The Pavilion Cafe — Restaurant in London

What happened here today with my family was beyond the pale and needs to be called out. Whilst I and our kids were seated in an outdoor table, my wife went inside to ask one of the waitresses where the restroom was and was openly insulted and called a “mistress”. Absolutely disgraceful behaviour. I went inside with her to speak to the manager, expecting a sincere apology and some basic accountability. Instead, we were met with an immediate display of arrogance and defensiveness. The so-called “manager” carried himself as though we were the problem, acting like we were trying to cause a scene in front of other customers. Not once did he show genuine remorse for what had happened, nor did he seem remotely interested in handling the situation professionally. As for the waitress responsible, she initially tried to brush it off and claimed she “didn’t mean it that way” – as though that somehow excuses openly insulting a customer. It was after I demanded an unreserved apology that she finally muttered one. We spent a good five minutes having a heated discussion, during which the staff seemed far more concerned with saving face than actually making things right, especially the guy who calls himself the manager. Frankly, they were lucky we didn’t escalate matters further by involving the police and filing a formal complaint on the spot, which is what they perhaps deserve. We didn’t do so as we had two young children with us. This place has absolutely no sense of customer service, basic manners, or respect. The management is clueless, the staff lack professionalism, and the overall attitude towards customers is nothing but disgusting. Do yourself a favour and steer well clear. The Café happens to sit in a nice spot, in the heart of Highgate Wood, but is so much rundown inside and feels initially as though you enter a greasy spoon place. Food itself wasn’t particularly good either, but that is irrelevant after the...

Laughing at the petty complaints from reviewers on here. Like as if they sound like they were written by competition from other cafes. I especially love the; “they didn’t swap my ham sandwich for something else”. You need to write more context. Why did they not swap it for something else? Had you opened it? Was it not what you ordered? Anyhoo, onwards with my review. Yes, some of the staff are quite curt but, I was there during a very hot and busy Sunday and quite frankly, some of the customers there, I wouldn’t be surprised. Many privileged Karen’s and Ken’s. I had booked a pub for a Sunday roast and was absolutely craving for one but, we were still in the park and the wife and daughter were too hungry and our booking was not for another 45 minutes. I had to reluctantly cancel the booking in the pub and opt for the cafe. When we arrived, I was beaming because they served Sunday roast. I’m very into my Sunday roasts and am very fastidious about my Sunday roast, so to my surprise, the roast was banging. I mean it wasn’t the best I had every had(that goes to the pub in Hammersmith), but it was up there. Meat, potatoes, Yorkshire pud, veg and especially the gravy, which completes everything about a roast, no complaints whatsoever for any of it. I was genuinely shocked because you would never expect a good old roast in a cafe. Beautiful cafe and enclosure. If ever I’m in the area again on a Sunday, I will definitely return...

Coeliacs / gluten intolerant people beware

I have been to the cafe a number of times for coffee (and will continue to go for coffee / children’s food as my children aren’t coeliac and we are local), but today I ordered avocado on gluten free toast.

The avocado toast arrived and I said to the server, “Is is definitely gluten free bread?” He said yes.

Then, after I ate most of it (it didn’t taste amazing so I assumed I was safe, as gluten free bread rarely tastes great), another server walked past and, almost over his shoulder said, “He gave you the wrong one.”

I said, “Not gluten free?”

And the server said “No,” and continued on with his work.

I was too surprised to say anything. Plus I hate making a fuss and was with kids and friends. In hindsight I wish I had said something.

But there was no apology, no offer of a refund, no show of regret even! I felt weirdly embarrassed, like I was in the wrong for even expecting the gluten free food I ordered and paid for.

It wasn’t even a busy day.

Anyway, coffee only for me only from here from now on.

I am coeliac and am usually more cautious about where I eat, but most places are pretty good these days so I’m annoyed and disappointed at what happened...