Had an early lunch there today with the husband and 3 year old. The location is excellent, and it was a beautiful Wellington day to boot.

The staff were attentive, and also patient and warm towards our preschooler. The kids’ menu is great. It was good to see a $5 pancakes option, which is pretty much all a 3 year old is able to eat, instead of the usual $9 – $12 options that cafes usually have.

The coffee arrived quickly and tasted great. The food followed soon after. We had the B.L.A.T and fish fillets on french bread, both were well presented, very flavoursome and not stingy on portion sizes.

All in all, a great dining experience, and will certainly return.

Shockingly Bad Experience!

To start with my glass came out with a chunk of cake in it, and I mean a large chunk melted to the inside of my glass by the dishwasher!

Perhaps its my fault, but when I see the pizza named ‘Meat-O-Rama’ it would expect it come out covered in meat, no, it comes out with a sprinkle of bacon, olives, lots of capers, spinach and not a lot else. Given Olives and Capers aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, perhaps putting it on the menu would be nice.

I then ask the waiter if I could exchange it as this was not what I was expecting, he was incredibly rude and then the kitchen staff all gather around the window to gawk at me, making me feel very uncomfortable.

After all that the BLAT my friend ordered came out with burnt chips, was chewy and mushy and inedible, needless to say we didnt finish our meals.

Not at all impressed by the cheap extension either, it looks unfinished and echoes awfully.

To top it off, we were charged $50 for 2 crappy brunches and 2 average flat whites.

Since this cafe opened I have been going there almost twice a month, this experience, hard to put into words, was so unpleasant that i needed to write about it, they will also never see me or my friends again.

Great restaurant – the staff are so nice and friendly, and they have a good choice of food. And what a view!

It had to be good, as had eaten at Logan Brown the night before for Dinner and was still buzzing with that. Great spot and lovely staff. Wherever they get their eggs from, the chickens must be pampered. A lovely breakfast. Great smoothie, good coffee. I’ll be back.

Went here for lunch, it was extremely busy and very chaotic at the counter. We sat outside and it took a long time to place our order as there was a queue.
After going back to our table I thought it would be a long wait given how busy it was, but it was only about 20 mins and the food was really great. I had the fish fillet on french bread which was awesome and full of flavour. Will definitely be going back. Beautiful location and great food.

Sat outside on a stunning day which was the only highlight. Ordered the $25 fish/chips & Salad which came out quickly. Extremely overpriced and was most displeased with the quality of the meal esp the random selection of tiny fish fillets scattered on the plate.
My fiance ordered the B.L.A.S.T which was she said was ho-hum.
Won’t be returning – Sorry.

Brunch for three on a sunny Saturday.

The pros: amazing views, good coffee, the British guy on the front counter was very personable, food arrived quickly.

The cons: the food is overpriced, undersized and not particularly done well. For example I had the “Ham off the bone on rye” at $18. The promised ham off the bone was super-thinly shaved and circular like you buy from the supermarket deli. The potatoes in the accompanying potato salad were undercooked (still hard) and drowning in some very average mayonnaise. My husband’s BLAT was tasty but at $22 way overpriced.

If you’re over that side of town and not too fussed about views then The Larder, Polo and Maranui all serve up better food for less $$$.

Me and my wife really enjoy taking a walk here on a sunny day for the spectacular views. The menu has a bit less option compared to when they first opened but it’s still full of tasty meals each with a twist of originality. The lad there is a character! (I assumed he is the manager) He is really focused on pleasing his costumers. I often tend to go when its not to busy as the service is slow, which is the only disappointment, i recommend they get more staff. The coffee is good and the chicken pot pie I’ve once had was delicious. I think they are a well good replacement for the chocolate fish. Well done scorch-o-rama.Won’t hesitate to visit again.

Definitely worth going for the view, especially on one of Wellington’s beautiful, sunny days. However, disappointed the hot beverage loyalty card only applies to coffee and hot chocolate, and not to tea, which is my preferred tipple and for health reasons.

We went there on a beautiful Wellington day. Our table was not wiped down from the previous diners the entire time we were there.

Our drinks came out at different times and we waited almost an hour for our two meals!! Although the food was ok, the portion was tiny and in comparison to other places on this side of town very EXPENSIVE!

