Review Beach Babylon - Wellington

Everything here was good. Went for breakfast on a Thursday about 9.30am on the way to the airport. Good quick service. Good food. Good coffee. Good Fortune cookies and cocktails. Great way to start a holiday

I ate humongous Burger and a yummy mango shake. The set up of the place is cool. And outside is relaxing. The food are yum and the place is just perfect. They have toilet inside and by the way sometime they are too busy that you need to book your table ahead. They have some promos and cool activities so better just Check it out.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Beach Babylon, and I must say it was a delightful experience. The laid-back atmosphere and beachy vibes immediately set the tone for a relaxing outing. I started my visit with a cup of their freshly brewed coffee, and I was impressed by the rich and robust flavor. The baristas clearly know their craft, and the coffee was a perfect pick-me-up. For lunch, I decided to try one of their burgers, and I was not disappointed. The burger was juicy, flavorful, and clearly made with quality ingredients. The presentation was inviting, and each bite was a satisfying combination of textures and tastes. The staff at Beach Babylon were friendly and attentive, making the dining experience all the more enjoyable. The ocean-themed decor added a charming touch to the overall ambiance. If you're looking for a place to unwind, enjoy good coffee, and savor a tasty burger, Beach Babylon is a fantastic choice.

Warm friendly service & the food was well cooked & came promptly. The fish & vegetables were perfectly cooked. And my chicken burger was delicious. They also bought a water bowl for Henry my friend’s retriever. Thank you guys.

Such a cool little spot for a lovely vegan options on the menu and a great coffee while overlooking the beautiful ocean (sitting on the outside or inside) A fantastic spot for food or drinks in the Wellington harbour.

Came for the fondue, walked away with a feeling of contentment. Great staff with awesome service. Highly recommend getting the fries with the fondue #droolworthy

I really liked the ambience. The coffee and pastries were both very good. Will definitely go back to try the food as well.

A fun atmosphere and great coffee and food here always with the wonderful service. Plus they have a dog water bowl by the door. Toilets aren't wheelchair accessible though.

Served by Alice last weekend real good service, good food, very talkative which added to it funny person. Very good milkshakes. Good amount of vegan options which satisfied my appetite. Lovely cute atmosphere. Right beside the beach so lovely sea vibes. Would recommend this place to every person in the town.

Was happily surprised to see there was a huge amount of vegan and vegetarian options on the menu! I got the vegan chicken and halloumi salad and throughly enjoyed it. Staff were kind and professional and food was delivered very quickly. It is on the more expensive side but can see why with the location and great ingredients.

Great outdoor spot if you have a dog and need a spot of brunch. The coffee is always good and they even have a whole menu for your furry friend. Service is a bit all over the place but make yourself known and follow their instructions and everything will fall in place.

We came here after looking at the menu online, and the food did not disappoint! Yesterday we'd bought coffee to takeaway which we enjoyed, and today we came for dinner. Three adults and three kids, four cheese fondue for the kids to share and a vegan and gf fondue for the adults. Great food all round! Friendly staff, with good service, we look forward to coming back next time we're in Wellington! ❤️

I was craving for something spicy yesterday and their burrito was just the right thing for my craving and the weather. They were very busy, so understandably wait for a little while before the food arrived. The good thing was all the food and the coffees were good.

We were a party of four and ordered the Babylon Royal burger, which was almost too tall to bite into, two colourful summer salads, which we really enjoyed, and pulled pork quesadillas, which were a little light on the pork but still pretty tasty. Great location!

lovely spot with seats outside, heaters, and a comfy inside area. good food with a Lebanese influence. Persian eggs were good, but also the basic eggs and avo on sourdough was simple but tasty. friendly staff and good coffee. great for a brekkie in the Wellington sun.

Staff were great and food was delicious. Great for a couple or for taking the family there. Highly recommend.

We were really excited to eat some good food after hearing such great reviews from others from this place. The food we ordered was on the average side for us.. I ordered a salmon bagel which was barely covered with salmon as well as the bagel being cold and stiff it wasn't toasted at all. We ordered curly fries which were not fresh tasting either.. My friend ordered the chicken quesadilla but it was more so just filled with beans and little tiny bits of chicken here and there... We really appreciated the atmosphere and the service of the staff but the food did not satisfy us.

A great licensed cafe/restaurant with a distinct 70's Caribbean/tiki bar vibe. The food was delicious and nicely presented. Friendly staff with attentive service all evening. Although we dined indoors there's an outside eating area as well.

Busy place but ordered avocado on toast, the avocado spread on the toast was so minimal could barely taste it. Wouldn’t be going back here unfortunately.

Servers were rude, food was overpriced for its taste and portion size

A lovely place to go and eat or get a drink on a sunny day. The views of the ocean are spectacular. The food is very nice but the atmosphere is what makes it

Funky little place with interesting decor. Friendly staff and a great menu with heaps of options. Awesome wine menu. The food was delicious and the chocolate fondue for dessert was a bit of old school fun.

Went about 10 days ago for brunch on a busy Saturday morning. 3 of us sat outside. Coffees arrived really quick, and food was not far behind. They do half portions, which was great because I wasn't overly hungry. We did the eggs and potato hash cake meal. Very yum! Seeing how quickly this place gets packed is testament to how good they are. Love coming here and would love a long lazy and boozy lunch on a summer day here. Only negative was a dog at my feet. I'm not an animal fan.

