Review The Lodge Cafe - Auckland Central

5 stars for amazing service and food. It was an impromptu lunch for my girlfriend's birthday, just us two. We came in at around 2pm and the kitchen was already closing and being cleaned. However a lovely lady at the counter was happy to accommodate us at such late notice. The food was delicious and my friend even got a wee cake for her birthday at no charge. Will be back again with my family. Thank you 😊

I've been going to this cafe off and on for the past 8years. Always has a great vib food and service always great. The Vietnamese pancake was interesting I have had few different ones so I was looking forward to it. It was actually quite different very savoury compared to what I have experienced in the past. Very enjoyable and would recommend it. Interesting when we went to pay the bill. The cashier ask how my Vietnamese pancake was. Who we found out was actually the owner and it was new on the menu. We had an interesting conversation re Vietnamese pancake and why they can vary so much. Basically each village would use what was available to them food wise and create. Thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. Also did a great coffee The Lodge is a must visit. It can get extremely busy which is great to see.

We stayed in the nearby lodge and popped over for breakfast as a big group of kids and adults. The staff were so friendly, helpful, and accomodating. Best (and biggest!) flat white I’ve had since living in NZ for a few years, and each of the dishes ordered for breakfast was flavourful and delicious. Not a crumb was left behind. Atmosphere was warm and inviting even though it was pouring rain out. I could see myself sitting on the shaded outdoor patio in nicer weather. Conveniently located around the corner from the train as well.

Good coffee, but quite pricey. Cinnamon scroll was nice but not fresh - it was a Sunday. Excellent service with friendly polite staff. Parking nearby wasn't easy, but perhaps there is more parking off street in The Lodge itself?

The spaghetti is really good!!! My friend ordered the Thai beef salad looks tasty too I’ll try it next time!! Forgot to take photos but it’s really good! Gorgeous!!b

We dined here fews times, and would love to go back again. The cafe’s ambiance is so cozy and nice. Their food is so delicious, especially Vietnamese pancakes which you hardly see this dish else where in the Auckland. The owner here is so passionate about her food and willing to go extra mile to make it perfect for your taste. If you are not sure what to order, have a chat and ask her for recommendations. I’m sure she will surprise you with her great dishes!

Delicious authentic bánh mì, best I have tasted in NZ. Is it because the bread (crisp outside, soft inside) is handmade on site? Or because the pate is homemade too? Made with love, care and skill. Don’t miss out!

Always a positive experience when we came here. Food and coffee were consistently good. This time I had an open chicken sandwich though I actually ordered a steak sandwich. It turned out to be a nice mixed up. The chicken was tasty but on the dry side. The sauce made up for it. It would have been super good if it was moist. Fettuccine was very good

Went there with 5 friends yesterday and we all loved it! Café is very cosy with different seating options. The open chicken sandwich and iced mocha that I ordered were delicious. Good portions as well. Chicken fettuccine and lamb burger were also very good. Will definitely be back again.

I was eating the most delicious fettuccine and bacon pasta I've ever had when a piece of plastic (about 3cm) got lodged in my throat, ran out of my seat looking for a bin (because I was going to throw up). then I saw it. The bin I ran to the bin like Usain bolt and tried to throw up, but nothing. the plastic shifted, covering my airway, so I had one last option to breathe out as hard as I could. The chef looked mortified as I was about to die. I breathed out, and the piece of plastic flew out. I was saved by some miracle. But then I went back to my pasta cuz it was BUSSIN, so 5 Stars would come back. (Yes, this did just happen)

Don’t overlook this place because it is a motel Cafe. It’s spotlessly clean, service & food options above par. The windows, counters and floor were sparkling. Too many cafes overlook the cleanliness of the place - dirty windows, messy entrance, uncleared tables etc. This place is on top of all that. Impressed

Fantastic quality food, very clean, great staff, the coffee is the best iv found.

Friendly people, great service, good coffee, good food! I have been going here for 6 years, had lunches, coffees, breakfasts and still keep coming back. Love the place and the people!

Came here for a Mother’s Day brunch today and the food was absolutely delicious and the coffee was strong!! The lodge grill was magnificent and left very satisfied

Always a favourite when I come to Auckland. Low key location with fabulous views of the Sky Tower. The food never disappoints.

