The Larder — Restaurant in Warwick

Brilliant if you’re happy to be rudely rushed out.

I’m not one to write reviews, especially bad ones as I’ve worked in hospitality and know the pressures. It started well. Fresh coffee. Friendly baristas. Empties collected quickly. No faults and thankful to the baristas.

BUT… after an hour, the chef came out and loudly asked me to leave, with no clear explanation why. I assume it was because my empty cup was collected so I didn’t have a drink in front of me, but I was actually about to buy another coffee. Customers - especially repeat locals - are more than money grabs. I am left questioning the other possible reasons as to why I was personally picked on when many others had been there for the same length, same purchase etc. Regardless of the reason, the manner was unprofessional, and other customers seemed equally shocked.

Such a shame, especially as there was no sense to resolve the situation. I’m both confused...

Don't understand the hype. All the food seems to be put out in the morning where it sits (un-refrigerated) for the rest of the day. This means, for example, that by the time you get your wrap, the tortilla is insanely dry and brittle like a piece of freeze-dried cardboard. The service is also bizarre. You are often rushed to choose something (having to pick it up yourself with bare hands - this is not ideal for most of the things they sell), only to hand it over the counter where a staff member will bag it and hand it back to you. Sometimes there's a member of staff on your side of the counter also (rushing you to choose something) while simultaneously blocking the queue, who will pick the food up on your behalf, and then hand it over to be bagged. You then have to awkwardly try to step around them (while against the clock, for some reason) to pay. Also, found some shell in the eggs and it's...

Pretty decent coffee and baked goods. I stopped off for a smooth tasting flat white and a Portuguese tart. The cafe is in an attractive Georgian building and has been converted nicely. Good coffee and food, done well in a nice environment…sounds simple, but so many places get it badly wrong. So it is a credit that the Larder gets it right. My only gripe is small but significant…… The staff in the larder are, on the whole, great. However the owner seems to have an axe to grind with everyone and everything. Each time I’ve been there he’s either been having a go about something or at someone. And when I was last there he came out side and complained that my friend and I shouldn’t have put our bikes against his wall?! We were not blocking anything or causing a problem. And when we pointed this out, he grumped off. Not sure what...