Recommend by my friend, and the date scone was really yummy, cafe also very nice. Very busy on the weekend, wanna try more food next time. Will definitely go back. My friend also recommended seafood chowder and fish n chips. Good place for catching up with friends.
Went for a hot chocolate which tasted really nice. The view is very pretty as it located near the marina. The downside is that it was quite packed. Have yet to try the food menu from them.
Such amazing cabinet range! I highly enjoyed their gluten free white chocolate brownie and almond piece. Satisfied my dessert cravings. Will defs be back to try their main breakfast menu.
Had lunch here :) lovely spot looking out at the marina. Omelette was massive, tasty and chicken pot pie was yummy. Food arrived promptly and staff were very friendly. Thanks!
Have been here a few times and it's a fantastic place for a catch up or just to chill out.
The cafe overlooks a scenic half moon bay. The dining area is clean, spacious and tidy. They have an outdoor dining space as well.
Their menu is extensive and their cabinet has an endless display of food. The salads from their cabinet menu are generous and the pastas are delicious.
Hot chocolates are so adorable and velvety.
Would definitely recommend this place.
Date scone was top notch, bagel was great and coffee hit the spot. Nice location and views. Staff were friendly but under the pump as the cafe was so busy.
We absolutely ADORE this cafe. Definitely spoilt with the options in the cabinet and the amazing view of the marina!
My sister ordered the pumpkin & chicken pasta. It was well flavored but unfortunately the serving size was quite pathetic and definitely not worth the $9.50. In contrast, their paninis and croissant sandwiches are the same price, and are served with salads. Definitely very filling. Love that they have vegetarian paninis too.
Especially recommend their corn fritters and almond croissant.
Coffee is good. The latte bowl is more on the milky side so would suggest ordering their flat white :)
All in all its such a spacious, relaxing place with good food, that will make one want to return again and again.
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Mum said meet Ara-Tai over the phone so was thinking I was going to have Thai food. But it's a Asian cafe . Large cafe , nice outlook of marina. Coffee yum! I wasn't that hungry so just ordered a ham and tomato sandwich packed in a plastic container . It was nice , but no kiwi dijionaise mustard. 😞
I love the large cups/mugs you can have for a capacino , small cups are too quick to drink.
Busy cafe being a Monday , probably because only cafe! Most people dining are over 60, probably locals.
Would love to see more Kiwi food -like a salad range perhaps . (Go copy Farro Fresh in Lunn Ave ,best salad bar in Auckland).
Service was a bit backwards .- they need a better system . My sandwich came out 15minutes after I ordered at the cafe till. they didn't give it to me !then 13 minutes later my coffee was delivered . I had to go up to the counter after 20 minutes to grab my parents salmon salads.
They don't offer coffee cards unless you ask ! I ask the waitress from my table if I could have a coffee card for my 3 coffees , she bought me back a unstamped card! Dah!
Will I return ...coffee .. Yes .
Anna
Food assessor
Great big breakfast. Nice location. Service was good. If they added black pudding it would be just about perfect :) and would get a 5 rating.
What a great place for Brunch! After a morning of taking family photographs at Eastern Beach we all headed for Ara-Tai Café for Brunch on the recommendation of one of the party. A total of 8 people aged from 4 Months to 70+ and took all our own orders and provided a list to the Cashier with drinks and within 10 min we had all our orders delivered including drinks with no errors and we were very impressed by the quality and taste of the food. Coffee great Iced Coffee fantastic. The roominess of the café was excellent especially with a baby buggy.Well done to you all we will be back especially as a family.
Ara-Tai at Half Moon Bay has established as a popular spot among local people, not just because of its food, but of the beautiful view. I was there for lunch & unsurprisingly I caught up with some friends who are living locally or in the nearby Bucklands Beach & Highland Park areas. I had a seafood chowder with toasts, plus a chicken kebab. Seafood chowder was creamy & cheesy, but surimi (the imitation crab meat) in it was something I couldn't stand. Coffee was always hot & good. (Food - 3/5; Service - 4/5; Ambience- 4/5)
Nice cafe in a nice setting, staff were all friendly and served us quickly, had a pie and a Panini which were both good, coffee and hot chocolate also good.
Great atmosphere ,great parking.family friendly and spacious cafe with great views. Great quality food and priced ok. Best tasting Coffee a little cold though and please have REAL glasses for water. Please loose the plastic ones otherwise will be back again for sure!
