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Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

PRICE RANGE
USD 3 - USD 26
CUISINES
Bar, Fusion
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
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meals, features, about
Reviews (508)
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507 results
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LanguageEnglish
Traveller rating
269
121
48
27
42
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All reviews eggs benedict salad broadwater parklands coffee and cake relaxed atmosphere great coffee aquatic pet brekky anna smoothies gc
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Reviewed 2 weeks ago

This was our third visit to Cafe Catalina and on each occasion we have been impressed with the quality of the food in particular the service. At our most recent outing the assistant manager, Lisa, could have done no more to make our visit more...enjoyable. The staff are neat and tastefully dressed, clearly well trained, competent and enthusiastic in their various roles. Highly recommended for any occasion.More

Date of visit: November 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 15 October 2023 via mobile

Always an amazing place for anytime of day, but we love bfast at Catalina’s. Food and service is always impeccable, friendly, fast and efficient. Lovely taking our fur baby out for family bfast. Thanks Anne and her team for outstanding service as usual.

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 28 August 2023

I was absolutely horrified today when I saw a young mum and her 2 daughters who wouldn’t have been any older than 2 and 5, getting told off by the owner, Charlie Whitcombe who was sitting at a table a few metres away from the...register. The mum who I saw paying for their meals had her daughters standing beside her, they were looking at the cakes in the display cabinet. Charlie rudely told the mother for her kids to stop touching the glass, when she explained she had already asked them, he told her that he didn’t hear her and to chastise her children. The mother and her children had been dining in the cafe for some time, during a lunch period and her children appeared well behaved, I hadn’t even heard them or see them get out of their chairs, one being in a high chair. Charlie told the mother that when they touch the glass, it rubs the price off it, the mother explained they are just kids, Charlie just kept repeating that she hadn’t told them. He proceeded to tell her to get out of the cafe, telling her “They are naughty“, I heard her saying they had just spent $70 there and she was wanting to use the bathroom prior to leaving. He stood up in front of her, I was about to intervene as it looked as though he was going to put his hands on her, however he backed off when she started to raise her voice, visibly upset. When the mother and her children got out of the bathroom, she told Charlie she wouldn’t be back and explained it was disappointing as she takes her daughters there every week. Charlie’s wife stepped in, telling the mother to “Just leave “, then Charlie backed her up by telling the mother in front of her daughters and other customers to “F#*% off”. I heard the mother ask, did you just tell me to “F off” in front of my children, he said “Yes I did” and walked behind the counter with his wife Anna. I was absolutely gobsmacked the way he spoke to her and not understanding towards her having little ones and then to swear at her in front of her children, he obviously doesn’t care about his customers. I live in the area and frequent the cafe, however will not return and support business owners like this. I recorded the whole thing on my phone, however it won’t let me attach the video to this review. I’ll be sure to share it with my friends and family.More

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlie Whitcombe, General Manager at Cafe Catalina, responded to this reviewResponded 11 September 2023

Hi Rae, Although we appreciate you taking the time to share your review, this is not an entirely accurate record of events and there are always two sides to a story. Charlie did ask the children to stop touching the display cabinet, but not rudely...More

Reviewed 20 May 2023 via mobile

Had a lunchtime party here today for a family of 10. Overall enjoyable food, well presented and we had efficient table service. A great outlook to the Broadwater adding to the success of the day. One small issue asked to split a dozen oysters to...6 of each style of the 2 on the menu. Told had to pay 6 Oyster price twice not the Dozen price once. Did not spoil the day just a consideration perhaps for kitchen and owners to take on board. See you again.More

Date of visit: May 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 19 May 2023

We found this cafe via Urban List, as one of the 10 best pet friendly dining experiences on the GC, and it certainly delivered. Great meals, prompt, professional and genuinely friendly service, and our pup was welcomed not just tolerated. We had water views from...our table, just awesome for a lingering lunch. We will certainly be back, and would warmly recommend to others.More

Date of visit: May 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 24 April 2023 via mobile

As I’ve owned hospitality venues previously, I’m sympathetic and kind in reviews and rarely report negative experiences. However I contacted this venue with my concerns and I am skeptical that the response was actually from the owner, so this review also serves the purpose of...ensuring the owners are in fact aware: On our family visit, we were served by a male waiter who clearly had a problem with customers generally. He ignored us multiple times, made jokes about us to other staff and left our items on the counter for prolonged periods (clearly deliberately). I was happy to let all this go but when he mocked my wife I approached him quietly and asked if there was a problem. He said my wife asked for our smoothie 5 times (she didn’t, which he later admitted, she checked on the progress once as she could see it sitting on the counter for some time). There was no manager on duty. He behaved in an extremely inappropriate way which I will not comment on here as it is subject to further investigation. After emailing the store (the only point of contact available), and urging them to review CCTV footage of the incident what purported to be the owners replied and stated I swore loudly which is preposterous (I’ve NEVER sworn in front of my 3 and 5 year old children!). No owner could possibly review the CCTV footage of how this waiter acted and think this is in any way not serious. I await their response here, and I am happy to discuss further over the phone. I would 100% avoid this restaurant based on the way they have handled this matter.More

Date of visit: April 2023
Helpful?5  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 25 February 2023 via mobile

Bad service, we had breaky here on Saturday, unfortunately we we’re waited on buy the owner she was too busy trying to get away that she couldn’t even wait to get our orders right, we challenged her when meals were served an her response was...I didn’t here an my response was that you were in too much a hurry to get away, the paid staff are brilliant, the owner very rude.More

Date of visit: February 2023
Helpful?4  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cafe Catalina, General Manager at Cafe Catalina, responded to this reviewResponded 6 March 2023