The people at the table near us waited for 40 minutes just for coffee. They definitely need to put more staff on especially considering it was a beautiful Sunday and because of the location they were obviously going to be busy. I will definitely not be going there again.

A bit average all round really, a vege big breakfast where the sausages and bacon were replaced by what tasted like watties baked beans. I also got poached eggs instead of the scrambled I ordered… other than that it was pretty good. $20 seems a bit pricey for you get. Would give them a second chance.

Great location, good selection of food and a great kids menu.

Just a real shame about the incredibly slow service and then to have our order lost. From the time we ordered to the time our food turned up it was over an hour. If we weren’t able to walk on the beach to kill some time with the kids we would of asked for a refund.

Also the girl taking our order today was surly and not that helpful.

Wouldn’t rush back but may try if in the area.

I love this cafe. Great food, fantastic staff and such a cool quirky vibe. Everyone else might like to go for the view but Id rather stay inside with the amazing milkshakes, scones and funny staff.
And the outside seats are so cool!

I’ve been a few times now and think it’s great. Yes it doesn’t have the vibe of CF but the staff are friendly and really helpful and the food is good (which is the main reason to go back – other than the location). Oh, and the coffee’s good too which is neccesary! The corn fritters were awesome and the date scone was to die for (which was impressive given how cheap it was). They have a good toy box as well. The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars from me is that I too think they could do with more staff. They always seem slightly stressed.

Nice location, good, tasty food, but nothing to write home about. Service was good, with nice, friendly staff. Not an unpleasant experience, but absolutely not fine dining.

Have been twice this winter and both times have been great. Staff have rushed to get a highchair each visit and set it up for us. Highchair was clean both times (you wouldn’t believe the rubbish at other cafes). Food was great – yummy & delicious & the kids stuff ideal for preschoolers, both in type and quantity. Will be going back soon for sure – atmosphere relaxed and happy. Only one minor thing – perhaps some more staff might be needed, especially as the weather is getting nicer & more people will be dropping by

Turned up here on a picture perfect wellington day, milled around the service area, and then were told to take menus as there was table service. Waited 15 minutes to be served, then had to head back in to ask someone to come and take our order. the food all arrived sporatically, cabinet food coming out a long time before the menu food, and even worse, the coffees took longer than the pancakes! also asked about a high chair and we were told they would bring one right out, which again did not happen until we persisted. great location of course, but desperate shortage of staff. and a smile or two with the service would be nice.

get over this not being Chocolate Fish. lets face it CF was an average Cafe with average food and a great location made famous by Peter Jackson and his stars, the new Cafe is great, the menu is good and has a bit of humour about it, the food is great and has some of the best Coffee in Wgtn

I agree, it’s not the Choc fish so don’t compare it. I have eaten there twice now & both times the food was delicious & the staff friendly & attentive. My friends & I enjoyed the ‘little quips’ on the menu. Much fresher & cleaner also, no toilets in the kitchen, Yay!!

went to the new cafe to try it out and it did not disappoint. totally fantastic. i think people should stop comparing it to the chocolate fish and just rate it on its own merit

I had the dissatisfaction of dining at this bemusing attempt at an informal dining experience a few weekends back.

The menu is informal to the point of laughable, while all the little quips may have sounded hilarious at the time the menu was created, they do little to inspire you to choose something, and my family and I were dissuaded to order off it.

The cabinet food looked as though it had been left out overnight and rejuvenated that morning with water spray to make it look crisp and alive, which made us wonder about the baking and slices they provide.

In the end we avoided the ‘Kitchen Monkeys’ and opted for take-out ice creams. The place has none of the vibe, character or ambience that the Choc Fish had, and as an out-of-towner that revisited the site hoping to be culinarily titillated as I had been with the Choc Fish, I was left disappointed.

While they may have one of the best cafe locations in the city, they certainly do Scorching Bay no justice-o-rama.

Called in for a late afternoon lunch on a sunny day and were not disappointed. Very relaxed atmosphere and just what we needed on a warm summers evening. None of the rush you in, get your money and get you out rubbish the chocolate fish seemed to specialize in (even if their food was good). The staff very very pleasant and chatty and seemed genuinely interested in what we were up to. And the food – just delicious! A lot cleaner and fresher than the old place used to be too. Will definitely be calling back.

Food and service very average. Not a patch on the Chocolate Fish it replaced. Now lacks atmosphere, no buzz to the place.