Eden Café Clifton — Restaurant in Bristol

I love the food at Eden but we had such awful customer service today I would never go back. My friend and I had ordered food and were waiting for our friend to arrive. We were sat on a table for four with two small tables pushed together. A waitress came over and told us they were taking a table from us and we’d have to squash around one table. Bearing in mind two of us have babies and I was breastfeeding when she came over it was extremely rude. Also, they didn’t tell us this on arrival and let us sit down and order our food and drinks. What’s more, we didn’t push the tables together, they were already like that so if the table was booked, they should have pointed this out, not tell us as our food was literally arriving!! Logistically, we would not all have fitted comfortably around one table with food. It’s incredibly small in there at the best of times let alone with two babies in tow. Anyone with young kids will know how hard it is to travel lightly! Understandably, we were very annoyed we were being told they needed our table as our food was arriving! When we complained the waitress called over the manager who was extremely condescending and made us feel very unwelcome. She said there had been a mix up with the booking system but in reality she just wanted to give her mates a table (as we saw her hug the ‘customers’ who she’d given our table to). It’s a shame as we love the food in Eden and have met the owners before who are absolutely lovely. But this manager was really awful and has really put me off the place. As a former waitress, you just don’t behave like that. It felt massively sexist too (as a table of four men swanned in after us (a walk-in, not a booking) and they didn’t take the table from them!). It felt like, ‘let’s pick on the table of women who are breastfeeding, they’ll roll over and give up their table!’ Er no we won’t, so we got a...

Very Disappointing Service

I was excited to visit this cafe, as I'd heard good things about the food, but I have to say I was really disappointed. There were 4 of us, including a child (5yo). The main issue was customer service. The cafe is very small so there is limited number of guests to accommodate, but tending to the beeds of the diners appeared very difficult for the staff on shift and it felt like we were an inconvenience.

After ordering, the staff brought two drinks out initially, and didn't mention the other two were missing (we had to call them back) they then forgot the child's drink, and then didn't ask if we wanted sugar etc for the coffee. We managed to eventually spot sugar on a shelf, so helped ourselves, but no spoon! I then went to the desk and asked for a spoon, the server reluctantly looked around (but was very busy chatting with other staff to really pay attention) told me I could have a spoon and then proceeded to continue her conversation whilst I stood there. I waited a few mins, expecting a spoon to be provided, but they carried on ignoring me, continuing their conversation. It was only when another staff member noticed me,and infront of the other staff (still talking) asked me and then quite literally picked a spoon from beside her, and handed to me. I sat back down feeling very frustrated and dismissed.

Then the food came out. Again it was separate and no mention of when the rest of the food would be out etc. No serviettes or any offer of condiments. We again 'found' some salt etc on some shelves. The kids sandwich was poorly put together and she had to wait for her drink. The toilets were unclean and the floor was wet.

All in all, the experience was very disappointing. The cafe is so small it should have been a lovely dining experience, but the staff on this occasion were dismissive and rude, and we will not...

Tables: Incredibly tight fit. Impossible to sit opposite my wife. Most people seemed to be sat at right angles to each other. Tables are also very small. My wife and I had to keep rearranging our drink and our food dependant on what we were consuming at the time. Food: I've been plant based for 38 years and vegetarian for 45. For the money, the food was nothing spectacular. Well presented but small portions. Also a lack of detail to what was included. For example, I'm aware it's all Vegan but no list of ingredients for items such as the Strawberry Milkshake. Service: Shown to a table but weren't told we then had to come back to the counter to order the food. Consequently we were sat there for 10 minutes waiting to be served. I appreciate regulars may know this but not clear enough to those who are visiting for the 1st (and now last) time. Also, payment was expected before we received the food. Ok, not that much of a problem but then asked to pay a service charge. How are we meant to know if we want to pay a tip before we've received the service or the food? Ambience: background music was not intrusive. However, staff chatter was. I couldn't hold a conversation with my wife because the staff were talking constantly. As well as being extremely cramped, the door to the toilet is within easy reach of every table. Quite unpleasant. Overall, on a day when it's not busy and it's just you with no one else then I imagine popping on for a coffee might be ok. But I can not recommend going there on a busy day and trying to eat what is basically a small (and therefore...