The Cove Cafe is a convenient stopping place on your journey from Auckland on your journey to the islands, in fact there is not much else en route.
It is a jolly, busy place. A handy large car park alongside contains toilets. And you can see across the road to the beach and the breaking waves and surfers.
I suspect the savouries are better than the sweet dishes.
My husband was happy with his coffee and the prices.
Lamington
I tried a Lamington, because that is a favourite food unique to Australia and New Zealand (like pavlova). A Lamington is a cube of sponge cake, coated in a thin layer of chocolate and rolled in coconut.
Priceless
I had trouble making a choice because there was a large display of cakes, which was good, but no prices displayed. This caused me confusion. Maybe I should opt for two if they are cheap. Pick the cheapest if they are dear. Indulge myself in the dearest cake as I'm on holiday.
My stress level rises. How do I know it's not a con to charge me extra, double because I'm a foreigner and don't understand the value of New Zealand dollars? How do I know it's not an item containing unseasonal fruit, or alcohol, or saffron or truffles, which makes it legitimately, or illegitimately, ten times the standard price of a piece of cake?
The plus side of seeing price is that the price might tell me it's the one delectable item I ought to take. There's half a dozen Ferraris and Porches parked outside in a regular club rally. I bet they would pay more, so something must cost more to satisfy them.
The cashier has a list of prices on her computer screen which is hidden from me and says she can tell me the price of whichever item I want. But I can't ask the price of every one of the thirty items.
I am surprised that you have to ask. In England it's a legal requirement to display prices.
When I told the young server that in England it was a legal rquirement, he said that he was not aware of any such law in New Zealand.
He said the food is fresh every day, so they can't write up all the prices.
However, the same applies to meny restaurant's chef's menu of the day, where a menu changes daily. Also most supermarkets stock fresh goods, bakery, as well as fruit and veg, which are replaced each morning by a huge lorry which we see parked outside Tesco supermarket.
If it's the law, you have to do it. You cannot charge the customer what you fancy. What you think they will pay. Nor only tell them after they have chosen when they are too embarrassed to change their mind.
I asked AI, and received this result -
Yes, it is a legal requirement to display food prices in the UK, New Zealand, and across Europe,
with the UK's "Price Marking Order" requiring retailers to clearly display the selling price of products, including unit prices for loose items;
in New Zealand, mandatory unit pricing for grocery products came into effect on August 31, 2023,
and in Europe, the "Price Indication Directive" mandates clear and accurate price information for consumers.
Disregarding the price, what about the food?
Neither I nor my husband liked the Lamington. Not because of it being sponge with chocolate and coconut. I love chocolate and coconut.
I'd had a Lamington previously, the same month, in a restaurant, and it was wonderful. Were other customers happy.
However, our friends who live in Auckland wo had recommended that we stop there hadenthused about The Cove Cafe and its savoury dishes. They don't go for desserts. So maybe I shall try something savoury, something different, if I ever go there again.
UK Price legislation for food consumption on premises and take away food
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/2253/contents/
New Zealand has similar rules regarding display of prices in two places, near the entrance for rpospective customers to decide whether to enter and in each room where customers are ordering
https://legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1975/0051/9.0/whole.html
https://www.hygienie.org/a-brief-history-of-uk-food-safety-law UK Natasha's law covers listing ingredients of allergens in food such as sanwiches made on the premises.
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