Barefoot Eatery

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Reviews

1. Jan ★★★★★

   Wonderful vegan cafe with a plethora of colorful and healthy options! The staff was friendly and welcoming!

   almost 8 months ago
2. Zee Tana ★★☆☆☆

   Barefoot Eatery (Ōtautahi) – Review by Zee Tana Visited: Friday morning, 10:30am Dined with: My partner Occasion: First-time visit, curious to try a fully vegan spot ⸻ We decided to try Barefoot Eatery in central Ōtautahi for a relaxed Friday morning breakfast. As a vegan-friendly establishment with a strong online reputation, we had decent hopes — especially for a plant based-aligned offering. Unfortunately, while the café looked good on the surface, the experience didn’t quite live up to the visuals. First Impressions The location is central and easy to get to. The space is light, open, and inviting, with an earthy, conscious vibe. However, it was immediately clear that the place was understaffed — just one staff member running front-of-house during a busy Matariki morning crowd. They were doing their best, but the service naturally suffered because of it. Service Friendly but understandably stretched thin. No formal welcome, no check-in at the table, and minimal interaction beyond the counter. With only one person juggling coffee orders, seating, and food delivery, there was little opportunity for engagement or support. For what we paid, we hoped for more than just transactional. Food & Drink We ordered: • 2x Big Vegan Breakfasts • 1 Soy Latte • 1 Long Black / Americano Let’s start with the highlight: the coffee was excellent — easily the best part of the morning. Smooth, strong, well-balanced, and perfectly made. That alone almost made up for the kai… but not quite. The Big Vegan Breakfasts looked amazing when they landed at the table — visually, they were vibrant and beautifully plated. But the flavour didn’t match the appearance: • The scrambled tofu was watery and overpowered by the crispy chilli oil — lacking the depth we expected from black salt or seasoning. • The mushrooms (only four small slices, and shrivelled) felt like an afterthought. • The sausages were small and bland. • No butter or spread on the bread, and no salt or pepper available to help adjust the flavour. • The beans, tomato, salad, and aioli were delicious and well-balanced, saving the plate from a total letdown. The portioning across the plate was inconsistent — some items felt generous, others almost tokenistic. The cost: $91 total, including a 15% Matariki surcharge (not unexpected, but it raised expectations that weren’t met). Overall Experience There’s potential here, especially for vegan kai lovers looking for a light, stylish brunch spot. But for us, the value just didn’t add up. The coffee is worth coming back for — but not the full breakfast experience, not at that price, and not until they sort out the balance between staffing and service. ⸻ Final Thoughts Aesthetically pleasing but lacking in substance where it matters most — flavour and service. We left feeling a bit underwhelmed

   almost 9 months ago
3. Judit Angeli ★★★★★

   Just WOW! Beautiful colourful tasty bowl & burger and the portions were huge! Absolutely loved it and will be back!

   almost 2 years ago

1. Laura Carolina ★★★★★

   Great to have an all-vegan eatery in The Welder! I’ve enjoyed all the food I've had so far: half waffle with lots of fresh fruit, hazelnut slice, takeaway mixed bowl, Barefoot Burger and Bounty Bar. Pleasant staff. Pleasant venue. Open six days a week (June 2023).

   almost 2 years ago
2. Raf K ★★★★★

   This city needs more vegan cafes and certainly Barefoot Eatery is a very nice and welcome addition! Nice and cozy breakfasts / lunch cafe located at very casual shared space The Welder, offering limited, but good choice of very healthy and organic food options. Nourish bowl is absolute favourite, followed by buckwheat waffles. There is also choice of cabinet food and salads, including some sweets. Smoothies are definitely worth trying as they are absolutely delicious! Fresh juices are nice addition! Well done !

   almost 2 years ago
3. Tristana Leist ★★★★☆

   Nice vibe. Good food. Pricey to be sure but nice to have vegan and GF and support local. Likely won’t come back because so much else to try. Really solid juices.

   almost 2 years ago

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