Cafe Primo e Secundo

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#3 of 6 Quick Bites in Methven$$ - $$$, Quick Bites, Cafe, New Zealand

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Ratings and reviews

4.0

199 reviews

#3 of 6 Quick Bites in Methven

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

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CUISINES

Cafe, New Zealand

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

features

Location and contact

38 McMillan St., Methven 7730 New Zealand

+64 3-302 9060

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Does this restaurant accept bookings?

Yes

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CUISINES

Cafe, New Zealand

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

FEATURES

Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating

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4.0

199 reviews

Excellent

103

Very good

Average

Poor

Terrible

Rebecca T

Melbourne14 contributions

A delicious all-round breakfast

Aug 2022 • family

A breakfast full of deliciousness ~ Eggs Benedict with salmon, ham & cheese croissant very tasty and coffee to rival some of Melbourne’s best. All surrounded by an eclectic mix of furniture & bric-a-brac. And little ‘Moo’ the Cairn Terrier to greet you at your table.

Written 31 August 2022

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.

April F

3 contributions

Locals' choice!

May 2022 • none

You always know you're on to a good thing when an establishment is frequented with locals. This cafe is delightfully quirky from the interior decor (won't spoil it for you) to the lady in charge. We late breakfasted here and the cafe was abuzz with friends catching up, people reading, doing crosswords and avoiding the rain. A return is definitely on the cards.

Written 9 May 2022

Diane Wright

Auckland22 contributions

We were recommended this place

Jan 2020 • none

We were recommended this place by a local and were grateful because at first glance would not have realized it was a cafe. Wow! It’s worth visiting because of what it actually is and what it actually is is an op shop/cafe/retro vintage shop and a rescue centre for long forgotten treasures. A mismatched miasma of chairs, tables, stools, benches and a hundred handmade cushions. Sure it’s dusty and disorganized but that’s all part of its appeal. The staff were friendly and fun. I ordered my coffee (Allpress almond latte) and then wandered off (without paying) to find husband in the “extra” shop out the back and the barista found me there a few minutes later and handed me a coffee. Service! Maria the owner acknowledged us as soon as I stepped foot in the door which always gets ticks from me. The food on display looked amazing. Huge and generous selection. All tantalizing but whatever you do do yourself a favour and have a custard square (no cream necessary). A mouthwatering experience. AND I might add the prices were exactly right for what was in offer. Sadly we were driving through but if we weren’t I would be back there tomorrow.

Written 29 January 2020

cjessworth

3 contributions

Four Square's across the road...

Dec 2024 • couples

Usually, if I've had a bad experience at a cafe, by the time I've gotten home I've largely forgotten about it and would move on with my life. However, I wanted to reach out to folk looking for slightly above-average food in Methven. I really would not recommend this cafe. We ordered one panini, one pie (with a disappointing side salad) and a single cup of tea (which came to an outstanding $51.00). The food was an underwhelming portion, barely warm and lacked flavour. The panini of the day was toasted poorly, yet again, lukewarm and lacking any crunch. The pie was sold to us, indicating the same price as the other pies (under $23) and was only made clear that it was actually priced at $35 after the fact, when I went to pay the bill. We left our experience here feeling misled and swearing never to go back.

Written 6 December 2024

strake

Christchurch7 contributions

Disappointing

Sept 2024 • solo

The idea of a quirky cafe in a second hand shop is a good one, but it needs a tidy up.... it has crossed the line from quirky to messy/grubby. I ordered baked beans on toast for breakfast, They were served up luke-warm, and the plate was cold so the beans went cold within a couple of minutes. And the toast wasn't buttered. Coffee was good.

Written 8 September 2024

Yeripsa A

1 contribution

Not too good coffee experience

Jul 2023 • friends

Nice and very esthetic style... I like very much that of the coffee shop, but the lady on the front house was very rude with me and my friend I assumed because we were foreign. She barely took my order and her manners when I went to pay for the coffee that I ordered she technically pull the money out of my hand and had the most rude way to treat me. Which ever happened all the years living in New Zealand. Coffe was awesome, one of the best that I ever had, but sadly I felt very uncomfortable so I will doubt to back for a next time.

Written 20 August 2023

Dai the Nomad

Oxford20 contributions

Don’t bother with this cafe, not worth the effort and cost

Feb 2024 • family

We visited on a Sunday, weather was perfect. Went to place our order and was served by a rude and grumpy person making the coffee. No welcome or smiles, just terse. Obviously this person has little idea of customer service. The atmosphere in the cafe reminded me of a funeral home, non of the staff where cheery and patrons appeared to blend in with the surroundings, little chatter, no smiles etc. As regards the coffee, I had better in many places, the flat white was akin to instant coffee, it reflected the grumpy lady making the coffee, flat with litter good character. We will NOT return

Written 17 February 2024

Manda_m

Queenstown23 contributions

Worst service/disgusting undercooked food

Dec 2020 • friends

Be warned!!!! This is hands down the worst cafe I have ever been to in my life. The service was nothing short of disgraceful and inappropriate......and the food was even worse. Inedible! I feel sick thinking about that food. One bite and I wanted to vomit. I came on here wondering if it was just me and am I some kind of Karen but it seems many others have had the same experience as me, especially with respect to service, vibe and price! The older lady who served me HAS to be the owner as no one would employ someone like this- rude to customers and her staff looked scared of her too!! She was abrupt and I actually felt a little afraid when I didn’t want any relish hahahah I also asked the price as there was none showing but she said I can pay later and I didn’t think anything of it but when I went to pay it was $40 for 2 toasties and about $15 for 1 coffee and a small bottled OJ. I think this woman does just charge an arbitrary amount depending on what she feels like charging... and what she thinks you can afford?? It’s almost comical!! Maybe this is why this cafe is still operational as people come for the “experience” and entertainment value of the behaviour of the owner! Go in with a friend and order just one meal and see what happens - I dare you!