The staff are pretty friendly, and the cafe is gorgeous, especially with the view. Ara-Tai has plenty of reviews already, so I think I'll move straight onto the food.
The coffee is alright. Slightly on the bitter side, it has little other flavour, but otherwise it's not so bad. Beautifully presented.
My family and I have tried several menu items, and have had various opinions on most of them. Ara Tai produces the most perfectly poached eggs I've had in a cafe, but their hollandaise is as average as most. The pot pies are great value, packed with filling and delicious, and the sweets/desserts selection is decent also. The value of some other dishes is hardly something to speak of... some are very expensive for what appears to be shop-bought products slapped (though very prettily) onto a large plate.
Overall pretty good food, but average value.
Came here for brunch with some friends one morning. It was quite busy for a Monday morning! I had the chicken and mushroom filo which was delicious and quite affordable at around $8. I also had the lemon meringue tart which was equally as yum. Will definitely return to try out more of their menu!
A nice cafe by the water. Spacious, clean and tidy. Came on a weekend lunch time, the queue to order the food was very long but the wait for the food was not bad. Fish and chips from the lunch menu was good and quite big. My favourites were the seafood pot pie and the fruit tart.
Have been here several times, always enjoyed it. Great place - sometimes very busy.
I would recommend choosing something out of the huge range of display options. Much better value than the menu options, $8 for a great size, great portion salad/pie/panini something amazing and unique sounding (that tastes great), vs a $16 meal s ordered off the menu - will take a lot longer, and usually aren't too big portions, on an enormous plate. The cakes and slices are great too :)
Good choice for breakfast or lunch :) my breakfast pick would be the fruit salad (that comes with yoghurt) and a yummy enormous berry and chocolate muffin!
Busy Saturday as we went during the peak hour for brunch. Place was buzzing but we managed to find a table. Ordered the creamy mushroom and rosti stack with a side of scrambled eggs! Creamy mushrooms were delicious, very saucy and tasty. J's Rosti stack was good however it had a small portion of mushrooms. Hashbrown was nice and crispy; wasnt oily. Very friendly service as we felt very welcomed even though they were busy. Great spot for a nice brunch by the seaside.
Coffee was really bad, it tasted burnt and rough. Got an iced mocha and it had so much vanilla powder that it was thick and too sweet. On the other hand, the food is so good. !
A quick stop became more like a sleep over, me and my partner really enjoyed Ara-Tai Cafe. We went for the cabinet food, generous size i must say and oooh delish with a cup of Mocha mmmm. If i could buy each item from the cabinet i would. Apart from that i looooved looking out into the sea enjoying the crisp air, and lucky it was a sunny day. The girls behind the counter were well presented and never dropped their smile. Great customer service girls. Will deeeefinitely be coming back, and beat the crowd:-)
The best eggs-benny in HMB. Definitely worth visiting on a sunny day to sit outdoors and enjoy the scenery. Staff are always friendly and the coffee's always good!
We absolutely loved it - I ordered Toast with sides chicken, Hash browns, mushrooms & bacon. The chicken was superb and the food done to a high standard. What I loved the most was sitting outside. When the sun came out, staff opened umbrellas for us and it made a great experience. Might be a bit pricey but it was worth it. Will def return again.
Brought the family and the in laws here for brunch. First time trying out this place and was very impressed. Ordered the creamy mushroom and it was simply fantastic. With a large range of food, fasts service and a stunning view, what more could one ask for. Definitely will be back here again real soon.
Went here with my mom and grandma and everything was just delicious. The view is just amazing. We just opted for cabinet food and they had a very large and interesting selection.
I absolutely love their burger and fries here!!! The mocha needed a bit of work but other than that the burger was so delicious even though it was so large. The view here is really nice because you can see the yachts and the bright blue sea on a really sunny day. I managed to finish the burger and fries even though it seemed massive!! The visuals of the food looked really appealing. You can also bring pets, there was mostly pet dogs brought by families/owners which is cool. A bit strong on the mocha but I still enjoyed my time here.
I came here for lunch with a friend. There were friendly staff however there wasn't as many options to choose from than I expected and it felt a bit overpriced. We did not have to wait too long for the food. The meal was filling, delicious and well-presented. It is a good place to enjoy a meal and look out to a great view of the marina.