Great restaurant! Beachy and relaxed theme with retro decor. Friendly and attentive staff, did not have to wait long for our food.<br/>A couple of us shared 3 small plates- calamari, beef skewers and popcorn chicken. All very tasty, the standout being the beef skewers which were fantastic with the dipping sauce.<br/>The sangria was refreshing and the chocolate fondue was good but the chocolate was a bit rich and bitter for me.<br/>All in all a great experience.

Tasty meals but several of the options had already run out by 7.30pm. Kids disappointed that they stop the milkshakes at 6pm, why?. I had the taco bites which were delicious. The nachos my wife had were also very good. Desert fondues a bit lacking. Cheap marshmallows, needed to have ones with more substance and less floralness. Insufficient dippers generally even though we ordered an extra. Pleasant staff

Had to redo my review, had a lovely meal with my wee girl here. Vegan options are amazing, so nice to be in a situation where I can choose from do many great options! The eggplant dish I had was amazing as was dessert. Pasta from the kids menu was yum and a good portion. The service was great too. I'll be back for the sunfed burger!

Lovely outlook sitting outside, we has The Edge Martinborough Pinot Noir was very smooth. My partner had the seafood linguine, plenty of seafood and tasty. The cheese fondue was a bit odd the bread tasted like supermarket bread, tasty curly fries and lovely sauces. Staff were very friendly and music and ambience fab.

Went here last week and about a year ago both times they were really good for breakfast <br/>The homemade hash browns are perfect crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle <br/>Worth the drive to get here<br/>

We went here for breakfast <br/>We tried the Fat Bastard breakfast, the pancakes and the mince on toast<br/>The hot drinks were nice as well<br/>It was very busy<br/>We will definitely come back

We came here for burger Wellington last year with high hopes, having had previous good experiences. Unfortunately our burgers were lukewarm, the patty was bland and the fries weren’t crispy. On top of that, the guy at the till overcharged us, tried to hide it, then was outright rude when we asked him to refund the difference.

Everything super tasty and all the wait staff was very friendly. My group and I had a pleasant conversation with one of the staff. I would definitely go back.

Food was pretty good! Good quality beef, grilled just well, not too dry, still juicy and moist. Food arrived quickly too. Also the service was very friendly. The waitress tried her best to be attentive despite how busy the restaurant was. Excellent service!

a warm sunny afternoon, what else is there to do but sit outside and enjoy the weather. we weren't in a hurry to eat which was just as well. service was okay. we ordered the cauliflower in a crust. was quite bland. the popcorn chicken was the best by far and totally disliked the ribs.

Food was delicious, unfortunately my drink must not have been soy and with a bad lactose intolerance I was horrifically sick within an hour. =(

Disappointing coffee. Luke warm and weak (1/2 shot?). <br/>To be fair they were busy as it was a public holiday but it wasn’t ideal unfortunately :-(<br/><br/>

Always very good! Salmon bagel ordered with a side salad. That sala was next level for a side! So good out the front on a hot day! Also, they do extremely good vegan meals. A friend of mine got the 'Vegan vegan' and there was so much food she couldn't finish it! I would rather have to pop the top button of my pants than head to maccas after.. great good!

Went last night for my sister's birthday and it happened to coincide with WOAP. The food was brought out about half an hour after ordering which wasn't bad considering how busy it was! I ordered the vegetarian burger and edited it a bit due to my allergies. The burger tasted good and the curly fries it came with were nice and crunchy! My only suggestion would be to maybe put a little less salt on the fries, they weren't inedible but it was a bit much for my taste and for the taste of a couple other people at my table. My sister ordered the steak medium rare and said half of it was medium well and the other half was medium rare, which was fine except that she would have preferred to use a steak knife to cut it instead of one of the regular knives at the table. Overall we had a nice evening, and the staff were very pleasant.

We all had a great 60th birthday celebration at Beach Babylon! We are from out of town, all converging on Wellington for the event. It was super easy to organise everything with the staff in the weeks prior. While our numbers we definitely at the upper end of capacity, everybody , including several children and a newborn, had a great time. Meals were superb. Everything fairly laid back, and staff polite and super helpful. Everybody, especially the locals, we're making plans to head back some time soon. Thanks so much Nick and the Team! Regards, Robin

Undoubtedly & consistently the worst service in Wellington. The food & craft beer is great. Sadly the service really lets this well positioned establishment down.

Came here finally after driving past a million times!<br/>We were greeted upon arrival and told to seat wherever we wanted. Service was quick and we didn't have to wait long for food- however our drinks took some time (only one barista on but tonnes of wait staff?) <br/>Food was great, love a good brunch!

Had the Vegan vegan which was delicious and huge! Partner had rosti with bacon and halloumi. Coffee and service were amazing, we will be back.

Had the shake and big breakfast, food was delicious and shakes and iced drinks are very tasty!<br/>Nice atmosphere being opposite the beach on a nice sunny day. <br/>Place does get busy fast so do be prepared for a bit of a wait time, it is worth it!