The Lodge is a gem of Mount Albert. It's our absolute favourite spot for coffee and eggs benedict. The bowl-sized coffee and good wifi also makes it a great spot for studying and business meetings.

The Lodge Cafe conveniently located and offers great food, coffee, and a fabulous atmosphere for a nice weekend brunch. Car parking can always be found at the nearby Willcott street. This is one of my goto places on weekends.

We ordered the the lodge grill and pancakes,Good service good food and good portions only let down was eftpos machine was having a bit of a meltdown.

The service was great. The hot drinks were amazing and the bowl which were $5.50 were a generous size as it was HUGE.

Lovely family friendly café. Great parking (free on the streets) good menu options and a dedicated kids menu. Great for them and also for pensioners with smaller appetites (there’s toast and yummy cabinet treats)<br/>

We had a fantastic breakfast here! What a lovely cafe. We received a friendly welcome the minute we walked in the door. We were served promptly and the food was fantastic! The smashed avocado was great value and was delicious. The poached eggs were absolutely perfect! Coffee was perfect, and the kids menu was well priced and generous in serving size. We will definitely be returning! Thank you!

The food was quite good but I was charged $1 for a teaspoon of mustard. In 70 years of dining out I have never before been charged for mustard. Mustard is a condiment and should be part of the meal price. $1 is not the issue. It was not the mustard type I requested, fair enough, but to charge for it seemed to me,money grabbing. It left a sour taste (the charge not the mustard). Why is it that the little things rile?

Enjoyed my eggs bene here today the portions were great and eggs cooked perfectly! The creamy mushroom was very yummy. Ordered some pancakes off the kids menu and they were yummy and fluffy!!

Staff were quick to serve and were friendly, however was disappointed in the haloumi bagel I bought :( the tomatoes were soggy and the bagel felt like it had just been taken from a freezer and microwaved.. my friends hash brown was forgotten and I didn’t notice at the time but I was overcharged (assuming the menu prices on this app are correct) - my hot choc and bagel came to $21.50 instead of $19 :(

Overall is a nice cafe,ordered creamy mixed mushroom and chimichurri chicken, both food is excellent,flat white for my girlfriend and hot choco for myself is just nice,overall staff is friendly and worth for the penny

Great local cafe in Mt Albert Food always great. Coffee awesome, and the staff great. This is my go to cafe as it is always great.Looking forward to visiting again soon. .

I go to the lodge cafe once every few months for lunch or breakfast and every Friday morning for a coffee. The coffee is fantastic, the food is always fresh and delicious. The staff are courteous and friendly. I highly recommend this cafe!

Returned to the cafe today after having had an excellent meal previously. <br/>Sadly today's was not the case. <br/>Staff were attentive and friendly, the cafe was clean and tidy. <br/>Though I don't believe checking out the new vacuum cleaner at the entrance is a great thing to do whilst people are dining. <br/>Coffees were excellent but the food lacked presentation and taste and was not value at all for the charge. <br/>We will not return. <br/>

Waiting time for the food is quite long (we waited 45 mins). Service was good though, the staff were all full of smiles.<br/>Nothing spectacular about the food. Neither tasted good nor bad. It was a bit cold though, for example the toast felt like it was made and left on the plate for a while before being served.

Went here for a farewell earlier this week. Booked a table at 730am when we arrived our booking was not set up, dispite this the young waitress was lovely, polite and friendly, food was delicious as well. The food was ok value for money.<br/><br/>The main issue was the owner yelling at staff. We could hear most of what was said by a Chinese lady and it was not nice. We felt uncomfortable.<br/>The unprofessionalism of the whole situation left us feeling like we don't want to return.<br/>

Went for breakfast with best friend the porridge I had was nice but my best friend had egg omelette with salmon and 2 slices of bread with no other sides with it.<br/>Paid 50 dollars for both meals...tbh not worth the money.

The staff were super friendly and helpful. However, despite the good quality, I found that the food portion was smaller than anticipated compared to its cost. The smoothie and chai were really nice.<br/>One more thing, no public wifi as advertised here. I ended up hotspoting my laptop from my mobile in order to be able to do some work and left earlier than I had wanted to stay for that reason.

Delicious food and coffees. Staff are always so friendly too which is lovely. Always remember my family and bring water for our dog! Always have great looking cabinet food.

