Review Montrose Cafe Bistro Bar - Auckland Central

We had High Tea to celebrate Mums birthday. The food was lovely and the service was great. We would highly recommend for a special outing or just anytime but remember to pre-book. Loved it.

Just popped in after work for a fast dinner and received excellent service with quick food preparation and tasty food. Would definitely recommend the Montrose Jambalaya to any diners in the bay. The new decor and comfy new furniture was definitely an added bonus. Big thanks to the chef Bruce.

Where to start. The service is always impeccable. The chef’s creations are delightful and sumptuous. The Swedish meatballs: incredible. The jambalaya: desirable even if you don’t do well with mild/medium spice. The pork belly: just fantastic. Our friend with celiac disease was able to eat here with no issues; she had a side of fries as a starter and then the pork belly.

We tried this bistro for dinner and we were very impressed! The food was beyond scrumptious and the customer service was exceptional! We ordered a few entrees and mains which were all very very delicious but the winner was the desserts for us. The bistro was child friendly with high chairs and a kids menu and the staff were all friendly and accomodating to our needs as parents. What really elevated our experience was the wait staff Noam and Tom. They were so friendly and provided exceptional customer service. Thank you for a great dining experience we will definitely be coming back here again.

I've gone here with my friends a couple of times, the staff is a joy to talk with, you can make jokes and have fun. The food takes the normal amount of time to prepare, and there is considerable attention to detail within it. Not to mention, the food is delicious. The great food paired with the small cozy interior pairs for a great meal.

The food, staff, and atmosphere are excellent. This place has a super Chef. We highly recommend it

Very good atmosphere. Thanks again for letting us enjoy our time there. We really enjoyed the drinks and food and would definitely recommend it to anyone who may enjoy this type of quality food! Thanks again, Bruce and the team, for your amazing hospitality. 👏😁😁😁

Absolutely love Montrose's vibe and atmosphere. Throughly enjoyed my brunch here. The vegan breakfast was actually so satisfying. Always love the wall art and the great presentation.

The atmosphere was so calming and great (went around midday) and the waiter/front of house was so friendly and nice! My partner ended up getting the fish and said it was the best fish he’s had since coming to New Zealand! They also asked when we placed our order if we had any allergies right away :) Definitely recommend Montrose Cafe, great people, great food, great experience. :)

We had a great breakfast. Delicious, fresh and generous portions. Kids and dogs friendly.

First time having high tea, it was a good experience, the person who served us was good but some<br/>Of the treats that was served I felt was not to fresh and Maybe a few days old. Overall good experience nice place.

Really enjoyed Montrose. Lovely breakfast and wonderful service. Thank you.

We had high tea via Groupon deal. Next cafe is feee parking place. There is no scone, but you have mini omelette. There is no fancy tea cup, and you have only small pot tea (need more tea). But If we think the price, it was OK. However if you think real high tea, you will confuse with atmosphere. When we visited, inside cafe (or bar?) was empty, but our table was beside some shelf and back of cafe fridge.

Awesome food at a very fair price great service and friendly staff and owner never had a better experience at any other eatery go there food lovers u won't be disappointed

Wonderful and delicious food .<br/>We ordered a prawn cutlet and a scallop wrapped with bacon salad .<br/>Were so tasty too .<br/>Michelle the duty manager was superb and pleasant.

Had breakfast using zomato gold. Unfortunately the creamy mushrooms were very sugary and the hollandaise on the eggs bene was terrible and the food was drowned in it. The waiter was friendly and coffee was good. Possibly would have mentioned something to the staff at the time however I can see by the owners responces to negative reviews on here that he does not take nicely to any negative feedback and will probably just say that everyone else seems to enjoy the food so it is our problem if we don't.

Took my mum here for lunch, and had higher expectations. A little flavourless. Its all just classic cafe food.

I have been here many times and every time I go it never fails to impress me! The food is amazing and the service is great. Love the new summer menu and am excited to try it out! Love the idea of create your own burger as well which I'll defiantly be trying out! my favourite reastraunt for sure! 😊

Very tasty. You can tell the chefs put their heart into making the food. Highly recommend the pork belly served here. The taste is impeccably well balanced. Awesome!

Been here for a high tea and for lunch and both times I was quite disappointed. Service is almost non exisiting. We had to get our own water, serviettes and cutlery.<br/>The food was also a little below average. <br/><br/>The burger I had for lunch was quite bland, the pattie undercooked and the chips were not seasoned (a little salt goes a long way). One positive though was the portion size!<br/><br/>This place unfortunately did not leave a great lasting impression on me.

A hidden gem tucked away in Mairangi Bay with a different twist is how I would describe the Montrose Cafe Bistro & Bar. With plenty of choices on the menu that cater for all types.   I decided to opt for the Jambalaya Rigatoni Pasta the waitress asked if I liked spice as this did come with a little kick which i thought was a great touch of personal service. The dish did not disappoint at all beautiful al dente pasta, soft chicken pieces and delicate prawns with a that spicy chorizo sausage all brought together in a lovely cream sauce was fantastic and well worth the money. I have always been of the old saying never judge a book by its cover the same can be said here all day long. This will be a definite to come back to and will be very hard to decision to look past that Jambalaya..

The house-smoked salmon was aromatic and not too overpowering so it complimented the salmon really well. I tried the salmon hash and it was a very rich dish with a deep fried hash brown base, rocket, smoked salmon topped off with hollandaise sauce so pairing it with a sparkling drink may balance the dish. I gave my experience 4 out of 5 because I thought the layered salmon hash meant there would be smoked salmon layers in the hash brown but it was refering to the stacked dish. Also the smoked salmon had a bit of really hard skin or bone? Other than that the dish tasted really nice! The smoked salmon was the star.

My family went there on Sunday night, It is great to see the owner come out and talk to people, he is obviously a true professional and the longevity of his business is a testament to the great food and service. I think more people should support this local in an age where restaurants are coming and going. The varied menu  ensures that there is something for everyone and it has a great location.

We looked up cafes nearby on Zomato and found Montrose Cafe in Mairangi Bay with a 4 star review average. <br/><br/>The cafe is well situated near the beach and playground. Unfortunately the decor and furniture is very dated and it was super dark inside even though it was a sunny day. <br/><br/>We decided to sit outside. The menu was a little overwhelming with far too many food options. I went for the Montrose breakfast and my partner had the Turkish Cigars. <br/><br/>The Montrose breakfast was average, the mushrooms tasted old and had no flavour. The eggs were well cooked and the bacon was crispy. The sausages were really flavoursome. <br/><br/>The Turkish Cigars were nothing special and heavily overpriced at $25 for 4 small pastries. <br/><br/>It’s a shame as it’s in such a good location. A revamp and more refined menu would really help! Seemed very quiet for midday on a Sunday.

A wonderful dining experience. Food is always good and the desserts are to die for ❤️ staff are friendly and welcoming

Food 2.5/5<br/>Service 3/5<br/>Ambience 4/5<br/><br/>Came here for a family dinner and most of us ordered the Scotch fillet and salmon dishes.<br/>Unfortunately my steak was really chewy so it was unpleasant to eat.<br/>The salmon dish is actually smoked salmon so if you are a fan of smoked fish then this would be your cup of tea. The table had spilt review on this dish as some loved it and some didn't. Portion for the fish was quite small and the steak was OK but could have had more vege or mash on it. My partner ordered fish so he was still hungry after his dinner.<br/><br/>Service was OK, staff were friendly and approachable. Only thing is we had to keep flagging the staff for water.<br/><br/>Not sure if we would come back again.

Authenticity is at the heart of Montrose!

Lovely place , relaxing , great food and delicious vegan options available

Great service, very friendly staff. The food was very enjoyable. Lots of maple syrup on the French toast. Fresh tasting smoothies. Will be back again in the future!

Lovely cafe close to water. Exceptional service, friendly and very attentive. Food portion was generous and deliciously cooked. Had the Montrose breakfast and those sausages and hash browns were delish!!! Will be back for sure!

Great Food. Unique.

Food and service was fantastic. Can’t recommend enough. Great place to eat out for dinner. Occasionally I will pop in for coffee and it’s always creamy and rich. Barista knows what they are doing!

