The Farm Cafe — Restaurant in England

Great Food, Friendly Staff, SLOOOOOOOOWWWW!!! Service. The title of my review aims to provide as positive a review as I can for the overall food and staff, after all it is the food and people working that are the most important and they were both very good. However , I feel the café may be a victim of it's own success. Prior to visiting we received great feedback & recommendations about the cafe's food with a caveat about the length of wait time. Well, unfortunately our expectations were set perfectly. We were sat immediately (outside) and ordered a breakfast sandwich and a full English w two coffees. The coffees were delivered approximately 25 minutes later, the food was delivered 48 minutes following the coffee. Just shy of a whole 1 hour and 15 minutes for eggs and sausage. I joked that they must be cooking over a single Bunson burner. During that time we moved tables in order to sit nearer the heater to stay warm. Our coffee was finished prior to our plates arriving. We did not dare order another cup of coffee for fear it woud not arrive by the time we had finished our meal. Given the feedback we received prior to our visit and our personal experience It is very apparent our observations were not a one off and the kitchen is not designed to manage the demand of custom. Perhaps a review of the flow of diners in vs food served needs attention by the owner / management. Again the food was fresh and the staff were excellent, especially in fielding the questions about wait times from multiple parties. I think we will give it a miss until we hear the service regarding serving...

As you see a sign once you're inside that Saturdays are busy, beware for the long wait! Is the wait worth it?.......no. A young lady, managed to get a table inside, many outside too. We chose, we ordered, we wait. Whilst drinking our tea & coffee (which I had to go and ask for) eventually (20 mins)the table next to us became empty and the same young lady , gave them menus and then said "45. Minutes wait?" We had already been waiting 30 mins, with nothing but hunger pangs, after another wait of 20-25 mins, I had enough and was about to cancel and get a refund. Amazingly, as soon as I got up and spoke to the girl about our order , she told me she would check, then it came straight out!!? It wasn't. Exactly a dish that deserved such a long wait or needed it? So many people in the kitchen and outside , how the hell could it take so long? For the price you pay, you expect better, not a sign up on the rafters, half covered by something indescribable, telling you that there might be a wait as Saturday is their busiest day! Wasn't even updated by the waitress, just sat the like numpties. I only give 1 star because the berry tea was nice, everything else is mutton dressed as lamb, a bit of toast and some fried eggs, with hash brown and poached eggs in sauce on toast, takes an hour???? Manager and cook needs to go and get someone who can do a fry up in less time🤷🏻‍♂️ Won't go back, i ain't waiting so long and paying so much for an amateur fry up! You should avoid taking anyone too old there, because they will probably die, due to starvation...

This is the 2nd time I visited the Farm Cafe. The first time was over 12 months ago when I visited for breakfast. This time, it was a quick coffee stop plus a sausage bap on my way home.

Location: Easy to find, next to a garden centre. Lots of parking and the cafe is hidden in the far corner from entrance.

Staff: Staff were all very nice, professional and friendly. Always happy to see a smile face. Social distancing is well observed and only one person inside the cafe at one time.

Sausage Bap: This was good. The sausage didn't feel greasy at all and the bap was fresh (even I visited towards the end of the day). I will come again for the bap.

Coffee: Well... that's why I rated the Farm Cafe with three stars only. I order a flat white and it was way below my expectation. The flat white tasted "weak", almost like "watered down coffee" and it could do with a larger or extra shot of coffee. It is quite pricey too but if I order again, I will pay extra for an extra shot of coffee into my flat white. (I think H'Artisan flat white, may be its beans, tastes much better).

Sorry for the honest and direct feedback. Look forward to...