Very safe brunch/lunch option.<br/>Always good with a safe but solid menu on offer.<br/>Good coffee, easy parking and friendly staff make up a lot of The Lodge’s appeal.<br/>Loved by locals

Staff here are super friendly and funny. Coffee is strong which is very good for strong coffee lovers!! I ordered the calamari salad and bf got the chicken chimichuri. Calamari was great but the dressing was a little too sour for my liking. The chicken chimchuri was good and the fries came with it was perfect.<br/>The only thing is that the price is a little up there.

I go here semi regularly, food is tasty and reasonably priced. Coffees are great too. The one time I wasn't satisfied with my food the staff were apologetic and took my coffee of the bill.<br/><br/>The staff here are what makes the place, friendly and down to earth, good kiwi cafe.

Visited this cafe today with some friends as my Aunty had recommended it to me. <br/>Didn't actually know it was a cafe I thought it was just the motel reception lol. <br/>Lovely decor upon entering with a lovely view of the sky tower. <br/>The service was excellent. The waitress was humorous and the other waiter was just as lovely. <br/>I ordered a cappuccino and a smoked salmon bagel with whipped cream cheese. Looked a bit simple at first but that changed once I was eating it all haha. <br/>Overall, the service was the main highlight for me - great staff! Will definitely be back here.

After weeks of absence, I finally had the time to visit another cafe to get me some Hot Chocolate to fit the winter spirit. Like always, I turned down the extra sweetness and judging by what they do they sure know how to make some good hot beverages. I remember years ago when i used to study at Unitec, I would always walk past this cafe noting myself that one day I would go to this cafe, four years later it has finally happened.<br/><br/>Their service was great, nice and friendly. The waiting time wasn't as long due to the fact that it was only a hot chocolate, which is like one of the easiest beverages to make.<br/><br/>My very first impression of this place from the outside, I literally thought this was some kind of a small business building, took a step forward I saw all these people eating and laughing. Suddenly it clicked to me when I looked at the sign which was at least a metre away saying 'the lodge cafe' how could I've been so blind??? Inside is pretty much what you would expect at an ordinary cafe. The flashiness of upper class looking of the decor and placement of equipment. Anyways a great cafe and very to have paid a visit after years of contemplating.

We happened to be in the area this morning and thought we would stop in for brunch. This place is located on the corner site right next to Mount Albert Lodge. We were not sure where to park and ended up parking on site. There were no signs to advise otherwise.<br/><br/>Inside the cafe it was decorated in a updated contemporary design. Their were lots of indoor seating arrangments as well as outdoor seating. It was warm and welcoming with the sunlight streaming in through the big windows. We were advised to take a seat and a menu would be served to us. (I thought this was quite cool as it was like being in a restaurant instead of a cafe.) We were served some water with our menus and placed our drinks order. I got a hot chocolate which I quite liked and my partner ordered coke. However he received coke from the Karma Cola range which he didn't really like. We then placed our food order.<br/><br/>About 25 minutes later we noticed that other tables that arrived after us were being served their meals before us. Not long after this an employee approached our table and advised that our order had been taken but was not placed. She apologised and we accepted. Mistakes happen. About 10 minutes after this we received our food. It was hot and delicious. I ordered The Lodge Grill, my partner had the Grilled Steak Sandwich. He doesn't like mushrooms so ordered his mushroom sauce on the side for me. It was amazing that mushroom sauce, definitely the highlight of the meal for me. The portion size was decent so we agreed the price was right for the size and quality of the meal.<br/><br/>Upon paying, we were asked if we wanted anything from the "sweets" cabinet. We got a caramel donut, a brownie and a single serve chocolate cake thing. The employee didn't charge us for 2 of the sweets as a courtesy due to the meal order delay which we appreciated. We also had a coupon for a 25% off the total and saved $10.<br/><br/>Would I return? Yes, based on that mushroom sauce. Also they had a chicken burger on the menu which I would be keen to try.

Busy little place, been here several times - because we can be sure of good food. A bit of a wait for the food but once it was served, who noticed! Friendly service.

This would be a 5/5 but some idiot has removed The lodge salad from the menu WHY WHY WHY????? Lovely staff, good food but needs a great salad - haloumi is not a substitute. Please bring it back soon!!

