The team at Rotorua's Capers are "absolutely fizzing" over their 2017 Meadow Fresh New Zealand Cafe of the Year win, although co-owner Gregg Brown is out of cellphone coverage and doesn't even know yet.
Mr Brown and his wife Susan set up the Eruera St cafe 16 years ago.
Mrs Brown accepted the award alongside cafe manager Liz Todd at an event in Auckland on Thursday night and credited her team for their support.
"The team are phenomenal, they give their heart and soul," she said.
"It's lovely for them, it's lovely for the community, all the customers who have been amazing and loyal and have become our friends over the 16 years."
For Mrs Brown the win showed "that we're a small town punching above our weight".
"There's a lot of love in Capers I think. Everybody looks after each other there, and I think that's what Rotorua really is about as a community," she said.
"So we're excited for us, but we're excited for the town as well."
Kerry Tyack who led the judging panel said the cafe had always featured highly in the competition because it was so well run, describing the work of the Browns as seamless.
"Their quality and customer care are paramount, and no matter how busy they get that always remains consistent," he said.
"We really love the way they support the Rotorua community, local artists and produce."
We asked some customers - why do you come to Capers?
SHARLENE WILLEMSEN
We've been coming here since it opened. I used to bring my daughter here for fluffies, now we're here having coffee with my granddaughter too. Just great people, great staff, always got a smile on their faces.
I've been coming to Capers since we moved to Rotorua. My wife actually worked here for 12 years, when they made a shout out to mums who wanted to work school hours. They really have a personal interest in their customers, it's an environment where people just feel welcome.
BRUCE HORNE, 50s
Lynmore
Anne Samson
It's so well presented, I love the ambience of it. It's my social life, we all come here after pilates for coffee. I really like the scrumptious healthy food and the variety of teas.
We've been coming here the full 16 years. It's always a place I bring out-of-town visitors for lunch and things. I love coming here for a platter before I go to the movies, the coffees are reliably good.
