Reviews of Fat Dog Cafe & Bar. (Restaurant) in Rotorua (Bay of Plenty).
Fat Dog Cafe & Bar
1161 Arawa Street, Rotorua 3015, New Zealand
Description
Information of Fat Dog Cafe & Bar, Restaurant in Rotorua (Bay of Plenty)
Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.
We still don't have any reviews on this place
Map
Open hours of Fat Dog Cafe & Bar
Sunday
7am–3pm
Monday
7am–3pm
Tuesday
7am–3pm
Wednesday
7am–3pm
Thursday
7am–3pm
Friday
7am–3pm
Saturday
7am–3pm
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Reviews of Fat Dog Cafe & Bar
C.
Went for brunch the day after Boxing Day. Got seated quickly and food came relatively quickly. Portion sizes were huge, including the kids' meals; great for older kids. A must visit!!
K.
every time I come here it’s always packed, but very friendly service as always, big portions meals, delicious food, loved the iced mocha.
D.
Excellent food, and service, quantity and quality. Definitely recommend. Had to go back the next day to try the yummy sweets.
S.
Wonderful Rotorua cafe icon for quarter of a century, always fantastic coffee and food, great team and vibe
You won't regret visiting here
M.
Great food. Friendly staff. But pricey but I found it worth it. They do a fab childre's breakfast which my two ate all of. Great vegetarian options. Chilled music perfect to eat to. Will def eat there again.
J.
Great location, plenty parking spaces around. Great and friendly services, nice but unique interior decoration. Good number of seating in and outdoor. You can expect a bit of wait during busy time. This place is popular with locals and out of town visitors. Price is good and serving size is bigger than average. Lots of choice on various menu throughout the day. I also see the staff are working hard as a team in providing excellent services to customers. Highly recomended and Keep up the good work to the manager and the team. We will sure return again.
J.
Staff super friendly, food absolutely amazing portion sizes are bigger than average, coffee perfect! All in all can't fault this place! Will definitely be coming back next time we are in Rotorua.
T.
The service was impeccable. You want a plate of smashed potatoes? Not a problem! More butter? It's on it's way. Great music, fantastic service and delicious food 😋
B.
Incredibly lovely, helpful staff! Tasty kai, great coffee, fun activity sheet for kids.
D.
Lovely place to eat. Lots of choices on the menu. Very generous portions. Service was very good
S.
Always a good experience in this creative and cool cafe. They renovated it and it's larger now but still very cozy. We ordered two coffees, one big muffin and a custard cake for $20. Great price for big portions and yummy stuff.
S.
What a cool place it is! At first, I was surprised the fresh and delicious water, I've never had before. And then the steak sandwish is wonderful. It is like a tower with pole. The taste is great. And the staff is so kind and the toilet is clean.
C.
Best food in Rotorua hands down, yum!
R.
Great vibes, though a bit busy at lunch time and only one register taking orders. Food arrived quickly and the portions were very large (got the pork ribs and the pork ribs/chicken drumstick combo) and far more than we needed. However, the ribs weren't great as they were tough and not what we hoped for.
J.
Omg.. What a feed... I downed a "Dog bollox burger" .... Photos just don't do it justice. Amazing food, freindly and excellent service abound. Very good social distance observation. Had a small wait to get in to cafe, but no more than 3 or 4 minutes. We'll done "team fat Dog".. Recommended Cafe whilst you are in rotorua.
Q.
One of the best cafés in Rotorua so be sure to pay it a visit if you're in town. The food portion is generous, and there's a wide selection to suit any palette. They serve a mean thick shake if you're up for it.
C.
Best service in a quirky little cafe! Oh my, such lovely people in this place and my latte was spectacular! I haven't had much luck with NZ coffee (compared to Melbourne) but Fat Dog was beautiful.
And then there's the burgers! Probably the #1 best burger I've had in my life...and I eat a lot of burgers haha
I had the Fat Bo Peep (lamb) and my partner had the Hey Diddle Diddle (beef) and it was money well spent!
I honestly cannot rave about this place enough! It is a must go in Rotarua, especially for burger and coffee loving Aussies!
J.
This was our first stop in Rotorua and we made sure it was one of our last.
Top service, top food and top coffee. I wish I could pack this up and take it home with me 😍
y.
Well place to chill, Good big portion food. We hv the mixed grill set which is super enough for 2 person. Many seat available and many ppl in and out, mix with lots tourist.
Good location. Nice staff
H.
Wow what a lovely cafe!! Staff are friendly and the food is amazing. They dont have the boring table numbers so it a surprise on what you get.
B.
Red Dog Cafe
Great menu, might be the best waffles I’ve had in New Zealand! Soft, moist and super delicious! Large colorful space! Friendly staff! Chill island music to vibe with! Easy parking!
T.
Dog's Burger is the one that I have ordered today. Its so big that I could not finished. The size of it should be enough to feed two ladies. The patties are yummy and juicy.
C.
Cozy, nice decor, friendly staff. Got some free muffins towards the end of the night. Will definitely go back. And oh yes, the food was super yummy. Watch out for the falafel salad tho, it was numbing spicy.
b.
Had 2 great coffees here today. Nice space. Hadn't been in a long time. New layout. Plus part of the fainted goat. Another place yet to try.
M.
Due to covid lockdown level 2, the service and staff were still excellent. Breakfast was amazing, filling and yummy. Thank you Fat Dog Cafe
s.
It had a good vibe but I had spaghetti and meatballs, and The food took ages to come and the meatballs were too salty
C.
So glad we found this place while wandering around Rotorua. Meals were absolutely delicious. Very large portions (lucky we were starving!) The atmosphere and service was great. Would highly recommend!
F.
Been here two years running and it never fails to disappoint. The food is on point every single time! When you need to take a break from all the adrenaline pumping or relaxing adventures in Rotorua, this is the place to go.
A.
If you want an amazing breakfast and coffee in NZ....COME HERE!! The portions are generous, food delicious & fast, and everything is reasonably priced. The dining room is spacious as well as comfortable. Beyond that, the staff is amazing. I will come back when we make another trip to NZ.
S.
This cafe blew my mind! Massive portions, great staff, good food & a nice atmosphere. Would recommend this cafe but you could order one dish to share almost.
S.
My second time eating fish and chips on my trip and again, delicious. The serving sizes are wonderful here, as they should be for the price. I have left overs for tomorrow as well. Great place for all people, family, couples, and even solo travelers.
M.
This place is unreal. If your looking for enormous food, then this is the place for you. Great burgers. Quick service and friendly staff.
Highly recommended.
M.
Really friendly folks, good service, nice atmosphere, both indoor and outdoor seating. Vegetarian burger is enormous although as you can see not exactly a burger? More a stack of grilled veggies in a bun, but absolutely delicious.
A.
Famous brunch spot in Rotorua
- Overall, standard good – had the classic breakfast with eggs, toast, sausages, hashbrown – everything is cooked well but does not leave a particularly memorable impression
- Large portion
- Good coffee and very friendly service
A.
Really enjoyed my Caesar salad it was very delicious, the croutons we’re a bit buttery and heavy which wasn’t what I was expecting, tried to go for the healthier option, needed a bit more dressing but the chicken was out of this world delicious and the bacon was good to. Unfortunately my cousin got the same dish but found an identified food item which appeared to be and overly burnt onion ring it was black and very large at the bottom of her salad which turned both of us right off. My salad was very good and would have it again.
