Pistachios in the Park - Manor House Gardens — Restaurant in London

‘Service is everything and essential’. Unfortunately, on my first visit, this was not the case...

Limited food options differ to what is advertised on the website. Eggs were suitably microwaved, to a slightly underdone consistency than most (luckily, I don’t mind, and have a strong stomach), spinach, uncooked, unwashed and just plonked on the side, and had lots of dirt and grit. I was expecting cooked spinach, but just went with it. Asked for tea to arrive with the breakfast.

Not long after tucking in, I remembered my tea hadn’t arrived. Went up to ask for it, for one of the more astute staff members to note me, and prompted her colleague, who was too busy scoffing her own food, to make the tea. The scoffing female then came with the tea, on a very large tray and just left it there but no spoon or sugar for the tea. I was met with a terse response, by the older female member of staff, that usually the tea is left on the counter, and customers take it when ordered. By this point, I was now choking on my food, as I just needed a drink to go with the food. She apologised, was insincere, cold, and unapologetic.

A while later, I wanted to order another tea, but each time I looked up, hordes of peoples arrived, as the rain poured and they sought cover. The older woman then came over to me, and said she was sorry but she must ask me to leave. I tried to order a cup of tea but she wouldn’t let me speak, and kept on interrupting me. She said that “that was the nature of this café” – as if, she had a right to throw people out. I said to her, you’re not asking me to go, you’re effectively throwing me out, she then walked away, muttering something to herself. Utterly rude!

Another customer, in a wheelchair, sat next to me, had to ask a fellow diner for a napkin, and he said to me, that trying to get the attention and service of the staff was impossible.

If you want microwaved scrambled eggs and baked beans cooked in an overused plastic jug and poor, bad and rude service with cobwebs and dirt all around, come here! And good luck while you’re there!

I am a keen supporter of my local community, and have recently moved to this area, and wanted to make this cafe my local. After my experience today, I am sad to say that I don’t feel I could ever return, not with the current staff that made me feel so awful and unwelcome today - mainly, the older woman that I have mentioned. When I sent the above complaint to the owner/manager of this cafe, he promised to look into it and get back to me......

Manor house gardens is one of my local parks and I visit it quite frequently. I really want to like the cafe there but all my visits have left me feeling angry and disappointed. I decided to write a review after my most recent visit and vowed never to step in there again. My reasons:

1. I don't use disposable cups. I care about the environment and I hate the taste of coffee in disposables. This cafe ONLY serves coffee in disposable cups (since the lockdown apparently). During a lockdown, I get it. But now that other cafes have switched back to china, this cafe carries on with this 'easy' for them solution. They claim their cups are biodigradable yet they don't provide a special bin for them (which is what other cafes do). The cups don't just 'biodigrade' in landfill I am afraid.

2. I ordered a cheese and tomato baguette. It was served in a disposable container even though I sat in the cafe and I know they serve food in real plates (I saw other customers with real plates/cutlery). My baguette was average and the tomato completely tasteless.

3. I was told off for allowing my toddler to use her portable/leakproof potty in the cafe to have a pee. The owner rudely and LOUDLY asked me to get her off the potty. I did try to use the toilets which were dark, cold and filthy and my two year old refused to wee in there (I don't blame her!) We have used her potty in trains/restaurants/cafes and I was NEVER told off before.

I won't be visiting this cafe again and I will actively discourage others from using it. It's such a lovely park otherwise so a real shame about their...

A REVIEW OF THE MANOR HOUSE GARDENS CAFE: Avoid this cafe like the plague. I wanted a hot chocolate en route home from a bit of shopping. I've never had an issue with the establishment before. I entered the cafe to find nobody at the counter and two employees both in deep conversation slightly to my left, one of whom was texting. I waited for about 30 seconds and then said "Hello" to the femail texting. Nothing. I said "Hello" again tobthe texting staff member. This woke her from her torpor. "Can I have a hot chocolate please?" At this point one would expect a little inclination towards an apology and swift service to ensue. Nothing of the sort followed accept the continued facial body language depicting (why on Earth are you bothering me?). Then a woman came over, who would be best placed as a bar maid in a spit and sawdust pub launching straight in with "What do you want?" I said "a hot chocolate when she has finished texting" She said "I wasn't texting" I said: "I didn't say you were texting, I said she was" She said: "Well I don't suppose you can be in that much hurry. What do you want" I said "I told you, a hot chocolate" She said "I didn't hear you" I said "Hot chocolate" She said "Do you want it or not? I said "No" She said "No". I walked out.

Disgusting...