We came here with Zomato Gold and ordered a Jambalaya Rigatoni Pasta and a Gourmet Burger Crispy Chicken Burger.<br/><br/>This was one of the most disappointing meals that I’ve had in a long time.<br/><br/>The pasta was bland, chicken was dry and the “prawns” were the smallest frozen shrimps I’d ever seen, with absolutely no taste whatsoever. I really wanted to finish the dish as I usually never waste food, but I just couldn't force myself to eat more of this so unfortunately I left quite a bit on my plate. I still can’t believe that this dish is the most expensive dish I’ve paid for with Gold, coming in at $29.90.<br/><br/>The burger was extremely boring and lifeless. The buns were dry and seemed like you could just find these at the supermarket. I would say this burger was rather low quality and I felt like you could throw this together easily at home without much skill needed. Fries that came with the burger were quite soggy and not seasoned much, if at all.<br/><br/>This meal was definitely not worth it, even with Gold so I find it quite shocking that this is the most expensive 1+1 deal I’ve paid for. <br/><br/>We also decided to use our Groupon voucher for two Coffee Cones. First of all, it did not look like the photo used in the advertisement. The photo showed a smaller cone with chocolate lining the inside and pretty latte art. The cone we received was quite large (so coffee was only filled up to halfway), no chocolate lining and no art. <br/><br/>One of the coffee cones we received leaked through the cone and slightly burnt my hand, made a mess and was just a bit embarrassing and awkward to deal with. The barista was unable to make another one to replace it as they had run out of cones. So I feel like they were a bit unprepared because there could have been customers who came after us wanting to order a coffee cone or use their voucher but would be turned away as they had run out. <br/><br/>The only redeeming factor of this place was the service as they offered us another coffee to replace the broken cone and seemed quite apologetic about the situation.

Discovered this lovely place after a nice walk on beautiful mairangi bay. We were greeted with friendly staff and took a seat by the fireplace. Our waiter recommended the street food menu and that we select a few dishes to share. The food was delicious, well presented and the service was even better Highly recommend trying this amazing venue!

I was completely blind sided by the quality of the food!!! Passing by and thought let's go for quick bite, we walked in expecting the standard burger & fries or pizza, but instead had a brilliant "fine dining" experience. I had the pork belly and my wife had the trio of salmon, both from the street food menu.

Eah damn  average. Been here a couple times and it's just been average/below average. I mean service is alright and food is okay nothing special. 

Three of us had lunch their today. Choose 3 of the street food dishes, breads, salmon hash and beef skewers. Great range of flavours and textures and good size portions . Lovely staff. Had a table outside sheltered from the wind and with some sun. It was our first visit; really looking forward to going back again.

This a real jewel in the Mairangi Bay crown a must visit with the combination of very tasty street food and traditional resturant food a great balance we also tried the sunday roast and with choice of 3 meats and all the trimings a great way to spend a sunday after a stroll on the beach

Great service and a beautiful high tea meant a very enjoyable afternoon for us. Thanks Montrose. We'll definitely be back to discover what other delights you have on your menu.<br/>

Excellent service and great food. The coffee was exceptional and the thick hand cut chips were a great side to the correctly cooked medium rare steak. Not to mention the awesome location right next to the bay! Great experience overall.

Great food and friendly service. Can definitely recommend the pork belly. The deep fried crumbed cauliflower was a really nice addition to our meal also.

I’ve dined at Montrose at least 6 times, from brunch with family to business lunches and staff dinners. I took a client out for lunch yesterday… I was planning on ordering the Swedish meat balls (as I’ve tried one previously when a group of us ordered tapas style), however Bruce the owner drew my attention to the specials and I choose the venison Bangers & Mash. It was a wintery day outside and this was a great suggestion, comfort food at it’s best!! <br/>I'll have the Swedish meat balls the next time.<br/><br/>My client ordered the duck spring rolls and was also very pleased with his selection

The services was good. The waitress was friendly, knowledgeable and proactive on taking away the emptied dishes. <br/>The food were great. I got the burger and my partner got the Montrose breakfast. Both were very tasty. <br/>I got a milkshake which was not what I was looking for. It was not as thick as I would have liked. But the taste was okay.

Great spot on the side of the wharf with views of the harbor bridge. Food was well thought out and service was exceptional: Friendly staff give a good reason to visit again

Very friendly services. We were impressed that the restaurant have gone the extra mile to prepare a very nice ginger latte for us. The ginger syrup was freshly made. The egg benny was pretty good as well. My wife was very happy and we will definitely come back for a dinner some day.

This is a cosy cafe. My friend and me enjoyed a quite chat with Delicious pork belly, Rocket salad, nice owner and definitely will go back. In addition easy parking

we ordered the eggs benny with mushrooms, omelette and a chicken burger.. everything was amazing!! I would have loved the option to have more seasoning for salt and pepper however, other than that everything tasted fresh and tasty. The service was great. It was quite busy when we got there (mid dating) surprisingly we got our food within 20 minutes which was good. Nice selection of food and drinks! Would def suggest to make a booking before you go so you can have the best seats.

The staff are friendly, the location is very good- there is a good outside space with plenty of room. The menu has good variety and has a lot of promise. How ever the food didn’t look or taste like it was freshly made & seemed to be predominantly frozen and a little tasteless.

We came here with another couple. We really enjoyed the dinner. The staff are friendly, the foods are well prepared and delicious. The services are above a cafe/ bar. We felt that we have had fine dining rather than a casual meal.

Great cafe to chill out on weekends, relaxing ambience and friendly staff. It’s a great place to go for a coffee catch up on a lazy weekend morning.

Such an astonishing place for a cheeky lunch out with a couple of mates, amazing service and lovely food for its price all fresh. Outstanding all around :)

Friendly staffs, we had a pasta each and an Entree. The Salmon mousse is so good with the bread. Pasta was amazingly tasty and decent size. Recommend!

Where do I start. This 'place' has an identity crisis. (If you do end up going, you'll know what I mean). It's absolutely overpriced for the quality of food. My partner ordered the most expensive chicken burger in Auckland ($28.50!!) and it was terrible...a couple of pieces of (probably from frozen) chicken schnitzel, thick chunks of tomato, a 2inch piece of lettuce some cheese and fatty bacon with a side of bulk bought frozen chips. Just shoving ingredients between a bun doesn't make a burger this was an impractical mess 1.5/10. I ordered the fish which was worse than a 5buck fish and chips 3/10. Even using Zomato gold this is not worth the money. Overall 3/10 (the staff were lovely though which is why it's not a 1/10)

It looks like a common café without suprise but actually not at all. Great food, impressive presentation, very friendly service. Like my friend says ... never judge an eatery too early by the look .

We went there last night the staff were friendly and helpful. We had to wait 70 or more for our meal which was way too long. Two of us had the duck which served on potato mash and delicious but no veggies which seemed an incomplete meal.My husband had crumbed fish which looked and tasted very average. Our other quest enjoyed his chicken breast. A little disappointed mainly because of the long wait for food.

A lovely cafe for brunch. The potion is generous and flavour is nice. I recommend eggs bennys since they use croissant as base which is light and cripsy. <br/><br/>We came for dinner again. The pork belly is tender and flavourful. Seafood fettuccine is also divine. A good thumb up

Nice food both presentation and quality. Good service and nice place for gathering. I've been there for brunch of my family with four members. Very worth for 1 plus 1 food with gold Zomato. Definitely will go back again.

Ate here a few weeks ago. Food was good, and a reasonable size serving - we ordered the duck legs and pork belly dishes and an entree. The entree of bread & dips was a bit average. Value was good with Zomato Gold 1+1 Food. The staff were attentive and friendly - the chef ( I think) asked how the meal was and said hello in passing - nice touch. I felt that the place wasn't quite sure what it was, i.e. cafe/pub/restaurant - I guess the name is very fitting! That said, we felt comfortable and will return sometime I'm sure.

Great food, exceptional service. Went for high tea, good selection of food that are filling and delicious, <br/>The only criticism is that the cafe decor is a bit confusing it’s confusing whether it’s a bar/restaurant, cafe, takeaway (fridge at front desk) or it’s a fast food street food restaurant. Atmosphere doesn’t really match the food.

Friendly and fast service, amazing food and good atmosphere... the perfect combo to a great meal out. We ordered the chicken burger, and chicken pasta, and both were yum. Will definitely be back ...🙂

We loved the pork belly and seafood pasta. Great use of fresh ingredients for both dishes. Decor could be better, but we appreciated the small corner of toys for our toddler. They also have a great selection of GF allergy friendly cakes and slices.

Relaxing atmosphere friendly waiter and nice food. Great location in Mairangi Bay with easy car parking. Definitely worth a visit. Good selection of food and beverages.

