Gamboni's, Karori

Gamboni's, Karori.  Won't buy again.  Made on site.  4/10.  $3.50.

Ah, I lament this particular slice.  It had all the markings of a tasty treat, including being gluten free.  Completely redundant to me, but I appreciated the effort for my gluten intolerant friends.

The caramel and chocolate was great, but the base tasted like burnt chocolate toast and was equally crunchy.  This may have been a freshness issue, or a lack of gluten, but meant I probably will only buy it again if I have a person with Celiac's in the house.

Ritual, Wanaka

Ritual, Wanaka.  Will not buy again.  Made on site.  3/10. $4.

Again, a bit disappointing for dear Wanaka.  This had a hard thick icing, and I couldn't actually taste the caramel.  The base was also all wrong - maybe it just wasn't fresh..

EIther which way it seemed like a bit of a chef's experiment - which I'm all for, I just wish they'd try them before putting them on the counter. 

Fingers crossed for less a less bleak caramel slice outlook for Christmas.

Gusto, Wanaka

Gusto, Wanaka. Wouldn't buy again.  Made on site.  4/10. $4

This was sampled during a recent trip to Wanaka - I'd have to say Wanaka shouldn't bother with caramel slice.  Only 2 of the 7 cafes I went past actually had something that resembled caramel slice and this tan slice was one of them.

On the rough theme of disappointment, this stuck to my mouth - and my parents (I'm not just being mean, there was intersubjective-verification here, truly scientific!).

Won't bug again, and brings the rest of the this cafe's apparently good food into question.

Sorry Gusto.

Revive, Petone

Revive, Petone.  Wouldn't buy again. Made on site. 7/10. $4.

This was delicious except for the chocolate. Milk chocolate does not belong on caramel slice, even if it is really good exotic milk chocolate.

This cut beautifully - nice and fresh, great caramel and a nice base.

I wouldn't buy it based purely on the milk chocolate, but if this doesn't bother you, certainly worth stopping by.

Thanks Anna P for bringing this into work to share!

Breadworks, Palmerston North

Breadworks, Palmerston North. Buy again, easy.  Made on site 8/10 $4.50?

I have had this before so on a recent trip to PN it was easy to buy again.  It was good, again. An oat top and good caramel, base not too hard.

Perhaps a few days old which gave it a stiff sort of texture, this slightly lower rating than last time.  Yum!

New World Railway, Wellington

New World Railway, Wellington.  May buy again for group morning tea.  Made onsite?  6/10 $4.99 for a slab.

This was bought as part of a morning tea at work and it served its purpose.  Pretty fresh so a good fudge texture, quite a chocolate base, caramel good enough and the lumpy dough topping.  

Overall slightly anonymous - nothing actually wrong with it, just a sniff too bland for a posh party - but good value for money.

Even better, ensuing discussion between work colleague has resulted in a caramel slice and pie tasting session next month - yes!

Barista, Palmerston North No.2 - more a brownie

Barista, Palmerston North No.2. I won't buy again, but someone will love it. Made on site 6/10. $4?


This had to be tried not just because it's caramel slice-esque, but because my cohorts and I are pigs. Nice pigs. 


The concept had merit - good caramel sandwiched by chocolate brownie, but to be honest it was wasted on me.  Too rich, the brownie diluting the caramel and vice versa, all mixed up.  However, both probably great independently.  


Nevermind, at least I won't have to choose between this and their No.1 caramel slice.

Barista, Palmerston North No.1

Barista, Palmerston North No.1. Definitely buy again. Made on site 9/10. $4?

This was delicious despite not being lathered in chocolate on top.  We were in PN and went back to an old haunt - they had two caramelly slices; this was the one actually called 'Caramel Slice'.

It had a nice soft, fresh base, perfect caramel and a dough and chocolate top.  Can you SEE how perfect that caramel looks - well to me anyway.

Usually I'd sniff at a caramel slice with no coconut in the base nor a full chocolate topping.  As previously stated I prefer the 'svelte' rather than 'rustic country' version, but I think this turned me.