We were asked to move tables... twice.... while eating, to make room for a bigger table. Never been asked this before at a place and not sure of a way around it, but still, bit unsettling. <br/>Also, it says here they have free wifi on offer but when I went there needing it, they said they don't have it and it must be a mistake - that they sometimes just use the lodge next door's wifi.....which was very frustrating with the intention to do work and listing on here that they offer it.

Ordered the lodge salad with extra chicken in it and a small flat white. Coffee was alright just for myself it might a bit milky and too much froth. To be honest, the salad was very tasty, it was one of my fav salad on my list lol it worth of trying. Overall everything was awesome here and services was good as well. Will definitely come back with families next time.

Best cafe in Mt Albert.  We have lived in Mt Albert for 6+ years and tried all of the local cafes (asian and non-asian).  The Lodge has consistently great food and atmosphere. Staff are topnotch.

This nice cozy cafe has a good vive and also very good food. I love its croissant! Brunch menu is also great. It's big breakfast is the best in this area. The staff is very nice and cheerful too.

Would never come back here. The waitress didn't write down our order and proceeded to get it wrong. Awful service and food was just average. Also eggs benedict came on brioche bread which didn't go down well with my friend

The service was one of the highlights here, followed by good food and the pleasant view. If your after decent cafe food in a cosy location this is the place the visit. <br/><br/>With natural light streaming through, it would be great in summer - especially the outdoor seating. But even on a rainy day it was still warm and welcoming. <br/><br/>We arrived for a late lunch on a Sunday, and with the kitchen almost closing we were politely advised this by our waitress. She was very friendly and chatty which made us feel welcomed and at ease. After discussing the menu with her we settled for The smashed avocado with halloumi and The lodge grill. As we had a grabone voucher it was great value for money! <br/><br/>Both dishes were well portioned and presented. I enjoyed the lodge grill, the eggs were delicious and each element of the dish was good. My partner was satisfied with his smashed avocado, the bread was fresh and overall it was well seasoned. His trim latte was also very good. <br/><br/>All in all a very good result here at the lodge cafe!

We got menu's but didn't get our order taken for a good 5 mins. This was quite odd as the place was not busy at the time. When our waitress finally presented we proceeded to order 2 x lodge grills. Unfortunately they had no mushrooms, avocado or Salmon available. I found this quite concerning as a majority of their menu contains these items. They did however offer us alternative sides to replace these missing ingredients. We ordered 2 x ginger beers but also they had run out of these and was only able to provide us with 1. The staff member who served us was friendly & very apologetic about this. Food took awhile to come out, suprising as half the ingredients on our orders weren't even available. When our orders came out the waitress approached us again and apologised once more & said they had found some mushrooms. The food was ok, nothing too fancy, quite enjoyed the toast although the sides were burnt (see photo). Food overall was quite pricey but nothing to write home about. Portion & presentation wasn't too flash either. Wouldn't return in future.

Cute little cafe, my eggs benne was good but not to how I ordered. I asked for bacon but was served salmon with bacon on the side? Not sure what happened there but the cashier was very apologetic and thankful I don't hate salmon. In the end I wasn't charged for the mistake and given a free cake. Another down fall was the wasps! Heaps if them flying around which very abruptly ended our visit

I visited this cafe on Sunday with my partner and three young children. We got a table for five easily and were given pens and paper for colouring by the friendly staff.<br/>They had a good variety of vegetarian meals and my haloumi salad was very tasty although I did find the poached egg a strange edition in the end. My partner had the grill breakfast which was enjoyed a bit less, hash was a little soggy and the bacon incredibly salty. Would perhaps return of it was in the area although there are many amazing cafes in Kingsland.

the food was over priced for what you get and the service well mcdonalds staff could teach these guys a few thing in customer service and food safety standards.<br/>and the funny thing is this company pays for good reviews. So be careful with what you read

Visited this cafe for brunch this morning as a group of four, we easily made a booking an hour prior and our table was set and waiting for us when we arrived.<br/><br/>The staff were all really lovely and helpful, always greeting or leaving with a smile. It was also a nice touch to offer the order of a coffee whilst we read through the menu.<br/><br/>The coffee was superb, hot and neither too weak or too strong.<br/><br/>The menu offered a lot of variety and a gluten free option. We ordered two Eggs Benedict with additional has brown and gluten free toast on one, the Avocado on toast dish & the creamy mushrooms. All arrived within a short time and were immaculately presented. The gluten free toast was of great quality and not just supermarket bought.<br/><br/>All the meals were delicious and served hot, fresh cracked pepper was also offered.<br/><br/>All in all we thou really enjoyed the food, atmosphere and service at this fine cafe and highly recommend others visit.<br/><br/>

