Pierreponts Café — Restaurant in South Oxfordshire

Nice little cafe with nice salads and tea and great pit stop if you are walking along the Thames. A bit pricey though. Also service is very spotty here. I’ve often had to flag someone for service as I wasn’t acknowledged on entry and it’s confusing whether it’s service at the till or whether you should wait for a server at the table. Recently it’s been only open for takeaway and I popped in on a Saturday afternoon to get a coffee takeaway (door was open and staff/ owners were present) but then was told they were closed by a young lady, who looked unsure and confused about whether they were open or not, while I was ignored by the two other staff who didn’t even acknowledge me. Then 5 minutes later I saw someone come out with coffees and takeaway snacks in hand. A bit annoying. I won’t be going back anytime soon. The village cafe up the street is much more friendly and welcoming (cheaper too).

Update - Firstly, I was very disappointed to read the owners response to my review. I have lived in the area for several years now and visited this cafe many times - this review based on the service was not a one off. I’ve experienced patchy service several times, which they even admitted to in their response.

However, I continued to visit because, as I already noted, they have nice salads and sandwiches. I was especially disappointed with the service on my last visit, hence the review.

Ironically, I made a point to visit the cafe as I saw it had been opened after the lockdown and wanted to support a local community small business and inquire about the freezer menu.

Well, after reading their response I will certainly not be visiting again or supporting them. The response only serves to show the type of arrogant and dismissive type of service I have received in person. I do not feel my review was in any manner hurtful. It was an honest review based on a true customer experience. While I am truly sorry for your personal and business difficulties, as a customer I am not privy to them (nor would most customers). Questioning my own personal circumstances and using it to dismiss my experience as a customer was even more disappointing.

Many businesses are experiencing similar difficulties but do their best to make customers feel welcome and go out of their way to express their thanks for their patronage. Pierreponts, however, is obviously not one of these business that seem to value their customers.

Local businesses should be able to read honest reviews and use them positively to improve further and better their customers experience and retain customers. A better way to respond would have been to apologise for the poor experience and promise to work on improving service in the future instead of offering a myriad of excuses for the poor service and being dismissive of my experience as a customer. I may even have rethought my review and given you another chance if I’d received a more humble response.

Also, the point of reviews being anonymous is that we can revisit a business if we would like and change our review if service improves.

Lastly, I’m sorry if I seem to have flustered the young staff member, however I do feel the owners should have then acknowledged my presence and supported her in addressing the customer.

Thank you and I...

This is a really nice cosey ... high standard and good quality and interesting foodie place. It reminds me very much of the cafe that David on the TV series Cold Feet works in ...it looks exactly like it and reminds me of it . It's a lovely welcoming resting post after a longish walk and we always aim for here ....where you can just plonk down and just chill or even do a touch of office work or such if you have to....with the availability of a continuous stream of delicious coffees or teas ....whilst so doing. All the delicious food is made freshly that's why occassionally it may seem to take a while to some ....and how you tell it's so fresh. What else would you desire ....though surely . Last time I was there I had an absolutely gigantic scone with lots of cream and jam and thought I could just eat another one ....which.... wait for it .....wait for it ....... I didnt then... but ..... I did the next day .....though !! Haha!

In the summer one can sit outside if they wish too and enjoy a lovely coffee or two or three teas and chit chat or read or of course do your mobile what nots ...or quite simply watch the world go by . I love Goring with a passion and it actually reminds me very much of Snaith in North Yorkshire .....both a bit like going back in time .... Little villages with cafes like Pierreponts here in them are so very much part and the main stay to our British culture and way of life . A very nice cosey quaint...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the food and the kitchen staff – they really do a wonderful job. The food was lovely, and we can’t fault the effort that goes into the cooking.

The same can’t be said for the service. When we arrived and asked if there was a table available, the waitress (the older lady in the cream spotted top) asked if we had booked. When we said no, she looked us up and down and down her nose, which was both rude and unwelcoming, and sat us at the table right by the toilet. From that point, the service went downhill.

When our meals arrived, my husband’s sandwich was placed down nicely and he was asked if he’d like any sauces. My chicken burger and chips were, on the other hand, was just dropped in front of me without a word , and I was completely ignored, Wasn’t even asked if I wanted condiments.

We’ve been coming here for a while now – usually for a coffee and sausage rolls by the river, which has always been pleasant. This time we thought we’d treat ourselves by dining in, but the poor service has put us off. We won’t be doing it again.

It takes a certain type of person to work in hospitality – someone who understands that customers are the reason you get paid. Every guest deserves to be treated with courtesy and respect, regardless of whether you personally like them or not. If you can’t manage that, then you’re in the wrong job. It’s really...