Went with the parents while over visiting. Dad had the chicken burger - so huge he had to slice in half. Mum and I had the chicken- the sauce made this dish and it was delicious. Only reason for four stars is I love a mint desert and there was no mint option on the menu. That’s a personal choice though and dads cheesecake was yummy 😋 will be back

My friends and I went to the Montrose cafe on a Thursday night, I was really tired. However, the waiter (manager) was so friendly, fun, and helping. The food was a little bit pricy, but it tastes really good. I really love the painting on the wall. <br/>Service: 5/5<br/>Value: 4/5<br/>Food: 5/5<br/>Ambient: 5/5

My favourite cafe on the shore, friendly service with a nice vibe. The new menu is fabulous, lots of scrumptious vegan and vegetarian options now. Awesome place to go in the winter and sit by the fire.

Been here a few times and every time amazing food and service, definitely worth visiting if you’re after a relaxed atmosphere, will be visiting again and again :)

Amazing food as always, havent been in a few years and everytime i come back im wowed by the wonderful food and awesome service! Keep up the great work!!!!

Awesome, polite and friendly staff, fantastic and delicious food! Partner ordered the duck and I definitely had food envy! Would definitely recommend and will be visiting again.

Food was ok nothing special. But my husband didnt enjoy the chicken burger. Instead of patty they put pieces of fried chicken like popcorn chicken inside the burger so kinda weird.

Great customer service and nice food. I was recommend the pork belly and it was absolutely divine. I would definitely love to come again. :)

First time visiting here. The smoothies were absolutely exceptional. All staff were polite and happy for us to be there. Top quality service would definitely visit again.

The staff were friendly and provided great service.<br/>The food was amazing - had the salmon dish which was cooked perfectly, however their smoothies were to die for!

Excellent service - the staff were very welcoming as soon as we entered the restaurant. And the food was delicious! The scotch fillet was cooked perfectly and the chicken breast was succulent. Pesto for the bread was yummy too. Would definitely be back again :)

Had the chicken burger and fries, was delicious and good value for money. Service was lovely and presentation was nice too, would recommend.

We visited on Friday afternoon for high tea with some elderly companions (for her 85th Birthday). The Staff we so accommodating, we had a lovely airy table, the décor is cheerful and bright and the high tea was just perfect. Our friends were in their element. Looking forward to visiting again soon .Thank you for a wonderful afternoon.

As always, great service and great food. Ordered up a couple of gourmet burgers, Caesar salad and the lamb salad. The youngest has a standing order for Bruce’s Mac’n’Cheese - all superb. Full bellies and happy kids 😊

Wow, today was my first time here and everything was absolutely amazing. From the time you walk in to the time you leave. Great server and tasty food and dessert. Definitely coming back more often.

Excellent food and service. Mum in law is visiting from South Africa and was very impressed. High chair and toys for our toddler. Enjoyable lunch all round.

We had the Chicken Ballottines and Beef Skewers. Both nicely done...esp the Ballottines! Not the usual fatty pub meals and the servings were generous! Must also recommend the Montrose Smoothie - totally refreshing. We even got a top up when we said how much we liked it! The service was super friendly without being OTT... both owner and waiter went the extra mile and were easy to talk to. The Manager went out of his way to get me plain rice from the restaurant next door! But we later discovered that the coconut rice that was on the menu was actually quite 'gentle' (as the manager said) and would have been nice too. All up, it was a most satisfying evening out! Highly recommended!

We enjoyed a superb high tea this afternoon served with a wide choice of food all gluten free The bacon and egg soufflés,and spinach and feta quiche were delicious. The beetroot fritters with smoked salmon were a different choice but yummy. All this topped off with a wide selection of small sweet treats.<br/>A lovely way to treat friends and family at this cafe in Mairangi Bay. Make sure you book for this occasion

Great food! Fantastic service and super friendly staff that always go above and beyond to make it a lovely experience. 👌 the calamari salad is a favourite for me!

I often pop in to Montrose for a wine (or two) and a specially designed bowl of fries (just for me) before a regular appointment that I go to in Mairangi Bay. <br/>My fave thing about Montrose is the comfortable and friendly atmosphere, plus the staff, who are absolutely lovely.<br/>I once branched out and ordered the Vietnamese Spring Rolls which were absolutely incredible! Especially the dipping sauce that came with them - so yum! The only reason I haven't ordered them again since is because I'm often only looking for a light snack, and, considering the price of them, they are a lot larger and are far more filling than you would expect. If I'm ever there for a proper lunch or dinner, I will definitely be ordering them again - $19.50 and they fill me up like a main would - amazing! I highly recommend :)

Just been to Montrose to celebrate my brother’s birthday. Food, service and atmosphere outstanding. Staff were very friendly and they went out of their way to ensure our dining experience was perfect. Honestly the food was amazingly delicious beautifully presented. Our waiter Serg (oh dear hope I’ve spelt his name correctly) was perfect, he asked if any of us had any food allergies, this is the first time any of us had been asked this question. We thank him and his colleagues for showing their concern. Thank you Montrose we will definitely be back. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

First time visiting this lovely cafe this morning and highly recommended. Had mince on toast which tends to be a hit or miss at cafes but this was definitely a hit as the mince was flavoursome and exactly what I needed. Service was also A+, can't beat good old friendly Kiwis 👌

Came here today and had a full breakfast, admittedly I had a GrabOne voucher but there’s no way it would have been worth $23. The toast tasted stale/old, the mushrooms looked and tasted like they were from a tin and they generously gave half a tomato along with the smallest kranksy/smoked sausage I’ve ever seen. Have had far better (and cheaper) breakfasts on the shore so would not return here. Carpets and furniture are old and tired.. a bolt even broke off from the door behind us giving us a huge fright! This place seemed to be popular with the older generation so I’m guessing that’s their target market.

Went to Montrose for dinner. Thoroughly enough the food and excellent customer service. Would highly recommend it. Had the morccon lamb belly which was very good.

I went to eat there on Fathers Day. When asked if I had a booking I said no, I was given a table and said I had to return it in 45 minutes (fair enough no booking.... Although the cafe was over three quarters empty.) when I told them I had a grab one voucher they told me they had no availability....but I was sitting at a table? Needless to say we got up and went elsewhere for our meal.<br/><br/>Anyway long story short, I put in a complaint and spoke to the manager today, he was very abrupt on the phone, he said you didn't book though you are meant to book (the T&C's say it is recommended not compulsory). He then went on to get fairly irate and ended the conversation swearing at me!

Awesome place. Caters awesomely to Coeliacs. Will be here as often as I'm in Mairangi bay! Friendly staff and a nice bright comforting atmosphere!

It is definitely one of the best restaurants that I’ve been here in Auckland. Server was really friendly and explained every dish and recommended what to order. Food is superb! Everything we ordered tasted so good . Enough said. This is definitely a must visit.

This is one of the best places on the shore! I often drive all the way from Coatesville to eat at Montrose! They have the most delicious food on their street food menu, and my favorite is definitely the brioche melt. The service is impeccable and I never need to ask for anything because of the attentiveness of the staff and how active they are around the dining room. If you haven't tried Montrose yet, it is a must and I am recommending it to everyone I know!

Came here for breakfast with the family, love the food and the service. We got the mushroom soup, omelette and the benny with bacon, the quality of the food was superb. Would recommend to everyone!!!

We have been to these premises on a number of occasions over the years. The location is convenient and the interior is comfortable enough, although the food quality is inconsistent, ranging from fantastic down to sub-standard, but we are generally accommodating patrons, so have never complained. Our last (and our very last, since we will never return) visit was really disappointing. We arrived at around 6pm and were the only patrons, a rugby test seemed to have kept many people at home.<br/><br/>We were greeted by a very friendly and helpful staff member who seated us near the gas fire and took our drinks orders. This is where the pleasantries ended. Another male member of staff approached us to take our food order. He was extremely dismissive and somewhat patronizing and, to my annoyance, rather condescending. I was really angered by his attitude but allowed the matter to slide. This staff member then placed himself on a couch near where we were sitting and proceeded to entertain a young lady. We were able to hear every word of his (very loud) conversation: he clearly had an opinion on every conceivable worldly topic.<br/><br/>Soon afterwards the staff member who seated us announced that smart boy's dinner was ready, to which he very loudly replied: "Well can I have it then?" I assumed that subsidised staff dinners should be consumed politely or otherwise out of earshot of other paying patrons.<br/><br/>The loud attempts at impressing the young lady continued ad nauseam: we had to listen to a young pseudo-intellectual expressing his views on everything from tourism to the Roman Empire. By this time, a number of other patrons had entered the venue.<br/><br/>We left without causing a fuss and I emailed the owner, expressing my concerns. After two weeks, I had received no reply and decided to call the establishment. The owner's first sentence to me was "We're really busy" and so I politely inquired about whether he had received my email or not. He confirmed that he had received the message but had not had time to reply. No apology, no explanation, no mediation. Now, more than two months on, still no reply.<br/><br/>If this is the level of service to be expected at Montrose, I will spend my hard-earned cash elsewhere. I assume that the irritating loudmouth may be the owner's son: how else would one get away with this sort of behaviour? It is notable that the young lady in question suggested to "smart boy" that he apologise to the other staff member for his rudeness, a suggestion that he declined dismissively.<br/><br/>The lamb rump was absolutely delicious. The duck (highly recommended on the menu) was disgusting: stringy, tasteless and dry. We also ordered the suggested accompanying wine but this did not resurrect the very poor dish.<br/><br/>Save yourself the hassle. Go elsewhere. Substandard service seems acceptable to the owner.