E.
Lovely staff, very nice atmosphere and a great variety of meals, drinks and desserts to choose from. Had the Fat Bo Beep Lamb Burger which might have been the best burger of my life so far. Exceptionally delicious. The fries are also very tasty.
Food is definitely worth the money.
V.
The place has a nice atmosphere and the staff is friendly buuuut the veggie burger was really spicy 🥵 I couldn’t eat it 😢
C.
Thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast here. We shared a vege brekkie and loved it. Coffee was lovely and smooth too. The telling sign was the queue that gradually built up whilst we were there and was out the door; clearly a sign of a popular and good business.
T.
Amazing breakfast! Love the experience, service and the food! Great portions and a fun decoration. Love the name 😉
O.
Very good local restaurant with a wide choice of great meals, smoothies and breakfast.
Service is super nice and quick too!
Would recommend for sure
C.
I am big breakfast person. Thus cafe tops the lot! First meat and vegetarian lovers. Great 👍
M.
Delicious vegetarian breakfast and really nice, good sized coffee. Set me up for the day. Highly recommend
G.
A well deserved reputation as one of rotorua's top cafe's. Hot cinamon rolls my favourite.
T.
What a fab place to go!! Amazing food, really good value, great vibe, fun quotes on the lamp shades n walls and lovely staff. Well worth stopping by, even for a pot of tea....sooo many cups worth 😂
M.
Great food, good price, big meals, happy staff. Thanks
K.
Only stop here for a drink and a muffin. Was good, liked the staff and the cafe. Would like to come and try there menu. The food they were serving today looked really good.
E.
This is a great breakfast place if you are super hungry! We stopped here for breakfast on our way up to Auckland and the portions are perfect. I ordered Belgian waffles with a Picolo drink (super cute) and my hubby some eggs, bacon, french toast and a smoothie. Everything was DELICIOUS, we both left very satisfied. The reason why i placed a 4/5 is because the place was a little dirty..they have guests pick their own utensils and we ended with some that needed another washing. Some tables were wobbly and there were little birdies flying around in the place nibbling on crumbs off of tables and the floor. Outside of the unkempt look, this cafe is a great place to go for the hungry belly :)
M.
I came here on a rainy cold Sunday morning, as soon as I entered the premises, it was very warm and cosy. The heaters were on, the staff friendly and efficient. The menu extensive for a breakfast menu and I went with the home made baked beans and they were delicious with a tangy sauce, they have a unique spiral sausage too and I went with eggs on toast and a hash brown. This was very filling and I thought the whole meal was excellent!
H.
Food is ok, serving is fast but service fee to be applied during Public holiday
E.
I can see why this place is called the fat dog cafe... hahaha but all in good fun. Came for breakfast and was not disappointed. Waffles were so delicious and filling, crispy bacon #baconislife... homely feel to the place like you could just sit all day and relax.
M.
I cannot fault our experience here at Fatdog this morning. I have been involved in hospitality for over 30 years here in NZ and overseas and I honestly can say our experience this morning in a very busy cafe was the best experience we had in any of the many eating establishments in Rotorua.
The service was polite, the meals, 2 cooked breakfast, were excellent and came very quickly considering the place was humming.
My potatoes were amazing. The fresh OJ was
extremely fresh and the coffee robust.
Well done team, we will obviously be back next time we are in town
D.
Really delicious food, good atmosphere and friendly service. The vegan smoothie, waffles, porridge, and coffee all exceeded expectations and the service was surprisingly prompt. Prices are quite reasonable, and the portions are very large and filling. However Canadians, be aware that the maple syrup advertised with the waffles is in fact table syrup. I suspected this might be the case, as it generally is in NZ, but when I enquired about it at the till, I was reassured that it was in fact real maple syrup. (When the food was brought out, the lovely barista informed me that this was incorrect, and she had put the syrup on the side out of courtesy which was much appreciated). The reason I had enquired was because if I had known it was not real maple syrup I would have ordered the brisket sandwich instead, which I will certainly be returning to try. It was quite the enjoyable experience.
R.
Great food, great staff, made the lunch experience enjoyable.
L.
Excellent delicious of the food.. We came twice in the trip at Rotorua
L.
Absolutely lovely, helpful staff. They have WiFi. Bathrooms are roomy enough for a wheelchair and very clean. They have a great selection of foods including gluten free options. Service was also very quick and the cafe has a nice laid back feel.
E.
Yum yum for my tum tum.
Really tasty, home style breakfast good.. full of wholesome goodness. Casual, laid back, good quality meals. Everything on the plate complemented each other.. the beetroot chutney was great!
Service is super cute - 10/10 for me.
J.
Definitely a good deal if you are starved as a vegetarian. Portion is great for the price paid but don't expect too much in terms of flavours. The "vege stack" between the buns are drenched with way too much beetroot sauce.
V.
Amazing service and food on a very busy morning. 10/10 Always a favourite whilst in Rotorua 😁 Thanks team Fat Dog!
B.
DELICIOUS!!! Absolutely beautiful food. Good menu for adults and kids. Good coffee
s.
Good tasted with pasta and french toast
When I go to Rotorua, I will go there to try other dishes.
P.
Great atmosphere. The food was amazing, the service was amazing. Highly recommended
J.
What a fabulous Cafe. We had to wait 40 minutes for our food. Sign of a great Cafe. Yip the meals were worth the wait.
A.
Nice and cozy place with food and amazing coffee. They have several varities of tea. Must try for tea lovers.
B.
Good, sizeable and huge range of food and pleasant service. We were tourists passing through and it hit the spot. Seemed to be busy with the locals as we were finishing up as well. Alway a good sign.
K.
Best chips I ever had so far! Cute and cozy inside~Love the fish tank;)
K.
Nice restaurant! Tasty foods with reasonable price. Happy!
N.
Came here on Easter Sunday so was relieved that the Fat Dog was open. It was super busy, but the helpful team managed to find a table for 3 adults plus a stroller. The coffee was good and strong and came out pretty quickly despite how busy it was.
Only giving four stars as the deciding factor in my ordering the eggs bene was that it came with Turkish bread. However, unfortunately, when the dish eventually arrived it was served with sourdough that had such a thick crust we couldn't cut through it. I also don't like sourdough at the best of times so this was extra disappointing.
Luckily, the rest of the party enjoyed their meals.
B.
Yummy food, reasonable price, good service.
S.
Awesome. I've been coming to the Fat Dog for coffee whenever I'm in RotoVegas for years. It hasn't changed much and fortunately neither has the great coffee. Nice to have a cosy, welcoming Cafe you can rely on.
V.
Had breakfast here once during our visit to Rotorua last week. Bohemian/alternative vibe but clean and clearly popular with locals. Well run and prompt service all round. Wife loved her waffles and my eggs Benedict was also good. Great coffee to boot.
j.
Really great coffee. My friends breakfast looked so yummy and they both enjoyed it. Unfortunately to eat vegan here it's really expensive for what they can offer here. It would be pretty easy to have a vegan breakfast option.
I would still recommend Fat Dog to my none vegan friends as the service was great and it has a great atmosphere.
n.
Amazing food and staff. Well worth it
D.
A great local spot to stop in and grab a bite where the locals seem to be. Menu items ranged from burgers, salads, seafood, to ribs. So many tasteful plates, you can't go wrong here. Plenty of healthy options to select from. And the other plus is the prices aren't that bad either!
