Hoping to serve up a top award

Springvale Cafe, led by Lyn Crawford, is a finalist in the NZ Cafe of the Year competition. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

Springvale Cafe has a shot at being crowned the top cafe in the region after being named a finalist in the NZ Cafe of the Year competition.

The Wanganui business is up against New Plymouth's Lush Cafe & Gelato and Masterton's Ten o'Clock Cookie Bakery Cafe for the Lower North Island crown.

It will be tough competition with, Ten o'Clock Cookie Bakery Cafe taking out the Lower North Island title last year, when Lush Cafe & Gelato was a finalist. But this year Springvale received the most public votes.

Mystery judges will visit the 18 finalists nationwide to determine the winners.

More than 1000 eateries in six regions entered the competition.

Springvale Cafe is in the Springvale Garden Centre, on Devon Rd, and owner Lyn Crawford said nothing would change in the knowledge judges could be floating around at any moment.

"We'll just carry on the same and provide the same good service we provide. I think that's why we got here," she said.

Each of the finalists had to come up with a specific dish for the judges to sample. Springvale Cafe have chosen a creamy black doris quinoa porridge. "We wanted to be a bit innovative, it's something a little bit different."