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Reviews for Taste Explosion Cafe

by Mike N.
7th February 2013

Can’t find another place at Howick Village for a better cup of coffee and a satisfying meal!
Must say I was truly spoilt for choice.
The wide range of fabulous food and salads were so tempting yet awesome – to say the least!
Finally, had a Shepard’s pie, a large portion of Chicken Mushroom pocket together with a shot of long black. That was such a delicious meal especially with fast and friendly service. Will definitely visit again.

by Olivia W.
31st October 2012

Fabulous salads that had a really yummy flavour, and were surprisingly well priced. I upgraded to the big bowl for $9.50, so I could choose 3 salads. Sweet beetroot with feta and roasted walnuts and spinach. YUM (that was my favourite). Plus the wild-rice with yummy stuff all through it, and then some tasty pad-thai as my third ‘salad’ option.

Outstanding coffee. I love it when cafes use the right calibre of soy milk! (it doesn’t actually taste like soy-milk, which is the key!). Thank you!

One great thing about Taste Explosion, is that there are a range of seating options. Out the front in the sun (except the smokers sometimes linger there), inside in the cafe (but it can get a bit noisy), or inside the conservatory area out beyond the back of the cafe – which is my pick (where it’s very peaceful, and you can catch some rays coming through from the high, clear sunroof).

They also make a vast range of great sandwich, bap, rolls, etc, options, which are heavily and deliciously seasoned with sauces and yummy ingredients. Again, surpringly good-value in their pricing.

Staff are really courteous and professional.

Also, the parking is SO easy in the car park, right out-front. Keep driving right around behind the shops, and loop back around until you see the Taste Explosion signs.

by Michael G.
27th October 2012

Visited the cafe at Howick while on holiday in Auckland. The chicken pie was really awesome!
Coupled with a cup of smooth, long black organic coffee…phew! Must admit it was really an excellent meal. Taste Explosion cafe seems busy most of the time but it was well worth the wait for the food and coffee. Chef Mel certainly has good culinary skills and the service staff are friendly and polite. Highly recommended.

When i revisited the cafe lately, I was told that the cafe was bought over by Jennifer (the new owner n her husband Brian). I was simply so amazed
with Jennifer’s truly superb coffee and genuine smile! She is indeed the real Deal – unlike the previous barista! Great job Jennifer!
Will certainly visit again and bring my friends along too.

by Michael W.
20th October 2012

After a trip to Musick Point with some international visitors we found this place in Howick. For lunch we ordered Smoked Salmon bagels and the tasty Vege Grill for the vegetarian in the group. The café was busy but our wait for the order was most acceptable and gave us chance to view some of the snapshots from Musick Point.
The smoked salmon was I though, value for money. The presentation was pleasing; the avos were ripe, fresh and firm and tasty. I like pesto and enjoyed what was delivered.
The Vege Grill had a nice colourful variety of vegetables, cut to a decent size were not over-cooked or burnt. The meal finished off with some coffee. Despite being busy I was impressed with the well presented waitress and the time she took from us placing the order to her serving the meals. Well done guys. The visitors and I were duly impressed.

by Marie B.
3rd October 2012

WOW what a great cafe, the best in Howick for sure! Never been disappointed with the service, quality of coffee is magic, always hot and perfectly served. The food is baked all on the premises and is always 100% great. There is a changing menu for those of us who frequent the cafe which is awesome. I have also had catering completed by Mel, which was top notch.

Would go no further for a cafe in Howick than Taste Explosion. Keep up the great work guys!!

by Jacob M.
2nd October 2012

Came in today for a quick coffee break, I ended up leaving with takeaway for dinner. Great variety of food to suit anyone’s taste weather it be vegetarian, gluten free… sweets. The flat white was also so so smooth and served with a smile. Nothing was left behind! Definitely will be back tomorrow. (:D

by Mike G.
2nd October 2012

The Coffee was consistent and fortifying, the Eggs Benedict was of good proportion and as a breakfast, set me up for the day.

The sauce was delicious, a pleasant tang which I could not quite identify, but will most definately be back for more!

by Linda
2nd October 2012

Fabulous food, huge range, best coffee in Howick and lovely staff! Lots of gluten free foods to choose from. I often take friends there and they have become regulars too. Love their healthy cooking made fresh daily.

by Gaynor H.
28th September 2012

Best Ever!! Apart from the tastiest coffee, the variety and quality of food is superb. Has very good gluten free options. Mel is a fantastic chef and all food is made fresh on the premises. Each day there are different flavour scones and muffins. There are club sandwiches, a rarity these days. There is a blackboard menu for breakfasts and lunches. The salads are too numerous to mention and I often buy one for lunch or to add to eveing meal. Leanne at front of counter oversees the coffee and friedly service of staff. There is nowhere else like it in Howick.

by Dee
28th September 2012

First time visiting this little cafe in Howick. A really friendly and welcoming atmosphere when you walk in. Great food and even though they were really busy, the food was served quickly. Mel is a brilliant chef and I will definitely be paying Taste Explosion another visit.

by Bev M.
28th September 2012

Best coffee in town – we are dedicated to our daily morning brew and since Taste Explosion graced us with their exceptional presence, we now have scones for morning tea and enjoy their amazing salads for lunch. Mel and Leanna have done Howick proud!

by Jon S.
28th September 2012

Our business has just had some private catering done by you guys for a function we had offsite. The selection was just perfect and the quality amazing. Our guests raved about it – Thank you to the Team at Taste Explosion !