We had a very pleasant lunch here last Sunday (15th June). Hubby had corn fritters which he said were very good but could have done with some relish as well as the sour cream. I had the asian beef salad, which was really tasty and a heap of beef (what looked like a whole piece of sirloin thickly sliced) and a massive amount of cashew nuts - value for money on this dish! Our son had the meatlovers pizza which was nice but a bit floppy. Mochas were very nice and staff very pleasant, good to see them promptly clearing tables as customers left. Will be returning to taste the cabinet food as it look very appertising.
We love coming here- it's our local. The coffee is consistently excellent (nice and strong) and yummy cabinet food (mmm caramel crumble slice). Haven't ordered off the menu yet, but it all sounds very nice. Service is very friendly. Always busy but never feels unpleasantly crowded as nice big open inside seating area with gorgeous views out to the marina.
Wondering if the negative reviews on here are from competition. They really don't stack up.
We often visit Ara-Tai and the food and coffee are consistently great. The staff are super friendly and accommodating and as for the location.. how could you beat that?
Today I had eggs bene on gluten free bread and it was fab. Hubby had his big brekkie which was made with great quality ingredients. The kids loved their french toast and pancakes.
There was a constant stream of customers at the counter. The line never went below 10 people. Hundreds of customers and their wallets can't be wrong!!
As an ex restaurateur I was amazed at some of the reviews for this establishment. Such contrasts! All I can say that they must have addressed the issues mentioned because for us it was one of our best dining experiences and value for money in Auckland.
I would describe it as an up market cafe with a twist - and a very tempting food cabinet. Just so difficult to choose...
Despite being nearly packed when we were there, the service was prompt the food great, and the staff were friendly and professional. Excellent coffee too, and I'm pretty difficult to please !!
The Maitre d' did what I regard as the essential 4 minute "is everything to your satisfaction" call after meals delivered whilst presenting an unsolicited glass of water to his clients - Nice!
Went to this Restaurant today with our Seniors from Church after a nice ferry ride from Britomaart. We phoned this morning to confirm a booking we had enquired about a week earlier. They were most obliging, having our tables all ready when we arrived. There was a wonderful selection of cabinet food plus menu if we wanted it, reasonably priced and served by a very friendly helpful staff. Lovely view out to the marina and Rangitoto. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting a lovely meal. Bev & Bruce
We came here for Sat breakfast around 10am! I ordered the bacon eggs and mushrooms on hash brown, Wifey had the mushrooms on toast, and my girl had chocolate cake! The food was very good still hot and presented well! The staff I found cheerful, polite n pleasant! The views were beautiful sitting sheltered from the sun just inside gazing out onto the boats and smelling the sea air! The assortment I thought was varied although the blackboard I thought could've been a bit more adventurous still though early days.
My only disappointment was the coffee we'd ordered! It was mediocre not sure if it was the blend or a barista's skill? I scanned the other tables and many had gone for bottled drinks, smoothies etc. I may have caught them on an off day so lets see what happens next time! After we'd finished, every man and his dog seemed to come out of the woodwork ordering food! Great place to hang and chill
We went to Ara-Tai for Sunday brunch a few weeks ago, after recommendation from a friend.
My husband ordered eggs Benedict, I had full English. the food was excellent, served hot, the eggs perfect and the service was great and the menu very well priced, we waited slightly longer than anticipated as they were really busy. We sat in a sunny corner read the paper and enjoyed the atmosphere.
Well behaved canines are welcome in the outside area, I would thoroughly recommend it for a lazy Sunday brunch, followed by a walk on the boardwalk to Bucklands Beach. Also lots of free parking.
S Gabriel Cockle Bay
I really like this cafe for its coffee and date scones. I have never ordered more than that but many people do and always appear quite satisfied. The youngish guy at front is very friendly and obliging and I cannot fault the other staff - some lack experience but certainly not personality.
Petra Schendelaar Kemp
+4
I have been there twice in the past 3 weeks both a weekday and weekend and have found the cafe to be exactly what a cafe should be. Comfortable, clean, with prompt service, reasonable prices and just an all round enjoyable experience. The views are to die for. If you are looking for a great place to catch up with friends and family for breakfast with a lovely view of the marina this place is perfect! Coffee is lovely and the food is delicious. Minus the madness off mission bay you can enjoy a breakfast/lunch with friends without stressing over getting to the venue or looking for parking. None of us had a single negative about any part of the experience either time and will visit often.
