Cafe Lacus occupies a Lake Terrace address in Wharewaka, pairing everyday cafe service with a playful, family friendly interior. Booths and hut style seating areas offer some separation inside, while outdoor swings and a photo booth give younger visitors more to explore than a conventional dining room. The cafe opens through the daytime seven days a week and supports dining in, takeaway and catering, so it can cover an early coffee, a group brunch or food collected for another setting.
Breakfast ranges from familiar plates to combinations with a distinctive house accent. The big breakfast brings eggs, bacon, chorizo, mushrooms, tomato, toast and crisp potato together, while mushrooms on toast adds salsa verde, rocket and parmesan. Thai eggs Benedict takes the format in another direction, placing soft poached eggs, spinach and mushrooms on brioche beneath panang coconut curry sauce, coriander, peanuts and poppadum. French toast, a fruit topped smoothie bowl and avocado with feta on rye provide sweeter or lighter routes into the day.
Lunch and savoury dishes served throughout the day keep that variety going. Seafood chowder combines seafood and vegetables in a creamy white wine sauce, and the fried chicken burger layers slaw and jalapeño chutney into a brioche bun. A Mediterranean bowl uses quinoa, pickled cabbage, falafel, hummus, coconut tzatziki, olives and pita, while chicken and mushroom fettuccine and an open steak sandwich offer more substantial choices. Squid, pork belly bites and chicken nibbles work well when the table would rather share several smaller plates.
Coffee comes from Kokako's Mahana blend, with standard espresso drinks joined by nitro cold brew poured on tap. Vanilla cream, salted caramel and hazelnut versions turn that chilled coffee into something more indulgent, while tea, smoothies, juice and a wider drinks list cover other preferences. Vegan choices and adaptable bread or muffin options make the menu easier to navigate for different diets. Together with the varied seating, that breadth allows Cafe Lacus to serve both a quick local stop and a longer social meal.
Address: 650 Lake Terrace, Wharewaka, Taupō 3378, New Zealand
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