The Beach Hut Cafe — Restaurant in Eastleigh

A triumph of style over substance. Don’t get me wrong this is potentially a good little eaterie in a great location overlooking the harbour at Hamble with reasonably priced pay & display parking close by. The problem is it doesn’t really know what it wants to be! The name and most of the offering suggests it’s a café yet with red wine on the menu at £29+ per bottle (there are cheaper ones!) and Veuve Clicquot champagne at £55 per bottle you be forgiven for wondering if it’s a restaurant. A light and airy interior with decking and tables also outside and on the roof. Staffed manly by several young people, friendly enough but as usual they try hard but are poorly trained in customer service. Food ordering is at the counter (you have to conclude this yourself) and pay in advance for your order. Menu has a vast array (way too much!) choice and is supplemented by a ‘specials’ board. We chose Home-made ‘deluxe’ fish pie & Salmon & watercress quiche. Home-made ‘deluxe’ fish pie: Presentation (see image) could have been better. The addition of a few chips or small salad garnish would have lifted the expectation somewhat. The fish seemed to be salmon, and possibly cod in a pretty bland cheese mash devoid of any discernible seasoning or flavour. No prawns. Difficult to see where the ‘deluxe’ element was? No perceptible sauce, just a watery base with the occasional scalding hot spot suggesting a pre-frozen offering. Quiche: By contrast to the fish pie the presentation was almost overload (see image) but visually it was so much better. That’s as far as it went however as the quiche whilst it had nice pastry was also pretty bland containing egg that seemed to have the consistency of being scrambled. The filling was dry and no apparent cheese. Conclusion: Undoubtedly this little gem will do well due to its location but it shouldn’t stop the owners from improving as it wouldn’t take much to make this a 5-star experience. However the owners need to decide if it’s a café or a restaurant? Chop the menu down significantly, so much choice is bewildering and unnecessary and don’t try to train the staff during peak times! (I was waiting (ignored) for several minutes to order lunch whilst the very pleasant staff member (it was her first day) was being taught how to use the coffee machine! Ordering at the counter is ok but it would be helpful if things were explained e.g. where the cutlery is? You can then watch while everyone seems to be doing something but achieves very little. Finally it costs nothing to say a cheery bye, bye, to every customer as they leave – our goodbyes weren’t acknowledged at all. Incidentally the owner was occupying one of the tables but was engrossed on the telephone for most of the time without seemingly being aware. If it was me I’d have been engaging with customers ensuring everything was as...

What a lovely gem of a place, right alongside the river next to the jetty area. Stopped here twice now while in the area and couldn’t fault the food or service, we ordered online and the drinks came quite quickly followed by the food which was really nicely cooked and presented. Luckily both times we stopped here the weather was nice sunshine so sat in the upper section which have good views out to the river. Relaxed atmosphere and didn’t feel rushed at all., seating on the roof section is wooden benches (picnic table type) and the ones on the ground floor restaurant area are mainly tube framed tube type tables and chairs which go well in the area and feels like a marine type place. Prices for the lighter breakfast is not overly priced at £8- considering the quality and service The full English I saw certainly would help fill the hungry bears in your family. .

There was a very good selection of Vegan options so sure to be able to fill most appetites.

Called again while in the area and had the breakfast as it looked good, not disappointed at all. Nothing like a nice eve and bacon on toast made from a...

Came today 11th August ordered our food was told there was a 35 minute wait which was fine sat waiting people who came in after us had there food before we did,after waiting nearly an hour my food came out and my other half still wait an 5 minutes for his he only had pate on toast so why didn't it come out together I was recommended this place by a friend was very dissapointed,then to finish it of when we had left my other half noticed I had all chocolate on my trousers do you not tell your staff to clean tables and check chairs as you have a lot of children coming in .You had a lot of staff working but all seemed to be stood around not doing a lot we should of been informed about the time we waited it is not exceptable to wait for an hour would not be recomending this place to anyone and probably won't...