Reviews of Rustic Eating House. (Restaurant) in Palmerston North (Manawatu Whanganui).

Rustic Eating House

611 Reviews

373 Comments

Restaurant

Restaurant

27 State Highway 1, Waiouru 4825, New Zealand

Description

Information of Rustic Eating House, Restaurant in Palmerston North (Manawatu Whanganui)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of Rustic Eating House

Popular times

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Reviews of Rustic Eating House

E.

Great menu and good choices (no scones or pies but nice croissants, breakfast muffins, cookies, cake, slices, hot chips, wedges, toasties). Price is really good and lovely staff and ambience. If you need a pit stop in Waiouru, go here!

H.

What a great cafe! Super friendly and welcoming staff with a great menu of hot and cold dishes as well as hot and cold drinks including beer and wine. Dropped in for lunch and hubby enjoyed his frappe and scone while I treated myself to the Mac cheese and it was next level amazing ❤️

J.

Loved stopping here on our way up north, we sat infront of the fire and enjoyed a delicious seafood chowder and baked camembert cheese. Friendly staff and plenty of parking space for our caravan.

s.

Very good food. A great stop over if traveling. And they’re all prep for Christmas!

K.

Amazing food and service. Really homely vibe. I would highly recommend this as a stop if you are looking for awesome food. Also its worth noting the bathrooms were super clean which is a welcome relief when you are on a long road trip.

B.

I rarely frequent a restaurant or cafe. The cafe is very clean and the restaurant and toilets are clean. There are various cupboard foods and foods on the menu, and permission has been obtained. There is also a gift/crafts area filled with interesting things. What struck us was their staff, they were really pleasant, we were sitting near the service counter, it was a busy service, the wait staff were polite, attentive and pleasant to everyone

F.

Stopped for a late lunch. Hubby ordered the steak, me the chicken Parmigiano and son the classic beef burger. It was a bit of a wait but it was worth it. My husband still dreams of the steak. Fries were very very good. Great service. Will be back for more.

L.

Had a lovely meal. Good service and very prompt.

V.

Very beautiful place and yummy meals. Everything taste housemade - not bought in. Very impressive

L.

Lovely place to stop. Very clean and spacious. My son thought it was ‘the best toilets’ he's ever been to (nice and big lol). Great menu and friendly, fast service. Great for families.

C.

Had a lovely meal here, my wife said her burger was the best ever and my open steaK sandwich was lovely and tender. Service was friendly and helpful. Restaurant us licenced, also dies takeaway, has a gift shop, toilets, some outdoor dining and parking out front. Well worth the stop.

M.

Heading back from Taupo, this is a great stop! The big concrete area at the gas stop is big enough to park car and trailer. Beautiful inside. Fireplace to! The staff was amazing and made you feel like the number 0ne customer. I had half breaky, friend had full, also milkshakes. Food was on point, delicious! Toilets were super clean too.

S.

Did not disappoint. Delicious food that was generous in portions, excellent service. As vegetarians it is always nice to have a few options.

A.

Food was amazing. Loved the breakfast menu. Chicken waffles👌. Compliments to the chef and great service from staff. Thanks

C.

Has to be the best cafe ive been in for awhile, the open steak sandwhich was honestly the best tasting steak sandwhich ive ever had. Will be making this place the food stop whenever we find ourselves in the area :)

D.

This place is totally amazing!! My favorite restaurant ever! Food 10 out of 10. Toys and play area for my toddler. Great kids menu and check out the photos.

C.

The wood burning stove is a nice, warming touch. Clean dining area. Clean toilets. Good food. Good coffee. Good service. There is a pop-up shop of curios. Will stop in again.

D.

Traveling back to Wellington, I stopped by Rustic for a feed, and honestly, it was the best thing I could ever done. What a delicious food. Bunless burger and veggie patty, with the most perfect combination. Even the hot chips were absurd more delicious than the normal ones. I can’t recommend highly enough.

c.

A hidden gem. Went for dinner on the recommendation of our son and loved it so much went back for breakfast. Great menu. Well presented. Staff lovely

G.

Great place to stop by on your drive. The food is delicious and comes in generous serving sizes (which somewhat justifies its higher price). There's also a cute little shop to browse through while you wait for your food. Service was fine. I got the beef burger, which was fine. I also tried some ribs, which were delicious. The wedges were also very good.

M.

A pleasant surprise. Friendly staff, nice environment, yummy food, excellent frappes! We will be back next time we drive through.

G.

Did not expect to find such a gem in the middle of nowhere. Driving from the ski fields in the dark, hungry, and seeing a restaurant of the calibre of one from a major city was like seeing an oasis in the desert! The food options were plentiful and quirky, the decor was quite fitting, and the staff were quite friendly. They have a decent selection of tea as well, and nice toilet facilities for afterwards. You can even buy jars of in-house made jams and pickles and sauces! Would definitely stop by again if I ever take too long leaving Whakapapa or Turoa

M.

Full breakfast definitely lived upto its name as we were very full! Lovely staff, nice music and the food itself will bring us back.

C.

Great food, lacked atmosphere bit confused if I was in a restaurant or lunch bar. service was ok.

L.

Awesome place to go on z cold day, fire burning, very welcoming. Friendly and welcoming staff.

B.

The best lunch we had for a while!! Wish they were in Auckland!

M.

I think this is a place where you just stop in for a quick bite on your way to/from somewhere. We ordered fish and chips and a chicken burger and chips. Both were acceptable and did the job of fueling us for the rest of the journey. The place is huge with lots of items to buy and it was set up with a little Christmas shop while we were there.

