GAIL's Bakery High Street Kensington — Restaurant in London

Breakfast was a disaster. Ordered scrambled eggs with avocado, spinach and cheese on a bun and a espresso which I then quickly changed to a cappuccino. My girlfriend ordered something else which arrived in a couple of mins (including the drink). I waited for long and suddenly a guy came with scrambled eggs on toast. I said that I was expecting avocado, he firstly said that I can order it on a side and then when I told him what my order contained, then he said “oh yes, you have the other dish” and he reassured he would have come back with the cappuccino. No apology. The new plate arrived, cold, eggs were not hot at all and cappuccino still missing. He reassured again and he left. no apology. I finished my breakfast and no sign of the cappuccino... we went back asking for the drink, as I wanted an espresso at that point (end of the meal), I asked to change it for a single espresso. Guy didn’t apologise. The lady served the espresso in a plastic cup even if my order was a “have in”, I asked her to make it again, she made it and she served it straight from the coffee machine asking if I needed a coffee plate too. I don’t bother the coffee plate but it was like having a coffee on a rush which is not what you want on Sunday morning. The guy justified the situation because “it is busy” ... it was 9am on Sunday...

Not one to write a bad review (and I’ve been a Gail’s regular for 4 years) but this was my first time at this branch having moved to the area and the staff actually really just p*ssed me off.

Ordered a breakfast tea, for which I wasn’t given a spoon so I went back to the counter to ask for one and he (long ish brown hair, quite tall) gave me a table spoon and huffed when I said actually i need a teaspoon for tea please. No apology obvs.

Then when I sat down I realised they’d given me earl grey tea instead of breakfast tea. I politely told them and they tried to tell me that a breakfast tea is actually earl grey but they would swap it for me as a favour essentially.

Sat back down and realised they’d given me earl grey AGAIN. I went back up to the counter and said I promise I’m not being difficult but that’s not breakfast tea. They literally laughed at me and basically gaslit me saying it’s breakfast tea and they couldn’t do anything else for me. I asked them to compare the smell of the tea leaves with an English breakfast tea bag, to which they laughed together and said some numpty has mixed up the tea leaves. Still no apology, just rudeness and finally got a mug with a tea bag in but no pot. I actually never want to return to this branch. Given me a good reason to use independent coffee...

First of all i think Gails is a great bakery, fantastic bread. If you are lucky and in time you can maybe get the potato and rosemary loaf. The danish spelt sourdough with raisins is also hearty and delicious. I think you cannot go wrong with any of the bread.

Bakery products are equally delicious, especially the flourless chocolate cake, and the cheese cake which is one of the best cheese cakes in London.

If you eat in and order a quiche it will be served with a little side salad, and if you decide on eating a Salad it will be served in a plate. The breakfast is also great but you have to be on time to be able to have a full array of options.

The bathrooms are always clean at this branch but I wish I could say that about the glasses. Several times used glasses with lipstick stains are put on the table, and just over all the glasses are not cleaned properly. That, along with certain rude staff members is the reason for the 4 star rating. A rather tall, strongly built blonde lady in overalls always has a chip on her shoulder, and treats you like she is doing you a huge favour; but not all the staff is like this, the others are very friendly and easy going, so it depends on your luck.

Don’t let rude, mean bullies stop you from trying the...