It's an abusive relationship.
Pickle & Pie may very well be one of the most famous cafes in Wellington. I don't think I've ever had a 'great' time here. In fact, I often leave confused and asking myself, did that really happen? My brain so full of thoughts that I don't remember what I ate.
The people at Pickle & Pie are famous for being rude. For the past few years, I'm pretty sure that's their selling point--and it's not even done on purpose.
The first time we went there, the server directed us to a dirty table. They didn't clean anything off it. Fair enough, I thought. Maybe they're understaffed (and I actually think they are).
But then they just stood off in the corner. Eventually, when we had our table cleaned by someone else, they spilled a cup of water on the connected table next to ours. They didn't acknowledge it. They simply went on with their day.
The spilled cup of water was still there by the time we left.
"It's so great," said my friend. "It's so bad it's great."
My friend goes to this cafe with her husband. I can say with my greatest confidence that they are kind and polite people. I assure you they can read the room. Other than some slight mischevious bents and kinks in their brain, you will find a gentleness in every action and word.
They told me they waited there at the door until someone was free to address them before asking, "A table for two, please."
The server immediately snapped back at them. "Well, that's kind of rude, isn't it?"
My friend said she spent the rest of their time there laughing and saying, "What did we say wrong?"
The silverware was chucked in front of them. Forks and knives clanged. Dishes were given with a huff and puff. The general mood from the server told them to evacuate the table stat.
"It's so funny," she said. "I don't know what else I can say. Everytime they try to be mean to us, it just ends up being rather funny."
This part of the post is when I usually write about my experiences with the food. I keep notes on my phone when I taste, I try to see what they're trying to achieve with this particular dish, did the pairings work, how's their coffee etc etc...
I opened my phone and realized, "Ah right. I didn't write anything."
Yeah.
There's so many cafes out there just phoning it in with their basic menus. You want eggs benedict? You want a big breakfast? Here, have it with this badly burnt coffee. Most people can't tell the difference. These cafes don't usually thrive, but they do well enough.
Pickle & Pie, from what I can see, thrives. They're usually packed. Their food has a great deal of effort put into it. It's pretty, it's nice, and I really did enjoy the apple pie I had. Next time I'll try their savoury or cherry pie, both are their signature meals.
I didn't write anything because I was so stunned by what happened.
"They changed," I said to my friend, rather breathlessly.
"They fucking changed!" she exclaimed. "Oh my god!"
They weren't rude anymore.
We sat there staring at each other. "What are we going to do?" she asked. "It's just not the same."
The servers were so nice. As we sat there, flavour leeched out of every successive bite. It just felt wrong.
"Now it's just a regular cafe," I said.
"The food's still good," she said.
Yeah, but--
I don't know. I don't taste it anymore.
My partner and I are popping down to Wellington for her job interview in the next two weeks. If possible, I'll make time to visit Pickle & Pie again. At the very least, this time I'll try and remember what coffee beans they use and post it here.
But like, I'm mostly going because, well--
I really hope they're rude to me again. It's weird, but I can't really explain it.
EDIT: My good friend messaged me saying:
She said, "It was a sad collection of corned beef in a ciabatta."
YO. I'M SO FUCKING EXCITED.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE RUDE TO ME AGAIN.
