Southern Cross Cafe's reputation is positively grounded in its friendly staff, prompt service, and the wide range of palatable dishes with satisfactory taste, as indicated by the recent customer reviews. A consistently noted highlight is the cafe's cakes, with multiple reviews praising their quality. References to a particular staff member, Rod, suggest that the cafe benefits from an employee known for exceptional service and charisma, which appears to enhance the customer experience. However, the sentiment is not universally shared; a minority of reviews point towards instances of disappointing service, including long wait times for food and issues with staff demeanor. While the cafe is commended for its atmosphere and reasonably priced offerings, with special mentions of its vegetarian options, there are remarks on portion sizes and food expectations not being met, such as with the ciabatta turned toastie incident.