The Fat Seagull Cafe is a restaurant on Hunia Terrace in the small coastal settlement of Himatangi Beach, Manawatu, holding a Google rating of 2.5 — a glance at recent reviews before a visit would be sensible. Beach cafés live by the season. In summer, when the baches fill and the beach is busy, expect a queue at the counter and an easy pace of service; in the quieter months, coastal spots often trim their hours or close on weekdays, so it pays to check before driving out. The trade keeps things simple — good coffee, generous breakfasts, fish and chips — and locals judge a beach cafe on consistency: whether the flat white and the fish hold up on a grey Tuesday as well as a packed Sunday. Set on Hunia Terrace at Himatangi Beach, a small settlement on the Manawatu coast, The Fat Seagull Cafe is there for whoever the season brings.