Spring Tides — Restaurant in Eastleigh

Sadly didn’t get to eat so cannot comment on that. Arrived for breakfast today (Saturday) and was seated inside. Ridiculously wobbly table which is a particular grind of mine but that’s not the real issue.

After 10 minutes 2 parties came in behind us and were seated, 5 mins later another 2 parties came in and again were seated inside and outside, all 4 of them then had orders taken by the server, but she still hadn’t taken ours. I was making it as obvious as I could that I still had the menus but she walked by several times ignoring me.

My partner went to the counter to ask if we could order when another party came by, sat outside and their order was taken immediately. 5 tables had now been served before us and we had been there 20 mins.

The excuse was they understaffed, but that doesn’t excuse 5 tables being served before us that came in after us.

The final decision to leave without ordering came when I overheard the table next to me complaining they had waited nearly half an hour for their food after waiting 10 mins to order.

Appreciate being busy and understaffed but it seemed to me to be disorganised.

Can’t complain about the attitude of the staff who were apologetic but what happened needs to be fed back. We had other engagements and had to continue to those without eating properly because of this.

It’s a shame and hopefully just a one off mess up for them on this occasion but reading other reviews of a similar nature, it appears to be more...

Lovely atmosphere, good service and food is cooked to order so nice and fresh. Went with a small breakfast for lunch and it was a perfect size, locally sourced food. Lovely, and comfortably full. Would love to visit again and try other options as they all look very interesting

Update 17th March 2024

Visited Spring Tides cafe in Hedge End village for a spot of lunch. We were early to beat the lunch time crowd but even then we were lucky to get a table without waiting, the place was packed. Also we managed to order off the Bina's breakfast menu, looking around it all looked so good but settled for a plate of large Bina. 2 sausages, 2 streaky bacon, mushrooms, baked beans, 2 fried eggs, half a tomato and toasted wholemeal bread. Washed down with an cup of tea. Personally the bacon was a little over done for my liking, but everything else was cooked and tasted good.

Update 25th June 2024 Stopped for lunch to hide from the fierce sun and heat. Wasn't too busy and decided on the lunch menu today. One croque madame, beautifully fried runny egg topping the generous sandwich below, flavours all worked together, only let down was the vinegarette on the salad was a tad too sharp, it overpowered everything. My wife ordered the spicy chicken with grilled peppers, mushrooms, onions, feta...

Spring Tides Café is a hidden gem tucked away in Hedge End village. This small, lovely café offers a truly outstanding experience, from the fantastic staff to the incredible food.

I’m usually very particular about how my food is prepared, and in most cafés, I often end up sending dishes back until they’re done to my liking. However, my experience here was entirely different. Both my wife’s meal and mine were prepared perfectly on the first try, which was a pleasant surprise. The food was absolutely delicious, and the quality of the ingredients was clearly exceptional.

The staff were incredibly friendly, and what really stood out to me was the owner taking the time to personally check in with customers. This thoughtful touch made the experience feel even more special and added a genuine sense of care and hospitality.

We didn’t have to wait long for our orders, and the food quality was consistently top-notch. If you’re in Southampton, I highly recommend visiting Spring Tides Café for breakfast or lunch. It’s a place I’ll be returning to regularly!

Five stars...