Had the lamb belly slow roasted on a bed of potato mash with pea salsa. It was yummmmmms! The staff are very friendly and efficient. Nice quiet ambience, no noisy music or TV blaring, we could talk without having to shout to be heard. Will definitely visit again :)

Attended a group dinner at Montrose, and had an absolute blast.  Staff very friendly, and service was exceptional.Street food was amazing - we got the Turkish cigars, breads and dips, salmon, spring rolls - and they were so delicious.  Really good size portions.  For the main, I ordered the pork belly which was fantastic. and the fries I couldn't resist - had to have them as they were soooo delicious.

Absolutely amazing restaurant, great food, great service, nothing is ever a bother to the staff. Relaxing, warm & vibrant place to enjoy a meal, Highly recommend having the street food here, its extremely tastie. Keep up the good work Montrose!

Horrible place , would not be coming back EVER. Was in town to visit a friend and took her to a “street food” restaurant , I had the eggs Benedict with mushroom but it came with Bacon , didnt complain cause I didnt want to make a fuss. Plus when the food was delivered the Waiter slammed the food on the table, and I realised there was a fly on my plate , I tried calling over the waiter but they said they will be right back , but never came back. The decor is very cheap and does not fit the theme. They have old smelly carpets and the floor feels as if it’s about to collapse. Very unimpressed 😡

I really wanted this to be a good experience, as there are so many good restaurants in the area, and the menu looked promising.  On entering we were greeted by a really nice host ... and ripped carpets.  The 'street' decor somehow didn't work, and the furniture was cheap.  I ordered the Jambalaya, which was a big dish and relatively tasty, but strangely came with what looked and tasted like cheap penne pasta from the supermarket.  Not really what you would expect for $28.50 (only to find out that I had been charged $31 for the dish when I got home).  We ordered two large (440ml) beers which were $13.50 each!!!!  Again, this was the price on the receipt, I'm sure it wasn't priced so on the menu.  Unfortunately it was an underwhelming experience, and as we left I noticed that there was only one other person in the place.

Had brunch here on Sunday 08.07.18 - fantastic meals - yummy food, great service, friendly staff and  amazing smoothies, even offered a complimentary mulled drink - lovely. Would definitely recommend and will be returning with family. Nice to sit by the fire in Winter - lovely and warm. Great cafe - close to the beach with good parking.

Great to enjoy interesting food, different from the usual cafe food, beautifully cooked and presented, and prompt friendly helpful service. Also, interesting cakes and nice coffee.

This place was a pleasant surprise and far exceeded my expectations. We went for high tea, and the selection was great not only savories and sweets but the selection of teas was a really nice option. Enjoyed it all but the extra thick bacon omelette and lemon tart would be my top picks. We have done high tea in a few different places, and Montrose cafe is definitely one of the best. The staff were really friendly and the ambience is a mix of being urban hip with "old school" pub styling. Great job guys.

Excellent food and excellent friendly service! I had the lamb salad which was packed with flavour and the lamb was perfectly cooked! My partner had a the Vietnamese spring rolls (avocado version) and said they were light and refreshing! For desert we had a sticky date pudding and a coffee, both were delicious! Would highly recommend coming here!

Never before have I known joy on a comparable scale to the please brought by the cocktail of the week here. The service is nothing short of exceptionary. I would recommend to anyone who considers themselves cultured!!!

I came here for a Flat White coffee; The service was fast, the staff were friendly and the coffee was beautifully made. The restaurant has a warm atmosphere and the seating is very comfortable. They have a range of hot drinks including fruit teas which sound amazing and I look forward to trying them next time. I will definitely be back here soon for a meal and a drink and I would recommend this place to anyone looking to dine out within the area.

Friendly people, the dishes disappointing. Lamb salad consisted of a lovely salad topped with 50% fatty lamb roast or rolled lambflapp  Brrrrrr . ($26.50) I struggled to cut it as it was all long strings (think rubber bands).  The pasta dish was just that......31..... dollars for a bowl of very spicy pasta. i have learned from other visits not to order coffee......very blend. ( but i do understand many people enjoy weak coffee).

Popped in before a massage upstairs. Because of the time I really didnt think a coffee would be on offer. Was that weird time between coffees and wine. Needn't have been concerned! Ordered a lovely latte..really nicely made and served with a biscotti. Ordered an amazing cinnabon roll. Service was very friendly.

This has been our local for many years and the food just keeps getting better. The service is always great too. We have two family members that have very restrictive diets due to sever allergies so it's incredibly important that we can trust the food prep. ... and we certainly can! The staff are meticulous in catering for gluten (GF), dairy(DF), nightshade, etc. allergies whilst creating delicious food. A favorite allergy free dish is the French toast from the all day breakfast menu and the in house smoked salmon is also yummy. Accompanied by a GF/DF real fruit smoothie and I'm good to go. Did I mention that the portions are also generous? When the long smoothie is done they always seem to offer a top up of around half a glass. Now, I know you could argue that, having made it fresh to order, there's bound to be some left over BUT just think - how many other places do you buy a smoothie from that does that? I call that customer focus and am happy to recommend this place. Great value for money.

The chef at Montrose just knows the fillings to put into an omelette, always a great experience with good food. The venue is personal with touch of street culture to provide a value for all generations. You know when some cares, when they remember your name and your usual drink....

Went with a party of 20 and a few of us ordered steak.  Unfortunately there was a lot gristle in the meat, more than one would wish.  However the service from the staff was excellent.  Would definitely recommend.<br/>Jillian Miller

Friendly laid back with a great selection of craft beers. The Jimbalaya pasta is my favourite. Like to sit outside under the heater and watch the world go by<br/><br/><br/>

Came to a birthday High Tea and it was absolutely delicious - great service and friendly staff. Had a wow of a time.   High recommend.      Elaine, Pam, Maureen and Robyn

My salmon dinner was absolutely delicious  .It left a lingering smokey taste in my mouth ,which I really enjoyed. My husbands scotch fillet was cooked to perfection.<br/>thank you<br/>Pauline

We went here for high tea. We love having high tea and have tried a lot of high teas around the city. Montrose had the best service, fantastic food and little chocolate cakes that were moist chocolate chocolate chocolate. Lots of variety and every piece was a treat. We will be back.

First time eating here and what a little gem of a place! We ate from the street foods menu and it was delicious, especially the Turkish cigars - yum! We finished the evening with desserts. I really liked that most of the dessert options had a half-serve and gluten-free option. I opted for the half-serve brownie which was more than enough for me. The service was excellent, friendly and efficient. We’ll definitely be repeat customers :)

Have dined here many times over the year and I absolutely love it EVERY SINGLE TIME. <br/>I remember when the street food was introduced it was so fresh and different, and it still is today! Nowhere else in Mairangi bay does this. The street art wall really grabbed my attention, at first I thought it was a Banksy graffiti and 1 thought "no thank you!" But after speaking with the owner I realised that it is Street Art, beautiful and unique found all over the world. <br/>It's so amazing to see something innovative and full of life, you can really tell that the owner and the staff love what they do. <br/>I have always felt welcome at Montrose as I will continue to support them for many years to come.

