Review: Capers Epicurean - 1181 Eruera St

Capers Epicurean cafe. 09 January 2015 Rotorua Daily Post Photograph by Ben Fraser RGP 10Jan15 - TASTE SENSATION: Capers staff will ensure you have a great time. RGP 10Jan15 - TASTE SENS

Capers Epicurean is a well-known eatery which has been catering for its locals since 2001.

You would struggle to find a day when this cafe is not brimming with patrons. Its service goes far beyond your regular cafe, offering trendy gift boxes and stocking a wide range of New Zealand and imported goodies including oils, rubs, preserves, chocolates, teas, balsamic vinegars, dressings, curry pastes and syrups.

With an inviting atmosphere, this is a great place to go out with your girlfriends for lunch or grab a bite to eat with your significant other.

For families with littlies, a playroom with interactive toys and G-rated movies will keep them entertained while you sit back and relax.

The food: Was the big draw, with cabinets filled with sandwiches and wraps, salads and sweets. The breakfast menu is available from 7am to 2pm and the lunch and dinner menu from 2pm. Closing time is 9pm. Whether you are there for a leisurely meal or grabbing a quick bite to eat on the run, Capers will have something for you. Vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options are available, ensuring all foodies are well looked after. My friend and I shared one of the cafe's signature dishes, the chicken platter ($29.90) and we were left feeling more than satisfied. The portion sizes were generous and worth the money.

Before we left we couldn't help but grab a sweet treat to go because although our stomachs were full the array of slices, cakes and muffins looked too good to pass up.

The drinks: The options included cold drinks, coffee and alcoholic beverages. As a regular coffee drinker I ordered my usual trim flat white and my friend ordered a cappuccino. Both were beautifully presented and tasted divine.

Prices: ranged from $6.90 for traditional garlic bread to $33.90 for grilled scotch fillet topped with portobello mushrooms and blue cheese, served on crushed potatoes, pea puree with a red wine jus.

The breakfast menu offers a range of sweet and savoury options from $6.90 for gluten-free toast with preserves to $22.90 for the Capers Constitutional, made up of bacon and eggs, bratwurst sausage, hash browns, mushrooms, oven-roasted tomato and toast. The full menu with prices is on the Capers Epicurean website (capers.co.nz/menu).

Service: As soon as you walk through the door you can't help but notice the place is a buzzing hive of activity.

We approached the counter and a friendly waitress promptly seated us where a jug of chilled water and menus were waiting.

We were in the cafe for just under an hour and while the service was efficient we never felt rushed and left smiling.

Overall: There is no question as to why this eatery has been named Rotorua's Cafe of the Year time and time again.

With its efficient service, upbeat atmosphere, filling meals and impeccable service, you'll find yourself walking through its doors every week.

As for me, I'll certainly be going back to try more of those tantalising sweet treats.