sundown. The service is what St Helier’s Bistro does best. Service is genuinely friendly and efficient. You really feel you’re being looked after. <br/><br/>The food is tasty, and most of the offerings are quite traditional. I do like their presentation; it’s inviting, rustic and colourful. The menu, or the flavours didn’t excite me, but this isn’t really a place to be wowed. This is a place to stop by for an easy meal in beautiful, relaxed surroundings and be taken care of.