Review Cafe De Laos - Napier

This was a premium Thai and Laotian restaurant. I was thrilled with the quality of the foods presentation, and all of the food there tasted terrific. I will be adding it to my favourites list.

Popped in off the street for a quick meal before heading to the airport. Welcomed and seated with water and menus delivered by our friendly waitress. We were first time diners but after enjoying this delightful meal ( sizzling tender beef and vegetables as well as melt in your mouth squid dish) me will definitely be returning. Upon leaving I put my head around into the kitchen to thank the chefs for this beautiful meal

Hi there :) my name is David and I live in Napier but before last night had not tried your food. My friend Duu recommended your restaurant so I came in with a friend for a meal. We had entrees of fresh spring roll and mixed entree. Both delicious! Then for mains the orange duck and spicy noodle with crispy pork. Your meats were cooked to perfection and we were both highly impressed with the flavours :) thank you for a lovely meal. I will be back again to try more dishes

Took my Mother ‘n Law and Wife, all three of us enjoyed the fabulous food and attentive staff. Portions were generous and we didn’t leave hungry. Will return and enjoy the sun streaming in the massive windows/sliding doors. View is the only thing that slightly lets the place down with a road, and a nicely painted public toilet blocking the view of the Marina.

VEGAN FRIENDLY Fantastic! Very friendly staff, despite us arriving late on the last day of the week. They offered us to prepare some Vegan alternatives to the large choice of mains. The food was a real treat, very fine flavors. I've never been to any asian country yet, but this is one of the best experience I've had in the many restaurants I've tried here in NZ. Thanks, will come back with pleasure!

Quick service. Tasty food. Stayed open while we chatted after our coffee with no complaint. But the shrimp could have come shelled. The others really liked their meals. Would go back anytime.

Meals came out quickly and nicely presented. Restaurant in a popular area in Napier but views were not so great. Parking is near by. A lovely touch that a lot of restaurants don't do is the toothpicks and mints at the front desk. Quiet and good service. Reasonable range of mainly Thai dishes. My partner had a vegetarian selection after a tasty 'signature dish' soup.

Was very busy tonight but service was still great. Meals came out quickly and nicely presented. Restaurant in a popular area in Napier but views were not so great. Parking is near by. A lovely touch that a lot of restaurants don't do is the toothpicks and mints at the front desk. They also do takeaways here.

We struggled to find anywhere to eat heaps of options but so noisy and crowded, we eat early so this place was great the food is top notch and we were greater by the chef, very presentable and humble, the waiter was a lovely young an who had a great smile to make you feel welcome. The food was cooked beautifully. Prices are great for the quality service.

Enjoyed a beautiful meal on Friday night, table for four and we were all impressed. Delicious and fresh flavors. Excellent, timely service. Couldn't fault. Highly recommend 👌

The most delicious food we've had in a long time. Visiting Napier for one night and not wanting to eat in our hotel we turned to Google! I chose this place based on one dish that sounded delicious on the menu description. That dish was Pad Ped. It was simply divine. So much so that we seriously considered ordering a second! We also had a Green Curry. Also outstanding. We would go here repeatedly if we lived in Napier.

One of our favourite's for authentic Thai food. You can get kiwi hot, or genuine hot! Kiwi hots enough for me :-) we both love the Pad Peds and I love the satay chicken entrée. Pleasant outlook, pleasant staff, and not too crowded. They also do take aways. Enjoy!

X4 friends out for dinner last night. Thoroughly enjoyed our meal, service was quick, food was plentiful and tasty, staff were friendly and accommodating to requests. Would recommend to others snd will definitely go back.

Have tried many different thai restaurants in Hawkesbay, Cafe De Laos is hands down the best Thai restaurant from noodle dishes, rices vege dishes to curries etc. Always with proper meat to vege rations etc and served by lovely friendly staff.

The service was amazing! They were very kind and kept checking in to make sure we were ok. Food was delicious and all members of our table enjoyed it. 🤩

I moved from Auckland 4 years ago and until I visited Cafe De Laos, I had not encountered the good quality and delicious Thai food that I was used to. Highly recommended.

great food but service was pretty poor. Waiting staff were under pressure and could use some Customer service training. location is one of the best.<br/>

This place is my absolute favorite. And the best Thai I have tasted in Hawkes Bay! The staff are friendly, they have good service. And seem to always remember me when I visit from overseas. The dishes are to die for! My favorite is the Pad Ped Crispy pork and the Cafe De Loas Special !

Had dinner here, and was great, plus service was friendly, and attentive.<br/>Just one dish kinda knocked it back from a higher rating. <br/>Had the Tom kha Ga which we always order if we can find it on a menu, and was great.<br/>I enjoyed a spicy beef salad which was amazing, just about the best thing I tried in Napier, it was really fresh with a great spicy kick. <br/>My partner although had a duck and orange sauce dish which was honestly a bit bizarre, really was the only disappointing part of the meal. Although I'd suggest you could order it anyway because it's a unique experience. All in all, a great place that does stand up Thai food, just avoid the duck.

It is located a bit further away from Napier CBD. It is possible to cycle from CBD to Ahuriri but not to walk.<br/><br/>This cafe served Laos and Thai food.<br/>We had seafood soup noodle, pineapple rice, oyster sauce pork rice, fried beef rice and onion ginger pork rice. The food was delicious and prices were quite reasonable.<br/>

Excellent food. Service is ok you have to be a little patient as there is usually a good crowd. Food is worth the wait. And service is friendly. I eat out around 3 times a week and have been here on several occasions recently.