It was actually twice as big as this, I'd just shared it with my friend Robyn, so good value too.  If I thought I'd get away with it I'd try and pass this off as my own.

Arobake, Wellington

Arobake, Wellington.  Certainly buy again.  Made on site 8/10. $3.60

This was labelled Aro Bake's 'Caramel and Macadamia Slice', so I was a little unsure as to what it would be like - I'm not personally big on nuts in baking or with chocolate.

However, it had a delicious chewy, coconutty, almost oaty base - which must have been the macadamia.  I couldn't really taste the macadamia flavour but Kane could.  I was relieved about the base because it initially looked a bit brisk/hard - I assume it was relatively fresh.  The caramel was borderline perfect - not metallic or overly sweet.

The only thing keeping this from a 9 or 10 was the chocolate - milk chocolate, which while I love, has no place on a caramel slice.

Would definitely buy again, and take as a treat to someone's house.  Perhaps it's just as well it has milk chocolate or I'd become a too frequent visitor.

Olive, Wellington

Olive, Wellington. Unlikely to buy again.  Made on site.  6/10  $3.80

This looked enticing and was very promising with lovely cocoa sprinkled on top and a posh plate - ohhh flash.

Sadly it was quite bland.  The base was coconutless, the caramel flavourless and the chocolate a bit sugary.  Not offensive, but I wouldn't drive across town for it.

Disappointing for Olive - one of my favourite cafes.  It's reputation was partially redeemed by a tasty ginger slice, but that didn't help the caramel slice.

Wallaceville House, Upper Hutt

Wallaceville House, Upper Hutt.  Certainly would buy again if I could.  Made on site.  9/10  $?

Ok, so strictly speaking this isn't caramel slice, but it did have a wiff of caramel and was so tasty it would be wrong to omit it - even if it looks like a glob of oats.

This was a deliciously chewy oaty thing that my work friends and I found on a course recently.  It had lumps of chocolate and (I think) caramel goodness - it's was warmed perfectly and made me wish I hadn't had so much other lunch.  Only thing I'd change was the raisins - they were superfluous to the slice.

No idea on the price as it was just part of the course lunch.  Would drive all the way out there to have it if I could - yum!

Thanks Ro for suggesting that I better try some!

Hideaway Cafe

Hideaway Cafe, Wellington.  Would buy again. Forgot to ask if made on site.   7/10  $3.80

So quite the caramel slice eating hiatus.

Hopefully that hasn't dulled my tasting senses.  This tasted much better than it looked.  I expected it to be mass produced blurrgh, but it was quite edible, tasty even.

Good caramel and not too much chocolate.  Nice chewy base, despite no coconut - or very little anyway.  Suspect it was relatively fresh.  Would buy again, but wouldn't take to a person's house.  Perfect for mid afternoon munchies, even better the the cafe is downstairs from work.

My work buddy Julia rated it a 7-8, but I reckon a 7/10.

Muses Cafe, Motueka

Muses Cafe, Motueka.  Won't buy again.  Made on site.  $4.50  2/10.

This looked a bit gross - but I thought for $4.50 it must have been one of those 'tastes better than it looks' jobbies.  Sadley, it really was gross.  The base was really dry and somewhat wholemealy - no coconut.  The caramel was a bit overdone - almost metallic.

It was less bad when chewed up for a while like a cow with cud.

Will not buy again.

Thunderbird Cafe, Wellington

Thunderbird Cafe, Wellington.  Might buy again, if I forget this experience. $4. 5/10

Long time no review - won't bother with justifying the absence, but here's the latest sampling.

Thunderbird Cafe's caramel slice looked a promising slice in the more 'elegant' category.  I forgot to ask if it was made on site, but didn't reek of it.  Then again, wouldn't be suprised if it was.

Caramel was fine, chocolate ok, a sniff grainy, and the base non-offensive.  It's not that there was anything wrong with this (other than the lack of coconut a purely personal preference..) - it's just that nothing really stood out.  It was forgettable.  I forgot to bother finishing it.  Good thing I had company to polish it off.