Just had lunch at Ara-Tai Cafe - excellent service, and friendly staff. Coffee is wonderful - BUT the best item was the Corn Fritters - they were the best I have had, and I have eaten them in Australia and throughout NZ.
I didnt eat the Chicken & Leek Pot Pie, but that also got great reviews.
Sit outside in the Sunshine or inside - the ambience of the cafe is great.
Do go and try Ara-Tai - I just hope you have a good an experience as we did.
This is our 2nd visit in 2 weeks, we will be back.
This place is so nice for a sunny morning brunch! We had a quick lunch here and the view was stunning. we got the chicken pot pie as well as the seafood pot pie. the seafood one was definitely more yum but both are nice with a crispy top. We then got a thai beef salad which had perfect flavours and nice textures. Overall lovely place would recommend!!
Full marks for Ara Tai! There wasn’t one thing I didn’t love about my time at Ara Tai. Getting there was easy, parking was easy to find. There are parks for boats or marina folk but they are separated from public parks by a mechanical arm. The cafe is large and spacious inside, and has plenty of outdoor seating as well. Cabinet is well stocked. The menu had a wide range (which I personally like). Coffee was great. Now let’s talk about the pancakes… 😱🤩🥳 they are AMAZING! Surrounded by fruit and compote, drizzled with chocolate sauce, a nice dollop of whipped cream and a huge slab of French vanilla ice cream. Wow. It was so good the birds were jealous. My mother had the bagel and that was also amazing. The girls that work there are lovely, one of them even gave me a recommendation for next time. Definitely will be going back.
Lovely views looking over Half Moon Bay Marina. Plenty of parking around in the weekends. Best to book a table for large groups as it can get quite busy. Has cooked meals, as well as cabinet food. Great coffee and the food came out reasonably fast. Indoor and outdoor seating.
okay cafe, though quite pricy. Their pork belly sandwich was bland and definitely needed some seasoning, and their matcha latte wasn't that good, but their eggs benedict was quite nice! We ordered around 3+ dishes that had poached eggs and they were cooked perfectly. Nonetheless, too pricey for the quality of food.
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Came for lunch on a weekday and it was busy enough to have a buzz but not packed. Service was quick and attentive. My flat white was really good and I'm quite picky with my coffees. I ordered the chicken burger with fries. The fries were crunchy and tasty and came with tomato sauce. The chicken burger was generous with a whole chicken thigh and fresh salad. My only suggestion for the chef is to replace the pickles (which in my opinion are more suited to beef burgers) with something with some sweetness like cranberry sauce or a tomato relish. The oiliness of the chicken and aioli had nothing to balance it out so the burger didn't have a lot of flavour. Also as the chicken is grilled the outside was a bit tough - not terribly but as the bun was a very soft brioche bun, everything was easy to bite except the chicken so with each bite the burger was falling apart as I had to tear the chicken with my teeth. I would recommend either making the chicken softer on the outside (it was actually juicy and delicious in the middle) or using a more structured bun. Overall I enjoyed my visit and think they deserve 4 stars - I'm sad to see they got so many bad reviews recently, I think they are working on it. Hopefully constructive reviews are helpful for them in this process!
Excellent location with a lovely view. Good food and options.
Great cafe near the marina, popular with the locals. I have been here many times and always enjoy the vibes and views in summer. Prices are reasonable for a cafe and the coffee hasn’t disappointed me yet. I recommend it if you’re in the area.
Great service and food.
Gluten free options available
Tried their matcha green tea frappe and also their iced latte today. The iced latte tasted good at the beginning, but near the middle and end had some not so pleasant after taste. The frappe was just ok for me as well. Havent tried their cabinet food so might give this place a second chance next time.
Second visit. Had the iced americano and also the mocha frappe. Also tried their chicken and seafood pot pie. Then ended the meal with a caramel slice. The coffee was definitely a lot better this time. The pot pie inside was pretty good. They could probably make the pastry crispier, such as put in oven longer or use a kitchen torch, since this pot pie was premade. The caramel slice was excellent and the caramel was gooey inside. Service is just ok, I think staffs don't like working here as I see lack of energy in a lot of them. Overall, fold here improved since last time I visited
Recently organised a group brunch here, great service with friendly staff, good food selection, and an excellent view over the marina.
Well deserved 5 stars. The food and coffee is great, great service and atmosphere. We will most definitely visit again.
Very tasty egg bene, will come back trying out more items on the menu!
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