Always love the eggs Benedict whenever I go but was tainted by rude surly service of short haired male behind the counter. Usual bloke with blond hair is always excellent but this guy needs some manners- even if it is Monday morning!

Very busy on a Sunday and the staff didn't cope. The next door table seated after us had their meals, and our order hadn't been taken yet. They didn't notice that we didn't have menus. Left after coffee.<br/>

Solid brunch menu especially if you love rösti! They are often busy weekends but it's worth waiting for a table. The location and atmosphere is great with outdoor seating options for those few sunny days. Wanna try their dessert fondue next!

A great spot for drinks in the sun - and they have Pimms jugs! Most of the snack foods/small plates are a little on the greasy fried side, the fondue is excellent.

A nice little spot for brunch, and as a bonus was open Boxing Day. They have a variety of options for roti so no need for bread or toast if you wish. The coffee was good

Located on Oriental Parade I like the surfie beach house vibe and the matching music. The staff were friendly and relaxed and we got started with cups of good coffee. I had the breakfast burrito with chorizo extra and this dish is a delicious messy monster. Black beans, avocado, scrambled eggs and spicy sausage, the burrito could probably feed two but not today. I staggered out of the cafe happy and full. Recommended

Velvety coffee, efficient staff, and buzzing with happy customers. <br/>Would have liked to sit outside but can't stand the second hand smoke. What a pity this toxic practice is still permitted at a prime beach front location.

Went for burger Wellington. They had one burger which was - No smoke without fire = a burger without taste" - quite shameful! The gentleman who took order was not that friendly. Ordered two and waited for almost 15 or 20 mins. The guy told me it took time because we were the first to order for the day. When they arrived. Very disappointing. Basically, frozen beef patty which was heated up on a pan, lettuce, 2 slices of tomatoes and one slice of bacon with Tabasco sauce. Bun was plain, chips were oily and slight cold it means it was cooked earlier and wait for the frozen beef patty to be heated up. I honestly do not know why they even in the list of burger Wellington. So I gave 3 out of 10 for their burger. Honestly I wouldn't go back there anymore. When we left no Staff paid attention to us or said bye so we said ourselves bye bye forever! The food was plain and service was so so. The the burger there and staffs service needs to improve.

I have been to this place a few times now and it is one of my go-to place for brunch. I have decided to take a friend of mine here for brunch yesterday. The staffs were very friendly and the service was really fast for a busy place.  We ordered their buttermilk pancake and free range poached eggs on five grain toast. The pancake was really nice and  beautifully made. I was a bit disappointed with the other dish which is the poached eggs on toast. The toasts were a bit burnt and hard and the poached eggs were super runny.

Been for breakfast a couple of times. Fun, bustling atmosphere and great location, especially on a sunny day sitting outside. The service can be slow at times and often the staff seem overwhelmed. The food is ok, with the handmade Rosti being a standout.

These guys are rip off merchants.<br/><br/>Grossly overcharge for coffee and food is generally rubbish.<br/><br/>Place appears dirty,certainly not clean.<br/><br/>A possible health hazard.<br/><br/>DON'T GO/STAY AWAY>

This was a great place to eat quick and friendly service with amazing food and amazing drinks this is again a great place to eat kid friendly and great view out across wellington harbor and would definitely go again

Decided to come here for breakfast on my day off. Ordered a latte and eggs Benedict. The portion was relatively small compared to other cafes with the same price of order. Coffee was a bit burnt. Stuff were very friendly though. The girl behind the counter held conversations with regular customers.

Love this place. Good food. Great location and excellent service. I love that pets are allowed. I go here nearly each time I visit that side of the city.

Nice cafe. Great food and service. Reasonably priced food. I went there with a friend from USA/Poland and this cafe catered to his dietary requirements.

Although it seems a tad run down and kitchen looks like it is on shelves. The female staff member is not well trained and needs to learn better customer service. But the food was nice and one staff member was quite friendly and offered choices to us. So not overall unpleasant.

Have been here a few times lately and have been very disappointed each time. The service both times was terrible, they are extremely under staffed and when they are quieter they are chatting to each other the whole time and not looking after any of the customers. The food the first time wasn't too bad with a nice large menu to try from, however the second time it was not good. They forgot a number of things that should of come with each dish. We went as quite a large group and not one person loved their meal. The positive of this place is the spot! Very hard to beat on a beautiful day sitting outside, shame about the rest!

I've left Beach Babylon miffed after an early morning breakfast on a rare day off today.<br/><br/>I have been here a number of times in the past and was prepared to write a glowing review however my experience was mediocre today.<br/><br/>The service I had felt rushed and far from hospitable despite the place being really quiet. No "hi", no "how are you", just "what would you like?". To a couple of regular patrons, the staff member had a full conversation albeit turning slightly morbid about how newspapers only talk about us dying from climate change or terrorism. Yep, can't make that convo up and not something I am so keen on hearing while I quietly read and eat brekkie. <br/><br/>Speaking of brekkie, I had their famous potato rosti with wilted spinach. I used to love this dish because of the rustic chunky rosti unfortunately I think however it is made has changed so the whole dish was quite bland. It lacked something; maybe a thicker hollandaise or some sort of herb or spice in the rosti. Just something to give it a lift!<br/><br/>If you've made it to the end of my review, you may be thinking I am being overly precious. This is purely my perspective based on today and past experiences so take from it what you will.

