Hackney House Café & Deli — Restaurant in North East Derbyshire

This is a really disappointing review to leave, because in the past we have been regular and very happy customers of Hackney House café.

We've had Afternoon teas, lunches, lockdown takeaway afternoon teas and numerous takeout snacks whilst walking in the area and have always been big fans....... until today.

After walking in the area, we realised that we'd skipped lunch and were both feeling really hungry, so because we were close by, we headed to Hackney house and arrived at 2.45pm. On entering, I asked the lady 'are we too late, or are you still serving food?'

'Hang on' she said, 'I'll just check for you' before she popped into the café and came back to say 'you're ok, we're serving for another 15 minutes so you're fine to find a table'. There were two tables free, so we sat at a table in the conservatory area and looked at the menu on the table. People were eating, the food looked amazing as always and because we were so hungry, it took us both only a couple of minutes to decide on what we'd like, and then we waited for someone to take our order.

When it reached 3pm, and nobody had spoken to us, we were beginning to feel a little concerned that the '15 minutes' window might be closing, so when a lady appeared from the kitchen, we asked her if it was still table service? She responded curtly 'Yes, it is table service - she knows that you're here' so we waited.... and waited

By 3.15pm, we overheard a conversation between a waitress and a customer who had come in asking for food. She was told 'sorry, we are not serving food any more, it's just drinks and cake now'

We waited another 5 minutes before getting up and leaving. During the entire 35 minutes that we sat there, nobody came to take an order, nor even made eye contact. On leaving, there were several customers sat on the benches outside, with drinks and food - they must have arrived after us, as those table had been empty when we arrived.

We left feeling really quite upset about our treatment today and quite angry to be honest. I don't remember putting on our invisibility cloaks when we headed out today, but it certainly felt like we were invisible to the team at Hackney...

Very quaint cafe, lovely stone walls and Nic Nacs that so suited the decor and small card/gift shop. Small selection of lovely ladies tops and over wraps for spring/summer reasonable prices also. Scarves, smallish selection of jewellery, soft toys etc well stocked for it's size. Tables are nicely set out in the main room, upstairs there are few tables one with a wonderful view, some in the lovely bright conservatory, there are also tables outside back and front. You do need to book especially if you are going to have a meal. They really have made the most of the sizes available tables and chairs of varying types all wooden (The only niggle is may be a cushion or seat pads on some of the chairs would make it more comfortable, our legs being older the edge of seat pressed on legs. Others were saying the same, but that's all) We had the Soup and Sandwich meal, lovely soup and we chose Tuna on lovely Brown bread followed by Almond Tart and Toffee and Pecan cake. They have a very good selection of cakes and desserts next time l will try the lemon meringue and bring a Brownie home. They are noted for their meat and potato pie, Quiches, Lasagne, if you are there early enough there are usually ones of varying sizes ready baked to buy and take home but they go very quickly. The young girl waitresses who were on were lovely and very helpful. This was a 70th Birthday treat for me from a Lovely friend, we will certainly return perhaps for her Birthday in early April if not before. Thank You. Angie...

I'd heard lots of good things about this cafe. It's a nice quaint building and is certainly very busy . If you turn up without a reservation you may have a wait. As we waited for a table a customer leaving said " you won't be disappointed ". .sadly I was a bit. I'm not one for carby / stodgy food so the pies and cakes are not for me, delightful as they may be by all accounts. I ordered a chicken and bacon salad instead. It was very bland . Mainly tasteless iceberg lettuce with a few decorative leaves for colour about 3 carrot shavings 2 tiny tomatoes halved cucumber and onion. A grilled or possibly pan fried (generous sized) but bland whole chicken breast with 2 whole very well done rashers of bacon plonked on top. Hardly any dressing to the salad , no other salad ingredients except 4 bland boiled potatoes in their skins and butter. Not even a bit of coleslaw . All for £9.50. ?? Am I missing...