Caffè Nero — Restaurant in London

Caffè Nero – Highgate Review

Atmosphere & Service (N/A – Takeaway Only) This was a takeaway order with my own cup, and while Nero is usually my go-to for high street coffee, this particular visit fell short.

Coffee Quality (2/5) • Foam was poor, with big bubbles, a clear sign of improper milk steaming. A well-made flat white should have smooth, velvety microfoam, not airy froth. • Taste was ashy and almost smoky, likely due to over-roasted or burnt espresso, resulting in a harsh, unbalanced bitterness rather than a well-rounded coffee.

Value for Money (2/5) Luckily, I had a voucher for a free coffee, saving me £4—otherwise, this would have felt like a waste of money. Even at a high street chain, a flat white should meet basic quality standards. This felt rushed, lacking the care that separates a decent chain coffee from a subpar one.

Room for Improvement As a location serving a small community, this Nero could benefit from behaving more like a local, high-quality destination rather than just another generic chain outpost. With Highgate’s local charm, there’s potential for it to focus on consistency and attention to detail, rather than just meeting minimum expectations.

Overall Rating: 2/5 A disappointing experience at a chain I usually trust. This flat white missed the mark on texture, flavour, and execution. Hopefully,...

The venue itself is very nice, but I don't like the atmosphere. I wasn't welcomed warmly like I saw other customers being welcomed, there was a older Italian man whom I assumed was the franchise owner. While I was standing at the till awaiting for my order he completely refused to look at me even though I was standing right in front of him. By yet every other customer that came in after me he went out of his way to be welcoming. Personally coming from behind the till to greet them. You can make your own mind up as to what that was all about, but I have only been to this store twice before for a takeaway and, this is the first time I met this guy. Even though this nero is my local, I will never set foot back in here, he doesn't deserve my money. I would take my regular custom to another shop.

The food was still cold even after the heated it up and my fruit...

Poor service - two members of staff serving, no other customers being served yet neither member of staff had a clue what was being ordered / what had been done to date.

Also, Offered almond milk when we had not asked for a dairy alternative drink. Then we believe we were served soya milk! Offered whipped cream for both drinks and then the cream ran out so only one drink got it.

Drinks were not great and mine tasted grainy at the end. I...