C.
Very delicious food and lattes! Great bacon and sausage especially. Waffles were delicious too! Good atmosphere for food and coffee!
A.
Had the single lamb shank, it was delicious! Nice sized portions that will leave you full.
J.
Great food, friendly staff 👌
L.
It has character 😊 Prices and quantity were great! Tasty food, friendly staff with great company! Touch down rotovegas with my 17 family members and this cafe was the first place we came too! Money well spent.
S.
Can't go to Rotorua without a visit. Large portions but I felt menu was a little limited for breakfast.
G.
Got the diddle diddle burger. It was absolutely amazing! As you can see from the picture it was so good I almost forgot to take a picture of the whole thing! If you're in the area you need to try it!
J.
Good value for your $$.
Would recommend pork n chick combo(see photo)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
M.
The chicken burger was both huge and a huge surprise....delicious! Quite different flavours than expected despite having read the meal description on the menu. Only drawback was that, due to its size, it was difficult (if not impossible) to eat as a burger. Coffee was nice too!
J.
Alittle expensive but worth it for food and coffee. Nice server and good atmosphere. Loved there.
S.
Its an ok not really my taste bud i guess. But i dont mind their chips..its good 😁
L.
Can try the home make baked bean, don't have such things in my country... loving it...
Great food... great people!
I.
A great place to while away an hour. Good food and coffee
G.
Good price ($50 for 2 huge meals and a drink)
I ordered the fish and chips and neither the fish nor the sauce on side tasted like something. No flavour at all. Same with the slaw
Burger meat was a bit dry but the burger (in general) was good
P.
Great prompt service, fast turnaround for food, very delicious
A.
Scrumptious food in a relaxed family friendly atmosphere. The burgers are incredible and the service was speedy and personable. We loved this place. Good value for money too.
T.
Food and service were alright. Average dining experience
B.
Good portion fish and chips. I like the unique decoration inside.
R.
Awesome coffee! Really nice family friendly atmosphere.
J.
Visited for breakfast on a Saturday morning. Super friendly and helpful staff. Ordered Eggs Benedict and it was delivered super fast, never had such quick service.
Delicious meal and coffee - will definitely be back 😊
S.
Nice environment and friendly staff. Food was great and very reasonable price.
A.
Great price for big portions. Very delicious food and coffee. Extremely friendly staff. 10/10 ❤️
V.
A little bit too much pepper on my plate, but it was good and well display, pasta isn't the specialty of the place.
R.
The fat dog is great. Good food and coffee and friendly staff. They also do one of the biggest burgers I have seen
z.
Good place for breakfast. Tasty and good service
L.
Been here before. Food is delish ! Well worth it. Enjoyable atmosphere. The guy who served us today was awesome !! Totally the kinda vibe hospo needs. Ka pai to mahi e hoa 😊💕
f.
Fantastic food, huge portion size 😁
Yummm.....
E.
Beautiful food. Tables too low for tall people was my only concern. Great service.
J.
Delicious breakfast and coffee. Great decor and funky writing everywhere
J.
Great food and coffee. Friendly staff.
GF options.
B.
The Waffles with bacon, banana, maple syrup and cream was great. And the orange juice i had with it was amazing
R.
Good coffee, great service, pretty quick. However the food was pretty bland - dry scrambled eggs etc... Wouldn't have minded to wait an additional 20 minute to get tastier food!
V.
Best restaurant for lamb shanks and fish and chips!
T.
The food was really good. One of the most Impressive veggie burgers I've ever had!
C.
Always love this place - it's a real Rotorua legendary cafe!
L.
Bigger than the last time I went, still as friendly and jam-packed fill of sweet treats. We had cakes, shakes n smoothies the strawberry milkshake was on another level. Always a win.
R.
Delicious. Hadn't been in years and still as fantastic.
T.
2020 review update:
Highly recommended.
Still on the slightly pricy side, but excellent value for money with large portion sizes. All the food we ordered was excellent. The waffles came to the table overcooked, but the server (with apologies) returned them to the kitchen and brought out fresh ones, along with a complimentary caramel slice. Outstanding service and commitment to high quality.
Bathrooms have also been refurbished to a very high standard. If I could give 6 stars, I would.
2016 review:
Came in for lunch midweek. The service was friendly and prompt. Atmosphere was quirky and interesting, but fairly noisy, moderately child friendly. Menu was large and varied. Prices were fairly high, but portion sizes were huge and worth the price for large eaters. Food arrived in a reasonable time and quality was excellent. Drinks were equally large and good. Bathroom facilities were in keeping with the quirky decor, clean and well provisioned. Outdoor dining area was covered. Kids menu and gluten free options available.
V.
Mouthwatering lamb! Too bad I was full and not able to try any of the desserts which looked enticing as well. Friendly and welcoming staff
F.
Good cafe food and relatively fast service but nothing too great to shout about. Coffee was decent too. We ordered the steak sandwich, the fettuccine and a kids pepperoni pizza. All was decent but steak was abit overcooked.
P.
Great brunch and very good coffee. The eggs Benedict was too notch.
Q.
Nice place with really weird burgers... Didnt like the lamb burger but the other meals where really great
K.
We were greeted by one of the waitresses really quickly but she never smiled, even when ordering. The service was really quick and awesome, but the eggs were too runny, like they had had been cooked on the outside by poaching them till outers were cooked. Could have cooked them a little longer. But overall, the meals were yum otherwise.
When ordering a cappuccino they neglected to ask if I wanted chocolate or cinnamon. A very cool quirky place that part of it leans to one side which made me afraid to pick up my drink for fear of spilling it and it wasnt frothy enough. We did like it though overall.
I.
Although it has lost some of its charm in having the humorous wall poems painted over, it is still a very popular cafe with good food.
My favourite poem still visible in the toilet area is
" I think I've got worms,
I'll tell you how I got'em,
I didn't wash my hands
And now they're wriggling in my bottom"
M.
Great vegan soup, wedges and hot brisket sandwich 🥪 😋 Really good food selection and wholesome food. Large servings.
d.
Awesome! Our whole tables breakfast was delicious and served quickly on a busy morning. Grabbed a scone to takeaway because the food was just too good. Definitely will be visiting again!
N.
Great food. Was very busy, but that is to be expected during school holidays. Great vibe
G.
As you all know, great place and excellent staff, and good food.
C.
That emma lady was such a wonderful host!! Deserves a pay rise at the least 🤞🏻
Y.
Fantastic service! I lost my sunglasses there and they found it. Got it carefully packed and sent to me. Thank you so much!
T.
The popularity of this place tells you all you need to know. Great coffee, excellent food. Service took a while but when a cafe is as popular as this you can understand it, so many people the chef's did a great job to get the food out as quick as they did.
We visited here twice on our 4 day trip and we'll be back next time.
S.
Always busy. Good atmosphere. Good variety. Went there at lunch time. We waited for more than 30mins for our orders. Food was a mixed bag, but generally fine.
T.
Very friendly staff great food and service!
N.
Best hot chocolate pudding. By the way, I'm still here eating and can't wait to write this review.
T.
Ordered the vegetarian brekky and tbh it was pretty average. The description on the menu board and the actual reality was miles apart. My hubby ordered the pulled brisket on toast and reported that it was very nice. Great coffee, good service, meals were a bit pricey in my view.
J.
Only one photo because when the food came I devoured it. Fun space, great food and service
Y.