J.

Just amazing lunch and coffe! What more then a great food and nice staff. Stop here and visit warm place

M.

What a great place to stop and have a break, with super friendly staff, great menu and cabinet sammies. Really good food and price, service is fast and nothing is a problem. Worth a stop on your way north or south.

S.

Great food, clean bathrooms 👌

D.

We called in here to calm down after a near accident on the desert road. We order basic snack food and sat by the open fire. Staff were friendly as. When the food arrived my basic French fries were covered in sauces.... bacon and onions. Absolutely outstanding food and service for the price. I was so impressed I left my 1st ever tip on the table when we left. I will be eating here again on one of our many road trips planned with our vette. Keep this up all . Highly impressed

P.

Fish & Chips- $25.00 . Should be called Chips & Salad with a side of fish. 2 fish strips 🙄. Salad was nice though 😊

H.

Stop for a lunch. Nice surprise funky restaurant on Waiouru just before the south bound to the Amy museum. Sell food, art works, jewellery, hand crafted BBQ rubs and spices, one of which use from local ingredient. And locally grown garlic. The chef, the owner, was preparing massive decorations for coming Christmas with a giant gingerbread house in the pop up shop in the restaurant. I could see he was genuinely enjoying to set up the Christmas decorations! Southern Chicken burger with bacon came with chips and good amount of sauce was nice with a little bit of spice in there: I was told it was nice and flavoursome. Coffee was also good. Winter salad was nicely seasoned with nuts and seeds with small cuts of cauliflower. I am positively surprised and I will definitely go back when I pass the Waiouru Desert Road. The Only thing was I missed fresh vege. But otherwise I 100% recommend. Hope everyone enjoy their meals and Christmas decorations with the giant gingerbread house! I hopr I have a chance to see myself!

S.

Absolutely Amazing Awesome! In more ways than one! The food is delicious the staff are Amazing I am in love with this restaurant.

A.

Friendly staff, great clean cafe with heaps of food choices. Well worth stopping!

D.

Great food great service they make you feel very welcome, definitely worth the stop.recomend the boba tea drinks

M.

Lovely find. lamb salad was large and delicious. Enjoyed the pop up shop. Will be back to have ice cream . Clean new bathrooms. Friendly staff

A.

Nice good, lovely coffee. The service was excellent 👍🏼

B.

Nice atmosphere and staff and generally good food. Just can't recommend the seafood chowder.

R.

Very lovely stop to rest and shack awesome was glad we did

C.

Just lovely..tea came with china cup, saucer and plate 😃 staff very friendly and helpful

D.

We were so tired and hungry after our day at the Tongariro. We found this place on our way to the next stop. The food is delicious and with outstanding quality. I definitely recommend to have a sit in!

g.

Super service, serious menu, great food.

R.

Excellent service. Great food. Warm atmosphere. Would go back.

J.

I've seen it advertised, first time I've stopped. The full carpark is your first clue it's good, staff were run off their feet late on a Sunday. Fantastic food and a great vibe. Friendly and relaxed, warm comfortable and amazing food. Would stand well in the city.

R.

Food was very good, inside looks much better than the outside

J.

Could possibly be the best burger in New Zealand. Really excellent burger

Z.

Location - Stopped at the Waiouru branch, free parking, easy access and on State Highway 1. Kid friendly atmosphere. Indoor and outdoor eating options. Service - friendly customer service, willing to adjust menu items to suit tastes Goods - Food is delicious, milkshakes are AH-MAZING, kid-friendly and high-end food options, cute pop-up shop is a secret spot on the right of entrance with local art/food/clothing for sale. Recommend - Yes definitely, this is our whānau stop-in spot on our roadys

M.

Great place to stop for something to eat and drink, lovely friendly staff and excellent meals. Very nice and cosy interior, we were super happy with our lunch today, it was excellent, the chicken burger was amazing and also the panini with salad was fresh and delicious.

D.

I wasn't in time for the big breakfast. I wish they would put the homemade baked beans on the mains menu ,love them. Had a nice steak and spicy vege dish. Beautiful!

G.

Went for brunch. Our group loved their food and the service.

B.

Stopped for a break and not expecting more than a simple cafe. It was much more than that, food was sensational and flavours were sophisticated. Also staff friendly and nice ambience. Good to hear laughter from the kitchen.

B.

Lovely place that we stopped for lunch. Food and service was great.

S.

Loved it, lovely staff, basil cream to die for, vegan menu

H.

gorgeous food, lovely staff, and a lovely cosy environment.

R.

Great food and coffee. Excellent bathrooms, lovely service and well presented cafe with in and outdoor seating. And at the moment a gingerbread house as well!

R.

Friendly service the minute we walked in the door. Food was great, we had the chicken and beef burgers. Toasted sandwiches looked great too. Fire was going so toasty warm. Toilets lovely and clean

M.

Top service, great lunch - recommend the Salmon Salad!

T.

We stopped in yesterday for coffee and hot chocolates, unsure if Desert Road had re-opened. This place looked modest on the outside, but inside it was warm and cosy, with a roaring, central fireplace, and a small corner for the kids. It's good for families, and there was lots of space. The food smelled so good- we ended up ordering. Service was excellent Hot drinks were great Food was decent Kids menu was a plus My children asked to return- it's a winner!

S.

