Mayfield Farm Bakery — Restaurant in Epping Forest

I’ve recently moved to Gilden Park and discovered a lovely (probably family run) cafe and bakery. Love to support a local business instead of just going to Costa!

I ordered a bacon sandwich, 2 bits of bacon and 2 small sausages for the dog, and two coffees which in total cost just under £16.

The bacon sandwich had two slices of bacon in, a single slice per half sandwich - I wouldn’t mind but if I’m paying a fiver I expect better tbh. The real crime was the coffee - it was rank. No other way to describe it . When my partner agreed it tasted like tangy p!sswater we wondered if the coffee grind was off as that can make it taste bitter but “that’s the taste” was the response we got.

I’m honestly shocked at the volume of positive reviews - I’m sure the bakery is good - the food looked great but don’t waste your money at the cafe - I don’t know if these are run separately.

I’ve just got back from Costa and got two coffees and a Brie and Bacon panini for a tenner, the difference is that probably I’ll enjoy it.

For the owner - when was the last time you actually ordered a breakfast-type meal and a coffee from your own establishment? This is what you’re serving your customers, and you should get in touch with what you’re actually serving people and the prices you charge. You are less than a two minute walk from my house, I so “wanted” to enjoy my visit, but what’s the point if you get served really dissapointing food and just feel resentful for the amount you were charged?

Costa is a much better proposition on all fronts.

EDIT: as I’m unable to reply directly to the response from the owner;

The coffee - rethink the artisan supplier. If you’re catering to the select few by all means continue with current supplier, if you want to win new business through the 2000+ families moving into the area that are within walking distance it needs to be appealing. So you know, we actually ordered two double shot coffees, not single shot. The person that served us was not flippant or rude but they did not offer to remake, we actually wanted them to be remade thinking that it wasn’t right. As a side note (as someone that manages large teams) if that is what you’ve been told it smacks of arse covering as it’s impossible to verify after the fact.

I do appreciate the response, sincerely, and I appreciate your offer to make amends. Unfortunately, when I go somewhere new it just needs to be right the first time, I don’t want to go somewhere, have to complain, then get some discount or voucher next time after having spoken to the owner/manager etc, it’s just a rigmarole, my attitude is akin to one of “I shouldn’t have to make effort to enjoy an establishment, I tried, that was what they offered, won’t go there again” - I just want to order a couple of coffees, enjoy it, and go.

Thank you for the response all the...

A delicious and varied afternoon tea for two was served by attentive and friendly staff, who were able to answer our questions and provided all that we wanted. Not knowing how much there would be to eat, we were pleased and happy to be able to take away the cakes we were too full up to eat there!

We are not afternoon tea experts, so weren't quite sure what to expect, to be honest. I was a little disappointed at not feeling that I was not eating in a cosier environment, but maybe that is just me. The seating area is all hard furniture which make sound carry and echo slightly. Although, only half the tables were taken, I could hear all the other conversationss over our own and a couple of times voices on the next table actually set off the voice recognition software on my phone.

Our tea was a birthday gift and I would visit again, but definitely visit a less busy time and ask for a corner table, which would hopefully be quieter.

If you travelling from Harlow towards the M11, you cannot turn right to Mayfield Farm. Instead, you must go past to the next roundabout and turn back on yourself to get there.

If you do though, there is a fine selection of tasty cakes to choose from, which are well worth...

A little disappointed tbh. What was a lively, lovely little cafe area with a buzzy show of the Bakery's cakes & products is now almost like a spare room..no ambience at all. We had to order our food where people pay for bread etc & when are food was delivered to us it was warm(ish) placed on top.of a napkin? And we were told to get our own cutlery. No indication of help other than placing the food in front of us... Then the clattering around of getting prepped for what is obviously the more profitable ..Afternoon Tea..even then no plastic gloves were worn & it just seems to have lost it's heart in this side. Even the ladie's clothes were raggedy looking and like she'd been in the mill herself! The toilets were not clean. I would suggest paper towels were there to use insted of a lone towel. The soap was worn down & the sink didn't look clean..in fact neglected. And yet you walk into an amazing array of breads and cakes. First time back for a little while with some friends who had never been there before..would I come back other then to buy bread..I think not..it's a great shame because the cafe always had a...