Fantastic atmosphere.
Yummy food.
Friendly staff.
For me it's best in rotovegas.
H.
Highly suggest ordering one main between two people. The food is awesome but the portion sizes are no joke. Coffee is good, and the complimentary short bread is made in house (they might even sell you a bag of it if you ask - and I suggest you do). Staff are lovely. Pick your day though, it can get quite busy!
D.
Great as always. Few changes but still lovely staff, huge menu, lots of vegetarian options, nice teas and good coffee. Really recommend
M.
Now this is officially my favourite breakfast place! Today was my second time here and my wife and I just drove there, all the way from Auckland, to have breakfast. My favourite is French toast, along with Vienna. The size of their serving is huge, good for the price and the taste is unparalleled. Being a dog lover myself, I find their ambience very enticing.
J.
Great place for a meal break. They were very good in helping with gluten and dairy intolerences as well. Had good options and could make many things alternative for us which was great.
K.
Cafe was busy, but order got taken quickly 👍...custard square was humongous 👍(but tasted bland, like a commercially made one)👎....ginger slice was very gingery 👍(I like ginger)..staff friendly especially young maori man Te Ao (I think his name was, very chatty and friendly) staff apologised for time to deliver Chai Latte . Latte was average tasting..quite milky👎Overall not as good as some other cafes Ive
tried. But looking forward to trying some of there other set menus at a future date.
H.
Love atmosphere and friendly customer service. Meals are large with variety in menus & treats. Excellent coffee and free newspapers to read. Colourful and vibrant with range of table settings to choose from. I highly recommend this business to dine or connect with travellers and locals.
Y.
Fantastic food. So tasty. Good portions and price. Friendly staffs.
R.
Loved this Cafe. Yummy food and great atmosphere.
G.
Absolutely recommended. Came here for dinner, as this place had by far the most customers of all restaurants nearby. Had a caesars salad - very tasty. Service is very friendly and funny. As I was about to go, they even gave me a breakfast-muffin for free
M.
Fast and friendly service of amazing food. Massively generous serving sizes.
L.
Great place to have a brunch:).love their coffee.
W.
Amazing food! Best Lamb shanks ever, kids love your nachos so much that they remember them from last year when we came down and Fat Dog was a MUST for our trip this time too! Chicken wings to die for and massive hot chocolate to go with it! Kids cheese burger was as big as I’d expect for a adult and the iced chocolate was practically a dessert. Definitely making this an essential eating place every time we visit! Thanks so much and also thanks for the awesome caramel slice too! 😍
m.
Every time I have gone it has been great food no matter what is ordered! I have to give a special mention to the caramel chocolate slice which is potentially the best thing i have ever eaten. Huge portions- definitely get more than your moneys worth!
S.
Great food, nice people 👍
S.
Service here is friendly, professional and FAST! We had the salmon eggs Benedict and the house made waffles and when I tell you it was amazing, I am wholeheartedly not giving it enough credit! My partner is a self-proclaimed waffle connoisseur and said these were the "best waffles" she's ever had. Choc thickshake was thicccccck and the soy chai latte had the perfect amount of spice. We're only in town for another day but we'll probably be back again before we leave!
K.
Food was edible and the service was good. I ordered the fish and chips and pasta. Personally, the dishes felt a little bit over-priced for me. The pasta wasn’t even cooked properly, and the sauce tasted store bought. The fish and chips were a bit on the soggy side, but it was still better than some shops I’ve seen. The mood was casual and nice, which I enjoyed. Might be coming here again, just ordering something else.
G.
We always stop on our way thru for brunch/lunch. A great place to eat, never disappoints. Highly recommend.
C.
Great service and food. All beautifully presented
P.
Great place to eat. The food was fantastic and the coffee was great
L.
HUGE menu to choose from and an excellent cabinet selection. The busy place is always has a nice casual hum. I can never get over how quickly they get your food to you. The portions are generous but not huge. Always my favorite place to stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
D.
Always top class yummy food
D.
Super sandwich and lamb dinners...easily this place is the gem of downtown Rotorua
E.
Friendly service, amazing atmosphere, superb food, decent prices. Great location within easy walking distance of lots of shops, although parking can be tricky at peak times. Any age, any time.
S.
Delicious, gr8 coffeee. Chatty happy bloke served us. The smoothy was sensational.
A.
Friendly service, the food portions are generous and appealing to the eye however the flavours were not quite there for me, my first visit I got the fish burger chips were cooked perfect but fish lacked taste. Second time I got the seafood chowder and the same thing it needed more salt etc and I wasn't a fan of the sweet corn in the chowder could have done with more seafood. Love the quirky decor though.
E.
Absolutely delicious food and the staff are lovely and professional!
So glad we made the decision to go in for brunch!
You know it's good when the place is packed and these guys always seem busy.
Definitely worth going in for a coffee and something to eat.
S.
Very good coffee and the food looked great. We had a massive piece of carrot cake and a chocolate coconut slice which were both delicious and ended to be saved for leftovers!
Eclectic decor and lots of choice on the menu, will try a meal here next time we’re in the area.
N.
Funky place with nice vibe. Would be handy to have labels on the cabinet food... would save time at checkout. Nice smooth coffee but wasn't as strong as I'd like.
D.
From the outside I didn't think we'd be cool enough to eat here. Which was completely confirmed once we were inside - we are not very cool at all - but it didn't seem to be an issue with anyone. The service was really bloody excellent, the food better.
E.
Overall, the food was "okay". There didn't seem to be anything special about it other than the name. The food lacked some flavour; though, I am from the U.S. where we over season our food... Aside from that, the atmosphere is very warm and seems to attract the locals. There are a lot of dishes and desserts to choose from, and the breakfast (except the Egg Benedict choices) is served all day.
Also, you seat yourself and order at the counter.
And for parking, there are plenty of stalls along the road.
F.
Excellent food, geat staff. Definitely recommended 👌👍😊
K.
Absolutely amazing service, food, coffee and CARAMEL SLICE!
Such a family friendly environment but also perfect for a lunch date with friends or spouse too! There is also a takeaway menu available!
H.
Always enjoy Fat Dog Cafe. However was disappointed this morning when we asked to swap out bacon on the waffles for an extra piece of banana or raspberries. Happy to take out the bacon but would charge for the extra fruit. No, they don’t reduce the cost for taking out the bacon, but they would charge for extra fruit?? We have swapped bacon for fruit so many times at other cafes, never been charged before. Overall we enjoyed our breakfast thanks.
J.
Fantastic food and really great hospitality. Love the quirky atmosphere and the Dr Seuss vibe with the poems and stories written on the walls and soft furnishings. The food is generous and tasty. Service is very quick.
J.
Nice staff, fast service and very good food!
S.
Delicious all day breakfast and speedy coffee. I have eaten here on several occasions and the food is delicious. An interesting themed venue with a low key and casual vibe. Highly recommended for any time of the day. This is a very popular venue which is always busy but there has always been a seat available.
J.
Went in without knowing anything about the cafe. We were immediately impressed by the relaxed and welcoming feel. Filled with happy chatter.
It was dinner time, but they were happy to serve from the breakfast and lunch menus.
The food was tasty, and the portions were generous, even for the kiddie menu cheeseburger.
Finally we shared a "Death by Chocolate", and it was very very good.
A.
A great spot for the hungry traveler! The food was creative and outstanding, and the atmosphere was fun!
Y.
