Carriages Cafe & Wine Bar

There've been some really negative reviews for this cafe recently by some really disgruntled customers . They've used oxymoron's like "Mortally offended", "negatively amazing" (what does that even mean!?) and "absolutely disappointing". I'd read these reviews with a pinch of salt if I were you. People who use superlatives are acting on emotion and are more often than not, inaccurate.

We visited Carriages for brunch while my partner and I were checking out potential wedding venues around Kumeu. I can't comment on the service as I needed to use the bathroom as soon as we arrived and was in there for the entire ordering and delivery of food service (thank you Saturday night Jalapeno poppers. Ouch!).

I can however, comment on the food.

The Hash-brown Tower (see photo).
A generous serving of baked beans, stacked with bacon and hash-browns, drizzled with Holandaise. Normally served with a couple of fried eggs, as I don't eat eggs, I'd asked them to be replaced with mushrooms and this was done with no problems. I can't think of a better breakfast to have while hungover (which I was). My problem with the dish though, was everything on the plate was out of a packet. Apart from the searing of the bacon and mushrooms, nothing was handmade.

- Store bought hashbrowns
- Tinned baked beans with tinned kidney beans mixed in
- Hollandaise from a packet.

You can spot store bought Hollandaise the instant it arrives on your table. It's the boob job of the cuisine world. Sure it looks good, but get a bit closer and you'll find it lacks character and substance.

So I ask the kitchen crew of Carriages, how much better would that plate of food be if you were to make your hash-browns from scratch? If you hand-whisked a hollandasie over a double boiler each morning? Give it a try, I guarantee you you'll be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. You can even charge me an extra $4 for that plate of food and I'll still think it's value for money because I can see/taste/feel the love that's gone into the preparation of that meal.

Wonderful selection of meals. Great cabinet food display, coffee awesome with pleasant surroundings

A lovely little cafe. Great breakfasts especially. A good selection for those of us with allergies too. Lovely service and well priced meals.

Recently under new management, been coming here for years. The menu is still the same with an array of savoury selections and sweet treats!! Great place for a brunch in the sun on the balcony! The food was faultless however the condiments were placed on the table once we had completed our hot drinks and food

Fantastic little busy cafe in kumeu ordered pasta eggs benny blast and banana milkshake all of it was delicious, nice little pond view and seating in carriages indoor and outdoor dining. I like the decor of this cafe. Unused train carriage as part of the dining area.