Review Route 72 Cafe Bar & Emporium - Cust

Good food, great service and an excellent response to a serious food allergy. The kitchen passed a message back to our table to say our meals would be delayed slightly as the relevant cooking areas were being cleaned to ensure there was no possible cross-contamination. Really impressed by that level of professionalism! It would be great if all restaurants were this responsive.

Family visited Route 72 Cafe Emporium today (11 Nov 2023) for my birthday lunch. The relaxed atmosphere was complemented by great food and excellent service. Staff paid special attention to allergy requirements which was much appreciated as was the impromptu "happy birthday" song from staff. Good choral skills ladies ! All round a very pleasurable visit and we hope to call again. WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Absolutely excellent lunch. Our whole group had excellent meals. Service very good. Definitely recommend it.

A cafe inside an Aladdins Cave of trinkets, treasures and kitchen and dining items and fashion items. Operates breakfast and lunch menu with a Cafe offering. I had the roast vegetable compote on a winter salad. I added the venison sausage and bacon, and a side of fries and aioli. This meal was phenomenal, from the presentation to the taste. It was simply sensational. A small selection of alcohol was also available. Cant wait to return.

We love this place and have been often over some years now. Never a bad experience. Great food, lovely staff and real attention to detail. Highly recommended. 20/10/23:- Just wanted to post a pic of the bestcup of coffee I've ever had. Also managed some classic i.e. real chips, done exquisitely, with the aforementioned flat white for lunch! Heaven!

Had a very pleasant lunch experience yesterday. Simply the best wedges ever eaten, along with very good table service given by cheerful staff. Thank you.

Extremely friendly staff, good food and a variety of nik naks to explore. If I had a critique it would be that they were a bit short on the bacon and sausages. My husband had the full breakfast but only 1 sausage cut in half and 2 rashers of bacon, not really enough for a grown man.

Just wow! Food here was delicious! I was recommended to visit by and friend and convinced a couple of friends to come with, the drive to get to route 72 is beautiful with the trees lining the road and the mountains in the background, then you arrive to the quirky-est little shop and cafe. We had pre booked a table and got one with a view, decoration around the cafe were items of art that could be purchased and the additional rooms downstairs we're filled and almost bursting with items, from kitchen wear to handbags to tourist knick knacks for purchase. My friends and I ordered a variety off the menu and were a little saddened that it was hard to tell the difference in presentation but each of us had a tasty and healthy lunch, so much so we decided to stop for dessert too. And those topped our mains, portions were generous and plated beautifully. Only downside was I had no confirmation using the online booking system and had been told there was no access to this as a staff member was away, so felt glad I rang with enough time to book still. Other than that great place and will no doubt visit again.

Perfect for a celebration. Great Cafe and restaurant and shop!! Hostesses were excellent, food A++++ and beautifully presented.Allowed us to put some decorations around and we're very hospital. A busy busy place. Need to book for an occasion.

What a find!!! Excellent coffee and service! Brekkie was fantastic… a must for a stop …

The breakfast is a decadent treat. The eggs were perfectly cooked and the bacon was crispy and delicious. Absolutely scrumptious!

Sat upstairs. Service was excellent. Food beautifully presented. Well worth visiting.

A few weeks ago we went here for lunch for my birthday lunch. Everyone enjoyed the view, the atmosphere and most of all the food. Many thanks!

Just continues to sate and charm. Annette, Steve and their team have high quality standards, an unerring consistency in food quality and personal service. A lovely emporium of nicknacks and eye candy tops off a great experience.

Top place to go and enjoy a great meal. A big thank you to the waitress, what a lovely lady. To the chef, for yet again, a delicious meal. Until next time.

Absolutely stunning. Firstly, I loved the emporium, there is a huge array of things to look at. Secondly, the staff were lovely, attentive and very welcoming. Last but least the food was fantastic. I had the grilled chicken salad open sandwich and I could not get enough. Finished off with a lovely lemon tart. I look forward to heading back to enjoy the rest of the menu.