Food is nice. Big portion! Place is pretty busy during lunch time.
A.
Unbelievably fast service, we had ordered X2 cooked breakfasts, a coffee and a tea and were served within 10 minutes. They offered free hot water refills on the herbal teas and the food was good. It's a great vibe with quirky decor, they have very friendly and accommodating staff
K.
Thought the serving area was very haphazard and a bit crazy for the amount of people trying to lineup/be served. Found the wedges very overpriced (even compared to up the Gondolas!). But overall not bad but nothing remarkable for the popularity, they must be doing something right!!
D.
Great food and relaxed atmosphere. Would definitely visit again next time in Rotorua
R.
A nice little cafe where we stopped for breakfast. They give you these table markers which are quite varied and interesting. One table I saw had some sort of flower windmill I think. Our one will probably haunt my nightmares, if I recall, it was a paper mache (?) teddy bear made from what looked like wrapping paper with teddy bear faces. So it was a teddy bear made from teddy bears. Horrifying yet cute. But the food was good, as were the drinks. I would recommend this place. Good breakfast food
j.
Very big burgers, great value for money. But bland taste and would of preferred to have flavor over such large portion sizes.
Eggs Benedict was basic but good.
Iced coffee was more cream than anything else. Not my kind of iced coffee.
G.
Wish I'd taken some pics of the food here, it was great! Massive portion of tasty pancakes with maple syrup, banana and bacon - trust me, try it. Very fast service too and the food came all at once. Clear winner for the price you pay.
D.
Busy day for them today on a long weekend so a 30m wait for coffee and food but expectations set at start and both worth the wait. Thx
M.
Gorgeous food, amazing popular place with amazing staff
B.
Great vibe about the place. The food is good and the portion sizes are huge. A good place to go if you're hungry.
B.
Fantastic service, great coffee and delicious breakfast!
S.
Fantastic food and a fun atmosphere. Service was wonderful. We had to wait a while for our food, but we were one of two large groups there at the time, so it was understandable.
d.
The Fat Dog Cafe is the go to cafe in Rotorua! You won’t be disappointed. Great coffee, awesome delicious food, amazing staff who are so kind and friendly and really make the atmosphere of the cafe welcoming and warm. They also play great music to enjoy while sipping coffee and relaxing. Would give them a 10/10 if we could. Only place in Rotorua we would recommend. They are fantastic!!
A.
Best fish n chips I've had in NZ! Truly truly well done. The breading was nice and crispy, fish was very tasty and tartar sauce was off the hook! If your a fish n chips fanatic like me, you'll love this place!
A.
Stopped in for lunch today after reading about the Fat Dog online as a kid friendly place to eat. I ordered the bangers n mash, my wife got the ranch pasta salad and we got a toddler size spaghetti bolognese for our 2yr old. Awesome lunch. Portion sizes were huge and super tasty. If I end up back in Rotorua someday I would go back there for a bite. Great, fun, colourful atmosphere with friendly staff and excellent service.
G.
Good service, Good food.
A.
There were plenty of good vegetarian options, friendly staff, and good portion sizes. The coffee is weak so if you're a coffee lover you might want to get a double shot. I had a nice falafel salad, it was pricey for a salad but filling and one of the rare healthy vegetarian options that Rotorua has to offer, so I can't complain too much. I also had an afghan cookie which was amazing.
K.
Humongous burger, the atmosphere is great come eat and relax
M.
Delicious pancakes with hot raspberries and cream. Very friendly staff and interesting table markers (we had an ice cream cone holder, another table had a dalmatian puppy, and another had a chubby snowman). Awesome.
S.
I liked the food but beware of how big the burgers are. It was impossible to eat without creating a huge mess. Definitely get your money’s worth. I hear the breakfast is better than the lunch. Will have to try again if I’m ever back.
W.
This place is consistently busy. The food is good although they gave me so many fries that I felt guilty leaving a plate full at the end. The wait wasn't horrible given how busy they are. The prices are certainly competitive given the amount of food they give you. It's a fairly convenient location as well.
B.
Very good service from staff members & the food was great will definitely go back there for another meal🙂😉
A.
Not sure if I wasn't hungry or the menu just didn't appeal to me. However I did end up having one of the best fish burgers. I had not regretted my decision on coming here minutes before I need to hop on a bus out of Rotorua. Fast service and you could not run out of ketchup at this place. The sauce was for the fries, not the burger. I'm not a barbarian.
c.
Ate breakfast here with friends and it was unreal! Ordered the friendship toast—BOMB!!! Mate ordered waffles and he said they were tasty. We’ll definitely return for round 2.
K.
We had a hot chocolate which was delicious. They were close to closing, but they let us sit at the table till we were ready to leave.
C.
It is definitely somewhere to go when you are hungry, very large portion sizes. However it is also very tasty, and if you want you can always ask for something smaller, like my companion did. I had the French toast off the menu which was delicious. They have both menu and cabinet food.
A.
was craving for some ganache layered sweet. and nothing else was open at 9:30 in the night. we popped into fat dog for a pastry. their portion size was pretty generous. we tried the espresso cake. it was good but a little dry from the inside. this place looks good. need to go and try the other stuff there since its descriptions looked pretty interesting
E.
Best brunch and coffees in rotorua town. Guaranteed.
M.
We had breakfast here 2 days in a row while visiting Rotorua. Service was fast and food was delicious! French toast & Belgium waffles were very beautifully presented and tasted great. Coffee was also good ☕️ Highly recommend! 👍🏻✨
J.
Great hearty food. Staff were great and friendly throughout our time there.
S.
Here for breakfast. Six of us impressed with the food. Big menu, fast turn around, excellent presentation, great kai. Highly recommend the breakfast waffles.
Maybe the chef had changed since the last reviewers were here.
Will definitely be back hoping for the same experience.
A.
Great experience to be had here.
My first visit ended with me slurping on a delicious milkshake, one which puts most other milkshakes one can buy in NZ to shame.
My second visit ended with waffles! Well one large waffle more specifically. I asked for my bacon to be extra crispy which they delivered on as well. Waffle, crispy bacon, a sliced banana and maple syrup. That combined with the fact it came out promptly and piping hot made it even better.
Well worth a visit.
r.
Dry and overcooked patties. Slaw had no flavor. Fries are acceptable. Don't try the fish n chips. Not sure why this place has such good reviews. Maybe it's better for breakfast...
H.
We came here for breakfast. We ordered a couple of food and drinks. The food was nice, but nothing special. We were expecting something different because of all the great reviews. Service was great and portion was good too.
A.
We were in Rotorua for the weekend. The first time we visited this place the food and service was good.
The menu is a lot to take in.
Our second visit on the way home service was not like our first experience. Take away coffees were put down on the table in front of where I was standing without a 'thank you' or any sort of acknowledgment.
A hit and miss here.
R.
Big breakfast was disappointing... Huge chunk of bread, more than twice the thickness of a regular toast slice was hard and crunchy and way too much. Sausage was saveloy type, not very appetizing. Bacon was all rind, no shoulder. Perfectly adequate but disappointing.
E.
Fat dog Cafe & Bar is the place to eat in Rotorua. You can stop here for breakfast, lunch or dinner and you will always find something tasty to eat. Especially burgers, cakes (nut cake & carrot cake are the best ones) and iced coffee are extremely tasty. They also have gluten free or dairy free options of food and cakes as well. Highly recommended! Definitely will come back
V.
