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Cafe Baku
Review
About
Cafe and Menu Food; European style cafe with views of Lake Taupō and the mountains of Tongariro National Park. Great Food, Friendly Staff, Spectacular Views, Reasonable Prices.
Features
CUISINES
Cafe, International, New Zealand
Meal types
Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Digital Payments
Free Wifi
Highchairs Available
Mastercard
Outdoor Seating
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Takeout
Visa
Wheelchair Accessible
Wine and Beer
Does it mainly serve crepes / waffles?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Open until 4:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 am - 4:00 pm
Monday
6:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tuesday
6:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wednesday
6:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thursday
6:00 am - 4:00 pm
Friday
6:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday
6:00 am - 4:00 pm
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4.3
458 reviews
Excellent
275
Good
96
Average
43
Poor
22
Terrible
22
Suki
Auckland132 contributions
Jan 2024 • family
Cafe Bacu is a great Taupo eatery. Our go-to place when visiting Taupo. There were 5 of us for lunch. Had steak sandwiches and waffle fries that everyone thought were delicious. The salmon quiche and cheesy vol-au-vent were also very tasty. Four thickshakes of various flavours were yummy but at $10 each, very expensive. The chai latte was good but half the cup it was served in was froth not liquid so felt a little cheated. The only real concern was the state of the glasses for self serve water. They were really dirty, with lipstick, grime and food scraps still evident.
Written 28 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kerrimai
Albany223 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
Very popular eatery on the esplanade in Taupo with seating both inside and out. We enjoyed a full hearty cooked breakfast and some great coffee and the service was quick and efficient. There were many other ready to go options which looked delicious in their display cabinet.
Written 27 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike B
33 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
I always struggle when the cabinet food is not priced. Menu prices are towards upper range but not in reasonable. Food is fine - poached eggs, salad, coffee, and a sweet slice - not remarkable but not disappointing either.
Staff were friendly .. they did offer to tell me the price of “anything” and I was tempted to start on the left and work my way through every item! Obviously I didn’t!
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luvinspoonful
Rotorua670 contributions
Jun 2024 • friends
Service was fast, coffee was great. Pancakes were not up to usual standard - everything overly sweet. Chicken nibbles reheated in microwave with a very lacklustre side salad. But the side of black pudding was the worst I have ever had - reheated in microwave, smelly and offensive tasting (I think this needs to be removed from the menu - it’s really bad)
There’s good seating inside and out and the staff are very pleasant and fast to clear tables. But the food just wasn’t good enough.
Written 7 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynne
New Zealand4 contributions
Feb 2025 • family
Stopped on our way through to Napier for lunch. The young female assistant that took my order was unfriendly and snappy. Ordered, paid and was given a number. We had been waiting 20 mins, while those who ordered after us were eating, she came over and asked were we waiting on food, the reply was yes and also drinks. She tootled off and didn’t return. So after a further 5 minutes I went inside with my table number to ask where our lunch was. Another equally rude young disinterested female assistant looked at me and said ‘yes’, taken back by her tone and poor choice of word/s I told her we were still waiting for our lunch and drinks (1/2 an hour had passed) she asked what we ordered, she looked over to the kitchen and told the 1st assistant that the items that had been sitting there for some time were ours. The pie was brought out cold, the date scone was dry and crumbly, only item worth eating was the cheese scone. The drinks were made fresh thank heavens. These two young female assistants are only there to collect their paycheque, they have no common sense and need a lesson in common courtesy. Thursday 13th February 2025.
Written 13 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren S
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • solo
Was told it would take 20 minutes for a sandwich, was told this after paying and requested refund. It was busy so I understand it would take longer. Manager was very rude asking why I would even pay if I knew it would take a while. I didn't want the employee to get in trouble so I ignored it but I didn't appreciate the tone, the girl who took my order ended up correcting her anyway. Floor staff are very polite but management need to work on customer service skills.
Written 27 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mauriceb17
England161 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
We called in mid afternoon for coffee and cake.
There appeared to be a good menu selection for brunches and lunches, however, we overheard the staff saying they had run out of a lot of things - coming over to tell people who were seated and waiting for their food after they had ordered that they did not have any left, so asking them to choose something else after they had already ordered and paid.
A lot of the cakes in the cabinet were nearing sell out but we ordered coffee, tea and a date scone.