We ordered poached eggs with potato Rosti, gluten free bread and free range bacon with hollandaise.. It was good but Hollandaise was a bit buttery and gf bread was a bit dense but a nice change from standard packaged bread as it was homemade. Rosti was definitely good!<br/><br/>The buttermilk pancakes with compote were good, a trusty staple breakfast. The blueberries tasted like they were frozen not fresh and the creme fraiche was too cheesy but pancakes were large and sweet and moist and delicious.<br/><br/>Poached eggs on rye with halloumi. Eggs were poached well and toast was generously buttered, halloumi was a bit small but still great quality.<br/><br/>Great coffees soy and trim - just could've been a little bigger.<br/><br/>GREAT staff the guy was super nice and friendly :)<br/><br/>Would go back again!

Saturday brunch at Beach Babylon. Very popular place but we were lucky as it wasn't overly busy.<br/><br/>We were greeted with a smile and shown to a seat immediately.<br/><br/>Brunch menu has some nice options. I opted for The Famous Rosti with free range bacon ($17.50) and my partner had the Superfoods salad with spicy chicken ($18.00).<br/><br/>We also ordered a trim flat white and a green tea.<br/><br/>My rosti meal was nice. The rosti itself was a little bland but the bacon and eggs were cooked really well. The hollandaise sauce was nice too but for me, it could have been a little more flavoursome. Still a nice brunch though.<br/><br/>The salad itself was a little bit bland but the spicy chicken and chickpea, pumpkin & cashew nut falafel balls were tasty.<br/><br/>Coffee was good. Just how I like it; bit punchy.<br/><br/>We took away a shortbread melting moment. Nice, but a little bland.<br/><br/>Will definitely be back to try more of their menu.

Stopped in for a drink and a snack. Chilli prawns were lovely and service was okay. Lovely location and typical Wellington ambience. A little bit alternative, and interesting.

I had a great smoothie and fries when I was here.  Staff were really friendly and were very happy to modify an item for me (have a nut allergy so no nuts in my smoothie).  Only issue though is it does get busy and when we walked in we were standing there for a while without anywhere to sit and didn't have any staff approach us.  Otherwise a great place, especially on a lovely sunny day

Need to say that the burger they had for Wellington on a plate was a total killer ! Really tasty and different from what was done in the CBD. And so glad it was ! Their steamed bun was delish, the mixture of the pork and duck was just amazing. Got to say that their dumplings were really decent as well and a big plus for their ginger cake with melted white chocolate !!!<br/>I don't know what this place is like when it's not Wellington on a plate but will definitely check it out !<br/>

Everything we experienced when we went to dinner at Beach Babylon was underwhelming.<br/><br/>1. We booked days in advance yet still had to wait 40mins for a seat<br/><br/>2. Once seated we were only seen to twice, no meal check, no offer to refresh drinks (definately needed after a 40min wait and 30mins for food)<br/><br/>3. The food was priced ok, but the quality was not up to standard for the price.<br/><br/>4. Upon paying the staff were uncaring about any of the issues and offered no apology.<br/><br/>Overall it was not a horrible experience, but we did leave disappointed and dissatisfied. We will not be going back again.

Go to people and dog watch. Stay for quality tea, coffee, drink, cakes, and awesome brunch. The man friend usually goes for the big veggie breakfast. I've tried the crumpets and a breakfast burrito too humungo to finish.<br/><br/>Gotta get in early for an outdoor seat in summer but their winter deals are pretty solid.

Went here for dinner and loved the environment, great spot and awesome BYO. The service was excellent and I'd definitely come back, although not for the food which was generous but fairly average. All in all a nice place to come with a few mates for dinner if you're looking for BYO and great service.

Incredible location, especially on a sunny Sunday. Unfortunately, it's winter now, so we sat indoors, where we were actually quite cold--why don't they shut the exterior doors in winter? We sat at the back of the restaurant too, near the kitchen, so it was probably the warmest spot in the whole place. <br/><br/>Their famous rosti is very good: the outer 'shell' of the rosti is crisp, and the inner parts reflect nicely conceived, potato-y goodness. The portion size is good. There are herbs. There is seasoning. The hollandaise was authentic, not too gooey, not too much. Yummy, overall.<br/><br/>The side of bacon was partly limp and undercooked, partly cripsy. It was streaky bacon, unevenly done at best. There also wasn't very much of it. For $5, I expected more. <br/><br/>The service was slow and unremarkable. The restaurant was quiet on a week day for breakfast, so we had better service than weekend diners would have. I have often had terribly slow and indifferent service there on Saturdays and Sundays, so I expected better on a Tuesday, but our coffees still came quite late (especially considering there was hardly anybody in the restaurant).<br/><br/>In a nutshell: I like the place's location and vibe, but service is indifferent, and I'm not convinced that it has anything unique to offer NZ diners.

