The General Café - Tauranga

As out-of-towners just happened upon this cafe on a recent Saturday morning and could tell immediately it was a special place, lots of buzz, families, surfers, diners inside and out. Smart staff beautifully attired. Menu sufficiently different to intrigue but not to deter the teenagers. It helped that a table for 7 of us was found straight away but it would pay to book as most seem to have done.

Went there last Saturday. It took around 12-15 min for someone to come and take our order they were really busy so we didn’t mind). The person who took our order and served food was very humble and food was spot on. Only thing we didn’t like is that the person who took us to the table at the start didn’t really bother to provide a glass of water and we have to ask for it later.

My partner and I frequently visit this breakfast spot in Mount, driving there at least twice a month. The Turkish eggs are hands down the best cafe breakfast we've ever had, and they've completely spoiled us for any other breakfast place—nothing else compares. If you enjoy a kick of chili, you’ll love it even more. The fresh, delicious sourdough is perfect for mixing with the eggs, and the addition of vibrant chili oil and crunchy polenta zucchini discs on the side elevates the meal. The coffee is great and the service is excellent. Be sure to go on the weekend, as the locals know just how fantastic this place is!

If you're looking for a weekend spot with good food and caffeine, you don't need to look any further. I visited on a Monday, so finding a table was easy. However, on weekends, people tend to pay the waitstaff $100 just to secure a spot. Be prepared to enjoy their delicious pulled pork Asian slaw rolls or one of their beetroot buns with avocado, hummus, and brie. They have great options for hungry teenagers too, like their pork and fennel sausage rolls, and a wide variety of tasty treats to choose from. The restrooms were clean, and the staff was incredibly helpful. There’s parking available on the side, but it fills up quickly on weekends. Sure, you might end up spending around $100 on hearty food and drinks for a family of four, but it’s worth it! It's not every day you find a café in Tauranga that gets it just right!

I really enjoyed the unique building style of the restaurant. The standout dish for me was the 12-hour brat brioche burger with kumara miso and a poached egg. It was one of the best burgers I've ever tasted, and the fact that it didn't contain much meat was a big plus! The whole food salad was generous and flavorful. I also tried the gluten-free caramel disc for dessert, and it was delicious—a perfect sweet treat to end the meal.