I ordered the eggs on multi grain toast and a coffee. The coffee was horrible and the eggs on toast came out bland and the bread wasn’t multigrain. Asked for a refund and they said “we can’t do anything about it at this time because we’re so busy”. They weren’t that busy. We talked to the owner and he threw a fit and walked off after saying “I’ve been cooking eggs for 30 Years”. Wouldn’t refund the food but ended up refunding the coffee after being there for a while trying to talk to him about it

Fabulous service! Im a fairly fussy eater, chef was more than happy to make serve something to my request. Excellent vibe the place. The lamb I had was juicy and succulent, i really look forward to my next visit in the near future! Thanks

Rather disappointing. Booked for high tea for 4 people but the person who took the booking never wrote it down. Arrived there to be told we should have booked a day in advance. Left after being told we'd have to wait half an hour. Website should specify these things.

My family went here on a Sunday to discover a new "street food menu" and now it is very hard to choose from the great selection of dishes. We decided to try the vegetarian won-ton, cauliflower side, seafood paella, arancini, Turkish cigars. as well as kids macaroni cheese and fish and chips. All were outstanding. The wine list was also outstanding along with an interesting non alcoholic selection. The wait staff were very attentive and it is nice to see the owner visibly keeping an eye on everything, very professional. The street art work is interesting and provides a good talking point, also the location is great, right by the beach. We will definitely be back, and have already recommended it to others.

Came with a grabone voucher and was able to upgrade to an item from the street food menu for an extra $2. The salmon trio sounded really good and looked awesome too but really wasn't worth it for the full price of $23 for 2 small bits of salmon and some salmon purée which didn't really taste like salmon at all. Stole chips off other people's plates to feel full.

Very disappointed experience. The waiter placed the order we did not ask for. And then come to argue with us that he is right. <br/>Dreadful service.

The staff are friendly and the food was delicious! We particularly enjoyed the Apple and Blackberry Crumble. The place is just off from the main road, towards the beach.

We had the best family dinner out in long while. Delicious food at an affordable price for a young family, lots to choose from too, we got several plates and all shared, so we got to try a yummy selection. Thumbs up from the kids and baby slept the whole time which was an added bonus. Looking forward to going back to try more. <br/>

Montrose is a great and atmospheric restaurant with amazing cuisine. Furthermore than just the flavors, Montrose empowers those with allergies by providing an acetic range of foods that can be gluten free. Thusly Montrose not is flavorsome but also affordable.

Really don't understand how the most recent reviews have been so high. This place has really slipped. Used to have good atmosphere and a great variety on the menu. Came here for Fathers Day after not having been here for a few years. The restaurant was not busy and it took 20 minutes for our drink order to be taken, plus another 20 for them to finally come out. One coffee had to be sent back and remade. The parents omelettes were fine but the Montrose Breakfast I had was a disappointment. Overcooked hash browns and bacon, and my avocado was obviously prepared long before my ordering and had been tainted with whatever it was stored with. Staff did not offer any resolution except for a meek "sorry." Very disappointed.

Amazing food. Great staff. Many gluten free options and chef is happy to adjust non-gluten free meals where possible to ensure everyone can enjoy great tasting meals. Reasonably priced.

Smoked salmon bagel to die for.... Yummy<br/>Great coffees and breakfasts, love feeling so welcome every time we visit. Thank you Bruce, great team.

On a blustery winters day we ventured out to breakfast at Montrose.<br/>Service was excellent...<br/>Food spectacular.. <br/>Great well priced coffee.. we will be back... our host was very thoughtful...had the fire lit before we even arrived.!!!

Their trio of salmon is worth a rave review - best I have had in a long while.   Lovely colours and textures as well as flavours - and fairly priced too.

We had breakfast at Montrose Saturday morning, having been at the establishment many times before for other meals. One of us enjoyed the Big Breakfast, and my Bagel with salmon was just the best. Nicely toasted bagel, hot smoked salmon, and the big juicy capers, just great. We started and finished with perfect coffee, thank you.

Recently visited Montrose to try their new street food menu. We were very impressed with the dishes we received (Tuscan Pork and Beef Skewers). The meat was very tender and the meals were perfect to share. Service was great despite being there on a busy Saturday lunch. Can't wait to visit again and try some of the other new dishes 😊

Keen service but I'm afraid the style of the place really wasn't up to scratch with the area. More like a cafe seen on the outskirts of Hamilton. <br/>Food was average and could of done a similar job at home. So sorry it couldn't be better

Great food and awesome service. Like the new street food menu. Meat balls and the lamb definitely my favourite. Cheers for the meal, will be back soon!

<br/>The breakfast/ lunch and dinner menus at the Montrose in Mairangi Bay include fairly standard fare, but they have a very appealing "Street Foods" menu which contains so many appetising sounding options - although far more gourmet than "street" as sampled during our travels through Asia. <br/>We chose the Tuscan Pork fillet and the Trio of Salmon, and shared a selection of breads and dips. The trio of breads were thick slices and accompanied by olive oil with balsamic, a pesto and a hummus - a very tasty accompaniment to the main courses. The succulent pork was served on a Mediterranean rice with a roast peach and apple relish - it was very tasty and moreish. The salmon trio (hot smoked, mousse, and gravlax with gremolata) was beautifully presented and accompanied by wild mushrooms, kumara crisps, mascarpone, chilli infused sweet soy and micro greens. This was utterly delicious and all the delicate flavours of the different elements were well balanced - definitely not street food! <br/>The service was very prompt and efficient. Overall the food and service is extremely good and we cannot resist returning to try other options from the street food menu - and maybe also their High Tea, although this has to be booked ahead.

Food is great,service is excellent,the place is so cozy. Definitely will come back. We had a dinner with 5 kids and all the staff are super friendly and very understandable with the kids. Very recommend for all with kids or without kids.

Very enjoyable, after ANZAC Browns Bay dawn service, breakfast for 6 at Montrose.  No Public Holiday surcharge = great.  Efficient cheerful service. Breakfast special, unexpected bonus.  Ingredient adjustments for personal taste no problem.  All different orders, thoroughly enjoyed.  Looking forward to going back and trying their new "street" menu!

Enjoyed dinner here with a group of friends recently and really liked the food. The lamb was exceptional! Would definitely recommend to others.

Great coffee and good friendly service. Good for vegans in terms of drinks. Helpful staff. Free fast wifi. Will definitely be making it a regular coffee stop.

Went here on recommendation from some close "foodie" friends and the experience definately did not disappoint! Loved the street food menu especially since we went with a big group we could all have a bit of everything.We were tended to like we were vip even had the owner come and make sure we were all happy.<br/>Couple of favourite dishes were the morrocan lamb cutlets and the brioche mozzarella melt.<br/>We will be back for sure!

Montrose have a great location but are so off the mark it's disappointing. The decor is so tacky and confusing, why is there a fridge in the entrance? Ugly conference style chairs and icicle Xmas lights which is also strange. Meals very expensive for the quality of the dishes, I had an over sauced salmon, my husband had steak which was ok. Deserts where dry and nothing special. Staff very nice and attentive but that is not enough to attract diners.

We visited last night, with visitors from overseas. Would love to rave about this place, as it is in a great location, but unfortunately I feel the pricing of the meals are way off. When paying $37 for fish and chips you would hope for a bit of flare on presentation, not literally fish and chips on a plate no garnish to be seen. Other dishes ordered, cabonara, vegetarian lasagne, turkish filo parcels, and lamb salad. The food was ok, but needs to be priced accordingly, then they may pick up a bit extra custom. For us sadly, we will not rush back.

Just up from the beach, with great food and the staff can't do enough for you. If you want a variation to the menu or a special or gluten free sauce, they are happy to make your meal special. Love this place@

My wife and I had a really lovely meal here on Wednesday night.  The service was excellent and the staff were very helpful and friendly. The chef even went out of his way for my wife and made a lovely dairy free sauce for the sticky date and pear pudding.  There is a good range of Gluten free food.  We will definitely be back again.

Sunday morning breakfast, food was good and everyone enjoyed it but for the first hour I would say the service was terrible, the service only started improving when our waiter changed to a young man. Although the girl serving us before wasn't bad she just had too much on her plate with no help from the lad at the bar.

Went here for breakfast this morning with 2 others. Thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast. Was very impressed that they offered half portions AND when we all ordered an iced coffee, they asked if we wanted it sweet or not. Have never been asked that before, so that was a nice touch. And then our iced coffee got topped up because the owner(?) saved what was left when he had made it, so as not to waste it down the drain. Very thoughtful! Would go back again in a heart beat. Thank you!

I love going to Montrose.  I have always enjoyed the atmosphere. Its a  great place for that lunch time meeting.  The staff are very accommodating when you have colleagues with food allergies/ sensitivities.

