The Suter Cafe

Fabulous fresh food. So many dishes to choose from. excellent coffee and the best cheese scones ever in this lovely friendly place.

Very cool location and design - one of my favourite cafes in Nelson. Food always looks appetising and good coffee.

We took a large group of tamariki (children) from our local Kindy to have fluffies while we waited to be let in to the children as artists exhibition. although there were quite a few of us they had plenty of tables to accommodate everyone and the children enjoyed the service they received from the helpful and friendly staff. we will happily go back again.

I was one of a party of three semi retired people [x 2 being overseas visitors] who had lunch at the Suter Café on Monday 3 July.
We were greeted with a very loud and intrusive "over the top" welcome by ? the manager there being throughout the exchange to place our orders we were constantly referred to as "darling" which was not appreciated.

Once our orders were taken we were asked what drinks we would like.to which we all ordered coffee.
As I have an intolerance to heated full milk.I attempted to ask for my coffee to be made without a topping of froth with a small jug of hot water.
At this point the ? manger became very condescending and would not listen to what I was asking for and further informed me that she had made coffee now for over 30 years essentially inferring that she would be making the coffee as she saw fit and would not be taking on board what I had just started to explain to her.
We requested that our coffee to be made after we had eaten our lunch.

Once seated the jug of hot water arrived for my coffee followed by x 3 coffees some time after we had eaten our lunch [by which time the hot water was just warm]
All three coffees were the same [flat whites] with a good amount of crème topping. As I could not [as pointed out to the? manager] tolerate froth on my coffee I returned this to the counter.
The ? manager then took a teaspoon to scoop up the crème off the top of the coffee cup and in a loud voice tell me that there was no froth on the coffee ! At this point the barrister intervened and said that she would make me another coffee.
There was some delay in this being brought by which time the hot water previously delivered was cold. As the coffee was placed beside me the barrister stated in a very sarcastic voice that "she hoped that I would enjoy the rest of my day" .
Overall the service left very much to be desired and was not a good image for Nelson and overseas visitors to Nelson.

Comments:
1: The café "fit out" following the Suter Gallery rebuild is really well done and the location and architecture just stunning.

2: The food I would rate 4 out of 10.

3: Perhaps the attitude we experienced maybe due to staff being in their role for far too long and forgetting what customer service is all about.
Given that what we experienced was so bad I can only assume that it many well of been the café manager herself that we were subjected to as I seems unbelievable that a café manager would tolerate the type of behaviour we experienced from one of their own staff.

I really enjoyed coming here. The environment had a very nice feeling to it. My coffee was amazing and so was the food.