GAIL's Bakery Wanstead — Restaurant in London

I visited Gail's Bakery for the first time, by chance,in October 2018. It was a Saturday morning and my wife suggested a freshly baked breakfast from Wanstead. Next thing you know I am parking across the street from the bakery as parking is free during weekends. That is if you manage to find parkings but because it was early morning, around 9 , parking places were in abundancy. The moment I entered the bakery I was enchanted. The atmosphere was a mix of grandma's cooking and best coffee shop on earth, where people queue just for the smell of food and coffee let alone treating their taste buds to a world of flavours and yummy ingredients turned into a culinary-surreal-experience. By the window you could find numerous types of bread that actually made the time stand still in order to allow me the pleasure of dream tasting every single one of them. Nevertheless, as time never stops so does the necessity of joining the queue which by now was already turning from the till to the door and back into the shop like a serpent in need of devouring the items made of magic like flour. Yes, I know... I am.jabbering on about the place like a a mad men out of Hunger Games but don't believe me as my imagination has been bruised by the reality called Gail's Bakery. Now, safely pack the car with friends and drive to Gails. You won't see me there but don't I wish my spirit moved into the premises and allow itself to be forever spoiled with homemade spinach quiche or seeded bread and brownies washed down by the best coffee...

I am sorry to say that I found this place extremely disappointing and underwhelming. My first visit to Gail's in Wanstead started well with a warm welcome from a lovely server with blue hair, who was really friendly (and the only reason I have given any stars). I ordered a latte and an almond croissant from said lady and sat down. After a few minutes wait, I was given a flat white and a completely soggy almond croissant. I didn't really care about being given the wrong coffee; I like flat whites just as well, and the coffee was nice enough. But I cannot forgive the almond croissant, which was just simply horrid. It came with a completely soggy (I'd go as far as to say sodden) base and the whole thing was damp and soggy. After one bite, I politely asked for another one and was given another which was exactly the same as the first, with the explanation that it was like that because the filling is wet. I'm sorry, but I've had many (probably too many!) almond croissants in my time and none have ever been soggy. It was, without doubt, the worst almond croissant I've ever had (and probably one of the most expensive), but I couldn't be bothered to complain again as I find it is just too embarrassing and stressful to make a fuss in those situations. It's such a shame as I was really pleased to see a Gail's open in Wanstead, but I would genuinely take your money elsewhere, there are so many better locally run options like Nice Croissant, Bare Brew and...

Am new to the area. Have given this place 3 chances. My sister had one good experience here where she sat upstairs to study with a cup of tea. I've since visited 3 times , and once with another sibling sister and her children. On all three occasions, my coffee has been cold, the tables have not been wiped down. Staff are quite moody, need to smile more, one man in particular, the owner I think, has been quite off on all visits. Limited choice of food, very overpriced for what it's worth. Delay in food and coffee arriving. Seating area downstairs is a bit random. On asking to go upstairs...they always close the upstairs section despite the cafe closing at 7pm, it says 8pm one the website. Have been there around 3pm-5pm and always get the impression that they are closing, feel rushed. Asked for my late cold cup of coffee to be filled instead of being half full for how much I paid, the waitress didn't seem fussed, roughly put down the second cup of coffee which split and then mumbled something and went to serve another customer after I had asked for more hot water for my coffee. It wasn't busy in there at the time. And it was so noises with the staff putting away the dishes, constant loud banging of plates. Was not a pleasant afternoon there. Will NOT be coming here again. Try bear brew down the road, nicer coffee and food, with excellent service, friendly and an overall...