Despite lovely plates served, my family breakfast here was overall unpleasant. There was a long wait of 40 to 50 minutes with no staff asking for our understanding. However it was understandable since the cafe was crowded with hectic atmosphere. But seeing couple of tables who came later than us getting served when we were holding our patience in hunger really displeased us. Moreover, no apologies from neither staff or cafe manager after our complaint was really a disappointment. We did not expect a great service from such a busy cafe but we did expect minimal. No apology or an explanation of why our order was shifted behind was appalling service. So overall I could have given probably 4 for the plates but considering the service I give 1 out of 5.

The staff are incredibly friendly and the coffee and food are delicious. I always get a warm welcome when I go there and it's a great community cafe! I encourage everyone to go there

Great, consistently good cafe. The pancakes are fantastic and this winter's porridge dish is hands-down the best going. The menu changes regularly which is always nice and the service is friendly and efficient. <br/><br/>Lovely atmosphere and great place to escape, rain or shine.

Great service at first but I ordered a bagel and it was very dry and after I'd finished eating it I realised there was no butter on it.  My friend got a breakfast with eggs etc and there was was no butter on their meal too.  My friend didn't want to complain but I  mentioned it to the waitress and she said she was going to pass my comment on to the manager, this was only after we had finished our meals.  <br/>When it was time to pay we were served by the person in charge and I had to mention about the butter as she didn't say anything, my reply was you have to ask for butter yourself as it get's wasted by people (How are we supposed to know that!)  Only then I noticed a cabinet on the other side of the counter with butter in little dishes.  I thought the butter should be included in the price regardless of whether you eat it or not.  We paid good money for those meals and got a pathetic apology and no compensation.  No sauce was offered for the sausage on the breakfast meal too.<br/>Needless to say we will not be eating there again!!

Really handy cafe, walking distance to where we live, nice atmosphere, friendly waitresses and yummy food. French toast was the BEST I've had in awhile!

Had a work lunch in this little paradise in Mt Albert.<br/><br/>The Food:<br/><br/>The food was tasty and well cooked. I ordered the Cajun chicken which was delicious and the portion was more than enough. Coffee was perfect and we had an almond cake for dessert which was also amazing!<br/><br/>The Service: <br/><br/>The staff were really friendly, made us feel welcome and were quick to take orders. They constantly filled our water glasses and checked on us a couple of times to make sure everything was okay. Their service was A+. <br/><br/>The Setting:<br/><br/>The little cafe is by the mote and has ample parking around. You can park in the motel grounds (apart from the reserved parks) or there is lots of on street parking on Wilcott street.  Cafe itself is modern and gets lots of sunshine from the big glass windows! <br/><br/>Would visit again

My partner and I often come here for brunch on the weekend. Prompt friendly service that isn't over the top. The food is good (pulled pork sandwich is the man's fave) and coffee is nice. I wish they would do a homemade hash brown though! We will continue to return.

We have been going to this cafe since it opened ..(and every time our bill is average of $50)...as we stay in the same street...but had a horrible experience yesterday... we ordered cajun chicken sandwich with chips...it came with lettuce in it..i told the waitress and even showed her in the menu that ingredients listed there did not include lettuce.... the waitress agreed and was apologetic...later on i went to pay and the other lady (red , short hair)asked me was everything ok.. i told her the same thing....and to my surprise she said--" it says lettuce" and i said NO she no it says lettuce?? and started checking the menu as if i am lying.... when she checked ... there was no lettuce... then she said.. it usually has rocket?? ..do u like lettuce??? no point talking to her... so rude as if its my fault.... WONT EVER GO AGAIN TO THIS CAFE WHERE people dont even know how to talk to customers..shame......

Such a nice little cafe to grab a bite with an old friend :) really would recommend the smashed avo on toast :) but everything on the menu looked awesome so would definitely have to go back again ????

