Nine of us went to the cafe in early December 2011 for drinks and nibbles. Had been told when we booked that this was fine. On arrival were told by the waitresses that we could not have nibbles and had to order from the main lunch menu. The two waitresses were very unhelpful and quite rude. The lunch menu looked lovely but we did not want big lunches so asked again if we could just have some chips or wedges and again were told no, they were too busy (which was far from true). We decided to then leave to go somewhere else and were then offered platters. The two female waitresses were incredibly rude and although the platters were nice the fuss we had to get them was unbelievable and I would never want to dine there again. I also got no response to the email I sent them after our experience.

Love The Filter Room – you get a tray of six beers/cider to taste for about $12. The Cider Tree Cafe a bit expensive but lovely food.
Enjoy summer outside in the pretty setting at the Filter Room.

A group of 10 of us went for lunch in early February having always enjoyed the setting and excellent food there before. Some meals (hamburgers, vegetarian and salads) were OK but the battered fish was very disappointing. The piles of uneaten thick gluggy batter were greater than the not-so-fresh fish enclosed. The waitress asked whether the meals were enjoyed and did not appear to have any training or establishment policy to deal with the three of us who found the quality of the fish dish unacceptable. No attempt was made to rectify the situation. A pity as there are a lot of great eateries in The Bay and we won’t be back.

A great place for brunch, lunch or just a few snacks and drinks in the afternoon. The atmosphere is very nice, sitting under some trees drinking beers and ciders brewed on site and enjoying the hawke’s bay sun, anything you would prefer doing on a lazy saturday or sunday afternoon? went for lunch there twice and have to say the food was just yummy. As a family I have to say it’s a great place as staff is very friendly, kids can just run around, while mum and dad have a few drinks and there’s a kid’s menu.

The Cider Tree Cafe/Filter Room is a great place for lunch or just a few drinks with friends. It has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and the food is superb. Another good way of spending a couple of hours there is sampling some beers and ciders, which are all made at the brewery on site (Hawke’s Bay Independent Brewery). To sample the drinks you can purchase a tasting tray, which is $12 and you get 6 glasses of whatever beers or cider you’d like to try.