Richmond Rd Cafe has an excellent reputation around town, and as part of The Hip Group you expect big things.

The two occasions where I have been a patron at Richmond Rd cafe have both left me feeling the experience didn't stack up. All cafes have their problems, cold food being sent back...items on the menu being repeated. This cafe and their menu is no exception, Marsala, compote, livers are all on there two [and in the livers case three] times. A standard principle of Basic menu composition is to not repeat an item, or a word within one menu.

I would've been happy to put that down to a head/exec chef with limited time or training, but when food arrives and is actually off, then you start to ask questions.

The redeeming feature? Lovely lampshades, and they serve Allpress coffee....which rarely fails to please.

I hope for The Hip groups sake, they go over this particular corner of their business with a finer comb sometime in the future.

I wont be going back anytime soon.

I think the food & coffee at Richmond Road cafe is great. I have many friends who think the same. I noticed this cafe has 1 not so great review. I was extremely suprised that the coffee was not up to scratch. I think that must have been a one off. The coffee is soo good there. I am so so fussy about coffee. I can understand the pancakes comment. Every time we take friends there the description makes the pancakes appealing, but I always warn people off them. They are the 1 thing on the menu not worth ordering. I highly recommend the salads & the mushroom dish

Maybe I just had a bad experience, but I thought the food I ordered was terrible. My partner and I went there because of all the praise this place has gotten. Both menu items we ordered were disappointing. My pancakes with blueberry compote seemed as if it came out of the freezer, then microwaved (in other words, not fresh at all). My partner ordered eggs benedict and thought it lacked flavour. The coffee was also a bit bitter, we both thought. With all that said, I will try it one more time because I believe everyone gets a second chance.

I have eaten at Richmond Rd Cafe at least three different times, and up until the last visit with friends for a Saturday Brunch have always been more than happy with the food and the service. My last visit was 3 months ago now, I wasn't aware of this service until just recently. I and my friends ordered our meals and there was a bit of a wait as the cafe was full, as usual. I was happily eating my meal and was almost finished when I went to fork a lettuce leaf to eat only to discover there was a hitchhiker on board. A little slug was nestled on the leaf, I called over the waitress and pointed this out, apparently this didn't mean anything to her although she did apologise. I also complained to the young man at the till when paying, his comment was "Oh our salad lady is usually better than that", and no apology, no offer of free coffee or another meal to make up for the rather yuck feeling on finding the hitchhiker and wondering if I had already eaten its siblings. I have spoken to other cafe owners about this and they are horrified that nothing was offered to compensate. I have never been back, nor have my 3 friends. Not good customer relations, and the staff need training in what to do and say if this happens to other patrons.

Having read great reviews and heard the hum across town about Richmond rd cafe I was excited when arrived for brunch yesterday.

The menu was very appealing and I opted for seared Tuna with a Vignole salad. This came beautifully seared. The Tuna however was not pink, it was turning brown and quite clearly had the rainbow effect and a stronger smell.

I explained to the waiter that the tuna was on the turn, I showed him that it was a rainbow in colour. He said it looked fine to him but he'd go and ask the chef. I was a bit taken with his response.

He came back to the table and said the chef said it was fine and rest of the staff said it was fine, they've eaten it all now so it must have been fine. He said maybe it wasn't cooked enough for you and too rare? He asked if I'd like anything else.

Now insulted I said no. I called him back to the table once I'd had time to think about his response. I told him that the tuna was cooked perfectly for me, that I cooked and that tuna was not fresh. He asked me where did I cook. I felt I was now having to justify myself in a busy restaurant with my friends.

I’ve never written a bad review but I felt so bad after leaving the restaurant, I have done. I cook, I eat out a lot, I consider myself well versed in customer service and food.

A message to the chef from the PCC - Fresh tuna flesh will be pink or red, without any hint of browning. Fresh tuna never has a rainbow pattern on the surface of the meat. A message to the waiter, learn some manners