The Big 10 for Sail Rock

Owning a cafe-restaurant can be a tenuous business. Owning one in a very much seasonal location and through a worldwide recession even more so, but Mangawhai’s Sail Rock, now celebrating ten years under the stewardship of Margaret Fish, has stood the test of time.

At its high profile location in Wood Street, Sail Rock has continued to serve a loyal local clientele despite the vagaries of a seasonal business.

“It can take a bit of juggling at times between long weekends, school holidays and staff, many of whom are only able to work part time,” says Margaret.

Sail Rock Cafe provides your regular coffee and cake through to the full evening menu. Then on occasions guests have enjoyed wine tastings, quiz nights, art, comedy, musical entertainers and of course the grand piano rests quietly in wait for anyone with a yen to tinkle the ivories – and they often do. It all adds to the atmosphere.

Sail Rock’s signature dish is also a lure for travellers who, with the Lonely Planet Guide at hand seek to sample a dish with worldwide renown.

During the past decade the business has undergone three facelifts, usually based on nautical themes.

With the first day of Spring just around the corner coinciding with Father’s Day, Sail Rock Cafe could be just the place to wile away a little time from afternoon and into the evening in one of Mangawhai’s longest established eateries.