Restaurant Review: Beautiful spot to catch up with friends

Cafe Patio Rose, at the old Villa Ridge on Cambridge Rd. Photo/John Borren

Patio Rose Cafe is the new addition to the established Villa Ridge Garden Centre.

Initially we were unsure if we had arrived at the right place. The cafe is tucked out of sight with the only signage being the original garden centre signs. But after a peak around the corner, we found it.

Patio Rose Cafe is as cute and delicate as the name suggests. The soft vintage look is warm and welcoming and seems to fit perfectly into its surrounds. With separate areas and a beautiful partially covered back patio, it offers both privacy for intimate lunches and space for larger groups.

We chose to sit outside in the sunshine with beautiful plants and trees offering additional shade while one of the staff stacked wood in preparation for the winter and the indoor open fireplace.

The Patio Rose is also completely smokefree, which is nice and hopefully becomes a more consistent standard in our cafes and restaurants.

On the menu: We were offered the menu or choices from the cabinet. The menu was more of a brunch. It offered much more than your standard eggs bene, although they did feature. Mum and I decided to choose from the cabinet selection, which had and array of savoury items and plenty of sweet treats.

The buzz: It felt relaxed. It was a peaceful cafe away from the bustle while still being just a few minutes from the CBD. It would be a great place for a family lunch or coffee with the girls.

I'll have: A goat's cheese and spinach tart. This came served with a beetroot relish and a side salad, which was a tad oily for me but a nice change from your standard handful of leaves on a plate which seems to be classed as a side salad in some cafes.

Mum had: A swiss cheese and ham sandwich that came toasted. The bread was gluten-free, which Mum doesn't normally eat but she commented on how tasty it was.

Value for money: Pricing was reasonable. To drink: The cafe served supreme coffee, an array of teas, milkshakes, smoothies and a variety of six barrel soda flavours.

The staff: The staff were welcoming and attentive.

The verdict: Patio Rose offers a simple yet modern cafe style in a beautiful setting. If you are looking for a beautiful spot to catch up with friends or simply want to grab a coffee and wander around the centre, this spot would be perfect.

the details
Name: Patio Rose Cafe
Address: 528 Cambridge Road, Tauranga
Phone: 07-543 1093
Hours: Seven days, until 4pm
Licensed: No
Website: facebook.com/Patio-Rose-Cafe