Nice and clean place. Friendly staff. As for the food. $22 for 1 small piece of fish and a small basket of overcooked chips a lettuce salad and aioli. The salad was very nice. But $22. Not impressed with that price. Didn't have price on board either otherwise we would of just walked out

S.

This place is a must visit.Not a single scrap of food left on anyones plates. I had the pork belly and it was absolutely delicious. I will be back every chance i get.

M.

Staff are awesome. Food is awesome. Plenty of space and great coffee. This cafe comes recommended by the St James croquette club..

c.

Very good coffee, great choice of cabinet and menu food to suit everyone, roaring fire , super clean modern restroons, good mix of locals and travellers, toddlers play area, plenty of parking Brilliant place to stop on State Highway 1, Waiouru. Try the Amaretti with your coffee.

r.

Amazing food.... Love it a lot 😋😋😋

C.

The food would mop the floor with what most Auckland cafes serve up! Reasonably priced, concise choice of meals and really friendly staff. Worth stopping in on a long trip!

D.

Awesome place! Fast friendly service, cozy atmosphere, excellent food, brilliant coffee. My only regret is that it'll be some time before the family and I pass back through. The way the garlic bread was plated was quite a novelty 👍🏽👍🏽

G.

Great tasting food and cheerful helpful staff. I had the Cabonarra pasta with bacon and he had the fish and chips with salad. Both were delicious, as good as you'd get anywhere

P.

Good home cooked warm food and family atmosphere. Thank you

J.

Had the pasta for lunch, which rivalled top Italian restaurants!! Came back for breakfast couple of days later and the pancakes (gluten free) were phenomenal. Cannot recommend this diamond at the base of the mountain enough.

S.

The Garbage Fries are "Well Good Init" Go there, get some, worth it...

J.

Lovely Food, beautiful setting. Clean and great customer service. They young ladies out the front were very polite, kind and friendly.

R.

This place has had a make-over since last time we were here. Nice carpet on the floor, tables and chairs were tastefully done. Decor throughout was lovely. All in all a great place to stop and refresh in comfort.

L.

We had an amazing meal. Best for a long time. We enjoyed our meal so much that we had to come back the following week. Second meal did not disappoint. Great service, food and atmosphere. Highly recommend

C.

Came in tonight on a recommendation from a co worker and this place absolutely exceeded our expectations. Beautiful setting, staff are amazing and so welcoming, plus the absolutely delicious food that is well worth what you pay for. Table for 8 and everyone cannot stop raving about their meals. Sad to say this will be our first and last time here as we came in for a graduation, as we would have loved any excuse to stop by ( from the south island). I highly recommend this place to anyone in the area, even passing through. #supportlocalbusiness

M.

Delicious top quality meals, an oasis in the wilderness of dine and dash joints. Prawns delicious, well presented, chicken burger outstanding with top notch aioli. I'll be back!

B.

Just a quick stop in on my way to Tāupo Had the Sambal Squid ($16) it is a grilled squid on a bed of salad with citrus emulsion. Incredible. The chef is a genius. It is up there with the best restaurants in Wellington for taste and presentation, tender and comfy with a citrus backdrop. The lovely barista made me an Americano coffee and it was absolutely supreme. The staff here are worth the visit alone. All next to the comfort of a fireplace. Perfect. 10/10.

D.

Family friendly and a great atmosphere. Staff are very helpful and great with kids. Meals were delicious and filling.

E.

Food was absolutely amazing, service impeccable

S.

Highly recommended if you are looking for a place to break your journey in this area. Service was first rate - friendly and efficient and the place is sparkling clean and maintained. Very good coffee! Thanks.

d.

Absolutley delicious food, great service, lovely friendly staff, warm and toasty on a cold day.. we loved our lunch ther today.

A.

Friendly staff and exceptionally nice seafood chowder

T.

Best food. We had a prawns and garbage fries (signature dish). Absolutely delicious and very generous portions. Prices are reasonable. The service was fast too. Love the interior with the colorful cushions. Dining area and bathrooms are spotless. Heater by the bathrooms is providing an extra comfort. Many thanks, we will be back.

C.

Had great meal with family. Very prompt friendly service. Well worth calling in for a meal. 🤠

L.

Excellent restaurant, very reasonably priced - they make a fantastic Kumara Soup

T.

Great coffee and friendly service. Super stylish eatery that still manages to feel homely.

S.

Absolutely amazing food and some of the best customer service I have come across in recent years. Would 10/10 recommend to anyone going through Waiuru. This is definitely a hidden gem.

S.

Amazing dessert. The whole meal was absolutely beautiful. Very friendly staff and lovely atmosphere, with pop up shops for all sorts of things to buy. Heres hoping the Kawakawa balm will help Dexter's knee. We are willing to try anything.

S.

We went to try on our way to the south island on Sunday 22 dec 2019. This day's meal was absolutely delicious mouthwatering. So were looking forward to stopping again way back home on 5 Jan 2020 been on ferry all night. Asked for exactly same steak meal this time the actual chef was cooking, these are $35.00 meals and our second experience was not good no one came over to check on ordering and no complementary water the steak was raw and salad flavorless. But the first stop was absolutely beautiful.

S.

We dined at your restaurant last week whilst visiting from Australia. The food was delicious and very well presented. The staff were friendly but sadly lacking in their service. The dishes weren’t cleared between courses and the table was left cluttered. There was no need for this as the restaurant wasn’t busy.

s.