The drinks took ages - about 15 minutes.
The scone took even longer - about 25 minutes.
By the time the scone arrived, we had drunk our coffee.
Unacceptable, particularly as there were numerous staff drifting around, they were all young and didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic. One lad was so disinterested he was playing a game of air tennis with one of the table number stands.
Not a good look.
Written 22 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny W
Feilding5 contributions
Mar 2023 • couples
It is so disappointing that a cafe with good food gets it’s wrong on so many other levels. Our omelette s arrived with no salmon. When questioned about it we were told it was stirred through! There was not even a hint of salmon anywhere. When I reluctantly returned an hour later to give the place a second chance to purchase 2 takeaway cheese scones I was told it would be a 15 minute wait. I didn’t want them heated - just 2 scones in a bag. This place has got to do better than this in a popular tourist town. Not sure I would be giving them a third chance.
Written 17 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate
Tauranga56 contributions
Feb 2023 • none
The Thai mussels sounded delicious so I ordered with anticipation, I love a good Thai dish. Getting eight tiny mussels in their shells, with three tablespoons (if that) of an oily salty sauce with a hint of some kind of spice (definitely not Thai) was extremely disappointing, and certainly not a meal.
When I went inside to order some potato salad from the cabinet, telling the woman I was highly disappointed by the mussels, she said, "I'll treat you to the potato salad". Well, that got me fuming... treat me?! WT?!
Anyhow, I took my potato salad thinking this will be good, only to find the first bite was crunchy (totally undercooked potato), with the next piece I tried being an old dry previously roasted or fried piece of potato. Oh, it did have two tiny pieces of bacon in the entire serving along with some kind of tasteless white dressing. Needless to say, I left the potato salad on the table and found lunch elsewhere.
A waste of $26.00 for my 'meal' and decaf iced Americano that was not great either.
Written 23 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TINA C
Napier5 contributions
May 2023 • business
Went for a business meet & lunch. I ordered f&chips & salad, fish was over cooked & dry along with chips. $27.50 for an x frozen dry fillet of fish, unacceptable!! Salad was sloppy with far 2 much oil & no flavour!! Business associate had the squid which he said was dry & over cooked as well!! Music far to loud for a business meet!!
Written 4 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tourist38567286080
1 contribution
Apr 2024 • couples
Worst breakfast ever. Two small eggs one rasher sreaky bacon on two thin pieces of cheabata toast one small pot of tea between two people.(one small cup each) and not cheap. Certainly not value for money. We felt ripped off and will never return.
Written 10 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DaveDogNZ
Hamilton176 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
We popped in for brunch and although busy service was efficient and friendly. The coffee was very good and would recommend it. The food (ordered from the menu) was quite expensive when we saw the quantity of food for the price. It was yummy though.
Written 16 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lehmannchristoph
Zug7 contributions
Mar 2023 • couples
most inefficient place we have EVER been to. After queuing up for 10min and ordering they tell us it will take 20 min. The coffee took 20 min (!!!!) the food (2 eggs) took 30 min. They have no clue what they are doing.
Written 12 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lovenest30
Auckland Central556 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
We had to queue for a ridiculous amount of time, then when we sat down to wait for our food, we waited 20 mins before we realised they were serving people who had come in after us….. after a wee reminder of our order, a 12 year old (?) delivered part of it, and I had to remind him of the rest of the order…
I know hospitality is understaffed and with ZZ Top in town for the long weekend, it was crazy busy, but you need to be more organised than this….
Thankfully the food we ordered was tasty - even if nearly everything had a mesculan and carrot salad on it, including the Margarita pizza!
Written 9 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen H
2 contributions
Sept 2023 • family
Not as busy as usual this morning, staff wondering around a bit. We go here every time we are in Taupo. Today was very disappointing. My french toast was under cooked, wet egg in the middle that was just warm. My husbands breakfast had stone cold mushrooms in the ramekin. When the waitress cleared our table I told her it was terrible and not cooked through. She silently took the plates to the dish pit. When she returned I asked “ did you let the chef know about the undercooked egg” she replied “yes”. She had clearly not told the chef and no one came to address our concern. Very disappointed with food and service today and would be reluctant to go back now given this lacking experience.
( I don’t usually leave reviews, but today it felt warranted)
Written 7 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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