The Orange Tree Cafe/Restaurant — Restaurant in Wales

Ah, the Orange Tree Café at Wenvoe Garden Centre — the perfect place if you're craving the atmosphere of a garden centre showroom, the acoustics of a concrete underpass, and prices that make London cafés look like budget diners.

Let’s begin with the decor: walls absolutely smothered in fake greenery that’s seen better days — dusty, faded, and aggressively artificial. It's like someone shouted, “Let’s make it feel natural!” and then aggressively stapled plastic plants to every surface until the fire marshal got nervous.

Then there's the seating. Hard, cold, metal chairs that may actually be a leftover prop from a low-budget dystopian film. Genuinely baffling how something could be that uncomfortable — unless they’re trying to encourage a quick turnover by making sure no one wants to sit for more than 6 minutes.

Now, on to the food. £15 for a sandwich. Yes, fifteen actual pounds — and no, it doesn’t come with gold flakes, a side, or even dignity. That’s just the sandwich. Coffee? Lukewarm. Presumably to match the enthusiasm of the menu, which had a grand total of two vegetarian options… both of which were unavailable. The staff (bless them, still smiling somehow) pointed to the specials board — all meat apart from a soup. Because nothing refreshes you on a hot summer day quite like sweating through a bowl of boiling vegetable puree.

The cakes looked like they'd been auditioning for a role as building materials: dry, stiff, and with the sort of shelf life you only see in horror films.

And just when you think it can’t get worse, the acoustics kick in. The entire place echoes like a gymnasium inside a tin can. Between the clatter of cutlery, screeching chairs, and general conversation, it’s impossible to hear yourself think — which, honestly, might be a blessing if you're trying to forget you just paid £15 for disappointment on bread.

Two stars. One for the staff who clearly deserve a raise and therapy, and one for the fact I made it out without having to remortgage my house after glancing at the dessert prices.

Would I go again? Only if I forget, and even then, I’d probably turn around at the sight of the first...

Once a proud beacon of hearty, satisfying meals, Orange Tree Café has officially gone from "hidden gem" to "public disgrace." What was once a place for generous portions and real food has devolved into a hipster hostage situation, where you pay £15 for a sandwich that looks like it’s been crying since 8am.

My £15 sandwich was so dry and depressing it should have come with a therapy voucher. It had the charisma of a limp handshake and the texture of shredded homework. Eating it felt like a personal attack. I've seen more appealing food in the bottom of a vending machine.

And don’t even think about cake. The ones in the display cabinet looked like they’d been through a world war. Cracked icing, dry as dust, and vibes so unappetising they actually made me lose my sweet tooth. One slice looked like it had been sitting there since Brexit was announced.

The “specials” board was the final insult. In the middle of a blazing summer day, what were they proudly offering? Boiling soup. Nothing else. Just soup. Because nothing says “refreshing seasonal menu” like hot broth when it’s 28°C outside. Oh — and if you're veggie? Sorry. It’s Meaty Mayhem™ or starve. The board might as well have said “Vegetarians: kindly sod off.”

Now let’s talk about the chairs — or as I like to call them, medieval torture devices. Sitting in one was like perching on a pile of broken promises. By the end of the meal, I couldn’t tell if my back pain was from the food or the furniture. Probably both.

It’s genuinely heartbreaking because the staff are wonderful — warm, kind, and doing their best in what I can only describe as a culinary war zone. They’re the only reason this place isn’t just a pile of rubble and shame.

Final verdict: Orange Tree Café used to be a leafy paradise. Now it’s a withered twig serving overpriced sadness, sweat-inducing soup, and week-old cakes to people too polite to run. Save your money, your spine, and your stomach. Go literally...

Absolutely awful service. I sat down at 12:35 and ordered just a coffee for myself and a children’s meal for my 18 month year old son. My sons meal arrived at 2pm! After a 45 mins wait, I enquired as to where the children’s meal was. I was advised there was a technical error and the meal would be fast tracked - 45 mins later it arrived!!! Not only was the service terrible but so was the restaurant customer service skills. No apology, no acknowledgment that they had kept an 18 month child waiting or a mum with a young child trying her hardest to keep the child entertained. We were not offer a discount off the meal / a free drink not even an icecream for the inconvenience to my son. I don’t often take the time to leave reviews however I this case I have to warn the public of the horrendous customer service at this appalling place. Not at all child friendly. No empathy or customer service skills in fact I was made to feel like we were the issue. You should be ashamed Orange tree. If my son wasn’t literally starving I would...