Went down to Beach Babylon breakfast couple weeks ago on a nice but coldish Wellington Sunday. I got the breakfast burrito and a Bloody Mary and was very happy with both. The burrito is awesome and I would definitely go back and get it again. I like the vibe of Beach Babylon, have been her for a byo and a friends birthday before and was happy with the food on that visit too. Although it is certainly one of the more expensive byo venues in Wellington. They have a dogs menu which is just awesome. A good, cool family friendly place. Check it out if you want to get a meal in the bay's and sit outside.

Walking into Beach Babylon we were immediately welcomed by a super friendly barista.<br/>My pal and I grabbed a small table down the back near a massive booth (perfect place for group outings). The place looks small from the outside but there are lots of different seating options inside.<br/>The drinks menu had a lot of delicious milkshake options, I was sold on that alone! I went with the bounty bar one and my pal had the peanut butter one, both of them were delicious and not too sweet.<br/>We ordered the potatoe rosti with eggs, hollandaise and ham. It was great having a non bread option and the rosti was perfect, crunchy and soft.<br/>The interior was pretty funky, there were a bunch of old records on the wall where we sat.<br/>One of the best things though was the service, the staff were all chatty and genuinely friendly.<br/>I'd come back here next time that I'm in town.

Had a fantastic brunch there last week. Potato rostis with poached eggs, smoked salmon with capers on toast went down really well. Best coffee we've had in Wellington and fantastic service. Can't wait to go back and see what their dinner offers!

The café was Beach Babylon and it was busy but we managed to get a table outside. Service was slow and I had to go up to the counter to ask if someone could come and take our order, but it was worth the wait. I loved my quesadilla. It was so good. It was packed full of flavour and everything worked perfectly. Even the chorizo by itself had heaps of flavour, and the cheese was lovely and gooey, and the sauce added a zing to the whole dish. Yes, I am waxing lyrical about a simple quesadilla, but it was that good. I devoured the lot. I couldn’t get a good pic of the inside, but you get the idea.

Down on beautiful Oriental Parade is this little retro joint that's not only a cafe, but a bar and somewhere to get your pooch in on the culinary action as well. Pea & ham gazpacho, deluxe mince, frozen "pupsicle" treats, anyone?

Great view if the Wellington weather allows. Eclectic clever menu at reasonable prices especially the light plates.Enjoyed the Tarakihi very much.

Love the breakfast sandwiches here! The coffee and shakes are amazing too! We last came on a wet, but busy, Wellington morning and they managed to get our food out in good time. Very impressed with this place.

I just had a mocha from here . It was fyn. I love the ambience of the place . Once you enter the place it appears like u r in another realm

Great food but unfortunately they seemed really understaffed and we had to wait ages for our food and even longer for our second round of coffees (which they ended up giving us for free because of the wait). Waiter was lovely but was rushing about in a state of stress which dosnt really make for a relaxing environment. Overall all 3 of our brunches were really yummy and coffee was great so would definately return (and hope they had hired more staff!).

I neither like nor dislike this place - I think I share my husband's point of view but I do like that you can take your pooches there though. I've added my photos of the Babylon royale with cheese burger, the rosti & a milkshake ...<br/><br/>My husband's point of view:<br/><br/>Ah yes…the always-popular Xmas work lunch with the silly Secret Santa bought a group of 16 of us here.<br/><br/>I didn’t take much ambience in – the place was full and noisy and being involved in a table with 15 others means I can’t really comment on the scenery.<br/><br/>Our meals were served promptly after arrival, as we had pre-ordered and a nice touch was the staff using our names when bringing out the meals, as opposed to asking who ordered what dish.<br/><br/>My choices began with a ‘Jerk Chicken’ entrée – which comprised three -crumbed tenderloins topped with what appeared to be diced peppers and mango in a salsa-style of presentation. Seems the ‘Jerk’ may have called in sick that day – there was little or no kick to the dish and was very bland, albeit presented acceptably.<br/><br/>Following on was the pork belly, with a poached pear, kumara mash, and asparagus with a balsamic reduction. The meal was well presented, and as expected in an establishment such as this, was not amazing but not disappointing either. The asparagus was on holiday, so some broccoli stepped in to fill its place. The pork was sliced by a scalpel out of a larger dish, and presented in a very interesting triangle with crisp skin, however the knives used as part of the cutlery are too blunt to cut through the skin and in doing so, just squashed the pork and the aesthetically-pleasing presentation was soon lost. A steak knife supplied with the dish may be worth some consideration.<br/><br/>Speaking of steak, consensus around the table from those that did not order it was “I should have ordered that!” It certainly looked the most appealing of the mains ordered, and feedback from the lucky few that ordered it was positive.<br/><br/>Another colleague ordered the chicken breast with a saffron & parmesan risotto cake. Now in itself this does sound rather inoffensive, however the people that ordered this dish did not eat it, even working on the premise they like parmesan. I described the odour coming off the plate as ‘blue cheese with a bouquet of wet carpet from a student flat in Dunners’ and it tasted quite similar. Others agreed my assessment was spot-on. This dish was not popular, though to be fair was technically as-described on the menu.<br/><br/>Dessert was the chocolate orange pot with crème fraiche. Orange-infused chocolate mousse in a glass with an exceptionally small ‘quenelle’ of crème on the side. The mousse tasted quite pleasant, and very ‘orangey’ however had a mild grittiness to it that may mean there were some issues during the melting process. <br/><br/>I tried someone else’s dessert of spiced pumpkin cheesecake with caramel sauce and cream, and quite frankly this was the nicest dessert I have had in many years. Fantastic texture and flavour – would highly recommend if that is your thing.<br/><br/>Another positive is the milkshake that was delivered – very cold and thick, delivered in an old-school metal container. Not a plastic container with a giraffe’s neck to be seen. <br/><br/>Would I go back? No. <br/><br/>Would I go back if someone else was paying? Probably, if only for the milkshake and cheesecake dessert.