Wonderful breakfast Good and fantastic coffee, ove the Montrose breakfast plate,  Service was remarkable--friendly. great place, good food, good personal service, GO THERE....thanks...robert peel, denmark

Have been to this place before and it's been fine but took my Aunty & Uncle last night and food was very average! The scallops didn't really impress, Pork Belly was dry and tough, and too much watery liquid in the John Dory Special. We didn't particularly enjoy the Special Baked cheesecake either. It certainly didn't feel value for money and was quite expensive regardless. Although they gave us a little discount due to my feedback it didn't make up for the experience and has put me off returning. They're in such a fantastic location and the decor is lovely. The service was ok but they have a lot of competition around them so need to think about that. No wonder it was almost empty. Dissapointing.

Wonderful breakfast & lunch! Very accommodating of GF needs for our daughter. Fantastic coffee and pastries (inc GF). Love the Montrose breakfast plate--big enough to share. Service was remarkable--gracious and friendly. Thanks, Zina!

Montrose was the perfect venue for our group function, there were fifteen of us in total which is never easy but the young yet experienced staff members accommodated us and made our night very enjoyable. The service was impecible, there was only one young man looking after our whole table, Danien was our waiter and he served every person on the table so nicely, we could see he was stressing but he still did an amazing job. Originally we were meant to be on the Christmas menu but there was a bit of confusion so we ended up on the regular menu which in my opinion worked out better, cost wise. The food was Devine, I had the Duck and my husband had the Pork we both found the meals filling and also good. Would definitely go again. Thank you to the barman for referring us to this app.

Had dinner here in the weekend. Pleasant atmosphere with 70's style wallpaper and rustic old pub feeling. Disappointed the guinness tasted a bit stale. I had salmon fillet which was quite small on grey coloured potato slices. tasted ok though. companion had scotch fillet which was cooked medium rare but average tasting. we had mixed vegetables side - green beans a little soggy, asparagus & brocolli just OK. Service was good as patronage was scarce. Probably wouldn't go here again.

I went to Montrose this afternoon for my birthday dinner with my husband and I can say that I had an amazing time, we had the John Dory and bangers and mash which were both so good, the dory could have had a little salad on the side but it was still so yummy without it, I had such great service from my waiter, he thanked us when he finished his shift, he obviously knew what he was doing and was so polite throughout the afternoon. My waiter also recommended this application to me to review the restaurant which I'm grateful for. def will be back.

We had celebrated my sons birthday at Montrose and as usual the food was exceptional. It's a very quaint and cosy atmosphere, with great food, great service and a really homely feel. Would definitely go back...

Just had an amazing dinner here! I won 2nd prize in a competition and hadn't been before. Was so impressed! Beautiful food, lovely ambience and wonderful service. Zina was our waitress and she was amazing. Thank you Bruce for a fabulous evening, we will definately be back soon. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

Went there for dinner. Service was fantastic. The staff were friendly and paid great attention to detail. The food was yum. Everyone at our table raved about their lamb shanks in the jus. It was devine. I had the vegetarian lasagna. It was melt in the mouth. yum. When dessert came although we were pretty full. We still managed to eat the sticky date and pear pudding with butterscotch sauce, delicious. We will definitely be back. Thank you Bruce and the team

Service was quite slow today. Very young staff on and lacked someone leading the floor with orders. Waited 20 minutes for 2 coffee only. There was only 6 people at tables including us.

Had another wonderful meal at Montrose- a gorgeous staple of Mairangi Bay. Great atmosphere and staff- thanks so much to Bruce and team. Another amazing meal- look after the kids so well- but just as lovely to go for a meal for two. The house smoked salmon is to die for- and a must have - the steaks and beef dishes outstanding !

Nice lunch after walk on the mirangi bay beach. there was a blackboard outside stating iced coffee is served inside so I tried their sweetened iced mocha-smooth and like the sweet. Eye fillet was cooked perfectly medium and salmon omelette was fantastic. Corn nuggets was to chew and kumara chips with skin looked healthy. The only thing I think should be improved is salad besides, there's no much dressing on it so not tasty at all.

Nice atmosphere // relaxed // good food // beautiful presentation // friendly service<br/><br/>Came here for lunch today and not disappointed. I ordered the French toast which was nice, I had it with foccacia bread, but it would have been nicer with brioche. The double chilli cheese fries are a must have!! The layered salmon hash looks really nice as well. I had the peanut butter and chocolate shake, it came in an old school milk bottle, but the contents did separate, perhaps they could improve on that respect. <br/><br/>I think the place is quite dark and the music could be better to improve the ambience, however overall it is a nice place, much recommended, staff is always really nice and so is the food.

I am disappointed! I am disappointed I had not been here sooner! Goodbye McDonald's breakfast bagels for your breakfast bagels are no match for these breakfast bagels! Breakfast bagels yum!!! Breakfast bagels breakfast bagels breakfast bagels yum yum yum! Coffee was great too! Coffee coffee yum yum!! Service was genuine and staff were fantastic! Super super staff staff!! Price is CHEAPER THAN MCDONALD'S TOO!! Cheaper cheaper cheap cheap!! Awesome art! Arty arty awesome awesome!! I am going crazy with excitement over this place! !! This truely is a genuine cafe experience.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!! Been here afew times now for breakfast and dinner. Every visit has been fantastic in terms of service and food. Getting served immediately by staff whom are very attentive is great. Good customer service. The food is really delicious and worth the money. Generous portion sizes and every bite was delicious. Overall experience was really good and would go back again and again. Amazing coffee!!!

This is the 3rd time we've been here and the food is always good, but on this occasion we were let down by a couple of things. Firstly, the table of 4 next to us got their food first, even though our party of 2 ordered much earlier. There was no acknowledgment from the staff that our food was on its way. Secondly, there was a small hair on my plate. I didn't have time to wait for a replacement meal to be prepared so I removed it and had my breakfast. I mentioned the hair when paying the bill and the staff member said he'd inform the chef, but that's all I got. In my experience other cafés have offered discounts or taken something off the bill when the experience was unsatisfactory, so this was disappointing. There are so many good cafés on the Shore that attention to detail is paramount if you want customers to keep coming back.

A bit grubby, and dated as per the photo of the Zomato table card covered in crap. Food was OK, as was the service, but overall it lacked something. A bit of an old British pub mixed with a 90's cafe vibe.

Lovely place, Good attention and very friendly people. I needed to work, go out there, I decided to stay and I loved it. I recommend. The food looked delicious I must go back to try everything.

Montrose is our "go to" place for a weekend brunch. Our regular order is scrambled eggs on toast with bacon and tomato  - they are the best scrambled eggs in town - creamy and cooked to perfection (not overcooked as most places do). Dish comes with 2 slices of wholemeal bread and we're quite particular, asking for the eggs to only go on one slice and a pottle of jam for the other:-)! They always are only to happy to oblige with a smile on their face. In fact they know our order so well we don't need to even ask! Coffee is excellent too. Location is literally 1-2 minutes from the beach and with the outside seating it's a perfect spot to start a weekend.

Went here for high tea, but we were not impressed. Food was not very special (tomato and Mayo sandwiches, flavourless mini muffins). The restaurant was lovely and the staff were nice, but both of us only are two items in full and just took little bites out of everything else, leaving the rest on our plates.

We had an enjoyable evening meal at Montrose  (vegetables were included).  A very cosy and and relaxed environment.  Loved the gas fire that you could sit beside, as I did, on a cool winters evening.  The staff were exceptional and the meal delicious.  Will definitely be going back.

Great service. Good serving sizes. Nice food. The olds love the seafood chowder. <br/><br/>I would recommend popping in for a coffee or a wine if you're in the area and not hungry.

Fantastic spot! open fire, glass of Chocolicious Pinot Noir and a big slice of chocolate cake :-) have just spotted they do Sunday lunch we will be back for that. Service incredible also.

Fantastic food, coffee and service highly recommend very rare to find a place that goes the extra mile for customers, and great to see the love and passion being put into food being made and presented for customers. Definitely will be back!

This i reckon is one of the cutest little cafes around. Loved the environment and setting of this place. The food's presentation was remarkable. The salad was a bit under seasoned but the lovely girl at checkouts made up for it with the complements. All in all - lovely place , lovely staff and i will definitley be coming back

My fiance and I hosted our engagement party at Montrose in January and only had great feedback from our guest about the restaurant and atmosphere! As always, the staff were very professional and friendly. Bruce prepared lots of yummy nibbles at a great price and we had a fabulous evening with our family and friends! - Also as a regular customer, my family and I love Montrose for a quiet weekend catch up over nibbles and drinks! Highly recommend!

