The Boat Club /cafe - Waihi Beach

It is incredibly disappointing to encounter such poor hospitality, as we now feel unwelcome at the club. After leaving, we decided to go to a pub in Katikati, where we had a much more enjoyable evening. It's disheartening to be treated this way at a place where we would prefer to dine and socialize locally.

I decided to try this restaurant because my daughter described it as romantic, but I really wish I had checked the reviews first. I was quite disappointed. The atmosphere felt overpriced and had an odd vibe, somewhere between upscale and a tea room. The staff were decent, but I was seated next to a stack of nine chairs in a corner, which was not very appealing. The bathroom was also in poor condition. I ordered a popover, which ideally should be fresh and hot out of the oven, but what I received was a flat, frozen disc. When I asked for bread instead, I got thin, stale slices. I definitely won't be coming back.

I can't remember feeling more disappointed after a restaurant visit than I did after dining here. I recently went with my wife and our two young children, and to say we were let down by the food would be an understatement. The prices are steep, and while we're willing to pay for quality meals, what we encountered was far from satisfactory. Neither my wife nor I could finish our meals. She ordered the fish, and I chose the surf and turf. The only thing we found somewhat acceptable was the creamy mashed potatoes; everything else was quite disappointing. The steak tasted more boiled than seared; although it was relatively tender and not completely flavorless, the tiny shrimp had an unpleasant taste, and the salt and pepper squid were so salty that I couldn’t eat them. My wife's fish was tough, and our son’s beef kids’ meal looked just as unappetizing. The vegetables were merely boiled and lacked any flavor. We also tried a few desserts to take home, but the banoffee pie had no banana and was just mediocre, while the cheesecake was among the least impressive I’ve ever had. The drinks were decent, served at the bar, and the service was average—nothing to write home about. The views from the restaurant were the only positive aspect of our visit. I would recommend eating almost anywhere else instead of here.

I had an amazing dinner last Saturday night, October 27th! I brought some friends who were visiting, and we had a great time watching the football game. The food was outstanding, and we all enjoyed a lovely evening. Thank you to the team!

The burgers were absolutely delicious—some of the best we've had in a long time! We will definitely come back. Thank you!