by Mike M.
28th September 2012

Awesome Variety of ‘mouth watering”treats at realistic price’s…Great Coffee and always severed with a ‘ smile’
These Guys have ‘changed’ the Howick Food scene…Mel is a great chef…started at Karch …then moved onto The Apothercary and now running there own buisness at Taste Explosion…which has attracted a huge following.

by John D.
28th September 2012

My wife and I enjoy a “good coffee” and are pleased to say we have found one of the best cafes in Auckland.
Not only is the coffee great, the food presentation in the cabinets is visually spectacular (tastes great too!!)
The staff are all friendly and helpful, even when there are super busy.
We took some overseas guest here who are super fussy when it comes to coffee and food and they raved about it for weeks after.
I highly recommend a visit to Taste Explosion in Howick.

by Mercedes
27th September 2012

Breakfast is so good. I come here just for that. Biggest problem is to know what to choose – so much variety!
And without a doubt the best coffee in Howick – no competition from anywhere else in the village for sure. Tried the rest, but this is the best.

Recommended it to all my friends and now they rave about it as well.

by Dawn S.
27th September 2012

D.J. Smith

Visited cafe for the first time this week, and was delighted with the menu, plenty of choice. The staff were very helpful and friendly. The coffee great. We were recommended it by a friend and will definately be regular customers. Looking forward to
trying one of their Breakfast menu’s. It’s certainly the best cafe in Howick. Well done to Mel (chef) and all the staff.

by Andrew K.
25th September 2012

Wonderful little cafe. Service with a smile and some great food. I had a mince, bacon and cheese pie although I was sorely tempted by an equally looking Thai chicken dish, all very nice and very tasty, delicacy rather than bakery if you know what I mean. The wife had a chirizo pasta salad which looked good enough for a bloke to eat, and I don’t say that very often about salads. All washed down with a good flat white for myself and a decaf, trim milk latte for the wife. The Mrs wanted me to mention that more often than not people screw up her decaf in many cafe’s but she was all good at Taste Explosion. All in all, well worth a visit.

by Bob C.
23rd September 2012

Lovely staff, delicious food and the coffee is fantastic. It’s now the only place in Howick that I ever eat at.

Mel is a dedicated chef with an eye for detail and full of ideas for new and interesting dishes. He never seems to stop work.

Service is usually excellent, always with a smile. By the look of the number of customers, this is a very popular cafe.

I thoroughly recommend that you give it a try – you won’t be disappointed.

by Vanessa G.
21st September 2012

We go to Taste Explosion pretty much every Saturday morning for breakfast, and often during the week for coffee or lunch. The very best coffee, food, and service Howick has to offer. The team are so accommodating, friendly and always smiling. We took a large group for breakfast one morning, they were really busy but took the time to make a place for us to sit and enjoy our morning together. This has become my very favourite “go to” place. Can’t recommend it enough.

by Joe W.
18th September 2012

Had high hopes for this cafe with previous good reviews – not a very welcoming atmosphere nd while the cashier wasn’t rude, she certainly didn’t seem happy to see me. Coffees around me looked great but when mine came out the milk was burnt meaning that the froth separated from the rest of the coffee making the froth taste like bubbles and the coffee taste watery. Ordered an eggs benedict – ill give them benefit of thedoubt with one egg being overcooked, that can happen to the best chefs. However this cafe is another using hollandaise sauce out of a bottle. This is never impressive. It was cold and brought the whole meal down. Why cafes think they can serve eggs benedict using the same factory made dressing that Mcdonalds use is beyond me. Finally, the meal was dressed with shaved carrot (that looked fantastic) but contributed nothing at all to the dish – left it on the plate next to my undrunk coffee. Conclusion: walked out nand will never go back. Sad really, howick needs a good cafe.

Comment from Donal S. of Taste Explosion Cafe 28/10/2012    Hide »

We apologise for the late response to this feedback. There are a…    More »

We apologise for the late response to this feedback. There are a number of incorrect facts within this feedback from Joe. W. The coffee was not left undrunk, over 50% had been consumed. The Hollandaise sauce is made in the kitchen and does not come out of a bottle. While we did note you left an empty plate apart from the shaved carrot, we do place carrot on the plate as a decoration, most customers enjoy the presentation, however it is up to the customer if they wish to eat it as it is just a garnish.

Your comments about an unwelcoming atmosphere are frankly completely mystifying, we have always had a very proactive hospitable welcome to customers and cannot envisage any of our staff offering anything but this welcome.

We are always concerned when a customer forwards comments on issues they experienced in their visit. However we are well aware of your close association with a competing business to us, and so have serious concerns about the validity of your comments, especially seeing some of them we know are factually incorrect

by Erin H.
26th August 2012

The staff go out of their way to make sure that each time I visit Taste Explosion it is memorable and I feel very special.
They have so many items that cater for customers with food allergies and are happy to make anything you want to eat.

by Nikki N.
27th May 2012

WOW… Absolutely fantastic – Organic coffee the only one in town. – With exceptional service with a smile how could anyone forget Taste Explosion Cafe, “Thank you Anna”.

With your service along with the team @ Taste Explosion Cafe in Howick my team and I will certainly be back.

I can not remember a time ever, when I have had such exceptional service, food, and not to mention organic coffee in Howick before.

Well done, and Anna thank you once again.

by Jon S.
9th April 2012

This is the best cafe in Howick by far………..Fantastic coffee, awesome scones & muffins, salads and meals are always fresh and appetizing. Very dedicated team who are passionate about what they do. Congratulations to Mel & Leanna you deserve every success

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