One of the best burger joints in Rotorua.
The Cajun chicken burger was fantastic.
All in all, an amazing joint with good vibes and great service. Will definitely go again, when i visit Rotorua.
S.
This place is great and the food here is also amazing. Worth a try....
Friendly staff and fast service.
Ambience is chilled....
Carrot cake is must try....
G.
Vey large portion sizes for price. Great friendly team, tidy and clean and the atmosphere was just so pleasant. I thanked them that the last huge piece of carrot cake was mine, for my birthday. 🥳
W.
Friendly staff :) huge servings!
K.
Awesome cafe, if we had this in Christchurch it would definitely be our local, loved the vibe - decor, music & friendly staff. Food fab too
B.
Amazing food. Great service! Great to find staff with a sense of humor! And they had waffles!!!
j.
Cool cafe, always stop in our the way through. Great atmosphere and staff. Reasonable pricing on food and drinks.
Hot chocolates are a must.
T.
Super funky cafe with a great light atmosphere. Chalk board lists a bunch of different options including very unique gourmet burgers and lots of desserts and drinks as well. Table numbers are kids toys and odd knick knacks. Serving are huge and delicious (consensus of all table). Shared a tender steak sandwich which came with wedges and a couple of big onion rings. Would definitely recommend and come back next time in Rotorua
M.
Awesome food and service, quality was excellent for price, tempted to remove star due to lack of fat dog but it was so good
A.
Great service... staff all very friendly, efficient and accommodating. Great serving size. Food really yummy. Our nth time and eil keep on coming back!;) Get an annual pass at Rainbow's springs - 2 for price of one breakfast here...
G.
Always noisy but friendly family atmosphere with great coffee and cafe menu. Good place to meet up because it's easy to find and in the CBD. Never know who you might dropping in for a flat white.
k.
Wow! The menu choices are amazing but the portion sizes are massive. Seriously good food and coffee. Service is friendly and environment is pleasant
R.
Pretty good place to go for a bite after a drive from Auckland and have a long away to go. Although due to grammar on menu, I thought aoli came with the chips not in the burger. They rectified it and gave us free aoli with chips. Do recommend giving this place a go. Plenty for anyone to try. :)
G.
Lots of options, open most of the day. The food was average, everything really needed salt.
I.
Funny place!! Good coffee and you're welcome here for just a drink and wifi :)
It is quite busy inside with lost of people with kids. They should improve the acoustisc's. (I know some unobtrusive cheap options so it is possible for them)
Overall, Nice place!
W.
Lunch was good. Like the not-main stream feel. Coffee is excellent and highly recommend saving a little space for the blueberry cheesecake. Not a large portion but definitely quality over quantity.
A.
Came in place was full, our waiter Carhey (?)was brilliant. I am on a sugar free dairy free carb free diet and they catered for me. .prepared to go the extra mile.
D.
Coffee is really good. Must visit cafe for breakfast and coffee in Rotorua. It got lot of varieties of cake slice options available. The cafe is big and lot of sitting space indoor. Food is expensive. Coffees are reasonably priced. The interior of cafe is pretty amazing. All size groups can be accommodated easily.
K.
This is a fabulous friendly and quirky cafe the slices are to die for so good we went back to the cafe the day we left to buy some to take with us, the extensive menu and quality of food was outstanding
D.
Food is reasonable quality and well-priced, but it has totally lost its atmosphere. Staff were helpful and friendly.
H.
Brilliant place awesome food and very tasty. Great service very much the in place to go
J.
Great little place in the heart of rotorua! Even being super busy, service was prompt and the food came out so quickly!
My partner ordered the eggs Benedict with salmon which was devine, and I ordered the muesli. The muesli was okay... I didn't realise it came with greek yoghurt (only advertised as yoghurt and I'm not a fan of greek) which was a slight let down. The only recommendation I would make is to use a bigger bowl as it was hard to mix all the ingredients together.
But overall, the cafe had an amazing vibe and loved their service!!
L.
Nice friendly place. Huge hamburgers. Service was ok but let us down a bit when they didn't bring any cutlery or water when we arrived at the table. Maybe it's their way of operating and I just didn't know. I'll go back
L.
Psst don't tell anyone as we don't want the Fat Dog getting too busy but this is my absolutely hold phone favourite cafe on the planet. Simplicity itself great food and coffee and atmosphere they should bottle and sell. I always leave Fat Dog with a smile on my dial.
n.
Good food. Kids enjoyed their food and drinks.
M.
Funky cafe, good BIG food portions. Always busy.
P.
Great food and price is reasonable
R.
Nothing to complain about the hearty breakfast menu and great service. The breakfast mince (which wasn’t even mince, But chunks of slow cooked beef chook) was the perfect day after the night before breakfast.
H.
Huge meals not to expensive and friendly staff, food took a little while but 100% worth it and it was busy so it was understandable
B.
Best place to go, after a night out or to have a meeting. :)
Staff are great, plenty of seating and great back porch scenery.
D.
Generous tasty portions. Busy but for a reason.
J.
I had the bangers and mash and it was excellent. I gave a friend just the tip of my sausage but they waited too long to eat it so that was a waste but I also ordered the dessert that had ice cream banana and churro and it was delicious.
R.
We always stop here for a coffee and breakfast when we are in Rotorua. The staff are fantastic, just like the food and the coffee.
P.
Great food and good portions depending on who is cooking. Had some small meals here not worth the price. But random of late but when they are on point it is the best place to be
n.
Highly recommend for breakfast so good it's hard to get a seat. But it's well worth it.
Service is fast and food is hot
A.
The most amazing lamb shanks I have ever had. And the portion size is humongous. Be prepared to eat alot. Really really good pricing too.
D.
Super cool place from the chalkboard menu , to docking up the place to go with the name , yes you see fat dog goodies there . To top it all food was the best . Be sure you are really hungry to finish their meal . Their portions are large which will make you a fat dog indeed
K.
I always enjoy eating and meeting here. Whether it be for a breakfast degustation or simple coffee and cake, Fat Dog is, with good reason, a Rotorua institution.
Points of today for the waiting staff wiping down my table while I was still in it. Even asking be to lift my plate so they could wipe nothing at all from underneath it.
.... Weird.
I.
Fantastic food. Only one toilet was working that day but aside from that would definitely go back.
R.
The lamb shank is to die for! Awesome food and value for money! The chefs certainly know what they are doing! The service is fast and cheap and theres heaps on a plate! The burgers are a literal tower for under 20 bucks!
C.
Always great food and service
P.
Rustic feel. Great food and drinks, quick efficient service and atmosphere. Really enjoyable experience.
G.
Yum!! Simple done incredibly well. Had ribs and chicken wings with local craft beer. So good we came back for brunch the next day. Service is prompt and friendly.
K.
Ordered double lamb shank special. Thought i would need a takeaway but once i started could not stop. Best lamb i have had in ages, mashed kumara to-die-for, gravy from heaven. Simply AWESOME
F.
We always have at least one big breakfast here when we visit Rotorua. Good food coffee and service. The Barista is always very busy.Stopped in for desert on Friday night The Tiramisu is absolutely Devine A deconstructed plate creamy Tiramisu walnut biscotti and hot coffee I cream float Phot taken part way through sorry
M.
Nice vibe and nice food.Check it out.
J.
Not too bad. Food was good and generous portions. Service can be improved. But slow and forgetful.
L.