Made a random stop in Cust this morning and had coffee and breakfast. Very lovely staff, friendly and attentive..the food was very pleasing, great portion sizes! Coffee was very good also. Enjoyed our wee experience around this town today.

Called in for afternoon tea and food lovely. Had look around at all that was on sale and lovely things there. Not much seating in the cafe area so wouldn't want to be there on a very busy day. Little room to move about around the stands and shelves inside to look at the goods on sale. No good for wheelchair or someone on crutches.

My first meal along with a friend at this unique restaurant. We enjoyed a great meal served by super friendly staff. A definite must for those looking for that special venue or just to enjoy the muffins and coffee. Coffee to go was enjoyed on our way home. Can't recommend this enough. Definitely on my go again list.

Friday evening was family/casual night at Route 72. <br/><br/>Food was outstanding; Gourmet Burgers, Chips and a beer for $20. The service was great and the whole family had a great night out.<br/><br/>We will definitely be going back there again soon.

Went here tonight and it was delicious. The food was beautiful. Everything was fresh and tasty. Service couldn't have been better, drinks and food all came out in a very timely manner, and the atmosphere was very relaxing and enjoyable. We had burgers, pizza and fries and would go back for all of them. Very reasonably priced for the high quality of food. Highly recommend this place!!

I have to admit I am a bit of a regular at Route 72. I often call in for a coffee and a muffin when I am out on my bike - the muffins are always fresh and delicious. I also like to take friends there for a meal which I did again recently. We were warmly welcomed, the service was impeccable and the food delicious. We all enjoyed a browse around the interesting and varied treasures in the emporium. Highly recommend!!

We eat here regularly. Fabulous food and great service with a smile. I loved the guacamole open sandwich and I cant wait to come back and check out the rest of your new menu. Good coffee too. We love to browse the many beautiful things in the emporium. Keep up the good work. We will be back.

I often stop at Route 72 on my way through to Oxford as I was blessed to discover this stunning little spot by chance several years ago. <br/><br/>I had a very extensive background in hospitality myself including managing some of the top end hotels in Christchurch and are often critical of the relaxed kiwiarna that is displayed at many ma and pa cafes.<br/>I now make a point of going to and recommending others to this cafe....<br/><br/>What a little beauty of a spot. The food is of high quality, great value and the service is always unobtrusive and sharp.<br/>I cannot speak highly enough of this place and frankly hope the people that have complained do not come back because I really would love this piece of paradise all to myself..<br/><br/>Kudos to Route 72. A very rare and stunning venue in the Canterbury district.

What a totally outstanding place. The food is fantastic, the service is exceptional and the staff go all out to ensure customer satisfaction no matter what. Hard pressed to find a better pizza in Canterbury, the fries are the best I have had in years. Glad to see they support local wines. The coffee is pretty darn good too.<br/>This is a great place to visit both weekends and during the week. After reading the other reviews I must say its disappointing in a service industry that so many people don't speak up about something not being right until after they have left, and then choose to tell the world instead. Think about the hard working staff, if there is something wrong, give them the opportunity to fix it, otherwise don't complain.<br/>This place deserves 5 Stars.

Wow! Never going back there again! Used to meet there with friends on the same day weekly. Never a smile, my order was often wrong and the last time I did the staff complained that I returned my undercooked meal. We would spend $100's there a week and we would feel like we were in the way and a hassle. We have moved on to somewhere else where we get a smile and great service...

