The Lunch Break - Maitland

I've discovered that pubs in Australia appear to be a notch above the pubs I frequent in the United States.

Hotel in the heart of Morpeth! Open til 6am wow! probably not the best thing the night before a friends wedding I got a charcuterie plate with prosciutto,

After failing to find a 'safe'-feeling food venue for a quick takeaway lunch elsewhere nearby in High Street, I ventured to the Lunch Break.It was a clean tidy place with its main counter perpendicular to the entry from the street. The young man and young woman on duty had glowing smiles as I entered. I ordered a salad and cheese wholemeal wrap and a takeaway skim flat white extra hot. The (male) barista was up for a chit-chat as he made the coffee and asked me about my day, my visit to Maitland and my love of the late spring weather on that day (17th Nov). The woman making my wrap commented on parts of the exchange between myself and the barista. The best news was that I walked out with a small handful of change from the $10 tendered. Bargain! "Nice people, nice place," I thought to myself.I stopped at a park after a short drive to East Maitland to consume this modest lunch. The salad wrap was well filled with fresh colourful crisp veges but it was then that I made the two sad discoveries. (a) The cheese was that soft plastic mass-produced bland muck. I felt a tad cheated that the wrap had no tasty cheddar to highlight the veges.(b) The barista had made me a chocolatey Cappuccino instead of my unsweetened skim flat white.Advice to other diners. (i) Specify clearly which coffee you want and check under the plastic takeaway lid before you walk off with it. (ii) If you like good cheese, ask for it. The standard stuff is truly disappointing. Advice to Lunch Break staff: Put the price of wraps up 50c (or maybe $1) then use sliced or grated QUALITY cheese.

I love the lunch break. Great variety and real food. Working with small fryers and domestic grills the ladies turn out great food. I love their chips ! Made to order, fresh crisp and crunchy and a generous serve. They also make quiche and lasagnaFried rice, baked filled potatoes and soups and a range of soups as well as sandwiches rolls and wraps

I was unable to find a suitable place to grab a quick lunch near the high street, so I decided to venture out during my break. I came across a clean establishment with the counter positioned at a right angle to the entrance. The young man and woman serving me greeted me with smiles as I entered. I ordered a salad with cheese that turned out to be a disappointing imitation cheese product, along with a hot white chocolate mocha to go. The barista engaged me in conversation while preparing my drink, asking about my day and my visit to Maitland, as well as commenting on the weather. I was surprised to discover that my coffee was sweeter than I had requested, as it was made with chocolate instead of the expected unsweetened flavor. I would recommend that they confirm coffee orders with customers and check them before serving. Additionally, if customers prefer real cheese, they should request it as the standard cheese provided was not up to par. I suggest increasing the price of the lunch package slightly in order to offer higher quality ingredients such as real cheese.