Very disappointing experience. My partner and I arrived at 7.50pm and ordered our dinner. I asked for the pork belly but was told that they were out. I then ordered steak and my partner ordered the fish of the day. At 8.30pm a young man came from the kitchen and told my partner that they had no beans left and asked if broccoli would be ok. At 8.45 a waitress apologised for the delay and asked if we would like ciabatta and hummus on the house. She then returned with some hummus and toast. At 8.55pm the waitress tells us that our meals will be out in 10mins. Our meals arrive at 9.15pm (1hr15mins after we arrive) My partner however only has half her fish. The waitress tells her the other half is still being cooked. It arrives on a separate plate shortly. Both our meals look and taste terrible. They look as if they had been sitting in a warming drawer. The sauce on my plate has a skin on it.
We don’t bother ordering dessert as the whole experience has been a disappointment and we just want to leave.
We won’t be dining there again.

We travel from Auckland for Valentine holiday. On the day we were leaving, we went to “BRAVO” awarding cafe. We order three breakfast and two drinks, and expecting our nice meals. After 45mins waiting, one of the waitress realised we do have cutleries but no meals. She went to check and talked to Manager, they both did apology for the waiting, and explained because they have an unexpected 10 ppl group, so the kitchen is a bit slow, and we have been told 5 mins max for our meal, then another 15 mins passed. People who came after us had almost finished eating. But we were still waiting. Very disappointed. My partner is a chef and I am a manager in a busy restaurant, we understand there will be a little wait if the kitchen is small and busy, but it is unforgivable if we have to wait 1 hr and 10mins for three breakfast.

Had breakfast here today. Firstly the table we sat on did not have reserve on but were told it is booked and have to vacate within 2 hours. Order took 30minutes to arrive but no cutlery had to fetch our own. There was four of us. Scramble egg was cold and the toast dry and no butter offered salmon that was ordered was cooked and in cube(yuk). I ordered Latte in a bowl and was not told it will be extra and it is not listed on the menu list as was told at the counter while paying. Latte in a bowl cost $4.50 plus $4.00 for a bowl. In total a bowl of latte is $8.50. We are from Auckland and have eaten at many cafes but never have we ever been charged $8.50 for latte in a bowl maybe 50c but not $4.00. All four breakfast were of poor quality and not up to Auckland standard and pricey. Maybe you get away with it because you don’t have the competition in Tauranga. If your practice is to charge $4.00 for for bowl than your wait person needs to have enough knowledge to advise the customer before hand. Overall very angry can’t say we will ever recommend this place to anyone.

Went for brunch there the other Sunday, lovely & prompt service and food was good (just the bacon was a bit burnt). Otherwise happy to return for brunch.

This cafe is always bursting with people and seems as if it would be fantastic but I did not think so after going there. My coffee was terrible and bitter which was a disappointing way to start of my meal. My meal was fine but my partners meal was not. A burger that had hardly anything inside it but cost about $16 with cold chips. I wont be going back.

They have the audacity to refuse giving a free coffee to me as the stamps were on 2 cards. In our modern society being this “petty” certainly is not necessary so as a previous regular in the cafe’, I will now refuse to go there and will certainly encourage my friends to follow suite.

What happened to “customer is king”?

Was in Tauranga last week and HAD to go to Cafe Bravo to see if the Hot Pork Sandwich was still on the lunch menu. VERY HAPPY to see that it still is and not only that, is even better than I remember!!!
Was also pleasantly surprised to see the new renovations and the amazing wine selection. Just blown away by the new look. The only place I’ve ever seen that has as good a selection of Alana Estate wines as the actual vineyard tasting room itself!

The worst thing about Cafe Bravo is that it’s not in Wellington!!!!!

Already looking forward to going back

An amazing cafe/restaurant. Friendly staff, great food and awesome ambiance! What more could you ask for? Love the new look the Bronze Booths are so comfy(if I can’t get a table outside in the sun!) and will definitely come here more often!!! When you come you have to try the Chicken Stack or the Into the Blue Pizza, such a hard choice to make!!

If you are looking for an excellent cafe/restaurant in Tauranga then visit Cafe Bravo. Excellent choices, relaxing ambience and with that sought after feeling of being “looked after”. We did and the Bravo is now on our top shelf.
Situated in Red Square.

Marc de Breche

Went there last weekend for breakfast with my partner and friend from out of town. The food was brilliant and service appropriate, respectful and prompt.
Since I had such a great experience we are heading there again tonight for dinner. I would happily recommend.

my family and I went to Bravo and had coffee, how ever they failed to let us know that there is an extra charge for a flat white in a big cup, but also failed to give us the option on weather or not we wanted a big cup, where it stated on the menu $4.50 for the flat white so we went ahead and ordered one, and my girlfriend ordered a cocktail, when the cocktail came out it was a shot and not a cocktail at all. Just be advised that. Then when we got our bill there was an extra charge for the bigger cup of coffee, unimpressed how ever my coffee was good, just disappointed in the lack of communication

I visit restaurants/cafes in Tauranga an average of three times a week.
Bravos always give a very warm welcome and the regular staff are professionally trained to a high level by the Hosts Supreme, Nancy and Jack.
Ambience, food, wine list and service are always important to me and for me Bravos Red Square are second to none in Tauranga.

