Cafe Cinco — Restaurant in Basildon

I have known about the existence of this place for years, but it had never crossed my mind to visit it. That changed the day my friend suggested we meet there with our families—his wife and mine—since he knows the owner of the café. Of course, I couldn’t say no to free treats, so we agreed to meet at this café for the first time, after knowing about it for so long.

The café is located within the town centre, making it convenient to access. It also offers an open-aired seating area for smokers, which adds an extra option for those who prefer to sit outdoors.

Things started off really well. The place looked interesting, and I was hungry for breakfast, so I was eager to give it a try. However, the first thing that caught my attention was the seating area—it was quite tight, especially for someone chunky like me. It’s obvious that having a meal comfortably requires not just a decent seat, but also enough space for free movement. Unfortunately, this was disappointing. The issue wasn’t just the limited space between the seat and the table, but also how cramped it was sitting side by side with others. It made the experience a bit uncomfortable. Nevertheless, we managed to settle in and made the best of it.

Once we got seated, we asked for the menu. I must say, the menu had plenty of options, which was a pleasant surprise. After taking our time to browse, we decided to go with a Mediterranean/Turkish breakfast, a cheese omelette, and a cup of tea for each of us. These have now become my go-to orders whenever I visit a café—as long as they’re available.

One of the first things I noticed was the cleanliness, which was satisfactory and met my expectations. It’s always reassuring when a place feels clean and well-maintained. When our food arrived, I was impressed by the portion sizes—they were quite generous, which is something I always appreciate. The Mediterranean breakfast spread had a variety of items that were fresh and well-prepared, while the cheese omelette was fluffy and flavorful.

As for the tea, it was served in mugs rather than a teapot. While the mugs weren’t necessarily bad, I would have much preferred if they served the tea in a pot. There’s just something about tea served in a pot that makes the experience more enjoyable, especially since you get the added benefit of a little extra hot water for refills. I think it’s a small touch that places like this could implement to make their service more desirable.

Overall, the experience had its ups and downs. The café offers an interesting atmosphere, and the food was satisfying in terms of quality and portion size. However, the tight seating arrangement and the lack of a teapot for tea are things I believe could be improved. At the end of the day, it’s about creating a comfortable and enjoyable environment for customers, and a few adjustments could go a long way in elevating the experience. I’m glad we finally visited this place, and while it’s not perfect, it’s a spot worth checking out for a hearty breakfast—as long as you don’t mind squeezing...

Great place, super efficient staff and service, at very reasonable prices for portion sizes. Good selection of breakfast dishes and combos, well done. Tasty! I will recommend the place. Trouble is, though, that the entrance door was open and the smoke from (selfish!!!) smokers on the terrace rushed in which somewhat spoiled...

Discovered this hidden gem in Basildon town centre, who would have thought that. I have been here for breakfast with my lady partner several times now on a Sunday morning and I have had quality food. Cinco breakfast, eggs Benedict, you name it it's cooked fresh and good quality and nice...