Finally I got to taste the delights of Chef Tyson I have been watching the fabulous refurbishment of this establishment with much interest and today was the day I got to indulge in a seafood curry .... Mmmmmm yummo I will be back

E.

Omg food is fabulous. Never go past . I honestly had the best macaroni cheese ever. Will definitely be going again. Very spic and span cleanliness. Staff friendly perfect atmosphere.

C.

Arrived near closing but that didn't worry them once bit. Waitress was lovely, food was great and very reasonably priced. Will be back.

A.

Great food and very nice facilities and atmosphere. I only stopped briefly and was impressed at the nice atmosphere and enjoyed some hot food a good coffee and a very good carrot cake slice. 5 star in my book. Too bad I was only passing through as I would love to go again.

M.

Very friendly clean and food was of a high standard. Best beer battered fries I have had for a long time. The others had wedged and said the same. We called in again for a repeat on the way back. Parking is easy, coffee great it us best place there. Cheers

r.

what a amazing place. me and joe came to the north island pick up his new boat and stopped here for dinner on the 3rd march. what a amazing meal when i go back to the north island i will defintly be stop here again for a meal. the waitress was just amazing wont be forgetting this trip anytime soon. also they had some soaps for sale on a shelf i got for a few friends and both have said good results if you want a special soap.

P.

Great place to stop midway through your long drive

S.

Delicious food, cozy and warm fireplace, friendly and professional waiters. The children's play area was really good. The restroom was nice enough to belong in a hotel!

G.

Had dinner here and although there was no seating available...we made a make shift seating area...lol...it worked a treat...delicious food and cold beer...we will definitely be back

A.

One of, if not the best Restaurant in the wider area. Food is exceptional! Stopped there again tonight for a three course meal. This place is becoming addictive. Love your work guys.

T.

We stopped on our way through, planned to go to subway but it was closed which was so good because we got to try the Rustic Eating House. We loved it! Great menu, good prices, heaps of variety and even had a special menu with gf and df options listed. We will definitely stop there again on our way through 😊

S.

Have driven past so many times and never thought to stop but boy were we glad we did! Delicious buttermilk soaked chicken burger and v reasonable prices. Recommended

L.

Called into Rustic on our way through Waiouru. Boy was it packed! But that didnt ruffle anyone the staff's feathers. Maintained their cool, their great attitudes and the service was unaffected. My steak was cooked to perfection! The pot of tea was generous sized. The bathrooms were the best I've seen in our travels - clean, spacious, modern. Will definitely call in again in our way back. Great job Rustic!

A.

Great service and the steak!! 😍 wow!!!! We had the $40 steak with mushroom sauce and garlic sauce ❤❤❤ omy word!! It was DELICIOUS!! Favourite sauce though was mushroom! It tasted so beautiful! Will be coming back for more in the future!!

A.

Amazing food. Yes really, in Waiouru, there’s now a great restaurant. We had snapper, beef brisket, and a beef burger with beer battered fries. Everything was perfectly cooked, cleverly presented and accompanied with a variety of flavours, including hand made relishes and chutneys. We’re foodies and think it might just be worth travelling just to eat here. Serving sizes are pretty generous for fine food. Good waitress too.

S.

Fantastic kai, excellent staff. Not cheap.

W.

I'm tempted to add the fifth star for the roaring fireplace inside when it was sub zero outside. But staying objective. Good simple (Not a bad thing-they all look delicious) all day menu. By simple I mean wholesome meat and vege combo's well balanced with a bit of presentational flair. Good range of both light and heavy NZ standard foods. Bit light on a pasta option but there's an Italian joint over the road for that. Bit pricey for what they are, but they've made an effort to stand out and be more than a truckstop diner. Kid friendly menu with decent well prepared food, We got a seal of approval from our 4yo when her mac and cheese came out, not just garbage. The kids play and book zone were pretty neat too. We were pleasantly surprised and will definately be back.

O.

Best food in the area. Has its price but worth it. Very clean, very friendly with a small play corner for kids. Very clean restrooms. Eating from their floor is probably better than some tables in other places. Nice ambience too.

S.

Wonderful food, great place.

S.

What an awesome place. We spotted on our way home to Wellington from our holiday in Mount Maunganui. Such friendly helpful people and very tasty food. We all absolutely enjoyed our meals and drinks. Highly recommend this place to everyone

r.

One of the best burgers (both chicken and lamb) I've had in new zealand(within my top 5). I always stop by when I'm traveling to/from Auckland.

J.

Stopped for a break on the drive home. Great food, friendly staff, comfortable setting. Very popular, only a couple if tables were free. Outside seating is also available.

A.

Stopped here for a short break and lunch on our way through, so glad we did. Good food, great service, good value. The service puts this place over the top super family friendly and accomodating.

P.

Fantastic food. We had the ribs and mussels - both were delicious. Interesting array of genuine homemade pickles and jams. The toilets alone are worth a visit!

I.

If you’re passing here. Stop and have the best ribs in New Zealand. Nothing beats the menu of this cozy and romantic restaurant. Staff is lovely, the Brazilian chef is amazing and we really enjoyed our meal.

s.

Called in for dinner as passing thru wanting to experience & show support. Met the lovely Denise, thank you for great Turf n Turf etc & low percent beer. Awesome cosy atmosphere (wood burner in middle of restaurant & even a heater in bathroom) Mixture of army boys & civilians, fabulous decor & Denise was exactly as she came across on T.V. genuine, down to earth & interested in her customers.

J.

