The Loft Café & Bakery — Restaurant in Scotland

My wife and baby daughter and I went here for lunch the other week after a recommendation from a friend. The venue is quite hidden away around the back of a car park so you wouldn’t know it was there if you didn’t know. Although there are signs on the main strip so the observant individuals may notice. The cafe is in an old style stone building and situated in the upper level. However they have outdoor seating downstairs and a little takeout shop selling a lot of what they have upstairs, for those that want to nip in and dash. We had a buggy and were ready to tackle some stairs but fortunately they have a lift. The cafe upstairs is bright and open. I kind of got a Scandinavian vibe with all the wooden furniture but it also felt like being at the seaside with all the light colours around. It definitely didn’t feel we were at the back of a car park in Haddington, let’s put it that way. The service was very good, particularly from a couple of the more mature ladies who were super friendly and welcoming. It’s amazing how people are always way nicer to you when you have a baby, especially a super cute one like ours. Anyway, instead of menus we chose our grub from the enormous black board on the wall. I like the fact they are saving paper on not having menus but those with weaker vision may need to sit closer to the board or else they may need to do a bit of hovering. I am glad we didn’t sit underneath the blackboard as you would get many looking over you. There is plentiful options on the menu, offering a range of hearty breakfasts, including full Scottish options, toasties, and smashed avocado, alongside light all-day meals like ploughman’s platters, salads, and jacket potatoes. They also feature vegetarian and vegan dishes, as well as small portions for kids. All food is made with local ingredients where possible. Nearly everything is also made in store. The sourdough bread is bought in from Bakery Andante in Edinburgh. For drinks we got a couple of hot chocolates, made from chocolate that is from local suppliers. Both of these were very good. The wife opted for the sausage roll and carrot and coriander soup. The sausage roll tasted nice and was quite a substantial size, but unfortunately it wasn’t heated all the way through. I don’t think it was quite “legendary” nor worth £8.25. My wife wasn’t a massive fan of the soup, as she felt the coriander was a bit too overpowering, but she did eat most of it and the bread it came with was lovely. I went for the daily special of chicken, mozzarella and roasted pepper baguette with sundried tomato mayo which was enjoyable. The bread was crisp, the flavours of the chicken, cheese and peppers worked well and certainly enhanced by the mayo. I also wanted to try their “Best Cheese Toastie Ever!”. Unfortunately I found this to be underwhelming, partly because I had high hopes with a name like that. It tasted nice and I did enjoy it but I’ve had far better countless times. The bread was great but the filing was lacking in volume, especially at a price tag of £8.50!! Maybe change the name to “The most expensive cheese toastie ever!”. Upon leaving we decided to take away a few homemade sweet treats which were delicious. The highlight of our visit here wasn’t the amazing service, nor was it comfortable and spacious venue but it was seeing our 5 month old sit independently for the first time!! I have since been back to The Loft but instead of going upstairs I went to the shop and got a takeaway. The lady serving was certainly duller than the gems last time but the cake and chocolate I got was excellent. Overall, I’d say a 4...

I am deeply disheartened by my recent visit to The Loft in Haddington. As a first-time patron, I had high expectations, but the experience left me feeling both disappointed and hurt.

My family and I, including my sister-in-law, brother’s partner, and my mother, ordered hot chocolates. To our dismay, the beverages were utterly devoid of flavor, tasting more like water than a rich, comforting drink. The menu described them as being made with organic dark chocolate and milk, yet they resembled a diluted, store-bought mix.

Seeking a remedy, my mother addressed the issue with a staff member and requested replacements. When the new drinks arrived, the waitress explained their preparation process. While transparency is appreciated, her tone and body language were dismissive and unwelcoming, especially in the presence of our three young children. She seemed disinterested in listening to any feedback and unwilling to engage in a constructive dialogue.

This encounter not only marred our day but also shattered our perception of what we hoped would be a delightful café experience. The combination of subpar beverages and unprofessional service has left an indelible mark. I had anticipated a warm and inviting atmosphere, as suggested by the café’s reputation, but instead, I left feeling unwelcome and disheartened.

I sincerely hope that The Loft Café takes this feedback to heart and strives to improve both their product quality and customer service. No patron should leave feeling...

I phoned to ask if I needed to book a table for 2 & was told there was no need, there should be plenty tables. I arrived & waited behind the sign to be seated. The lady in front had been waiting a while. She was then approached by a waitress who went off to look for a table for her. The waitress never came back. The lady offered to sit outside at a table but nobody listened to her hence she left in disgust. I waited & then decided to look in case my friend was already there & noticed there were plenty free tables. I asked if I could sit at one (not reserved as you couldn't reserve them) but was told no, I had to wait specifically behind the sign while they looked for a table?!? My friend arrived & we then waited & waited until the waitress came back to say they had found a table & we would have to wait until they cleared & cleaned it?!? All in all I waited over 25mins to be given a table. That was why I wanted to book - to avoid all this. We found the waitresses to be grumpy & not particularly welcoming even though it wasn't over-busy. I probably...