A medium size family reunion had a set menu, upstairs at Element. The ambiance was lovely and the platters of finger food passed around looked rather pleasurable evening.

it was all down hill from there. The standard of the our set menu left a lot to be desired. What the menu described was certainly not served to the majority of diners. An unacceptable long wait for our main meal and a hideous length of time to get all diners main meals too them. It was embarrassing for those who had received their meals and simply couldn’t wait for all to do served at the table as their meals would be more ruin.

People who had the steak were very happy apart from the 2 sauces seeming to be absent or very scantily served.

The duck, veal, lamb and pork dishes were very disappointing.

The duck dish was very, very small, tough and uninteresting.

One person who had the veal sent it back as it was undercooked and cold.

The lamb was engulfed in a huge amount of pastry which was undercooked on the bottom and did not appear be accompanied with veges or even was given an option of veges. One big blob of pastry and very little in the middle and pastry bottom undercooked, presentation just awful.

The pork curry which I had myself, consisted of huge, thick chunks of pork swimming in a very thin sauce with a few pieces of vegetables and the rice was soggy, cold. I found it inedible and sent it back.

The gnocchi my stepson ordered one could only describe as an appetizer size meal consisted of six small pieces. One person asked for more to be added to the plate. He was still hungry after his meal.

The chocolate pudding was very tasteless, it was stated that my Better Crocker chocolate cake was far better. A very small, strange shaped desert which appeared to have been microwaved. My husband sent it back. Along with the young man opposite him passed his to his mother.

We went back to our motel and I made a up beautiful cheese board at 2330hrs which thank goodness I had brought at a local deli as our stomachs were certainly not happy. A long night. Not again.

Please note, the organiser of our function wrote expressed our issues and complaints with the owners (who weren’t on site on the evening) of Elements . They expressed their regret however felt the needed to defend their chefing team on some issues. I acknowledging their loyalty to their staff, but what about patron satisfaction. Ummmm

We went to Elements on Mothers Day for brunch and had a fantastic meal. The vegetable stack was excellent and the omelette’s were delicious and very well priced. We finished off with a Japanese lime tea which was really refreshing. The staff were very friendly and greeted everyone with a smile and the service was great. Will definitely go back and recommend to our friends.

Went with high expectations after reading menu online. Was very disappointed. Felt it was over priced for what we got. Ravioli was like leather. Seafood entree was bulked up with sauce & very little seafood to be found. For the main course the salmon was so small, 2 bites & it was gone. Not value for money. Won’t be going back.

This Restaurant and Cafe, would be the Best Wanganui has to Offer, that is in all terms.
It always delivers and excellent standard, the Staff are friendly, helpful and trained well in Hospitality.
I can say it is the only place, where I have not had a single Coffee that I have not enjoyed. The Food is imaginative, beautifully presented, they have an excellent Menu, a Brilliant Breakfast Menu, this is why I recommend Tourists to Elements. I would like to add that I have had my own Cafe, also worked for many others, I was trained as a Barista, so feel confident that my Review, is one that can be taken seriously.
There simply isn’t anything as good.
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A pretty average restaurant. Atmosphere is great and setting is beautiful, lots of magazines to peruse, coffee ok, service reasonably friendly. Was mainly let down by the quality of the food, breads and dips was a large hard bun served with rosemary flavoured butter straight from the fridge – impossible to spread. Both our meals had a problem with balance of components – were very dry with only a tiny amount of protein. Also really really overpriced for the quality. We would return, but probably just for coffee & cake, not for a meal.

Fantastic coffee, great smiling staff. An owner / chef who is there before the staff greeting clients and the cleanest tables in town.

Have just finished the best slice of lime cheesecake I have ever had!

Keep it up elements – you deserve to do well.

I took a group of my clients for lunch at Element last Thursday;the place was warm the crew were happy and inviting to us and we were all convinced by the front of house staff to try the special.This was roast beef sandwich on ciabata bread with beer battered fries.All our group commented on how fresh and yummy the food was.Thanks Element we’ll be back.