We love Montrose. This is our go to place for family meals out. Something delicious for everyone. And the knowledge and care that Bruce has that allows our coeliac daughter to relax and enjoy the food here is WONDERFUL. The kids love trying a different yummy and interesting smoothie flavour each time they go and I love my perfectly cooked steaks or the whitebait fritters. My mum passes all the cafés of Taka to come here. See you again next week Bruce!

What a mistake it was going to this 'restaurant/cafe' <br/><br/>I came here for my 21st birthday and had a terrible experience. First of all the service was sooo bad! They took ages to get to us and they weren't very friendly at all. My cutlery was a tad dirty which I personally think, isn't acceptable. It literally took one hour to bring out our food. Starter and main came out at the same time. Expected better for price.

We had brunch here last week, and had a nice eggs florentine on a tasty croissant. Friendly efficient staff allowed for a relaxing meal, and it's not on the main Beach Road, so there's no noisy traffic like on the main drag. So it's a nice quiet spot.<br/><br/>They did a good job of my wife's almond milk flat white, and my daughter was very happy with her collection of sides (nicely cooked poached egg, avocado, tomato and toast). Improvements would have been to watch that the edges of the croissant don't get burnt, seeing as it is thin at the edges... and I would've preferred my eggs a bit runnier.<br/><br/>Generally a very enjoyable cafe experience.

Montrose is a pleasant surprise, European sophistication in the heart of the Bays. The young staff are eager to serve with a smile, something lacking next door at Paper Moon.

For me, Montrose never fails. I am surprised to see some bad reviews on here, truly, as I have always found the customer service to be above anywhere else on the north shore. The chef himself always makes an effort to come out of the kitchen at least once during a service. The waiting staff are young and friendly - always taking the time to explain things and make suggestions, and following up if you need anything more. The menu is extensive and there's something for everyone - simple, tasty, and classic kiwi fare that is good value for money. I love the nights with live music, especially. Such a cosy environment - for breakfast, lunch or dinner. A local gem, in a peaceful corner of Mairangi Bay.

I have been a regular diner at Montrose for a long time now, and i think it is fair to say that given my numerous visits, i have a well seasoned opinion on the place. Firstly, the service. All the wait staff that have served me have always acted with the up-most professionalism, and from time to time even provide some lighthearted humor which i feel really adds to my dinning experience. <br/>Secondly, the food. The Menu is very large but whatever i order it is consistently nice. I also appreciate that almost every item on the Menu is gluten free, even though i myself don't utilize this option. <br/>Lastly, whenever i feel like swapping my bacon for avocado or otherwise, the chef is always happy to do so. How many places offer such a large menu and provide your meals just the way you want it?Keep up the good work.

I am a regular here at Montrose, I come in during lunch and dinners services. I am always greeted with a smile. The food is great but if it's not to standard the chefs are willing to fix it ASAP. The waiters are always friendly and willing to help, sometime I get new staff who can be shy. Lovely place for a quick coffee and cake. Also it good to hear they make all these sauces there on site. It my go to cafe in Mairangi Bay!!!!

Nice spot for a drink after a hectic week. <br/>The staff were friendly and the service was pretty good. <br/>It was quite empty when I went but it was a warm and cosy place and it was quite early. <br/>

Horrible, poor customer service. We sat outside and it took ages for someone to come serve us.<br/>It's like they don't want any customers, they don't put in any effort to welcome customers and to try and make their visit an enjoyable experience.  They totally ruined our morning.<br/>STRONGLY RECOMMEND don't come here.  go to Paper Moon next door which has much better customer service, good quality of food for good price.

What a rip off!! Booked high tea. $25.00 per head. I had one club sandwich and a flat white. 4 of us was $100 bucks!! Very disappointing.beware

Montrose has a snug little bar with fire that is great for after work drinks. And I like the gluten free biscotti that comes with your coffee, nice treat!

We recently dined at Montrose Café with a group of 10+ people.<br/>The service was absolutely amazing and we were well taken care of by all the staff there.<br/>I had the Prime Fillet Steak; (180gm) wrapped in bacon grilled as requested, mushroom risotto cake, steamed spinach, field mushroom, jus.<br/>IT WAS BY FAR THE BEST STEAK I’VE EVER HAD! And I’ve ordered a few Steaks in my time.<br/><br/>I’ll be back for sure and I’ll be spreading the word – BEST RESTAURANT!

I usually dine at another local restaurant, but as usual was busy, so opted for Montrose for breakfast. Jacob was our waiter, he was very pleasant and attentive. We ordered our coffees, which was nice and hot. I ordered the Eggs Florentine which was good and my husband had the Seafood Chowder which he enjoyed. All in all Montrose is a nice place.

Dined on Wed April 02 2014 . Two staff (both young) including duty manager. Enjoyed the exchange of humour with Manager. Food served was excellent and matched the friendly approach of the staff. Have been in the VIP Club BUT PLEASE PLEASE any way redeeming a birthday gift or points can be made a much simpler process than exists . Spent more than 5 minutes at the "till" with staff trying to work out how to action redemption after providing copy of email reward and IPhone profile

Terrible. Not restaurant quality at all. Three of us for breakfast, the hollandaise sauce was from a jar. The 'fresh juice' was from a bottle. We ordered 2 eggs sunnyside up, they were burnt underneath and overcooked on top along with overcooked bacon and sausage. The second lot of eggs were not much better, inedible. How can you ruin bacon and eggs? Will not be going back.

Waited 40 min for a bowl of fries that didn't arrive so went to leave and pay only to find our order wasn't even put in. Two teenagers running the show who didn't seem to care, no manager in sight and when I complained they didn't even try to find the manager. Place had only 3 tables full so weren't busy as an excuse. Disappointed.

Nice to see Montrose not charging a surcharge over the public holidays at Christmas and New year. It easily could have as many of the other Mairangi Bay cafes were closed so had a captive market.<br/><br/>Service is generally ok, the night staff seem to be more attentive than the daytime staff. Maybe some new staff over the holidays? but a bit of training in acknowledging customers either seated or waiting at the counter would be good.<br/><br/>I would say food is good pub food...nothing too flash but nice all the same. <br/><br/>I have dropped in during winter for a few drinks by the fire previously and it was great. A nice cosy atmosphere.

Stopped in for coffee. The coffee was good. The service abysmal. Probably the worst service we've had. The guy looking after out front 2/2/14 was near on hopeless. We sat and he ignored us. My wife went in and ordered coffees. We decided given service was so poor there was no point taking a chance on food. The guy walk past over and over and never asked if we'd ordered, never cleared the table of dirty dishes, never even acknowledged us. The table next door went to leave and asked if we wanted to pile our dirty dishes there. Then another adjoining table piled the dirty dishes left on their table there as well. Mr waiter was oblivious. He took an order from one table and never returned. They cleared their table then called him over to order food as he'd ignored them to. <br/><br/>The guy would take a dirty plate, one in each hand and take them away then return and completely ignore the pile of dishes remaining on the table he'd just taken plates for. He came to us over and over with other peoples orders... did you order a takeaway coffee, no... did you order smoothies, no.... did you order... he had no idea what table ordered what. <br/><br/>He was useless although a perfect example of how to do the job badly. Finally our coffees arrived after about 40 minutes. Luckily we'd been enjoying the conversation. I then explained to him that I thought his service was poor and why. He then apologised and said he thought we'd ordered that's why he hadn't taken our order.<br/><br/>OUTRAGEOUS! He never responded to the issue of him not removing the dishes from our table. Us and others managed to fill one table with dirty dishes. He never cleaned our table. He never apologised. If you get it wrong then own up don't sit there and produce excuses best suited to an 8 year old. <br/><br/>Never again will we come here. It seems this place is either good or very bad. Go to Paper Moon on the corner.

Took the family last to Montrose last Thursday and we thoroughly enjoyed our evening. Great Atmosphere, nice music the staff were friendly and very attentive despite having a very busy night. The food was absolutely divine. I had the lamb shanks which were practically falling off the bone, I can't remember having shanks that tender before. The rest of the family were also very satisfied. Must say we were very impressed. We will defiantly be back.

Went for the first time on Saturday night. My husband and I were really impressed. Great food, amazing service, good value for money what's not to like. Will definitely be back and will recommend to all. Can't understand why this restaurant has some poor reviews.

