Halcyon Days Cafe — Restaurant in Horsham

We stopped off as this place was advertised as dog friendly, for a place that proudly advertises this outside and in, seemed like they didn’t know they were. When we went in and we were greeted by souless staff who look like theyre there against their own will. Who I presume is the souless manager was sitting in a booth working but it just felt like we couldn’t move or breathe as his presence was unkind and intimidating, not welcoming or private how a resturant should be. He was rude not just to us but other customers, making exclamatory sentences to other customers as well, asking ‘did you enter using the side?’ and then never followed it up to the customers; confused and concerned to say the least. We all ordered brunch and coffees, needless to say nothing was satisfactory. The coffee was bitter and boring and the ‘flat white’ was just a white americano. The food was served stone cold with no butter, dry and the scrambled egg was tasteless and rubbery. When we conversed with the other customers, the manager come over as he was in a booth near us (again no comfort as we felt like we were being watched) and attempted to address the unhappy customers concerns which she happily vocalised to his face. He had no sympathy or recoil back to her concerns, admitting defeat and sighing in her face, no apology to be found. We also addressed the staff saying everything was unsatisfactory after we paid making our way out, and the manager again appears out of nowhere and says hes sorry, and he’ll take the feedback on board, no refund offer to solve the complaints Non-existent customer service and horrible energy from everyone...

Weird experience - but very keen to be constructive.

First time visiting and found customer service to be lacking in skill and suspect it hasn’t been been taught by owners. Service staff were very friendly though and hats off to them.

As we approached the cafe it’s quite ambiguous to what they have available and the set up as such, the front of the cafe is closed off and makes it feel more of a greasy spoon over somewhere that sells salmon and eggs..

Once in the cafe no one was at the front and felt as if we walked into a closed cafe when both members of staff quickly came back round the corner to reassure us that they’re open. We were sat quickly and attended to appropriately. Coffee was lacking in any taste or substance and in an age where storrington has Roasted coffee based in Henfield or red roaster in Brighton or Kendrick’s in Worthing, the coffee really could and should have been better.

Food was pricey for what it was, basic ingredients and corner cutting on the quality of bread and muffins could be seen and tasted.

Recommendations though maybe unattainable:

move the front of the shop away from the door and open up to customers what is on offer in terms of seating areas. -serve better coffee and except it will cost a little more. -get rid of the projector in the back, it’s tacky and looks awful. better ingredients, sour dough over basic toastie bread would go a long way. Serving lemon with salmon could also be a quick win.

Anyway, okay experience but in all honestly we would go to vintage rose if open...

Shocking service, lady whom I presume is either manager or owner clearly can’t handle taking an order from 4 people claiming it’s a big order and rudely read back to us fussing. Has no people skills whatsoever, everything came out in dribs and drabs not as a whole like it should be if people are eating together. Even forgot to bring something out and then made a comment like oh I didn’t forget. I asked for something specific not to be on my plate as I cannot eat it and she wrote it down but then served it up in front of me on my plate. I told her and there was no apology, I said to my partner she will probably just pick it off the top and give it back and well that’s exactly what she did, as she forgot to remove some! Couldn’t eat the food that it had rested on. So be warned anyone with an allergy! They clearly don’t take that into consideration. Personally I would suggest going somewhere else and don’t waste your time sadly. Could be a great spot if it was run better with people that actually have people skill and know how to...