Borders cafe (ex Gullotti Café) ( Loughton ) — Restaurant in Epping Forest

Just in, 7am, never been in so early, 5 mins walk. Eco egg in washing machine opened! Aborted wash & spent ages picking eco 'balls' out of dirty water! Wet clothes soaked all kitchen floor, news papers did a good job! So breakfast treat wiv workmen & an 'unknown grim faced new to me' waiter..

3 staff in, knew one of them. A lady chopping.. Waited 10 mins for a flat white, he served men who came after me!! Many Turkish living here, almost hav monopoly with barbers nisa cafe etc... As long as good folk, no problem, but can they fight the council if need to??

So now waited 10 mins for a coffee & men who came after me have been served. Then he brought breakfast, still no coffee.

At last, but no apology.. Asked for an espresso to add to my cold coffee. The 'man' served another man who asked after me! So I had to ask again, I never saw the man smile.

Misogyny or not!? He's been here 6/12 apparently. It will be 6/12 b4 I come again maybe. Ah no I was bringing 10 frends in later! Was... The 'man' says, he's busy! So much he puts women to the back. Disgusting.. 000 stars today. ERIC!? OWNER! Or maybe not now! Let's see wat the bill is!?

'He' waiter, came to me & I asked if he told men, 'oh I'm busy' (meaning wait! & I'll serve men who came after me) No other women in, about 14 workmen.

I have no complaints about the food & cleanliness, ambience, etc but the 'man' spoiled the 2nd start of the day...by sloppy serving. Saved by the Turkish lady chopping & washing up. She wasn't having any of his insecure ways... He has much to learn, as we all do.. Good value for money! He found his smile & I left on good terms & added 2 stars onto sevice!!

Trying to write a 2nd separate Review, but cannot.

Sat 20 June 2024 11am Much improved today! Faaassst Service, many compliments to give us a boost! Almost 5* I went in yesterday 24.6.24, Iv never given 5* But here we go! I do hope he reads this. Hmm my loyalty cards are...

Nice to have this little place on our doorstep. Popped in for breakfast and happy to see they've got lots of local custom. The portions were generous, food cooked well. They have oat and soya milk for my other non dairy friends 😝 and the coffee was good! ...Still loving this place; highly recommend however, just got a takeaway full English and I’m missing an egg which is arguably one of the best bits as well as been given the...

Great Full English, bacon cooked till the fat went crispy (hugely important!). Fried eggs runny, sausages were decent, not the cheap, thin ones you sometimes get. Plenty of chips, beans and mushrooms and two thick slices of white toast, again not the sort you get in a loaf of cheap sliced (although to be fair I'd not have cared that much if it were!). 5 of us all left well filled and happy so will be...