Cafe Giardino

I am always curious when I see lots of positive and some negative reviews. Any restaurant can have a bad day or maybe the customer is the one having a bad day. I like to find out for myself. Just yesterday I was travelling south on the Pacific Highway. My wife and I decided a rest stop was in order. We did not expect much in Taree on a Sunday afternoon however we had a pleasant surprise. Courtesy Google maps we chose Cafe Giardino and these guys are serious about catching the trade being open with a full menu offering mid Sunday afternoon. The fee of this cafe is charming - a slice of Southern European cafe vibe. The outside seating is nicely shielded from the Victoria Street traffic. You can find the menu elsewhere on this Google entry. There were plenty of interesting choices. My wife reported the salt and pepper calamari was deliciously tender and flavoured. My Nana’s Falafel was slightly crispy with a tasty moist falafel mix inside. I thought I chose well. The pictured cool drinks were a hit. Described as home made sodas, the pink one is strawberry/mint and the green one is called Persian cucumber and mint. Both were so much better than commercial soft drinks. I recommend them. The exciting surprise for me was the coffee. I ordered my usual macchiato (my barista test) and my wife a strong small long black. She reported positively straight way. I was not so enthusiastic until about half way through my macchiato. Because the flavour was not bland, it grew on me until suddenly the rich, caramel flavours hit me. I had the most pleasant coffee after taste for an hour. These Amanti beans combined with their barista were a winner. I can now say the coffee was a 9/10 for me. I do not normally review toilets. I have seen a lot of terrible toilets. The male toilets were OK however I loved the antique tap - hence the photograph. Now I know this place exists, I might just ensure I detour to Taree when I normally give it a miss. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed a our visit to Cafe Giardino. The service was attentive and quick. Could not ask for more.

We were looking for somewhere to stop for lunch on a trip home to Sydney from Port Macquarie. We decided to turn off the freeway to stop at Taree. Giardino Cafe was a lucky find. It was decorated with flowers and vintage pieces creating a cheerful, relaxing atmosphere. The menu was varied and I found my avocado toast was one of the best I’ve had. The toast was made from a tasty brown bread that was easy to cut and eat unlike many which are served on hard sourdough. My partner enjoyed his smoked salmon sandwich too. The cafe was clean and the staff were very courteous.

Absolutely loved it. Charming and unique setting, comfortable and excellent food and coffee. Cafe Giardino is an absolute gem and will definitely be coming back next time I'm in town! They are accommodating of special dietary requirements too.

This place is so nice! Such lovely atmosphere and excellent food. Can’t believe we found this gem in Taree.

What a delightful find early Sunday morning You could think you were in Europe. My Granola & coffee were fantastic. Staff very friendly & chatty. Loved it all