I have been eating here since about 1995, when it first opened. Years later, even though there is much more competition, this is still one of the best places in Rotorua to eat. Their Eggs Benedict is exceptional!
T.
Super fun decor and atmosphere and hearty portions. I would definitely recommend! The fish and chips we're a delight. Good service and friendly staff.
S.
Delicious food and very kind stuff. It's definitely one of my favorite places in Rotorua
S.
I went for breakfast and it was really tasty. After my order was taken I didn't feel like I had to wait particularly long either. The staff was polite.
D.
Good food and coffee, nice vibe
J.
Wasn’t a big fan of this place. Bit of a quirky design. Place need to replace its chairs. Almost every other one is ether too small or wobbly. Food was alright, nothing to write home about. Order a BlAT sandwich, I would recommend not getting it. Just bland.
J.
Good food and service. Prices are a bit higher than other nearby cafes.
S.
Great cafe. The breakfast options looled good with fresh hollandaise for eggs benedict. I had a lovely salad and smoothie. The burgers looked monstrous. Highly recommend it.
A.
Great range of food, served fast with good coffee. THE breakfast stop in Rotorua.
G.
Not quite as good as previous visits, food delivery slow and not as tasty as usual.
I.
Very honest, humble kiwi food. Very big portions and excellent value. Service is not perfect but a great place for a meet up and you will also feel satisfied after your meal.
M.
Wife's BLAT was good. I had the dogs boulacks burger, it was just trying too hard. Definitely not a burger for someone used to American steakhouse style patties. When they try it here they are more like meatloaf. There was also simply too much going on with the burger.
M.
A great place for breaky, the delicious mince on toast, so flavorsome sweet and every bite is to just 'die for', eggs bene just as fabulous.
J.
Coffee was great and the food was good! Service is friendly and helpful and the vibe is cheerful and chill. A great place for a lazy brunch and a people watch or for a hearty breakfast after a night out.
M.
Really relaxed, laid back place to chill with a great coffee, smoothie, or healthy salad. There's no pretension here, and everyone is made welcome. Definitely worth a visit while you're in Rotorua. There's also artwork by local artists on display and available for purchase.
R.
Been going to Fat Dog Cafe every time I go to Rotorua for the last 20+ years .. and it never disappoints .. great food and coffee!
J.
Good food. Queue for door often, which is a good sign and if on holiday its no problem.
Friendly staff with a good vibe which a few people need to match by leaving there own grumpy pants at the door :)
Try the vegetarian salad which is tasty and spicy.
J.
Very friendly and prompt service. The food was good and the coffee was nice but I wouldn't say it was anything special. A nice casual Sunday brunch.
F.
This cafe is the best in Rotorua. The breakfast and lunch they make is magic. It definitely would give you another light-up in your trip there. I am longing for another taste next time.
T.
Overpriced rump, not a quality beef for sure for that price. Chocolate milkshake was fair. Atmosphere is very good tho, if you dont care about the food, or just to hang out with friend it is a good place.
H.
Simply wow at all aspects. Best lamb shanks, great customer service. Awesome coffee. If you are visiting Rotorua, you have to try it
G.
Excellent place for breakfast. Food portions are huge (including the hot chocolate which was served in a cup the size of your face). Highly recommended if you are looking for a good hearty breakfast/brunch
J.
Really cool place! The staff are friendly and the atmosphere is very chilled. Its not flashy and the meals are humble but yum! The caramel slice was soooo good!
C.
I've been visiting The Fat Dog for years. Love the atmosphere, the diverse clientelle and always, the friendly crew. Chips were great and coffee was hot and tasty. Kapai to kai.
k.
Fabulous food. Need extra waiting staff. Tables left uncleared for ages despite staff walking by several times. Where fish tank is take out and make coffee station and cold drinks station.
J.
Delicious! Got great food and service! Very generous serving sizes. Really child friendly too with options for both kids and toddler portions.
A.
Delicious food, wide selection. Great vegetarian. Staff a little forgetful but genuinely friendly and welcoming.
A.
Outstanding - as usual. Excellent, friendly service. Delicious fresh and varied menu. Great surroundings. Still my absolute favourite place to eat in Rotorua!
S.
Delicious vegan and gluten-free nachos, hubby had the homemade breakfast waffles he rates them 10 outta 10 .excellent service great vibe
J.
We are three travellers from New York, Australia and Taiwan. We had the big breakfast, steak sandwich and vege BLT.
Overall it was quite greesy. We were expecting a 4.5 star experience based on Yelp, but it seems like Google is more accurate.
The good was the usual brunch type but nothing special.
J.
Good range of food. Staff helpful with making vegetarian options vegan.
M.
Ridiculously large portion sizes and a fun atmosphere
E.
Busy and bustling, must be the awesome food. Waffle Breakfast and burgers, big portions and very tasty. Mmmmm
J.
Nice, friendly staff. Very limited wine selection. Got our order wrong, although insisted they hadn't. Food was good and value for money.
G.
Nice, friendly staff but seemed a bit pricey...but these days they'll seem pricier.
T.
I must admit, we were wandering. We'd never heard of Fat Dog Cafe before today but we are very grateful that has changed. My lady had the Cajun Chicken burger (real chicken breast, bacon, aioli and salad in a 5 inch stack) while I had the distinct pleasure of punishing my waistline with the astonishing Dogs Bollocks Burger (two homemade beef patties, caramelised onion, kawakawa, fried egg, bacon, tomato and homemade sauce in a truly amazing 7 inch stack).
Yes, as others have said, the prices are more than one might expect to pay for a hamburger or a chicken burger but these are not your standard burgers. If you want a $7 burger, go to one of the sloppy fast food chains and enjoy. If you want a true quality burger which will virtually inspire worship from your taste buds on the way down, the price (more akin to a counter meal) is most definitely worth it.
N.
Favourite Cafe in New Zealand. Best coffee, DKD! So glad we relocated to Rotorua. Friendly and great service. Great food! Thank you Fat Dog.
S.
Excellent coffee , relaxed staff and fun place to hang.
R.
I've always loved Fatdog for its amazing food and great customer service. Lately we have been coming here once a week for dinner, 90% of the time we will order breakfast waffles (they're THAT good!) I highly reccomend this place! (AND the breakfast waffles!!)
D.
Amazing food great people and service
j.
Had a yummy bacon and egg pie. The staff were great and coffee as good as any. Will definitely be back to try some more of their fare.
P.
Great food and good portions depending on who is cooking. Had some small meals here not worth the price. But random of late but when they are on point it is the best place to be
A.
Not sure if I wasn't hungry or the menu just didn't appeal to me. However I did end up having one of the best fish burgers. I had not regretted my decision on coming here minutes before I need to hop on a bus out of Rotorua. Fast service …
A.
Best place for food in Rotorua, great breakfast, great lunch
M.
Fantastic hot chocolate. It was after closing time. The staff were friendly and welcoming to go with it. Can't fault the service. Just great.
S.
Staff are amazing, food great, fat dog milkshakes and coffee the best ever
S.
Service here is friendly, professional and FAST! We had the salmon eggs Benedict and the house made waffles and when I tell you it was amazing, I am wholeheartedly not giving it enough credit! My partner is a self-proclaimed waffle …
K.
Amazing place. The 93 year old with me loved her pastie. Caters for all ages and appetites.