After reading the reviews I simply have to say, that it never ceases to amaze me how people obviously having a bad day, can take out their frustrations in such a divisive and personal way, on reputable popular and recommended eatery establishments. <br/> To see someone complaining about not getting a smile?. Perhaps that person should look at themselves and ask why, rather than blaming a whole establishment and then running it down. <br/>It seems it is too easy to to be critical and pedantic when it comes to reviews these days, especially when they are from people who have little or no industry experience. All reviews are subjective so when one sees highly complimentary reports , how can you have such a hugely critical one?. Many people are right or are they wrong and that one critical person is right?. I seriously doubt it!.<br/><br/>For years I recommended Route 72 to my South travelling international guests and for my efforts I was shown gratitude and appreciation from them in return.<br/>I visited Route 72 again in Jan this year and once again I found service, food quality and presentation to be excellent and comparable to more expensive establishments elsewhere.<br/>I personally have no hesitation at all in recommending Route 72, their staff and food to any sensible intelligent people.<br/>Highly recommended. ***** Five Stars.<br/>Keep up the great work team at Route 72.<br/>

We have dined at Route 72 on many an occasion, the staff are very efficient ,very attentive and always pleasant and go out of their way to help. I would happily recommend, we had 2 pizzas yesterday, they were very nice and not a scrap left on the platter ... Many many thanks to all the staff for making our visits memorable. : )

My wife and I frequent the Café and we love it. Service is good, the food is excellent, the presentation is very good, and the desserts are delightful.<br/><br/>Certainly worth a trip out of your way during the weekend!

We have used this restaurant on several occasions and the food and service has always been above average. This last visit was disappointing to say the least and when we came to pay there is a surcharge on credit card use, not an issue really but 1. should be informed before dinning and 2 on a dinner account for two people of $96 I find adding 1.75% unusual.

Been to this restaurant before and recommended it to some friends. We thought we would take them out there for an afternoon drive, a couple of drinks along with pizza and wedges and to check out their gift shop. The pizza had a beautiful topping but the bottom was very uncooked. I ate the top of the piece of pizza that I had and made a comment to the waitress as I thought they might like to know in case the ovens bottom grill had gone. She took the piece to the chief and came back with the excuse that they have now been getting their brie cheese from 'Trents' a different supplier since the earthquake, and it was because the cheese was too oily. The oil had definitely not gone through the base as the base was dry, white and floury. Disappointed that they had blamed the suppliers cheese as we feel this was not the cause. It simply had an undercooked bottom. There was kind of an apology, but was made to feel uncomfortable for the constructive feedback ..... and the surcharge for the credit card topped it off.

Visited here and had an okay breakfast.<br/>Very disappointed that when we approached counter to pay found a sign saying 3% surcharge for credit cards.<br/><br/>Print this on menu or advise people earlier.To be told "this has been our policy since April" didn't really help, prior to April did you offer a discount for cash.<br/><br/>We had intended bringing a group 10+ for a lunch but now won't

Stopped in for Breaky on our way down south. Staff were very welcoming and attentive. Food was yummy definitely will go back for more. The gift shop was an added bonus (although my partner might disagree as Breakfast cost him a little extra after I had a browse in it!)<br/>Oh and your opening times need to be updated.

What an amazing place, fabulous food, very well presented and we were looked after very well. Could have spent more time looking round all the gifts for sale, there were just so many to choose from. We were a group of 5 and all of us were very impressed. Such a great place in a rural setting. Well worth a visit. We will be back again.

Lovely setting, lovely view (from upstairs), friendly staff and wonderfully zany gift shop cum restaurant. The food is lovely and the atmosphere is pleasantly muted, carpet on the floor and quiet music. The place is a destination in itself, but there is also the "Fairy Shop" and the Little Rose nursery to visit! You can easily spend the better part of a day at Cust. NB nursery and Fairy shop appear to have their "weekend" on Monday and Tuesday. But Route 72 is open !!

A wonderfully engaging visual and gastronomic experience. There's no getting bored here as you muddle around a 21st century version of the Dickensian "Old Curiosity Shop." Have a coffee, a tipple, or a bite - it's all here in this,Cust's sparklingly clean, wonderfully engaging and definitely memorable little eatery. Just the "bee's knee's" for a Sunday drive and a relaxing afternoon.