I took my parents along with my husband to Elements for brunch on a Sunday in July as we wanted to try something different in Wanganui. After waiting 20 mins for our coffe/teas to arrive, we then waited another 15 mins for breakfast to be delivered. We were also the only customers in at this time (approx 10.30am. My husbands big breakfast was a greasy pile of food – the hashbrown was literally dripping with oil and he couldn’t eat it. For the price we paid (and we eat out a lot in Wellington for substantially less)this was not value for money. The lack of atmosphere was a let down to such a beautiful building and the service did little to improve the whole experience…

I live in Wanganui and eat at Element cafe at least once a fornight. The staff now are lovely and very attentive. The food is presented perfectly, decent prices and always delicious! The menu changes every fortnight so always something different. I would recommend this 2 anyone wanting 2 eat out day or night

Paid $30.00 per head for a Buffet dinner – 102 people at a family reunion, 18/4/09.
We were offered 2 cold meat plates – ham and another meat. A selection of 6 – 8 cold and one or two luke warm salads – including some half cooked and near raw vegetables. Desert consisted of a selection of cut pieces of fruit (melon, apple, strawberries, pineapple, orange – along with small squares of cheescake and one or two other similar squares.
Coffee was an addition charge at the end of the meal. I found the selection of food for such an occasion to be totally inappropiate. Older people as well as the very young can not cope with near raw vegetables. Perhaps the days of a “buffet” meal where various hot roast meats, hot roast veges greens etc plus casseroles of varying meats with rice (for entrees) plus a salad bar are gone?? Along with desserts including pavlova, trifle, jelly, icecream, brandy snaps etc etc are gone?? I hope not.
Value for money at “Elements” 1/10. Ask what you will get for your money before committing to a booking.

We frequently have out-of-town and overseas visitors and we always eat at Element. Food is superb, it tastes great and is always well presented. A credit to the owners and staff.

my experience was far from good, i did not like it one little bit, the food was over priced, pies heated in microwave making the pastry soggy and wet. the only good thing was the coffee.

This cafe has one of the highest staff turnover rates in town. The owners are cold and heartless and couldnt care less about their staff. The food is okay, the service would be better if the staff were treated with respect not only by their employers but also the chefs. This cafe/resturant has a long way to go in gaining a somewhat good reputation in wanganui. I would not recommend eating here, as there are far better places to go in town.

Recently took my mother to Elements for her birthday and we were highly disappointed. The meal was luke warm and for what we got on our plates the prices in Wellington are far more reasonable. 3 mini hotcakes swamped in whipped butter and maple. It would be better to put these extras in little side dishes to add if we wished.( you get better at MacDonald’s.)
The atmosphere was cold and uninviting also.But I will say we all enjoyed the coffee.

I have come over from Germany and have been staying in Wanganui for two weeks now and element restaurant is by far better than anywhere else i have ever been. it has the nicest food ever. my beef and red wine pie was to die for and the staff were very outstanding giving me my meal shortly after i ordered. the chefs are obiously some of the best around because of the foods high standards. the building is beautiful and i love the glass dome! i definately recommend this place to anyone who wants to eat good food. nowhere else is better. this is definately wanganuis top restaurant.

Perhaps JAN was reviewing a different restaurant, because the recent lunch at element cafe & restaurant which i experienced was nothing but superb!

Round of applause firstly for the excellent building and location, the building screams to onlookers a modern and sophisticated cafe/restaurant, a supreme location for shops and other sight seeing in wanganui.
Walking into Element the georgous decor, lighting, smell of freshly cooking food and minor hustle of people enjoying a lovely meal greets you. A very positive atmosphere for all to enjoy.
Food is immaculately presented inside well lit easy to see cabinets with very reasonable prices compared to the size of the meal! Staff are full of smiles, enthusiastic about their job and very well presented. As for food service, amazing. Fast and efficient, food is brought to the table just after you’ve ordered it. Cooked to PERFECTION and immaculately presented, it is delivered to your table by friendly, well mannered waitressing staff.
10/10 in all areas for such an amazing restaurant/cafe, ELEMENT is definately the place to go.

Service with a smile??? I don’t think these ladies would know what a smile was if it jumped up and hit them in the face!
Cabinet food looked pretty good and prices were reasonable for these days, however it was rather bland and tasteless, I think I poured half the salt shaker into the rabbit dish I had. This was after I sent it back from being stone cold in the centre – still not hot upon it’s return, but lets face it the unfriendly service didn’t make it easy for a second return, so luke warm it was! The only good thing about my friends Chicken roll – also very under seasoned – was the accompanying chutney.
Decor is austre and cold, as was the ambient temperature. Unclean loos also certainly left a lot to be desired!
Will try it again and see how it goes.
Fingers crossed it’s improved!!!

The service and surroundings are excellent. The breakfast muffins are very addictive. Very high standards.

We had an absolutely fabulous lunch at Element. The staff was attentive and friendly (& fast), portions were generous, the price very reasonable (cheap for Wellington standards!) and the food was honest, fresh & wholesome, and made with such care and attention to detail that the final result was to die for.

Highly recommended!