Shocking service. Had to wait 40 minutes between entrees and main meals. 2 tables next to us who arrived 20-30mins after we did received all their food before we did which sparked me to question where our meals were. It took 3 requests over 35 mins to 3 different waiters before our food finally arrived with the F.O.H manager's only excuse being "we are really busy tonight". I have never once taken the time to complain about a restaurant but this was such a disappointing experience and definitely not a worthy winner of a Wellington On A Plate award!

This was a lunch stop with the family. Was worried we wouldn't get a seat as this place was pumping. It was a Sunday.  The turnover of tables was good so we didn't wait at all. Seated inside and still afforded a water view.....nice!<br/><br/>Staff were efficient, not so friendly but they were under the pump.  As we had the little ones we enlisted the games on offer to keep them entertained.   3 of our meals turned up and staff noticed we were missing one and offered our little one to select something from the counter to keep our miss happy.  Great as this was offered, good dignity of customer service. <br/><br/> The big people got the burgers and loved it.  Portion size.... Generous. The little ones had the chicken and fish off the kids menu and demolished them.  <br/><br/>Coffee followed up the meal  together with a couple of slices. <br/><br/>Found pricing, food selection, vibe and service good. Definitely coming back.

Yum!<br/><br/>Best pancakes I think I've ever had - light fluffy and delicious topped with berry and rhubarb compote! and the chicken quesidilla went down well with my friend too.<br/><br/>Great service and a buzzy little place. <br/><br/>I will be back

This would be a favourite of ours. <br/><br/>The service is always friendly and consistent. If it is quiet I have been welcomed to have a leisurely lunch over a book and not felt rushed out of the place. They have been welcoming to us when we have turned up with children and have a child friendly menu as well. <br/><br/>The beer menu excellent <br/><br/>The venue great and inside the seating is arranged to give plenty of privacy which is great. <br/><br/>The food is lovely. We generally visit beach Babylon for a beer and snacks.

Weekend brunch - food was pleasant enough but nothing special, and all of our group's food was lukewarm. Coffees and teas arrived after the food which is always a little annoying. Some of the staff appeared like it was the last place on earth they wanted to be that morning, you were lucky to get a one word answer and a smile was like gold dust. One guy was wearing such a loose fitting, open, sleeveless singlet - I'm not a fan of breakfast with a large side of arm pit and everyone in our group commented on it. Won't be rushing back.

Beautiful spot with a great, typically Welly hippy vibe - as opposed to hipster - I definitely prefer the former :) <br/><br/>I had a vege toasted panini thing from the counter and it was really really good. Especially cause I asked for extra relish he he.<br/><br/>Excellent friendly service. Good coffee.<br/><br/>And I really wanna go back at dinner time because THEY SERVE FONDUE!!!!!!!! OMG. Can't wait to fulfill that little dream.

Went for a dinner at 8pm - there was no body else in the restaurant, no music playing and very few staff working. After sitting at the table waiting for guests to arrive for about an hour - not once did anyone ask if we wanted drinks or nibbles while we waited and we had to flag down staff or go up to the counter to get drinks. Once we were ready to order we were told that we could not just order 1 small plate per person you had to order at least 2 small plates or a main, as someone who does not eat a lot this really put me off. I asked why and the waitress was stroppy in her response and said I had to and there was no other option. After having everyone's food arrive, I sat for an extra 10 minutes waiting for my garlic bread and other small plate to arrive and there was no apology given it was just thrown in front of me. Another diner was also waiting a further 5 minutes for their garlic bread to arrive. Terrible staff which is a real shame given we have really enjoyed this place in the past! This may be the reason it is no longer buzzing like it used to! What a let down - won't be returning.

I fell back in love with milshakes at this place a few weeks ago, the Snickers milshake OMG! My burger was also good but the milkshake, I dream of it since and I've tried to replicate it but is not the same I mix peanut butter, chocolate, milk....fail, I don't get it!<br/>I try to remember any flaws or other details but the truth is the sun in the outside area and the milkshake got me on a space trip to heaven. Good work guys, I am coming back next sunny saturday, hope we get another one this year. (This time I want the milkshake secret!)

Love the 'dog menu', very cute. Fondue was yummy and nice view of the bay. Service was slow, I think our waiter was untrained and possibly quite new. Lost points there.

I would have rated this place even higher, as I thought the brunch was fantastic (the pancakes were very hard to beat). However, the service was very lazy and the slowest I have ever dealt. We came in around 10pm and it took almost two hours to get our meals. That and the staff didn't seem to be too bothered by our waiting and did not offer complimentary coffee for our wait (which other Wellington cafes' have done in similar situations).<br/><br/>When I told work colleagues I had dined here they all said the same thing - 'great food, awful service.' Beach Babylon is getting notorious for this by the sound of it.<br/><br/>Despite the food being very good, and reasonably priced, I have not been back since. I think the slow service has unfortunately put me off from going back there for a very long time.