Well worth stopping. Great menu, friendly, efficient service and delicious, well-presented food. Very happy I stopped for breakfast. Almost feel like staying for dinner! Lol.

S.

Absolutely fabulous dining experience, food extremely high end, fabulous flavors, extremely clever and passionate chef, the service outstanding, an unexpected gem and an absolute must to experience when visiting Waioru. Loved every moment ❤

D.

A nice place to stop for lunch on a road trip. Good food, good service, and a wide range of food for everyone. They even had a little Christmas pop-up with what looked like a hut made out of real cookie and lollies.

M.

Chef-quality dishes! The unamusing place, next to a Subway and shown as an eatery in which you order in the counter, disguises a top gourmet restaurant easily. The venison i ordered along with the soup of the day (cauliflower soup) were amazing. Not just the flavor and consistency of the food was great, but the presentation of the food was very artistic! Even the small side garden salad was way above expectations, combining so many ingredients cut and sliced in a very interesting way. The decor of the place is simple and eatery-like, but it had subtle accents that are nice. I am glad i got to try this place out by coincidence, considering i am visiting from Mexico for holidays.

R.

Update on the Rustic Eating House. I felt the REH needed another visit, so I called in again. This time Denise the Manager was there. Very friendly, helpful and efficient. She works very hard, and had staff well organised. The food was good last time, but overcooked to death and late. This time, it was just right, and coffee good again. What is clear is that the manager makes a very big difference. Thanks Denise, Richard.

D.

Awesome food, the scones are delicious and staff very friendly. The toilets are very clean as well as the eating area, recommend.😊

R.

The food was amazing. The pork burger my husband had made me jealous I didn't order that! Although the steak with mushroom sauce I had was cooked to perfection as well.

B.

Good food Very average service . More interested in talking between themselves than looking after their customers . Had to ask for my empty glass to be taken even after 3 table visits from the staff .

R.

If you are driving through Waiouru this is a lovely cafe to eat. The staff are lovely and the food is delicious 👌 I had a steak panini it was just yummy, the Whittaker slice was to die for and the mochachino was just right. The little shop in the back has a great selection of gifts and knick knacks.

J.

They serve the tea in a proper pot, with bone China cups. What more can you ask for. Oh! The food is plentiful, delicious, and there is a good menu. It's worth checking out the pop up shop too.

J.

Well done presentation was great reef and beef was excellent as was the friendly service

J.

Best coffee!!! Haven't had the chance to eat there yet, (busy working) Lovely staff, and Toilets are super clean...Thank you

w.

The quality of the food, the service from the staff is amazing. Thanks so much for a top experience...

L.

What a delight. A wonderful selection of cabinet food, a menu of choices to satisfy ALL and an atmosphere second to none. All in all a great place to stop, rest and refuel. Will definitely make this a must stop any time travelling the Waiouru road.

H.

Beautiful hidden gem, Amazing food, very well presented and cooked, gorgeous flavours and atmosphere. The perfect stop after driving through or before the dessert road or when the Mt is closed.

R.

Clean, cozy and stylish setting. We selected from the food cabinet - sadly my choice of macaroni cheese took at least 10 to 15 minutes to heat and arrived well after everyone else had finished. Hot on the outside, cold inside and very salty. Husband's pie was also very salty.

i.

Incredible place with warm fire for cold skiiers off the mountain, amazing food and service. I wish I could live here it's so nice. Free WiFi (ideal for the kids) and a toddler play zone. Best place ever!

W.

Very good breakfast and I felt that I got value for money. Staff were friendly and helpful.

W.

Best fish and chip in New Zealand so far

J.

We stopped for a snack. Had homemade soup of the day. Came with ciabata bread baked on the premises. Excellent!! And excellent value. Cheerful enthusiastic staff. And chutneys and jams made in house. This is a find.

R.

Very nice restaurant, clean and welcoming, great staff, lovely fire. Half breakfast WOW if that’s half then I live to see full! Beautiful beautiful!

P.

Wasn't expecting to find this in waiouru. Lovely Cafe,very clean and welcoming staff. Food was yummy to. Will definitely be back.

P.

Great food, staff and atmosphere. Definitely coming back here again, and a good place to stop on our way north of South

P.

Interesting stop. Very good Carbage fries.

J.

Decor was lovely. Food edible but average.

j.

In a country of great eating, this is a stand out. This incredibly talented chef personally prepares every dish with a magic blend of flavors, presentation and portions. Our meals were devine, the brisket tender, the steaks perfectly cooked, even the accompanying root vegetables and kiddies toasties surpassed the norm. The pork belly was a sensation of flavors and tenderness with a hint of smokey chocolate. Our picky international palates were thrilled to discover such a memorable meal in an unexpected spot. Diet accomodations were easily arranged. Decor is comfortable and the bathrooms spotless.

H.

Lovely cheerful obliging staff. Very nice meal. Lots of Christmas decorations and Christmas spirit. Thoroughly recommend.

B.

Was so happy we stumbled upon this place food and facilities were perfect. My family all agreed we will be going back there. Thanks

N.

Nice meal, service could do with a touch up, would of liked a couple more beers but staff busy cleaning loo and doing liquor order lol was dying to add to it. Oh well

M.

Weny out of their way to make us welcome. Very pleasant. Gr8 food. Will go again...

J.

Absolutely lovely place! Clean, great furniture and excellent decor. The staff were nice and welcoming and churned out a damn fine coffee as well. Cheers from an Aussie traveller

J.

