The Tin Roof Cafe and Bakery — Restaurant in Maldon

Very excited to have a new place to go with Tin Roof Cafe now open. First visit has left us a bit disappointed. I appreciate that this establishment opend right on the cusp of a busy Easter bank holiday weekend, which must have been a baptism of fire for all concerned. Most staff seem to be very young and apart from two heavy glasses dropped by staff in the space of fifteen minutes all staff looked very smart in uniform and working hard. The queue to get in was out the door, but we were seated in no time at all and asked if we wanted a highchair for the baby in our group, which was provided for us right away. On our case it was the food that was the disappointment. I don't mind waiting a while for food especially when a place is busy. But you hope it's worth waiting for. I ordered the Rarebit, I had visions of a thick piece of toast piled with hot melty cheese. What I got was the thinist piece of sourdough toast with un detectable cheese. Maybe left under a grill to long and turned to dust? But not nice and served all alone not a hint of garnish unless you want to pay extra for salad at £4.00. A massive mark up on bread as this one slice of toast with non existent cheese cost £5.00! Scone was really good arrived with butter, cream and was given a large kilner jar of jam. Our first thought was, how many other customers had been given this big jar of jam to dip there spoon in? For the scone eater in our group and for a man on the opposite table this was an issue and put them off eating the jam, the jar was sticky too. I noticed other scones being served with little dishes of jam. Maybe the giant ones weren't supposed to leave the kitchen and was a rookie error. Pancakes, lots of them and sizeable with the biggest blueberries I have ever seen. little jug of syrup, jug also sticky. Pancake very eggy with a fishy smell. Cooked breakfast had the usual but not the biggest I have seen for a £12.50 price tag and dry scrambled eggs. This was our experience on the day we visited. However the place itself is wonderful, new, clean, well spaced out tables. Plants everywhere, cakes look awesome, not sure how big a slice is but £6.00 is pricy. Lovely outdoor seating, sofas and a separate lounge area. Lovely hand basins in the toilet facilities with baby changing in the disabled toilet. Obviously no expense spared to make this a very attractive place. I hope any wrinkles get ironed out and it is remembered that this cafe is in semi rural Essex not London where it's maybe considered the norm to pay £5.00 for a slice of toast, but I would have liked more for value for my money. Had hoped this would be a place to bring Grandchildren after school as Tin Roof is open until 5pm but sadly the prices would prevent me doing so, no way would I be able to drag the children away from wanting cake each, I can't say I could blame them as they did...

Visited at the weekend for the first time. The place is beautiful and part of a really good garden centre. The food is delicious we purchased four different slices of cake at £5 a slice. Expensive but worth it. What lets the venue down is the staff. They are all pleasant but…

We arrived and were met at the door by really nice gentleman who talked us through the menu and explained how it works. Big tick. You then join a queue to look at what you want. It’s a bit odd as you to remember the names the cakes or items that you see in glass cabinets. We got to check out no one in front of use. Four people were behind the tills, all fussing over an order that needed to be cancelled. There are two tills. Non of four acknowledged us. They just fussed and chatted. A lady then came over and did what ever needed to be done on one of the checkouts. We have been standing in front of the tills for at least 5 mins by this point. The lady that came then took over serving us. By now the queue was about 12 people deep. We went through what we wanted. The lady walked to the glass cabinets and we had to move back through the queue to point out want we wanted to confirm the order. Then back to the till to pay. We were then sent back to the counter to collect our cakes. At this point I moved out of the way and stood near the entrance. I looked around. I counted six people behind the two tills. Four people behind the counters. One guy serving cutting cakes in slices.the others were fussing around. It took over 20 mins to purchase four slices of cake to take away.

As I said the are delicious and I will go back. I hope that time someone is in charge and organising / running the place. How can it take 12 people working behind the counter and on the check out over 20 minutes to serve us.

I use to own a tearoom and shop. So I know what I talking about.

If you are a caffiteria then have trays and let us take what we want and go to the checkout and pay for it.

If you are a cafe then serve the cake over the counter before arriving at the checkout.

You have customers choosing what they want. Going to the checkout, going back to the counter to confirm, going back to the till to pay then going back to the counter to wait for someone slice a cake.

You have a great looking business, great products and a great location. Service flows and flow is key and let’s everything else down.

Could you also clarify ‘bakery’ in your title? We wanted to but cakes and bread. We were told you don’t sell bread of any type. Is...

I have been going here from the day this establishment opened. It’s such a fabulous place to meet -up with friends or family, very relaxing. The quality of food is exceptional, the choices are great….. The Bakery is outstanding…. Cakes and scones, coffee and Teas the best are the milkshakes. Yet, you can have all this and the service by one younger member of staff, can put you off from going back. It might be petty… you might think, I did speak to the Host manager, to try and explain my disappointment and frustration from the rude young lady. I am all for supporting business, especially one like this. Yet, my experience yesterday, was appalling, to say the least. There was one slice of Carrot Cake left, with not much fruit topping, I asked the young lady serving me, to see if they have any more in the kitchen. Well…. You thought I asked for the moon…. The attitude was huffing and puffing eyes rolling, at me, her reply was “I don’t know, ….” I asked if she could check, being the last one, and not much topping of fruit. Eventually she went off, sometimes later returned, “you happy with this”? Still looking at me, like I am a “ Nuisance” to her. I explained to the Host manager, the poor and extremely rude, young lady. His reply was”Madam, We are busy, we get asked this all the time” “Madam ….. this is fresh cake” stepping away from me as I explained my situation…. As if I was going to lash out at him. His response just pushed my button more, as if I was going to attack him. I know you have to be careful, being in someone’s personal space. Yet, this is overwhelmingly rude. Absolutely unnecessary reaction. I know, this is a victim of its own success, They are very busy, I have experience in catering establishments… No matter how busy you are, customer service is always the most reliable return of customer experience. Have your CAKE …. and EAT … it…. Or NOT…. Wish them all the success, yet I shall NOT be going back. Shame …. One young lady ….host Manager Too busy …..for...