Marc de Breche

I have dined at Bravo many times over the years and taken large groups there on several occasions as well. The food is great as is the service. The atmosphere is welcoming and relaxing. There is a great selection on the menu to suit all tastes and you can have full meal or lighter options. Would suit all palates. I would have no hesitation in recommending Bravo as a great place to dine.

went there for a special celebration brunch..even though there was plenty of room the two tables apparently could not be joined making conversations difficult between guests..my order of the vegetarian breakfast arrived and was dry,unappetising and luke warm..coffee was not the size i ordered and also only warm.. .others in our group found the food mediocre at best.we will not be returning

I was a little apprehensive dining at Bravo having read the reviews below AFTER making a booking. However, I’m pleased to announce the entire experience was really impressive.

My phone booking was with a particularly obliging woman; the service was prompt and friendly without being intrusive and the food was fantastic: delicious pork belly and very highly commended medium rare steak for my companion. The meals were a generous size and the wine/beer selection was very good.

Different strokes from different folks, but our experience at Bravo was faultless and I’d recommend it unreservedly. ($97 for two mains, 1 dessert, 2 glasses of wine, 1 beer).

Unfortunately i went to bravo last night for dinner. I had the salmon on risotto which tasted off. I sent it back and was told by the lovely waitress it was fresh today.And all she could do is suggest I get something else.Which was nice but No suggestion of a refund. I ordered the smoked chicken salad which was nice. But if i wanted salad i could’ve done that at home.And i must say the waitress and staff were nice. This is the second time I have been to this restaurant(a year ago) and sent food back.I Should’ve of learnt last time!!! I wont be going back.

I unfortunately dined at bravo today. Along with 7 other adults and 8 children. I’m not sure what the waitress’s problem was but boy did she have one. I have come across some rude people before but never have I been spoken too or looked at the way this girl did today. She rolled her eyes, was snappy, demanding and down right unprofessional. She took our order and then stormed off. When our order came out she told us that 1 of the KIDS pizza’s had not been made and if we still wanted it would take another 5 minutes. The kids meals were horrible, chips burnt and chicken nuggets very average.
She was making coffee’s and serving customers which seemed odd to me.
Very poor service

Firstly, the food was delicious – well done to the chefs.

However…upon arrival we were greeted by a very cold and officious maitre d who seemed to be annoyed with a big group. We were told our tables would be seated in an L-shape TOGETHER and this was not the case. We were separated, which for a 50th birthday was not ideal. We were the only people inside the restaurant, so this seemed a little odd that we couldn’t push them together.

The restaurant ‘claims’ to be BYO, however, a limit to the number of bottles per table was a bit ridiculous. Between 18 people we were only ALLOWED 5 bottles maximum. We would have thought a BYO restaurant would allow 1 bottle per person, especially when they are prepared to pay $6 corkage per bottle.

Not one of the 18 people that dined there on Friday night will ever go back to this restaurant again!!

Firstly I don’t know what the reviews below are on about. We dined on Saturday at an extremely busy time with no tables to spare and were well looked after with excellent and above service, despite a rush period for them. The waitress smiled and took time to show an interest in our weekend plans. The menu provided us with a very tough choice as it all sounded great! The pizzas were devine and the fish of the day was to die for. For fine dining, I haven’t got better service in Tauranga and will definitely be recommending to my friends and booking my birthday party there.

went here for breakfast and was disappointed from the start. the waitress was rude and running around trying to serve everyone. When the meal came out the bacon was undercooked and the hash brown soggy. Will not be coming back

Was very disappointed with meal, very average but not average pricing.
Had Pork medallion on kumera mash with sauce, couldn’t see any sauce as the plate full of mash had soaked it up. Pork was hard to cut with knife. Hubby had chicken with rosti, again it was a plate full of mash with no sauce – very dry. Pretty boring menu also, type of meal one would expect at bistro.

After previously having mixed feelings ( sometimes its good sometimes it very average. Atmosphere is nice enough although not outstanding. )

I have to say Bravo have stepped up and improved their service, presentation and quality to 98% of the time very good.

Dined here for dinner earlier this year (can’t remember when) and spotted a mistake in the spelling of the menu. When raised with staff, this matter was promptly dealt with by apologising, then contacting the owner, who then authorised a 50% discount on the dish and an apology. Couldn’t ask for better !
When I returned for lunch some months later, the same waitress remembered me, and thanked me for returning and trying their establishment again.

Way to covert me Bravo

We had mixed feelings about Bravo. The selection of Entrees was limited, the main courses were innovative and well cooked but our side dish of stir fried vegetables didn’t arrive until we complained (the waitress had forgotten to order it) and when it did come was 90% cauliflower. The decor is a little stark and they seem to have a one size suits all attitude to tables – i.e. they are a little too big for a couple and somewhat too small for four. Overall we would not rush back. Cost was $116 for two courses for two and a moderately priced bottle of wine