Bakehouse Cafe - GOROKAN

It was a holiday long weekend on the Central Coast (Queens Birthday Weekend, 10th-13th June, 2016) and we had played tourist until mid-morning until my wife sud... read more It was a holiday long weekend on the Central Coast (Queens Birthday Weekend, 10th-13th June, 2016) and we had played tourist until mid-morning until my wife suddenly felt the urge for a good cake or muffin with a well-made coffee.We were overjoyed to eventually see a non-chain, non-franchised bakery cafe with parking out front. We had high expectations because we love the range of bakery cafes near our home. So we expected something pleasing on seeing the "olde worlde" woodwork facade of Gorokan's main road bakery cafe.Ambience: okay ... quaint 1970s word-work facade on a very busy main road. The cafe/restaurant is not responsible for the table manners of its other patrons but we were seated in between a cast of 'bogans' who chewed with mouths open and yelled into their mobile-phones as they spoke to people elsewhere. It was not unlike a slightly more polite version of the famous movie, DELIVERANCE. We pressed on because we were hungry and caffeine-depleted ourselves.Service: Nonchalant at best. Counter staff with a 'take it or leave it' attitude ... the sort of people who persist in making you feel that they think they're doing you a service just by being open.Pricing: Somewhere between middle-of-the road for coffee to bordering on astronomical for small serves of slices and cakes for 45%-120% of what other similar places charge. Seriously, ladies ... $4.50 or more for a quarter sized serve of a slice? Over $4 for an unbuttered scone?The meat pie my wife had was good, her mug of soy flat white barely warm and wet.My date scone, despite its hefty pricepoint, was actually quite flavoursome but easily more than double what I pay elsewhere. My coffee was a pass, not bad but also not good.The serious let-down here was not just the staff attitude problem and the pricing but the general cleanliness. It seems the owners and cleaners just can't be bothered. We had coffee mugs that had not been washed, dried and wiped, teaspoons, forks and knives that we had to re-clean ourselves with paper napkins before we could use them. The tableware and the table itself had not seen a wet cloth in hours. We had to wipe it down ourselves with napkins. With a caring staff and a less entitled attitude, this could be a business one might want to return to. The food is good and the coffee not irredeemable.

It is obviously the place to get your morning tea/lunch for the locals and there were plenty there when we arrived. There is seating and there are newspapers an... read more It is obviously the place to get your morning tea/lunch for the locals and there were plenty there when we arrived. There is seating and there are newspapers and magazines but the prices are certainly at the top end with pies >$5 and coffees are $4+. I had a sausage roll and we both had a mug of strong but great coffee. Very busy road so watch the traffic.

Renovations about a year ago have resulted in a modern, fresh and clean shop. The food is great, I've been here many times and love the fact that it's very clea... read more Renovations about a year ago have resulted in a modern, fresh and clean shop. The food is great, I've been here many times and love the fact that it's very clean, fresh and the food tastes great!

Nice coffee, pies and fresh bread, with friendly service. Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 read more Nice coffee, pies and fresh bread, with friendly service. Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4 read more Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4