Coco & Nut Coffee - Sanderstead — Restaurant in London

Coco's is my local coffee shop so it feels a shame to give this review. But over the last year or so, the prices have just become ridiculous. £7 for a bacon sandwich. £7 for a egg mayo toastie and the yet charging the same price for chicken, bacon and avocado where one is worth more than the other. Coffee is £4.20 (not even large). People can respond to this review with a list of the bills, inflation, food quality etc that their prices cover but we all know that £7 for a bacon sandwich or egg mayo toastie is overpriced and that the profit margin must be substantial. It's not just about affordability, I can afford the meal but it's more the feeling that the prices put us off from going there as we do just feel ripped off. Even more so when the owner is walking around in head to toe Givency clothes. I expect a high percentage of customers who go here feel the same way as its common to refer to this place as 'it's nice but overpriced'. I'm not expecting it to be a cheap coffee house, I'm saying customers can tell when prices are too high even when taking on board the cost of living crisis.

Re the food. Our experience is very hit and miss. They do nice breakfasts but again overpriced, so we go elsewhere for our weekend breakfast treat now and even though we pay a bit less elsewhere it's not compromising on quality. Their food options are a bit strange, they do egg mayo toasties with cheese?? Coronation chicken toastie with cheese? Why cheese in these kind of sandwiches? Oreo lemon cheesecake? They are mixing some odd ingredients which don't need experimenting with and to be honest just gives the impression of inexperience. I love cheese but just found it strange they added it to certain things (and yes I sent it back and requested no cheese). Unfortunately, I haven't liked the food or prices since it went into new management. The food taste wise is fine generally but don't feel like we get above what we can have somewhere else. Anyway, the most they get from me now is a coffee order but I miss going in there and enjoying a meal and not feeling ripped off. It's a lovely little space, but I think if there was a bit more competition there with a another coffee shop I don't think they would do as well, and I think their prices exploit and take advantage of that. I hope at some point they revise their lunch menu and prices and if they do, we would be happy to return but the impression I'm getting is that the owner will just keep raising the prices and making the portions smaller. I also used to love it when you would get a stamp for every drink or cake you'd buy and after 10 stamps you get the drink free. Now it's only a stamp for coffee which not everyone likes so again just a shame that was changed. Really sorry. I'd love to write a good review but I have used this coffee shop for over 5 years and it's just changed and it feels like its all about the money there now. Just not the happy customer I used to be but as I said I'll grab a latte from time to time.

I expect my review will get a reply along the lines of 'thanks for the feedback but we don't need your business so enjoy somewhere cheaper etc etc...' . Which is fine, but that actually just supports the point I am making about the place anyway. I'm all up for supporting local businesses, but I'll also support locals who feel pushed away from their local business...

Sadly, being the only cafe in the area, this place seems to get a lot of a business, and as a result they don't seem to care about quality, customer service or the atmosphere. The staff (most of whom are lovely) appear to be micromanaged by who I can only assume is the owner. It used to be very lively, the staff were happy and relaxed. Now there's an uncomfortable vibe that I can't put my finger on. Coffee was bitter and too hot - perhaps they should pump some money into barista training for their staff, and check the machine is in proper working order. it would pay dividends I'm sure. Would hate to see this place disappear, but how they can continue like this is a mystery. Every time I go in, I leave disappointed! Also the below 5* reviews all appear to be fake!? I do hope the management are not trying to hide honest customer feedback with such cheap tricks!! They'd do well to invest their time in addressing genuine issues with their business.

EDIT: in response to your reply... micromanaging is not the same as providing good quality skills training to your employees :) I felt compelled to write this review after reading a few others and seeing my own experience reflected there :) I have not made accusations, merely echoed what other customers have also expressed :) It's curious how some of the 5* reviews to which I was referring have now disappeared... I didn't make an accusation, merely observed how a bunch of 5* reviews with illegible names all seemed to appear at the same time. I'll decline your offer to come in and chat, kind though it was! As a small business owner myself, I understand the temptation to jump to defensiveness rather than try to fix the problems at hand, but it's hard to grow a loyal customer...

This used to be fabulous- our go- to coffee shop- and local - hurrah! What has happened?? Is there new management? We have been back several times since this little gem went down- just in case .. but sadly won’t be visiting again. The last twice we had coffee and cake in and took away sandwiches, which were truly dreadful. The sourdough was stale and dry- and it had been spread with margarine which had collected in greasy pockets in the holes 🤢 The cheese and ham had one thin slice of cheese which had been cut in half, leaving about a third with no filling. The ham was disgustingly- plastic and very unappealing. No salad. The egg mayonnaise again had a surplus of the dreaded margarine, and the same dry stale bread. We threw them away, as even my dog would’ve turned his nose up at these horrors. The atmosphere has also changed - it has a very odd vibe with who I can only assume to be the manager overseeing everything the staff do- without actually doing anything himself. It is no longer a welcoming little hub. This older man casts an oppressive gloom, unsmiling, and watching everything with an eagle eye. Shame he doesn’t turn his attention to the food, which was appalling. What a...