I love their fresh spring rolls and the sauce that comes with it. The place has a nice feel to it. A bit of improvement on customer service would be nice.

The food smelt devine when we walked in and had a nice atmosphere. After that it was a fail. The waitress had no idea couldn't even tell us if the spirits for the price were dbles or singles. She just stood there telling us oh it must be singles but had no idea and didn't bother to go and ask it they were. So we just drunk water. There were four of us. From the first meal to come out to the last plate which was mine was about 45min difference. Then another person was meant to have cashews in her dish and it came out to her without it. The food was nice but the service was not up to a good standard. Wouldn't dine there again.

Great food, great flavors, great service, everything tasty and the taste of home made, nothing to complain at all thank you

Beautiful tasty food, good portions, value for money, great setting &amp; ambience<br/>We dined in once not long after it opened which was awesome, also had takeaways, can't fault it<br/>Definitely be going back &amp; recommend to others

Very flavourful food, good portion sizes, beautiful location. We were lucky to have the most beautiful laos waitress serve us, who knew the menu well and was very warm and efficient. The dishes she recommended were heavenly. definitely recommend dining here if not only to be waited on by the delightful and authentic waitstaff.

had heard many good reports about this restaurant an finally got round to testing it last night. we were delighted to say the least. the food was divine. will be returning again soon :-) it would have been a five star rating but seating was a little cramped.<br/><br/><br/>we have been back many times bringing both family and friends. we have put the rating up to a five star as the quality of the food is exceptional. we always have the same dish each time we visit (café de laos special) and it was perfection on a plate when we came in on Tuesday. :-)......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................we came for dinner the other night and im sorry to say we were disappointed. firstly we were told we could not have a window seat even though the place was empty when we arrived and also when we left. secondly we ordered an entrée each but somehow ended up with one which we ended up sharing. and lastly .....our mains arrived ...our regular café de laos special....and it looked like they had put one main on 2 plates......we left disappointed and hungry......everyone deserves a second chance so we will leave our rating as it stands for now but upon or next visit will determine the final rating and whether we will be back....

We love Thai food and this is one of the best we eat here every couple of weeks sometimes weekly. Lovely fresh ingredients cooked to perfection fantastic flavours<br/>very clean and tastefully decorated highly recommended very friendly hosts and waiting staff.

Recommended.<br/> A cold June night, we went early with 2 young children, and the place filled up by 7:30. Great food - we tried 4 specialty dishes - my 5 yr old girl wolfed the garlic prawns, 8 yr old boy did the same justice to sizzling steak, and we enjoyed Panang pork curry and Laos Special. <br/>Big portions, as were the entrees. Great food, great service.<br/> We'll be back in spring when the sliding doors are open onto the port.

Wow, this place is real thai fresh food! I have had thai before but it has never tasted like this, it is fresh, pure full of flavour! I would be addicted if I lived closer! Make my husband drive to get it for me! So my fav place to go, caual,relaxed, always great food! never disapointed! Thank you so much for bringing quality thai that is not mass produced to our area! Top in Hawkes Bay for sure!

What an amazing place, the menu has speciality dishes that are truly mouth watering.<br/>Love the style of restaurant with large glass doors that open up completely to the harbour front, makes for delightful evening dinning.<br/>The owners are genuine and kind people that work hard to make every diner happy with the food and experience. We will definitely be going back and would highly recommend this restaurant. Well done. A++

The restaurant looks quite swish from the outside, but is a much more relaxed &amp; casual experience on the inside. The atmosphere and interiors are nice but the seating for two is a little cramped in some places, especially near the kitchen. We particularly felt sorry for the couple who landed the table next to the busy kitchen door.<br/><br/>The menu looks pretty much all Thai and very much modified to regional kiwi tastes. The fresh vegetable rolls for example didn't have coriander, as the waitress explained that most locals don’t yet have a palate for it. That aside the food we ordered was great and the servings were large, giving excellent value for money and ensuring that my partner was full at the end of his meal. The service was friendly and staff tried their best despite being understaffed on the night. I’d recommend giving this place a try, especially if you have a big eater amongst you.

What a restaurant, fault advertising !! Am a fan of Thai Cuisine and regular visit to Thailand 5 times a year.<br/><br/>Lao is another country, not part of Thailand at all !! but by using the name Lao but selling unauthentic Thai cuisine, shoud Trade commisioner look into this.<br/><br/>Am only visit to this restaurant last week and to find out that their food is really SUB Standard, and to find out from Waitress that the chefs are not even Thai (but selling Thai cuisine), you see my point.<br/><br/>I strongly recommend that you change your menu to 100% Laotian food then that will give your customer better understanding what is Laotian food.

My first visit to the Cafe De Laos was a very pleasant surprise. The dining room was spacious and well decorated.<br/>The food was tremendous as was the service.<br/>Price range was reasonable. The dessert was limiting which seems to be the norm with Asian food type restaurants.<br/>Look out for the Flaming Pineapple dish!<br/>This place is a must and is recommended.

A restaurant based on an exceptional service model, food was exquisite and beautifully presented, a great recommendation to all visiting the Bay

The Cafe De Laos service, food and atmosphere is excellent. Cafe De Laos is a jewel in the Napier dining crown. <br/>Brendan Phibbs

The food is superb - best thai we have had in NZ. The service is not special but fine. Location is great - can't wait to try it in summer when all the windows are open.