Service was fine, but the food was a real disappointment. My meal was tiny - actually smaller than what my kids got off the children's menu. It could have been three or four times as big and it wouldn't have looked odd - ie it was three or four times too small!! It was supposed to be spicy, but was actually pretty bland. I went home and ate toast - at the price, I expected MUCH better and will not be going back.

If you're looking for consistently good food and a well located cafe / restaurant - Beach Babs is the place to go. The food here is fresh, tasty and reasonably priced. Service is generally pretty good and the place has a good vibe. Overall - a good, chilled out Wellington restaurant. Will be back :)

This was my second time at Beach Babylon and was not impressed this time......<br/>Location, food and the ability to bring your dog out and have a drink is perfect. Food was yummy as it was the first time.<br/>My problem is the service! I have worked in Hospo for near to 12 years now and i am a waitress in top a Wellington restaurant. <br/>Never have i had such lazy service. Someone needs to give your staff a talking to.<br/>We waited 20mins and no one came outside to see us, even though there was only 2 tables of people, also every other table had dirty cups on it.<br/><br/>I went in and got menus myself in the end, to find TWO staff just talking and didn't even bother to look up and say hello. Told them we would like to order and they said ok will come out soon to take our order. This did not happen, i had to go in and do this myself, get water ourselves, no cutlery was brought out so when our food came it was dumped and had to get that myself too. This was what it was like right up to when we left.<br/><br/>I don't mind if it not table service but it was last time and i was told to take a seat and then was forgotten.<br/>I think you should know that after talking to some friends they said yes it's like that all the time. Great place but the service and staff are rude.

I like this place way more than I thought I would. My friends and I all imagined it to be a cynical corporate take on retro kitsch before we went there but the decor is actually done really well and we loved sitting at the big booth at the back overlooking the rest of the cafe. It gets really busy, but the service is still good and the staff were friendly and had a laugh with us. Their homemade hash browns are really good. Coffee is good too. I would suggest they have a bit of a garnish on the side of the eggs florentine as it looks pretty sad and lonesome when it gets delivered to you. Aside from that it was great.

I visited the place on Friday 6 January and decided I would never come back again. Between 4 and 5.30pm they do not serve lunch or dinner menu items but only some "small plate" food which is over-prised! <br/>I have a small dog and few weeks ago I had a chat with a person who introduced himself as the owner of this cafe and said that people with dogs are welcome inside the cafe as long as we ask the staff and the guests do not mind. Well, I did so on Friday as we were with an infant who was getting cold outside . Unfortunately I was unlucky enough to talk to the gentleman with a pony tail (apparently a manager) who said it was "I am the manager ..... and it is absolutely" not possible. It is not the issue that I can not bring the dog inside, I have a problem with people who talk to me in a rude way and with an attitude way. Also, dear "Beach Babylon", if you advertise your cafe as "dog friendly" I would expect the water for dogs to be changed regularly as my dog would not drink it.

We have been here twice within two weeks. Once for lunch and once for afternoon tea (4.30pm) and both times were great. They change their menu during the day. <br/>The staff were very friendly and helpful with my toddler, by giving him a basket of toys and colouring pencils. <br/>After 4pm, they have a wonderful tasting platter with cheese fondu, bread, stuffed peppers, olives, salsa and crumbed haloumi for $34 and it was so tasty. <br/><br/>For lunch, I got a vegetarian big breakfast and it had an assortment of beans, hasbrowns, toast, eggs and tomatoes. very nice too.<br/><br/>I really enjoyed going here and would happily go back again.<br/><br/>A note would be that they dont really advertise on their menu gluten free or dairy free, but they say to mention if you do have any allergies.

I came here for brunch for the first time on Sunday and the place was humming. Nonetheless the staff found us a table pretty quickly, and we settled in. The kids menu is great, with colouring in and a kids sudoku on it kept my grouchy kids happy, and tasty food options which they enjoyed. Hubby had the mince on toast, which he loved, I had the quesidilla which was also fantastic, plus with the added benefit of being nice and quick! Coffee was great, will definitely be back.

Four of us went for brunch on Saturday. Started well with gorgeous coffee, great hot chocolate and prompt friendly service. We all had different items off the menu (quesadillas, scrambled eggs, open sandwiches) and all were delicious. <br/><br/>We'll definitely be back.

I went here for brunch yesterday for the first time and had a great experience. Food was yum, service friendly and quick even though it was really busy, and great coffee. Good selection of counter food as well as a full menu. Only downer was that the Tower of Babylon burger wasn't available in the weekend, so I had the mince on toast instead which was very tasty, and just means I'll have to come back!

Been here a few times due to the convenience of location and the food is generally not bad but have been disappointed with the service. Staff aren't overly friendly and the service is slow.<br/>The place felt dirty and there were crumbs all over the seats next to ours which no one had cleaned up from the last people. My friend and I were also horrified when an elderly woman came in, tripped and fell, right in front of the counter and staff didn't even ask her if she was alright, offer a glass of water etc. Staff can seem a bit grumpy at times. The food is good, lets hope the staff can improve on their customer service.