A.
was craving for some ganache layered sweet. and nothing else was open at 9:30 in the night. we popped into fat dog for a pastry. their portion size was pretty generous. we tried the espresso cake. it was good but a little dry from the …
j.
Very big burgers, great value for money. But bland taste and would of preferred to have flavor over such large portion sizes.
Eggs Benedict was basic but good. …
K.
Absolutely brilliant good food
B.
Generous portion sizing. Good food. No fuss dining. Pay at the front as your order which makes it easy if you're in a large group.
C.
Had breakfast here. Was beautiful meal. Eggs cooked perfectly and was a great way to start the day!!
S.
Casual, low key dining. Huge range and good portions. Very popular Cafe, worth the wait. Our favourite dining venue in Rotorua.
h.
Good with great food. Family friendly. We hit breakfast rush so was a little cramped but once we found our table was very comfortable
R.
Our favorite place to have a coffee. Amazing staff and service standard. Lot of varieties to choose from. Highly recommended for locals and tourist
C.
Good food, massive portions and good value. Really friendly staff too. We had breakfast this morning and the coffee was really good. Didn't need lunch!!
S.
One of the best eat's in Rotorua, we have been here multiple times, love the breakfast, the coffee is great, but we can't go past the lamb shanks for dinner.
L.
Had breakfast here. Food tasted amazing, staff were friendly and courteous and the music was fit for purpose. Worth every cent. Definitely a must when in Rotorua
J.
Top notch Cafe! My partner and I go there nearly every week!
D.
Apart from three female customers making as much noise as a rugby crowd at Cardiff Arms Park during an A-B test, the coffee was ok and staff friendly.
A.
Nice place in the center of rotorua. We was good big portions!
k.
Had big portions, good selection but when we got lamb shanks it wasn't falling off bone, also mash to lamb ratio was not right. Very little mash for huge amount of lamb
A.
Food was real good.
& I'm extremely impressed with the customer service of Justin
He's very responsive and soft spoken
Fully energetic on thethbusiest busiest
(Easter weekend)
Highly recommended.
K.
They serve really good milkshakes and smoothies!!! American hotdogs we ordered were served with heeeeaps of chips. The ambience was nice and my partner loved their playlist!
G.
Great service, especially under covid levels. Fantastic food. Funky environment.
M.
Fantastic hot chocolate. It was after closing time. The staff were friendly and welcoming to go with it. Can't fault the service. Just great.
K.
Food was average, ordered a chicken burger and it was definitely not worth $25 dollars! Got fruit with yoghurt and the yoghurt was disgusting as well. Wouldn’t come back
H.
A thousand thank yous!! Recently I had the misfortune to be left stranded outside the iSite building waiting for a very late bus connection to Tauranga. As it was a very cold evening and we had been waiting for over half an hour I dashed around the corner hoping to find a cafe for hot drinks. I entered the Fat Dog Cafe and ordered three drinks, the other two for a Mum and her young daughter also waiting for the bus. Upon paying my card declined, but the lovely Lauren who was serving me continued making my drinks, handed them to me, and wished me well for the rest of my journey. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness, and the delicious hot chocolates. It made a long, cold, journey a little more comfortable, and warmed my heart that there are still caring people in this world.
Thank you Lauren and Fat Dog Cafe ❤️
Helen
C.
Awesome place for our breakfast. Fast efficient and friendly staff. Yummy food. Great atmosphere.
J.
All round cool place good desserts. More banana in the shake.
A.
This rotorua institution still pulls a croud but in some ways the "dog has had its day". The coffee is good, food is hearty. Decor is jaded and makes the place seem a bit dirty. Seems like might be more of a transient croud now?
P.
Excellent food and coffee, friendly very helpful staff, nice clean toilets.
M.
Went for breakfast and was not disappointed. Nice staff and quick service. Portions are very generous so go on an empty stomach.
A.
Very well priced food and casual atmosphere. Popular with locals and the food is good. Must try for families or just a quick bite.
M.
Nice food! Friendly staff and great decor. Toilets were a bit grotty, but not too bad.
C.
The line was too long for me.... but there was lots of ppl eating.... so ...it must be good.... hopefully next time I'll get a seat
M.
Great breakfast, with rapid service. Managed to get a table for 6 straight away as well on a Sunday morning. Little pricey but worth it, otherwise would of been 5 stars.
L.
Made me feel so welcome when I was visiting the country for the first time by myself and a bit lonely! Such a beautiful place, and amazing coffee I’m definitely planning on coming back on my next trip.
E.
They get a giant portions so you get a lot for your money. But I rather pay less and get more reasonable size portions. My group of 4 found the food mediocre.
K.
Awesome place, make sure you are hungry as the burgers are huge! Great quality food with excellent service.
H.
Large meals well presented with friendly attentive staff. The place is normally full but you can always find a lazy seat to enjoy the great menu.
D.
Good atmosphere and menu. Service was fast and friendly. Great eggs bennie and big breakfast.
B.
Did brunch. Generous, tasty food, great ambience, staff were doing well on a busy morning. Would go again for sure!
s.
Had the kiwi samoan smoothie, flat white and egg bennie, very nice!
B.
The food was great, very generous serving and friendly staff
M.
All day breakfast! Nice environment! Comfortable seats! Friendly staff. Just a lovely place to eat!
G.
Awesome breakfast, service and welcome really friendly. Would definitely recommend 👍🍻
E.
Place was pretty crowded. Portion was quite big but not much taste, nice chocolate thick shake though
M.
We really enjoyed that café, the French toasts were great and the coffee&hot chocolate were great too! Such a neat place 😊
D.
Yummmm!!! Falafel buddha bowl is delicious 😋 super healthy and a great size meal!
W.
Great cafe. They always take care of us. I work for a bank and their out catering is amazing and really enjoyed by colleagues from out of town. Thks guys.
T.
The food and coffee here are so damn good... Amazing!
J.
First time dining in tonight perfect and yummy food plus dessert but most of all the best customer service will definitely recommend and will be back for sure🙂
J.
Food is awesome! AND plentiful! Service excellent, great quirky atmosphere. LOVE the fun poems ! A MUST visit !!
M.
We chose quishe from the cabinet, but was disappointed as it was not heated thru properly (was hot and cold in patches). Perhaps we should have asked for it to be heated again.
Coffee was good. Staff friendly.
A.
I heard of this berger so many time before, but it was kind of sweet and oily.
And huge portion! If you like fries and big portion I recommanded this burger
S.
Awesome coffee. Great food. Fair prices and excellent service. My "go too" place when I'm in Rotorua.
P.
Food is amazing here. Very popular hard to get a seat when busy
A.
Friendly staff and a great selection of really tasty food.. The slices are delicious
A.
This place is really nice with great atmosphere and with good food.
We ordered the double lamb shank and was great. Their burgers look great too
S.
Good coffee and Delicious Food
Wonderful atmosphere
We enjoyed a fantastic breakfast this morning
Will definitely be back to try some of the decadent sweets selection
D.
The waffles for breakfast were amazing! I couldn't get through them they were so filling.
G.
Probably the best burger that I have eaten. Huge and tasty. Chips were hot and crisp. Highly worth the trip to Rotorua.
R.
Very friendly staff! The food was good too and very affordable. Lot's of parents with small children, which makes for a relaxed atmosphere. Would recommend!
A.
Love Love Love this little place in Rotorua! Great food, great location, great service. There's a plump red fish who watch you while you eat and it seems he's really hungry 😄