Miracles cafe — Restaurant in Basildon

I enjoy visiting different cafés and restaurants, not just for the food but to observe the service, the atmosphere, and what each place has to offer. That said, I usually stick to familiar tastes and halal food, partly because I’m cautious with what I eat and partly because I simply don’t enjoy trying foods that might turn out unpleasant. While I like exploring new environments, I still prefer food I know I can trust and enjoy.

There’s a café I often walk past whenever I go shopping in the area. It sits right along the path between the shops and the car park where I usually leave my vehicle. I’ve seen it so many times that eventually I thought, “Why not give it a go?” It felt like the right moment to finally try it out.

The café has an open-air section outside, which is a nice option for smokers, though it doesn’t apply to me personally as a non-smoker. Still, I can see it being appreciated by some. Inside, the space is fairly large, but the way they’ve laid out the seating makes the place feel a bit cramped. They’ve tried to fit in more tables to increase capacity, which means you’re often sitting quite close to other customers. It’s not packed to the point of discomfort, but it does mean you lose a sense of privacy. You can easily overhear conversations from the tables beside or behind you, and I imagine others could hear ours too.

The noise level was made worse by the loud TV, which was playing music at a volume that didn’t suit the environment. The choice of music wasn’t relaxing or tasteful either—it clashed with what I’d expect from a café that wants people to enjoy a calm, pleasant meal. I believe music in such places should be subtle, almost in the background, helping to set a nice tone rather than overpowering the space.

But of course, the most important part is the food. Their menu was similar to what you'd see in most cafés—nothing stood out or felt particularly unique or rich. We ordered a Mediterranean breakfast and two omelettes. As someone who’s had similar meals at various places, I can honestly say these omelettes were disappointing. The taste just wasn’t there, and the cooking wasn’t quite right either. They didn’t seem seasoned properly, and they lacked the satisfying flavour that would make you want to finish every bite.

If I need to mention the tea which was served in a mug with less water that I would rather it is topped up fully, I always prefer to have my tea in a pot but it was out of option, The Mediterranean breakfast was slightly better. It had a decent variety of items, though there was something missing. It didn’t feel complete or thoughtfully balanced. For example, it came with just one fried egg, which seemed a bit stingy for a dish that’s meant to be generous and filling. In contrast, most other places include two eggs by default. However, one detail I did appreciate was the use of seedless olives. That’s a thoughtful touch—makes it easier to enjoy without fiddling with stones—and it’s something more places should consider.

Before ordering, we asked whether the food was halal, and we were told that it was. Still, I had my doubts. When a place serves pork products, it’s hard not to question whether separate preparation areas or utensils are used for halal items. I know not everyone worries about this, but for those of us who do, it’s hard to ignore. I can’t say they weren’t honest—but I also can’t be fully confident in the standards behind the scenes.

All in all, the visit was neither terrible nor particularly good. It wasn’t the kind of experience that makes you want to come back soon, but it also wasn’t so bad that I’d warn others away completely. There’s definitely potential in this place, but also quite a lot of room for improvement—especially in the cooking, menu design, and overall atmosphere. Small changes like improving music choice, adjusting table spacing, and enhancing the flavour and presentation of dishes could make a big difference. If they took some feedback seriously, it could become a much better spot...

Thought we’d try this for the first time last week and it’s definitely the last time I’ll be going. There’s an older Eastern European waitress with black hair who stood and argued with me at the table when I said my drinks order was wrong. We’d ordered a chocolate and a strawberry shake and the same main meal so a fairly easy order to take down. She brought over 2 strawberry milkshakes and I said “I’m sorry, I didn’t order a strawberry milkshake, I ordered chocolate”. She literally stood there and said “no you didn’t” over and over again. I argued the toss and was going to leave but my friend persuaded me to stay. This woman is rude and argumentative and it really didn’t warrant an argument? Just change the shake to the one I ordered..? Food was quite nice, quick service. Barely any room in there for highchairs/pushchairs. The milkshakes were expensive and definitely not worth the price. Semi skimmed Crusha milkshakes and they want over £3!!! Won’t...

Needed a coffee and some food to warm up as it was wet and windy !!! Great cafe !! Friendly efficient service!! Busy atmosphere with all the tables buzzing and the ladies doing a great job looking after everyone... great bacon sandwich 🥪 😋... and great coffee @! I did ask b4 I ordered and was promised I would enjoy which I did outside are tables so if weather better you could watch the world go by Near side entrance to...