Most disappointing, food was a cook's quick tea, not a chef's creation. We dined using a 2 for one discount voucher, the 35 dollar price per meal was crazy. Portion size was average. The meal consisted of crumbed fish, boiled veges, the asparagus offered did not appear, cauli was crumbed and gratin potato just harked back to 1970s. Montrose is in a pleasant spot. The waiter was courteous and introduced himself when we sat down, a nice touch. However, it was all down hill and we will not return.

We dined at Montrose Cafe today for lunch and based on the previous reviews we had high expectations. Sadly we were extremely disappointed. I ordered the Battered Fish of the day and found bones in my fish which I found to be completely unacceptable, I also thought for $24.50 the portion was very small. My companion ordered the Scotch fillet steak which was served with the salad and fries floating and soaked in the juices from the steak, which again is completely unacceptable. Needless to say we won't be going back. **The only positive of our experience was that the staff were very pleasant and friendly.

I have been here a few times in the last 3 months. I will review the most recent on Sat 6 July. We were a party of 12 and apart from a bit of a faltering start with the service, all of us were very pleased with the standard of the food and service for the rest of the evening.The coordination of the delivery of the food was very good for such a large party and the waiters were very pleasant and attentive. I will comment on my meal and my husband's. I had whitebait fritters for entrée and he had soup, both pronounced very nice. My eyefillet was delicious and extremely tender and my husbands salmon was also delicious. Value for money here. Along with the main you get veges (carrots, cauliflower,brocolli and Beans) or salad included in the price. Rather then more high class establishments that give you a tiny piece of meat on a huge white plate then you pay EXTRA for sides. We WILL be back!

Visited this establishment yesterday for the first time, for lunch. First impressions very nice atmosphere and quite intimate - not too big and not too small. Before I wrote this review I read all other reviews. I have to agree with most of the positive comments therein; I didn't experience any of the negative service others had mentioned.<br/>Two things I will pick up on - definitely the coffee service is too slow. I ordered one very soon after arrival and it seemed to take forever to arrive - but it was worth the wait, I must say, so I guess that cancels out the negative. I would have 2 or 3 coffees if they had come quicker. And the comment on the risotto is fair - it is quite rubbery and dryish. 2 in our party had this dish and we both agreed. However others were quite happy with their meals and the desserts are excellent. <br/>Pricing is good and staff are very pleasant and attentive.<br/><br/>Would I come again? I think so and would probably do so over the 'other one on the corner'. Genuine 4 stars.

I have dined here many times, and again on the weekend. It is consistently good, with attentive service, and simple food made well. I have always experienced prompt service, and have tried most things on the menu. I love the Caesar salad, and the chicken is always good. I have found it to be a safe bet every time.

I have been a regular customer of Montrose for the past three years and have enjoyed everything from brunch through to just drinks. I have always had really good, friendly service with nothing being too much trouble. <br/>Good coffee, good food, good service! I recommend it!

Well, we tried this about six months ago and the food was inedible so we didn't end up paying. At the time we didn't receive an apology from the staff so just decided never to go back.<br/><br/>We were apprehensive about going back this morning but we were guests in a party of 16. Fortunately two guests couldn't come as the food took well over an hour to arrive. Imagine two more - could've been two hours. My coffee took about 40 mins.<br/><br/>While I understand feeding that many is stressful for the kitchen, we had booked so they should've been expecting us and the place was only half full.<br/><br/>When it arrived, the kids meals were good. Nice to see a place give kids real chicken and not nuggets.<br/><br/>I had the big breakfast and the scrambled eggs were great. The bacon was stewed but all else was ok.<br/><br/>Wouldn't go back in a hurry due to the long wait.<br/><br/>You have some work to do I think.

We have been going to Montrose for years now and each and every time, it has been fantastic. The wait staff are great- friendly and attentive, and the food is just beautiful. I can recommend the chicken and the fillet steak- our favourites along with the sticky date pudding for dessert. Fabulous coffee too. If you're looking for tasty, decent sized and well priced meals, a menu that caters for everyone, great service and awesome atmosphere, Montrose is the place to be. Well done Montrose, keep up the good work!

We went to this Restaurant for the first time tonight and were very disappointed. We usually go to another cafe close by and thought we would give these guys a go. I concur with the one star reviews that this place is overpriced for the standard of the food. I ordered the Venison Pie at $27.95 which was basically a dry $6 pie from the pie shop. $2 chips and a hand full of salad. I left most of the pastry and the meat was about 4 spoons full. My partner had the Lasagna which was quite good but a bit over cooked too. I'm afraid the food quality doesn't match the high price and don't think We'll be back PS the service was great and friendly.

In all the times that I have been, I'm yet to be disappointed. It is the local restaurant you go to knowing the food is always consistent, and the service is top notch with a personable feeling that makes you feel at home. PS, they make the best Brownie around, beautifully moist.

What a pity that a restaurant in such a good location &amp; atmosphere has to be ruined by poor customer service and low quality food. What a waste of money.<br/>The lady at the counter didn't even ask us how the food was. I guess she already knew that she wouldn't get a good feedback. <br/>Your staff need more training on customer service and you need to lower your prices.

I dined here on Sunday lunch with my family around 1pm. The place was packed but we were lucky enough to get a lovely seat by the window. Despite this, the service was prompt and professional and we were very happy with our meals. The live music was great, and really enhanced our dining experience. We look forward to returning in the future.

I visited here for brunch with my partner because we had a voucher. At first we really liked the atmosphere and we were looking forward to it. when we were ready to order the waiter didnt even come to take our order so we went up to the counter to order for ourselves. Next minute the food came out but thr Caesar salad didnt even have bacon in it.The salad was made of 90% lettuce, 1 poached egg, few anchovies.. it definitely wasnt 21.50 worth. My partner wasnt pleased with his big breakfast, it was all badly cooked especially the mushrooms. I strongly suggest you dont come here expecting good food. They have bad service and the food quality is absolutely low standard and over priced. We will definitely not be back to this restaurant.

Popped into Montrose for dinner on Friday night... mainly because I had an entertainment voucher to use.<br/>I haven't been to Montrose Cafe Bistro Bar before but will happily go back. The bar is fresh and welcoming and the staff were lovely. <br/>The menu is varied and there were several options I could happily have chosen. In the end my eating companion and I both opted for the fish of the day which was beautifully cooked. Nice sized portions and well presented. The vegetables we had with it were also perfectly cooked although, being a big veggie fan, the portions were a little on the small size.<br/>For desert I opted for the half portion desert which was great to see. Enough to round off the meal without feeling that I was over indulging. <br/>The portion was perfect and the date pudding I had was very nice. The sponge light and the sauce with it sweet but delicious. Not too many dates but that didn't spoil it for me. <br/>My friend had the chocolate mouse cake and raved over it. Very sweet but deliciously decadent apparently.<br/>I was thrilled to see the gluten free options as my daughter is unable to have gluten or dairy but I am sure there would enough options to appeal to her. <br/>Great job Chef!!! :)

Nice atmosphere. Bad choice of wine to start, but they were very obliging and let us have another instead which was much nicer. Prawn entree was very nice, could have some more. Scallop entree was okay (scallops out of season though). Mains were a real disappointment. Eye fillet was okay but didn't have a lot of flavour, probably just needed more seasoning and the risotto cake was very rubbery. Veges and salad pretty sad too. The beef wellington was terrible. I did complain and they offered us free desert but we just wanted to get out of there by then. Would not go back. Thank goodness we had a entertainment book voucher so the Beef Wellington was free. Would not usually complain but felt it was a waste of $100.

Discovered this local gem a few months ago and have had several exceptional visits since. Dining out as a celiac can be fraught with dangers but at Montrose the owner/chef Bruce Martin has created a menu with a vast range of Gluten free options. The staff are attentive and discrete and there is always one of them reviewing the diners ready to give assistance where and when required. Really feels like you are going to a mates for dinner and drinks. Bruce has gathered what appears to be a loyal group of locals and is confident to casually chat with his clientele. Very good experience.

We chose this restaurant because of the great menu. The decor was pleasant and the service was very good. The four entrees were all enjoyed, but 3 of the mains were significantly underwhelming. The lasagna and beef wellington need work. The menu, we felt, overstated the ability to deliver. Pity.

My wife and I went there for our anniversary the staff were so friendly and the food was awesome, steak was perfectly cooked even though we both like our steaks med-well it was still very tender and juicy , I have since been for lunch a couple of times and it was possibly the best BLT and chicken burger I have ever had .