Having tried out just about every cafe in Wanganui, we continue to return to Red Eye on a regular basis.
Despite a few changes in management over the years, the cafe has retained it’s charm, and if anything the quality of food has continued to improve rather than deteriorate. The back garden is lovely on a warm day, the retro formica interior decor is cosy, comfortable and unpretentious. The art changes from time to time, which keeps things interesting. The coffee is always fantastic. Highly recommended.

RED EYE CAFE IS AMAZING!!! For such a retro art deco cafe the food is AMAZING the coffees to die for and the atmosphere is friendly, fun and always thriving!! Food is delivered piping hot and always on time, unlike most cafes and restaurants, red eye DEFINITELY DOES NOT keep you waiting, customers first. The food is delicious and the coffees are made to a fine art!! The staff are friendly and the customers are always smiling. And the best part? The indoor outdoor seating!!! Totally awesome for hot and cold weather!! My advice, try the aioli and fries! Red eye is well known for its aoli sauce, home made and to die for!!! Stop in to Red eye and check out the amazing food, environment and service they provide! A meal you will NOT be disappointed with!

My friend and I are working in Wanganui, we felt strongly enough about the change in the Red Eye Cafe to write separate reviews.
For my part I have been a client of the Red eyes since its inception, when Blair opened, Holistic and healthy, O.K., so grunge, but wickedly clean grunge. Then Kel and nicole, lovely food kept up holistic “Green” thing, and the food was “Wicked”
Sadly it has appears to have been hi-jacked by the cafeteria Squad, It cannot be described as Italian, European, as it is here, I am Sicilian and the food is as far removed from anything that I have seen in Italy or indeed anyway faintly European.
Coffee was cool, my friends was actually almost cold, over extraction, had caused a really bitter blend. we didn’t eat plenty there, nothing that we fancied.
One thing the place had was a good use of Colour and Art on the Walls, The Art that is there now, My kid sister could do, exceptionally amateurish) and its all a nasty neutral colour.
Where there were cute icons and bright Blackboards, we now see Red Green and white writing,(Could that be the Italian influence) Wheres the drummer? and the pink eye. Wheres the food, to die for.
Please guys take this seriously, you purchased a living breathing Icon, So why turn it into a morbid Cafeteria. Its never too late.