The Sanctuary Café - ERINA HEIGHTS

My wife and I had lunch here this weekWe have been twice before each time I have had the specials pulled pork sandwich or BLT.

Stopped in for lunch without a booking. Staff were very friendly and helpful. We sat inside but patrons can also sit outside under the verandah with a fine vista and surrounds. Having said all that the lunch time menu was very basic and limited. If you did not like seafood the the choices were slim. I had the chicken risotto and my wife had a greek salad with a side of chips. The food was fine but I would have liked more choice. GF meals available. No drinks and the bill was $38.00.

We turned up on the wrong day, and even though they were extremely busy they still accommodated us. Whilst we waited for a table to be set up due to our unannounced arrival we were invited to view the photos at the Ken Duncan gallery, some really amazing and quite expensive pictures. The high tea was a sensational 5 course affair. A duck consomme was the first course followed by a selection of hot tasty bites and finger sandwiches. A sorbet to cleanse the palate before the desserts followed by a tea of your choosing. Champagne was served at the start. We highly recommend the food and the whole experience, take your time and enjoy it.

School Reunion of 6 @ 10am Sunday. We arrived and they advise us they had lost our booking so they did not want to seat us. When ordering food no avocados and no solutions to no avocados (although franklins is across the road). Food ordered was lovely. My cappuccino was awful it tasted like watered down warm milk not coffee. All the other drinks were fine. One of our ladies order was wrong and fixing it was a big deal to the staff member by the way she rolled her eyes and snuff at the diner behind her back. Our table wasn’t the only table having unfriendly staff issues. It seemed as though none of the staff enjoy their job or wanted to be there. It is such a shame that the staff were so unfriendly because this could be an outstanding café a café that the Central Coast could be proud of. Each of us spent around the $50 mark. I would go back if the staff could smile and be helpful. I will have to wait until someone else writes a review though!

If you are looking at having a baby shower high tea or something similar, look elsewhere. From the first time I contacted the cafe to book in my high tea, the staff were not forthcoming with information. I often felt like I was being rushed off the phone even though I tried to be selective with the times I phoned to ensure it wasn't their busy time. I had to prepay for the high tea in which I did the week before. When I arrived to my high tea baby shower, I was harassed by the older woman who was in charge on the day. She was at me constantly about the fact we had brought in a few decorations, about the fact that I had brought in my own wine bottles (which I did because their wine selection was appalling). She went on about the additional cost for the corkage and cake which I was more than happy to pay for and had discussed it over the phone with whomever I had spoken with previously. All she seemed to be worried about was me paying this $75 corkage fee even though I had already paid $950 on the high tea for 25 people. I would suggest not taking a cake, that was another drama. We didn't have the cake served as it was just there for decoration. No-one needs more cake after a high tea anyway. Again, the person I spoke to over the phone was aware that a cake was being brought.Fortunately the food was delicious and very filling. My guests were unaware of the issues I had been having with the woman so they had a very delightful experience. I also didn't let this woman get to me and therefore enjoyed my time with friends, however, it did put a damper on my reflections of the day. I will never return to this cafe, not even for their delicious food and wish I chose somewhere else to have my one and only baby shower.