Written 11 January 2021

Mandi

1 contribution

Absolutely terrible experience

Jun 2022 • family

We walked in as a family on queen's birthday. At 2:30pm. The sign mentioned the restaurant was closing at 3pm, so we thought we would quickly grab some takeaway coffee. We walked in and rudely got told to get out and that they can't serve us (we thought it was because we were an ethnic family and the staff and customers were all local kiwis). There was plenty of cabinet food left, we asked if we could just grab a sandwich and pay and leave asap. After this, the women at the counter started yelling at us and telling us to get out. Would definitely not recommend this place. We are quite certain this was a racist issue.

Written 5 June 2022

Go42060368129

1 contribution

Shady Tourist Trap

Dec 2024 • couples

This café disappoints in several ways. While the coffee and cake were pleasant, the main dishes were not good at all. The outdoor seating, though preferable to the messy interior, was spoiled by a foul odour, and the cutlery had dried-on food, which was off-putting. The café also doubles as a junk shop, with unpriced items that turned out to be extremely overpriced when asked, reinforcing an opportunistic “tourist trap” vibe. These issues overshadowed any positives, leaving a disappointing overall impression and making it hard to recommend.

Written 17 December 2024

unclewally

15 contributions

Chaotic & Rude

Jul 2020 • none

A stange system where you order and don't get a table number, neither do they take names for takeaway coffee orders. We sat down and noticed how chaotic things were. Multiple times staff came out with food orders and wandered around the cafe trying to find the correct table, and in one case having to take an unclaimed meal back to the kitchen. We also noticed customers going to the counter and asking about their missing orders and two customers claiming the same takeway order. We ordered coffee as a prelude to our meal. We waited and waited. After 35 minutes, when there were no customers at the counter and the coffee amchine was quiet, my wife enquired about our coffee. The response from the older lady was unbelievable. In a grumpy voice she said" well you haven't been here long". She then made the coffee and then delivered it to our table in a surly manner. Such a shame as we enjoyed our breakfasts when they finally arrived. Lots of other places to dine in Methven so we will try somewhere else next time.

Written 18 July 2020

Jeffrey P

Christchurch7 contributions

Don't go!

Apr 2022 • none

Vsited this cafe for first time and liked the berry smoothies but disappointed with the food. We were pleased they offered a vegetarian option (that’s why we ended up at this cafe) but were disturbed to see a fly INSIDE the food display cabinet. We were hungry and in a hurry so decided to risk ordering the roast vegetable "sandwich” as were told it would be toasted so thought the heat would mitigate any food troubles that flies might cause. However the vegetables were luke warm to cold inside and the bread was only warm so this was unsatisfactory for food safety and taste. Won't be returning.

Written 12 April 2022

RobChristina

Christchurch105 contributions

Can’t cook eggs

Dec 2021 • none

Passing thru Methven & stopped here for lunch. Appreciated the retro decor, but incredibly cluttered (bordering on dirty). Coffee was ok but the food was awful. In particular the poached eggs in the Big Breakfast were only partially cooked, ie the egg white was still clear in places. I could go on… There are plenty of other eating options in Methven. Recommend you eat somewhere else.

Written 28 December 2021

Ulli E

Salzburg10 contributions

Owner made me feel uncomfortable

Jun 2020 • friends

I came to visit this café with a friend. He bought a coffee and a muffin, which we shared. When the owner brought the muffin she asked me to buy something for myself as well, since I was staying inside her café. I told her that I was sharing with my friend, but she kept on telling me if I don't want to buy anything I should just not come back to her café. I found this very inappropriate, especially because we just arrived and I actually wanted to have a hot chocolate after the muffin. Her behavior made me feel really uncomfortable, so we left short after that. The place itself is nice, but I definitely won't come back here.

Written 29 June 2020

21hollycat

Christchurch22 contributions

Better places to patronise in Methven

Aug 2020 • family

My impression was that the woman who owns/runs this cafe thinks people are generally a nuisance and irritating. It appears she deliberately treats customers with disdain. The food was good but no prices shown in the cabinet, she just added things up on the spot in her head and I got the distinct feeling she adjusted the prices upwards for out-of-towners. When she said the total I laughed as I thought she was joking. She wasn't. I bought a trio (plate, cup, saucer) and now that I have it home in better light I see there is a tiny crack in the cup. It's a nice wee cafe but I'd rather use my money elsewhere. We're from Christchurch and were in Methven for a friend's birthday weekend.

Written 8 August 2020