Tastebuds at the Wharf — Restaurant in West Lancashire

Taste buds is a cafe set in a pleasant environment next to rufford marina, offering the opportunity to enjoy a walk before or after a visit. The cafe is also cycle friendly with several bike parking stands. However they will not accommodate anything wider than a road bike tyre so MTB's will need to be leaned against a post. Car parking is well accommodated and there is external seating.

The good: The coffee here is enjoyable in both caffeinated and decaffeinated varieties and drink sizes are reasonable allowing you to enjoy a drink and a nice long chat.

The cafe sells ice cream and we have found the portion sizes to be generous and ice cream prices are on a par with the competition.

English breakfasts and scrambled eggs, beans on toast etc... Are all served and taste good.

The bad: Food prices are higher than others in the local area with English breakfasts being quite uncompetative and not including a drink. Also we have been eating whilst the staff have been sweeping the carpet in the eating area, which created dust, which we felt...

The staff are very pleasant and welcoming, particularly the gentleman who wore a formal shirt and had black spikey hair (excuse my description) was very helpful and consistently cheerful.

The food however needs to be looked at. The menu is extremely over-priced. They need to stop drenching the Halloumi/Halloumi burgers with red onion chutney. The cakes should be Tasebuds 'piece de la resistance' but they were sadly OUT OF DATE. I ordered a Victoria Sponge which looked delicious, but when I came to eat it, the cream tasted like cheese! So much so that I couldn't eat it and my poor grandma ate all of hers before I tried mine and she ended up with diarrhea. I too had a sore stomach upon that night. Even a gentleman on the table opposite complained to his wife about his cKe being out of date in which I joined in the conversation and found out that he too had an out of date cake which we paid 4.50 for! It's a shame.

Just please .. Price your food at a sensible price and stop serving cakes 2 days old or...

It has been a good few years since I lasted visited Tastebuds. As I was cycling in the area again I thought I should pay a visit. There is more outside seating then I remember. Inside seemed very similar. I looked at the menu at the counter as plenty of staff came and went with food and drinks. It did seem that I was waiting a long time to place my order. No acknowledgement from any of the staff. Eventually someone came to take my order. This member of staff was very friendly and helpful. Once my order was placed (coffee and what was described as a giant profiterole ) I returned to my table outside, thinking wow I just paid £9.10 for two items. They arrived quickly and again the person who served me was very friendly. The coffee was fine. However, the profiterole was absolutely delicious, albeit a little expensive. I would visit again if I am...