Artoven Cafe & Patisserie - Canberra

Bought a large chocolate cake. Took it home and served it to visiting relatives. I thought it was hard to cut. No one ate more than a mouthful. The cake was completely stale, dry, and tasted like wholemeal bread. The bakery wanted the missing slices for refund. I asked the owner to cut a slice and taste it. She spat the piece out and apologised, explaining that they don't actually bake the cakes, but she would talk to her supplier. If I wanted a factory cake, I would have gone to Coles. At least it would have been fresh and edible. This place is more like a factory outlet than a bakery... At least when it comes to cakes. Will never return.

Not sure about the rest of her eating, but this place makes a great runway mi (pork roll/chicken roll), probably the best I had lately. coffee is okay, but nothing to write home.

I baked a big chocolate cake. it took home and served him to visit related. I thought it was hard to cut. No one ate more than a mouthful. the cake was completely stone, dry and tasted like full grain bread. the bakery wanted the missing discs for reimbursement. I asked the owner to cut a piece and taste. She threw that piece out and apologized and explained that she didn't really bake the cake, but she would talk to her supplier. If I wanted a pancake, I would have gone to coles. at least it would have been fresh and edible. this place is more like a factory outlet than a bakery. at least when it comes to cake. will never come back.

Stopped in here for a lunch. Inside it does look like a pretty ordinary cafe with average furnishings, and the very limited array of cakes/slices, etc. on display does not make it a patisserie. Ordered foccacias, toasties and coffees,. Coffees came out in 5 minutes, but waiting over a further 15 minutes for the food. Coffees OK, but nothing to write home about. Seems as if a very low priority is placed on table service if there are any take away customers present, and they had many take away customers while we were waiting. Had finished our drinks well and truly before the food arrived, and when it did, it was just average.There are so many other places in that strip for lunch, and we unfortunately chose the wrong one. Might be OK if you are a take away customer, but based on our experience, we won't be going back.

"Patisserie" is an exaggeration as most of the sugary cakes etc are factory produce - nothing looks homemade. They make sandwiches but we've never tried them. They do have reasonable coffee and it's so convenient right next to the cinema so I often grab a coffee before a movie. The interior is quite cosy on a winter day with sun streaming through the window & a selection of magazines, polite staff (rather than warm/friendly but that's ok too). The outdoor area is very pleasant as well when the weather is warmer. A very unpretentious place - almost like an old fashioned cake shop...I don't often buy food as it's not too appealing (think donuts, factory style vanilla slices etc). So 4 star is a bit generous but I feel that the cosy location makes it a good place to go before the movies or a stroll around the little village of Manuka. With a bit of creativity and imagination it could do so much better but not sure if the owners want to go in that directions??