Hi Thanks for taking the time to pass on the feedback. We appreciate you coming in and giving us a try. Sounds like we didn't get it right on this occasion. I'll pass the feedback onto the rest of the team. The Catalina Team

Reviewed 15 January 2023

Love stopping here if we are walking around the Broadwater parklands. Lovely outlook combined with good coffee and cake selection. Todays selection of carrot cake and brownie (warmed and all delicious and oozy) was 👌More

Date of visit: January 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cafe Catalina, General Manager at Cafe Catalina, responded to this reviewResponded 16 January 2023

Thanks for taking the time to write us such a nice review. We really appreciate it! We are so lucky to be located in such a gorgeous place and love when passers by stop in for a cuppa and cake ... or a little more....More

Reviewed 13 November 2022

Disappointing effort from the well-known establishment. On arrival on Sunday 13 November between 8.30 and 9am we selected a table outside. At that time, it was fairly quiet and the Café was just under half capacity. Orders for 3 were taken, 2 Eggs Benedict and...1 Scrambled eggs, bacon on sour dough. As we waited it got busier and there was a line waiting for service. The Eggs Benedict arrived and were adequate but not outstanding but the third order never arrived. It became so busy we could not speak to any staff so we decided to not wait after 30minutes. We then had to line up with waiting with in going customers for some time to pay and an attempt was made to still charge us for the incomplete order however when we stated the order was not filled it was reduced appropriately. No apologies or explanation. Same old story ‘you can’t complain about the service if you don’t get any.’ That’s a failure for me.More

Date of visit: November 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cafe Catalina, General Manager at Cafe Catalina, responded to this reviewResponded 15 November 2022

Hi Thanks for taking the time to write us such an informative review. We are sorry that you did not have the experience that you would hope for when you visited us. Obviously we want all of our customers to have a wonderful experience when...More

Reviewed 12 November 2022 via mobile

What the hell happened here? Anna (original owner) where are you? Great location the only thing that is keeping Catalina going. This used to be a great place, casual food relaxed atmosphere but now trying to be an upmarket restaurant. Totally overpriced and poor service....Upmarket restraints at Marina Mirage are way better and cheaper. After being served one drink, trying to catch eye of wait staff to get drinks menu to order again. Ended up going to counter to ask for one. Told “I’ll bring it right over.” It never came. We left. Went back the next day to give it another chance. Same passive aggressive guy showed us to table. Just bad vibes. We left without ordering. Total shame used to be great. No interest to ever return.More

Date of visit: November 2022
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cafe Catalina, General Manager at Cafe Catalina, responded to this reviewResponded 15 November 2022

Hi Thanks for taking the time to write us a review. It is reviews like yours that help us to identify issues that we can work on to continue to improve. We will take your feedback on board and discuss the issues with our staff....More

Reviewed 9 November 2022

Total Disappointment! Waited 5 minutes to be seated as door notice reads wait to be seated, disorganized, nobody in charge here. Waited 45 minutes for food to arrive after ordering. $42 for a real small portion of prawn Linguine, bland no flavouring or condiments used,...supposed to be with chili 2 thinly slices of fresh chilli the only evidence of anything added. $32 for salt & pepper Calamari, no salt or pepper very bland, simply disgusting. Portion of small chips $11 not value for money here, felt ripped off particularly after being slugged $1.50 payment surcharge for paying with MasterCard., no signs stating that fact anywhere. Clearly a tourist trap café.More

Date of visit: November 2022
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cafe Catalina, General Manager at Cafe Catalina, responded to this reviewResponded 10 November 2022

Hello Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. We are sorry that you did not have the experience that you were hoping for when you dined at Cafe Catalina. We hope for all our customers to have an enjoyable experience when...More

Reviewed 17 August 2022 via mobile

We had an early breakfast, ordered 2 scrambled eggs and bacon, and an extra serve of mushrooms, plus an eggs benedict. Coffees all round. Portions were generous and really delicious. The large fried mushrooms came in a big bowl and we couldn't finish them there...were so many. The bacon was the best I've tasted in years.More

Date of visit: August 2022
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cafe Catalina, General Manager at Cafe Catalina, responded to this reviewResponded 23 September 2022

Hi Annieje Thanks for joining us for breakfast and for taking the time to write us such a lovely review. We love feedback as it helps us to continue to improve. I will pass your kind words onto the chef. The Cafatlina team

Reviewed 28 May 2022 via mobile

Really not happy with service even as we went to pay and asked the waitress name as wasn’t happy manager answered with “So what are you going to bad mouth us?” Asked how she could resolve issue then and wanted us to tell her what...we wanted! Even though we got a slight discount for food was left feeling more upset that manager wasn’t really apologetic was just rude about it back at us!! Not happy not going back there again food was ok but service is part of the experience!!!More

Date of visit: May 2022
Helpful?4  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 8 May 2022 via mobile

Professional and consistently good. I’m really happy to come here with friends for a celebration or solo for beautiful sashimi My fave go to in GC

Date of visit: May 2022
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 24 April 2022 via mobile

Ordered a large long black coffee on the aquatic centre side of the restaurant. I was the only customer there. The staff member told me it would be a 15 minute wait. I know it's a busy Sunday but it took 45 minutes after approaching...the counter and asking where my order was. I wrote a similar review a few years ago and I thought things would have changed but they haven't.More

Date of visit: April 2022
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Questions & Answers
Ask a question
Ian W
6 January 2019|
AnswerShow all 6 answers
Response from CafeCatalina | Property representative |
Hi Ian, It might be a little too late but we are changing operating hours to extend into the evenings as well. At the moment we offer a bar snacks and tapas menu from 3-6 Tuesday to Sunday but we hope to open from February... More
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CAFE CATALINA, Southport - Updated 2023 Restaurant Reviews, Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Cafe Catalina

Cafe Catalina is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4.5