Yum! My meal was excellent! Friendly staff and great service. Well priced. Will visit again next time we are in the area.

l.

Good food, warm environment, bathrooms are very clean, staff are friendly. 5 satrs

F.

Pork belly please. Oh, and a flat white. We're the typical Auckland food snobs. We turn our noses up at the fakers. This place is anything but, so next time you're in Waiouru, get your hungry guts topped up with some good grub. Genuine quality fare put together thoughtfully by a talented chef. Highly recommended.

R.

Excellent food and excellent service. That, and the cosy warm fire that greets you when you come in!

C.

What a great way to break up your journey, great atmosphere, cosy warm with the wood burner, lovely food, a great experience, try it you'll love it!!!!

C.

Great price, great food and next to state highway 1. Super convenient and friendly service.

L.

Fantastic! Food was delish and what a beautiful surprise, all decked out for christmas. Staff very friendly! Will certainly make this stop in the future!

M.

Turned up wet and cold and we were put by the fire and fed great food. People ... Very cool Food ... Well above expectations Nice loo. Great fire.

c.

Bloody brilliant. didnt expect this gem in waiouru. Chef was great, real enthusiastic when explaining the meals to us. staff were super friendly. Meals were really good, and the place is homely and inviting. Honestly if you ever need a feed in waiouru then come here. They wont dissapoint. chur

S.

Cool place, very nice staff who were friendly and funny. Food was excellent

J.

A hidden gym - absolutely loved the food we all got. The breads and spreads are all house made and delicious. Will definitely be going back there! Highly recommended.

S.

Excellent coffee and food. Great staff. Will definitely stop here next time I'm traveling through 👍👍👍

A.

Great food and friendly staff. We thought the prices were really good. Amazingly decorated (love the taps!). Highly recommend

G.

Amazing food. As good as any top restaurant in a big city. Probably better because wasn't crowded with excellent service.

E.

Great little place. Good food. Free WiFi, which I am using right now. Would definitely eat there again.

S.

Great service. Clean toilets. Called in on return journey too.

A.

Food was delicious and the service people there were very kind, and even the small meals were very delicious and filling, I highly recommend.

R.

Awesome setup really welcoming and helpful staff and tyson the chef (busy man) makes everything in house' had the breakfast was the bomb !! certainly going back to try more of the menu well done a credit to waiouru for providing top food and coffee!!

P.

Charmy place the sweets looked delicious

M.

Surprised to find such a lovely spot on the side of the rd. Great food, good coffee, and friendly service

M.

Counter staff excellent and friendly and helpful. We just had coffees but the girls went over the top to serve us!!

R.

Beautiful dècor, lovely environment, flavored apple orange water available on tap, delicious panini with steak caramelized onion feta and Kumara. Weird customer service.

T.

As always we stop here in Taihape. Very pleasant and they always accommodate to make meal suit me. Staff are fantastic.

T.

Meal wasn't as enjoyable as the first time we visited

A.

Nice venue. Cool toilets. Wasn't keen on my food choice that day. Bought the big box of frozen pie seconds...which was great value.

M.

If you're stopping in this town for a meal, this is the place to do it. Try the veggie burger—it's not just a vedgo patty with fixings thrown on, but a site-made culinary delight.

B.

Beautiful steak after along drive from Wellington and a lovely glass of Esk valley rose. Thank you

R.

Fantastic service and great new menu. Would definitely recommend. Keep it up guys.

D.

Great food from local produce. Feels fresh and awesome.

F.

Pork belly please. Oh, and a flat white. We're the typical Auckland food snobs. We turn our noses up at the fakers. This place is anything but, so next time you're in Waiouru, get your hungry guts …

J.

They serve the tea in a proper pot, with bone China cups. What more can you ask for. Oh! The food is plentiful, delicious, and there is a good menu. It's worth checking out the pop up shop too.

r.

Awesome staff, food and coffee good. Had the fire going, bonus!!

I.

If you’re passing here. Stop and have the best ribs in New Zealand. Nothing beats the menu of this cozy and romantic restaurant. Staff is lovely, the Brazilian chef is amazing and we really enjoyed our meal.

A.

Stopped here for a short break and lunch on our way through, so glad we did. Good food, great service, good value. The service puts this place over the top super family friendly and accomodating.

M.

Good coffee, really cool place with an actual fire burning and homemade chutney for sale.

P.

Fantastic food. We had the ribs and mussels - both were delicious. Interesting array of genuine homemade pickles and jams. The toilets alone are worth a visit!

A.

Amazing food! Fast and friendly service! If you're passing through Waiouru, this is the place for a good meal!

J.

A hidden gym - absolutely loved the food we all got. The breads and spreads are all house made and delicious. Will definitely be going back there! Highly recommended.

C.

Delicious food, great tea. Clean and welcoming. Would recommend to anyone passing or driving nearby

P.

Amazing food! The Gunard was delicious and my gfs ragout was one of the best meals she'd ever had! Worth a visit!

L.

Beautiful atmosphere and surroundings awesome menu service outstanding would definitely go again

K.

Very nice cafe in Waiouru. Great selection of home made goodies. Excellent place to stop on your way to anywhere (great for locals too!).

C.

Best breakfast for ages.

O.

Great tasting and perfectly presented food! Lots of choices for vegetarians or healthy eaters. Almond milk also available for soy milk haters :-)

A.

Amazing food! Fast and friendly service! If you're passing through Waiouru, this is the place for a good meal!

D.