Went for lunch recently with friends. Not enough staff, and they're not particularly friendly or welcoming! Everything seemed grubby and there was a slightly offensive fishy aroma in the restaurant. Food was ok, drinks took forever to arrive. Won't be going back, there are more pleasant places to eat.

I remember when this cafe opened as i live nearby but only recently tried it out. The first time i went (with my partner) we were told by a friendly but distracted waitperson to take a seat but were then ignored. We eventually just left. The second time we tried them we had a late breakfast, he had something with eggs which was okay, me the fruit bowl - sans yogurt. Very disappointed just a few pieces of melons and grapes. No seasonal fruit like berries nor anything extra to make up for the yogurt which it usually comes with - which made it horribly over-priced as well for such a meager portion. The coffee was good however. Last week i dropped by and ordered and paid extra for a soy flat white to go. Turned out to be made with milk and i couldn't be bothered turning back. Seems to be a popular place however i found it totally mediocre and lacklustre (the staff in particular stuck me as both young and inexperienced).

This place is one of my faves in Welly, the staff are always friendly, the counter-food and menu tasty, and one of the most important bits - the coffee is really good. Cafes without consistently good coffee are a waste of space in a place like Wellington... Plus they do fondue in a whole lot of different flavours incl dessert which is really cool, and its BYO at night so really good value.

Have been to Beach Babylon for brunch and dinner on a number of occasions. The food is always good and the service friendly. We love the beachy environment and the retro music. We would definitely recommend the mushrooms and halloumi, vegeholic brekkie for brunch and steak for dinner.

Ordered the fish of the day which was dry and the asparagus was very overcooked. Commented on this when the waiter asked and was offered a complimentary coffee. After the meal we ordered the coffee and waited 20 minutes before giving up. Food was over priced for a below par meal and the service very average. Atmosphere cool, but not enough to want to go back!

We dined here on Saturday night. Although our main's were slow to arrive, it was because our orders were taken after a table of 20.<br/><br/>I had the chicken and the other person at the table had the lamb. We both really enjoyed our meals! And of course we could not go past the apple &amp; berry crumble for dessert. Not quite how Mum makes it but very acceptable nonetheless.<br/><br/>I would be happy to go back here and would recommend it to other diners.

I am a regular here, whether for breakfast or lunch. Have not tried it for dinner though. I think another quality cafe open during day on busy Oriental Parade was well-overdue and this is why on a sunny Sunday it is invariably bursting at the seams.<br/>I keep coming back though because the food is usually delicious, the coffee likewise and the service fast and friendly although the latter does vary a bit. I also like the fact that they usually tell you to take a seat and they come to your table to take the order - not the norm in Wellington for this type of establishment so a pleasant change.

Manhatten has now morphed into Beach Babylon, which is a real shame in some ways - i loved Manhatten with Dan doing his thing out front!<br/><br/>I've been to Beach Babylon three times now and it has improved with each visit. The staff are a lot more relaxed now, and friendlier, which is number one make-or-break for me. Number two is good coffee, and yes, the coffee is good here.<br/><br/>I was impressed with the wide range of food available. Counter food, tapas menu all day, brunch until 2pm (yes!) and a dinner menu (a bit light on choices but good quality). <br/><br/>Yesterday I fancied spinach with my scrambled eggs, and although it was not on the menu, the kitchen managed to come up with some - now that's service!<br/><br/>Well worth a visit - i can see I'll be a regular there so long as they keep up the standard.

We sat down deciding what to have for brunch but after 3 min decided to leave - we just couldn't face eating there. All the water glasses were filthy with fatty and lipsticks marks, the waiters and waitresses were untidy and looked unkempt. In fact the whole place looked like it needed a good clean. The staff weren't exactly very enthusiastic either. Won't be going back. Perfect spot though!

A mixed bag. The tapas menu was great and the food was tasty and well-presented. Service was up and down; generally friendly, but perhaps showing signs of inexperienced staff, eg mixing up our table booking, asking us how much we would normally be charged for soda water when paying for a drink, bringing water and glasses for only half the table, and desserts arriving at quite different times. A good selection of counter food and those who had coffees were happy with them.

Been here a few times, for dinner and lunch, the amazing food makes up for the table service which at lunch time i find the staff get confused. Most recently had the roast veg and haloumi salad - divine! Great ourlook on a sunny day to sit outside :)

Stopped by at Baby Babylon after a scenic drive around Oriental Bay and we took our seats inside the busy cafe and restaurant. The weather was rather chilly so we opted to sit inside rather than enjoy the view outside. We were greeted and served by friendly staff members and we ordered from their brunch menu. <br/><br/>My serving of the babylon infamous potato rosti with ham off-the-bone was amazing. The two perfectly poached eggs with a runny yolk on top of perfectly seasoned potato cakes had great flavours and I loved the texture of the fried potato rosti. The hollandaise sauce was creamy but it lacked the buttery egg taste. <br/><br/>An excellent place to stop by for a quick bite to eat. Parking, however, is a pain and it took us a while to find a spot to park on Oriental Parade.<br/><br/>For more reviews, please check out my blog - http://mydiningjourney.wordpress.com