Our experience at The Lodge Cafe was great. We arrived at a busy time on a Sunday and was greeted promptly. Wile ordering we looked around and noticed everyones dishes were quite large which we were happy to see. We ordered the lamb burger with fries. The meal was tasty but the portion sizes were quite small for $19.50. Lucky we were dining with a grabone voucher so we weren't complaining but I would not order the lamb burger again. Would definitely be back though as the service was great.

My husband and I went here today. Very excited to try as I had heard good things about them. Great atmosphere, slightly too many tables as a bit cramped, with people racing around you. We waited for our meal for a very long time. 4 tables came in quiet awhile after us. One table came in 20 min after we had ordered. All tables got their food and drinks before us. When we went to ask about our meals, the lady said corn fritters take a long time. After the 4th table got their meal, we went to the counter to cancel or meals and pay for the drinks . The lovely man was very good, apologised heaps. He said that the drinks were free. I'd give them 2 stars for his attitude. Very disappointing indeed. Ended up going to a different place in Blockhouse Bay.

I live locally and tried The Lodge for the first time today. Coffee was great and the pulled pork sandwich I had was very nice too. The chips that came with it were some of the best chips I've had. Staff are really friendly and attentive. Will definitely be a frequent visitor.

We went here for brunch on a Sunday. The service was superb and the food very very filling. We had the Spanish omelette, the creamy mushrooms and the fish cakes. Will definitely be coming back and recommending this cafe.

Had lunch at The Lodge Cafe today with a friend. (we had a voucher)<br/>The cafe was very easy to find and booking wasn't necessary, which was good as we forgot to ring ahead.<br/>Service was awesome, fast and they seemed genuinely happy to serve us. <br/>I had an Egg Benedict, and its by far one of the best eggs Benedict I have ever had. Eggs whites were properly cooked and the yolk was still runny, which is a problem most cafe places tend to have ( under cooked egg whites).<br/>Also their hollandaise sauce is amazing, no to tangy or zingy.<br/>This place was lovely, prices are reasonable (eve though we had a voucher) , Location was very close to transport and the food and service was great. Will be returning :) thank you<br/>

My partner and I went there for brunch this morning (without booking) with a deal voucher. We were very pleasantly surprised. My partner had the Cajun Chicken Sandwich which was large and filling, very flavoursome with a lovely chutney. I had Eggs Benedict which was lovely and the Hollandaise sauce was just how I like it. Beautiful coffees - my partner went and told the Barrista so when he first tasted his. The service was spot on and friendly and there was only a short wait for coffee and then food. Nice ambience and a modern cafe setting. We would have stayed longer if it weren't for the fact we had a couple of appointments to go to. Our experience was great and we were very surprised to see bad reviews from last year. Please try this place! We will absolutely be going back there again.

The waitress was prompt though not exactly friendly. The coffee was on time but luke-warm which was rather disappointing. I ordered the Cajun Chicken Sandwich and my partner had the creamy mushrooms. Both the meals visually looked quite filling but alas not much in there to exactly fill either one of us! <br/><br/>What was astounding was the amount of time it took to get our meals. It took at least half an hour and there were only about 6 diners at most in the cafe. <br/><br/>Not good Lodge Cafe. It would have been nice if the waitress had told us that there was going to be a delay.

We went there for a work lunch so time was limited and we had a 45 minute wait from ordering to receiving our food.<br/>I ordered the chicken ceasar salad and although it was a huge looking dish it was mainly lettuce and croutons and not much else. There were three small pieces of chicken and two small pieces of bacon. Also no anchovies.<br/>When I told the waiter he gave me what looked like a grimace and walked away.<br/>I will not be going there again.

Had a lovely breakfast catching up with a friend at The Lodge cafe. Located as the cafe of the Motor Lodge motel in the heart of Mt Albert, this little modern cafe has made a name for itself offering good food and great coffee. <br/><br/>The service was excellent. They were prompt and friendly despite the wee mix up with our coffee order. Lovely coffee it was - smooth, earthy aroma with beautifully patterned crusts. The creamy mushrooms came with bacon and a poached egg instead of optional additions like some other cafés. I got the salmon and cream cheese bagel, I thought they were really generous with the smoked salmon pieces. <br/><br/>Overall, relaxing environment, decent food, good coffee, great service. Worth a try!