I feel lucky finding this place. It has a wonderful selection of healthy and tasty foods at a good price. All packaged in a nice building.

R.

Great place. Had a beef and blue cheese panini.Beutiful.Friendly staff.Good clean toilet.

C.

Stunning.. Great dinner and the best big breakfast on ever had... This is a must stop eatery when traveling north or south.

A.

Always worth the stop. Friendly people, great food and great service.

J.

Good service good food. Steak was very nice and great garlic sauce.

A.

Great small town ambience, has a log burner which keeps the place cosy and warm in winter. Fast turnaround on ordering meals too.

K.

Delicious food and great service. Totally recommend. Particularly the eggs Benny and preach granola delicious

M.

Beautiful food, lovely helpful staff, very clean and tidy, well worth a visit

G.

Fantastic food, fantastic atmosphere, awesome service. Tops all round.

G.

We always stop here on our way through. Great food and service. Very clean bathrooms.

b.

Fabulous food recommend to anyone

P.

Excellent service and meals. The kids play area is an awesome idea and the kids loved it.

A.

Great burgers and lovely ambience, clean facilities too!

C.

Wow what a great Restaurant really friendly staff with a great menu freshly made food and they have no problems with Bikers. From the Starjump man

r.

Awesome staff, food and coffee good. Had the fire going, bonus!!

A.

Friendly service great little toy area. Toastie chips! Food looked amazing.

J.

Tried garbage fries and 3 desserts. Place is AMAZING, staff are awesome Food is off the hook 10 out of 10

A.

Nice friendly staff Nice and clean Food was yum Loved the Christmas decorations

S.

Great meal friendly staff

P.

Great food for adults, no alcohol licence at the moment so I took a rating star off, would definitely go again.

M.

Fast service and meals are awesome 👍👌😁. Very clean and excellent staff👍😁

H.

Beautiful food. Awesome feel. But we were the only ones there! Must still be a hidden gem!

A.

A delight to stop in. Wonderful service and wonderful chefs who gave a great meal . Highly recommended to all.

R.

Had coffee, pie and cake after doing the Tongariro crossing and loved it. Really nice food, good coffee and good service. Very clean too.

M.

Good coffee, really cool place with an actual fire burning and homemade chutney for sale.

T.

Cheese onion scone delish. One of Intercity bus stops back to wellington

M.

Great service really great food. Lovely people!

R.

Awsome food and service with a smile,will definitely stop for a bite to eat again.

L.

The food and service was excellent lovely atmosphere.

L.

Truely top notch meals and service. Was an awesome surprise for a small town

F.

Lovely friendly staff. Food was nice, but nothing to write home about.

D.

Very very amazing staff!!! Food was very good! Highly recommended!!! Interior is gorgeous!

C.

Friendly and attentive service, good food, nice atmosphere.

D.

Tastiest food that I have experienced in years. Top restaurant-quality food in a cafe! I thoroughly recommend it.

L.

Great food and really friendly staff!

C.

Loved it. Very tasty veggie salad and super friendly staff.

G.

Great service, good food.

R.

Great service good food slightly small portions tho

g.

Great spot to break a journey or get out of the cold, good tucker

L.

Service fabulous food absolutely awesome thanks for a great dinning experience

W.

Excellent food and service and very friendly.

R.

What a great place to visit and enjoy the great food and meals are tasty and lovely friendly staff . Traveling highway one North or South make a stop and see for yourself

V.

Nice meal. Staff was real friendly. Would happily eat here again.

A.

Nice friendly staff.. Great stop off on a road trip

D.

Great food from local produce. Feels fresh and awesome.

H.

lovely service yummmmmy food i had polenta chips with a garlic dip husband had mince on toast

J.

Beautifully designed restaurant, warm and comfortable atmosphere. Food was beautifully presented and delicious?

R.

Really nice food and a beautiful cosy environment. Caters for all ages and tastes.

J.

Warm fire, delicious food, friendly fast service - the perfect spot to eat in Waiouru. Highly recommended - we'll be back!

J.

Very friendly people and delicious food. Lovely place

L.

Great stop, great food, great staff a must stop on your way through for something to eat and drink

M.

Good fisn n chips and pulled pork burger, Xmas themed and good friendly service

A.

Good food, but didn't have decaffeinated coffee. Nice sideline in preserves and jams.

M.

Meals were lovely

E.

Best macaroni cheese ever. A must stop . Food is delightful.

B.

Wow, what a suprise. Great food and service. The Seafood Chowder was amazing.

J.

Awesome people good food recommend anyone to stop there friendly staff and owners

R.

Big portions, tasty, reasonable prices and free wi-fi!

N.

Beautiful atmosphere and I loved purchasing almost everything they had in their pop up shop! 🥰😏

J.

Garbage fries are sooooo good, called in for a coffee and tried the fries. Will call in again...

E.

Just another diner. Chips are nice . Meat burger just the same old burger

A.

Very friendly and great quality. Wasn’t expecting a great meal in the middle of the dessert!

R.

Really good atmosphere, friendly service, great coffee and outstanding toilets

J.

Great service and yummy food. Definitely above average.

R.

Nice staff and delicious coffee. We will go back next time we are in Waiouru.

C.

What an amazing place! Great coffee, warm fire, loved the food

d.

Delicious food, good coffee & friendly staff

S.

Great food, excellent service, friendly staff

D.

Great food quick service friendly staff.

D.

Food is good but a bit slow today, compensated with competently coffee tho

R.

