Courtyard Cafe - Alder Carr Farm — Restaurant in Mid Suffolk

Really disappointed by our lunch.

Booked in advance for father's day. Arriving on the day, the 'special' father's day tea had to be booked in advance, but I was never advised by this when booking.

Thus we were left with the main menu which was laughable.

I've eaten at the cafe on and off for several years, but unless things improve this will be the last.

The Sunday menu is terrible. Your choice is an all day breakfast, or sandwiches. Where is the special menu or roast or anything. You can't even order a burger. Very disappointed.

Since we felt we wouldn't find anywhere else 'nice' to eat on short notice we decided to stay (I wish we hadn't) we ordered sandwiches which came with chips and a side salad. Some sandwiches were okay, all the salad was drowning in dressing and the chips disappointing. (They felt like they'd been precooked and left under a heat lamp and were very greasy, no one including the children finished their portion. Grease seemed to be a theme of the meal with the toasted cheese sandwich actively dripping with it.

The drinks were acceptable, the service lack luster. Certainly wasn't made to feel special or even welcome. It all felt like we were an inconvenience to the waiting staff several of whom were sat at the empty tables eating...

Took my 80yr old parents for breakfast this morning it was a complete shambles waited 10mins & because breakfast was finishing shortly i spoke 2 member of staff who then took my order the it took 40mins for us 2 receive our breakfasts …… The food was terrible all the eggs were solid the poached eggs tasted of vinegar ( i know it’s used in cooking water but shouldn’t b so mush u can taste it) My Das 2 fried eggs was in fact one giant hard pancake of egg 🤷‍♀️ …. Then the server started taking our plates away b4 we had finished eating. not one person asked us at any time “we’re we happy with our meal” …. So all the reasons 4 going out for family brekkie lost as terrible service & terrible food … i asked 2 speak 2 the person in charge who apologised but was dissinteeested as were most of the staff in fact i was mocked by other members of staff 4 even daring 2 say anything … i NEVER leave reviews especially bad ones but they r my elderly parents who deserve so much more thanAlder Carr gave my Mum has supported Alder Carr from the very beginning .. it felt like no one really cared & p’raps they don’t but i do … i see no point...

The food here is lovely however every single time I have been I’ve encountered service issues. I come fairly often as it is local & the food is nice but on about 5 consecutive occasions Ive had problems & other friends/family have had their own issues. Service time is usually always long, today they couldn’t serve lunch till 12:30 as gas had gone down (which happens regularly), took 20 mins before realising they had a missing ingredient from a meal so then having to switch & still attempted to charge for this at the final bill. Food also took a near hour to arrive. They’re also unable to deal with large groups as we once attended with work. Servers recognise the issues when confronted however never offer any level of compensation. I think they may need to cut some items on their menu in order to keep up with the demand. The food is fairly expensive so I would expect better. It is a shame as I like coming, however after today I think I’ve had enough & wont be returning...