Thornton Eatery - Whakatane

I'm in love with this restaurant! The chef is incredibly welcoming and has a fantastic personality—she served the food with such enthusiasm that it felt like we were at a bingo hall! My husband and I were in great spirits and hoped her cooking would match her lively antics, and it truly did not disappoint. The food was outstanding! The coffee was perfect and came with a smile and a friendly chat. If I had to offer a critique, I would suggest that the young lady who brought us our meals could be a bit more cheerful and engaging. Overall, though, I highly recommend this place. The food deserves more than 5 stars, the coffee was excellent, and the grounds and scenery are beautiful!

We attended the last Doggy Day event and it was our first visit to the restaurant. Although we were a bit hesitant about bringing our furry friend, we're so glad we did! The food was incredible! It seemed like the chef was working alone, but she delivered an amazing meal—absolutely epic. The coffee was fantastic—hot and strong, just the way I like it. The atmosphere was lively (with all the dogs barking out of tune), but it was so much fun and truly energetic. We all had a great time, especially our fur baby. It was brilliant, and we hope to come back next month!

Breakfast was delicious—though the eggs were a bit overcooked, they were still enjoyable. The burger was very tasty, but the fish was the standout dish. The steak and vegetable pie was pricey, but absolutely worth it; it was so flavorful that I couldn’t pinpoint all the tastes, which makes me eager to try and recreate it at home. And the carrot cake—oh my! We shared all our meals to sample everything, and I highly recommend doing that. Please keep that carrot cake on the menu; it’s truly spectacular!

What a hidden gem. We stopped in today, 1st August and the place was humming. Meals were fantastic!! Coffee delicious! They were obviously short staffed, one lady serving and making coffee, the chef running meals and clearing tables, another lady, possibly the kitchen hand also running meals. Carrot cake, to die for!! Would love the recipe. Overall, 5 stars, what a fantastic little place

Lovely setting, very helpful kind and caring staff. Great place thank you Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5