Alright place and food was ok

M.

Great place and magic food ...I need one in my town ...Paeroa !!!

J.

Loved the Christmas theme. Great food. Friendly staff.

T.

Brilliant down to earth friendly fast service. A great place to break your trip.

Y.

Awesome food. Awesome service. Highly recommended

P.

Chicken burgers overcooked and 1 drink order forgotten which is sad when restaurants are recovering from lockdown and no international tourists

p.

Great food and service loved it

J.

Awesome food great service and fantastic Christmas trees and decorations

J.

Lovely staff. Lovely tea range. A great stop when passing through Waiouru.

B.

Awesome food and great service. I'll be back for sure.

J.

Food was OK nothing special. The place was very cold !

P.

Really great place to eat friendly staff quality food and service

S.

Food was nice. Service good. Price a bit high for the area......

N.

Very quick service and lovely food

D.

Wicked food and people. Really suggest the seafood chowder.. mind blowing. So delish

M.

Excellent service, tasty food, quality

T.

Amazing Food, tonight I had the new and improved pork belly. Soo Amazing!!

T.

Delicious food, great service. Awesome night out

T.

We both really enjoyed our meals today

A.

A very relaxing atmosphere. Great coffee with amazing service.

L.

Great service.. good food and coffee at good prices

D.

The meal and service was fantastic, it needs to be tryed.

B.

Best eatery in the area, made to feel so welcome food top notchAAAA+++

P.

A great place for coffee and lunch and a nice fire to sit by on a cold day

S.

Ok for quick stop

D.

Great food, service and overall experience

j.

Awesome place for kids...Has a little play area....nice food too

P.

Cool place that have tasty GF options, almond milk, and nice fireplace

M.

Nice food and people but fairly pricey

D.

Nice eplace for food break while heading to wellington...

a.

Stopped for lunch yum what a nice place to stop food was fantastic

R.

Nice

M.

Brilliant food. Definately worth stopping in

L.

Great food and lovely staff.

A.

Loved it. Great service and awesome coffee.

S.

Lovely service and great coffee and burgers.

P.

Lovely service. And nice food.

K.

Meal was really tasty. Love it

C.

Lovely winter menu. Cosy and good value.

E.

Great breakfast spot ...lots of choice ..fantastic service. ..ty

S.

Perfect ... glad we stopped! Who would have expected this gem next to a Subways :)

M.

A lot of good things for sale there

C.

Really tasty food and great service.

D.

Great food. Great place for a Xmas function

T.

Great place great food bit pricey but worth it

P.

Warm fire, great food, friendly service.

K.

Very friendly people and very tasty food

F.

Very nice food ! Give it a go

J.

Beef Brisket and polenta fries. Best meal in NZ!

p.

Best restaurant in waiouru, would (and will) recommend to anyone traveling through!

J.

The turf an turf steak was amazing

F.

Great food

I.

Clean, friendly staff, good food,new decor

W.

A surprising find in Waiuru who would believe you would find food of this quality in the desert road . Well worth a stop

A.

Great meal, the brisket really nice

C.

Great place to stay in Lower Hurt!

N.

Food was not heated properly. Young waitress was over worked. Needed help.

T.

Excellent food and excellent customer service.

M.

Another great meal at Rustic :) with friendly great service

n.

Homy surrounds good service good food nice ambience

W.

Highly recommend if you're hungry in Waioru

J.

Nice people. Good food and great facilities.

M.

Enjoyed breakfast here. Half breakfasts and Eggs Benny

C.

Very good Kai. Good service and very clean. Highly recommend

R.

Friendly staff. Yum lamb burger

C.

Delicious food and great service. Thank you guys.

I.

Super service good food nice selection

M.

Reasonably priced. Nice surroundings.

C.

Great food and friendly staff

P.

Good place to get a feed on the way down the country

A.

Lovely place for a meal, highly recommend

I.

Awesome menu is original burgers are perfect.

N.

This place is so good the wedges is what I recommend u taste!!

N.

A desert oasis, good place to stopover.

A.

Very..good

r.

Nice would go back again if i had time

R.

Great atmosphere, great food.

M.

Ģreat food and ambience. Will call again and will certainly recommend.

R.

Awesome service, nice to have met THE CREW

B.

Great food and lovely cafe.

D.

Excellent, great service, friendly staff

T.

Enjoyed the food and service - recommend it!

P.

Amazing food and great service

M.

Lovely hosts - food good

M.

Highly recommended food and service.

L.

Everything here is beautifully served and tasty.

J.

Awesome food, amazing service

A.

Gorgeous cafe with excellent food and drinks

M.

Good food friendly service.

M.

Wonderful oasis in the middle of nowhere

J.

Don't get mislead, this is no ordinary eatery.

j.

Very clean and nice food

J.

Gourmet food in the middle of nowhere! Amazing!

A.

Fantastic sevice and food was amazing

M.

Neat decor, nice coffee

J.

Friendly staff and good food

A.

Great place for a coffee and lunch in Waiouru

S.

Awesome place

F.

Really nice food and surroundings

C.

Great coffee and hot chips

J.

Great food.

F.

Friendly staff and delicious food

D.

Best eating house around

J.

The full breakfast was enough to feed a army

m.

Great place Greater food

K.

Great food friendly service

c.

Fab food and fast service.

J.

Great food and ambiance

M.

Fish & Chips was brilliant!

K.

Amazing food and service..

S.

Awesome food and atmosphere

P.

Very friendly service

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