The Suffolk Carver — Restaurant in West Suffolk

Suffolk Carver, Brentgrovel Street

More of a lunch venue than a coffee shop, this place is tucked away off the high street.

Competition is fierce around here as you have the big chains like Nero and Starbucks round the corner, a McDonald's opposite (you can use their WiFi though!) and another independent coffee shop next door. This place is basic but not cheap. I spent £7.75 for these 3 items but I guess I paid a premium for the sugar tax?

I think I associate this place with good times, coming here with friends for lunch and sitting outside in the summer, people watching. In the winter, it's fairly cozy upstairs, watching folk go about their business on the street below. You can also see people clutching their receipts in McDonald's as they wait to collect their food as if they were waiting for the collection point at Argos.. you can tell I never go in there!

I should point out that cozy doesn't necessarily mean comfortable. The seats are wicker with no pads and the decor is a bit shabby in places but when it's cold outside, you can easily sit here wrapping your hands around your coffee cup and while away time.

The scones are a bit old school and are stogdy. I like them that way but they're hard going and mine could have been a bit hotter. I've still not found a better scone than at Marlow's (other than my own ones of course!) and they're small for the price.

I came here today knowing exactly what I wanted.. comfort food. A Bakewell tart in an aluminium tray, a stodgy scone and a cappuccino. It's not high quality but I knew it wouldn't be. The tart was even fresh today. I've had one before from here and it was terrible.

Sitting here, I'm trying to think of good reasons why others should come here. It's one of those places that, while it's a bit rough around the edges, you'd miss it if it weren't here. That's why I come. Maybe you'll see the attraction too?

Good Points Cozy Old School Local

Bad Points Shabby in places (not chique!) No 'in-house' wifi (but you can use McDonald's 'O2' Wifi instead) No...

Used to love eating here, no idea what's happened to the place but won't be returning. Shambles! Upstairs was ridiculously hot and the air con was presumably broken - still. The wrong order arrived first off, they tried telling me I was wrong and had ordered a salad.. I said no, sandwich - she had even asked me if I wanted white or brown bread! When it arrived the filling was stingy. Came with a "side salad" with no dressing?! My sister didn't eat her "chicken salad" - chicken/bacon/mayo sandwich filling dumped on the side of the plate with a pile of bland lettuce leaves, a pile of red cabbage, bland coleslaw, a few silverskin onions.. looked like what you'd get in a kebab shop. I left a lot of mine too. Asked for some water at the start, had to remind them and when it finally arrived it was warm!! One couple left as they were messed around and the couple behind us said their food was bad too. Staff seemed clueless, several times coming upstairs with food or drink and not knowing who's it was.. I said I thought that was what table numbers were for!!...

Yesterday myself and two friends had lunch at The Suffolk Carver. I have been there on a number of occaisions over the past few years for both breakfast and lunch but this was my friends first experience based on my recommendation and it didn't disappoint! As always there was a friendly welcome from all of the staff when we arrived. A very generous portion of their delicious homemade soup for us all to start with - I had the pumpkin with one of my friends having the lentil and the other vegetable. Superb! This was followed by vegetable quiche for one friend and jacket potato with chilli for the other. I had the beef lasagne and all were served with a lovely fresh salad. A couple of pots of English Breakfast tea made with tea leaves and not tea bags accompanied the meal. I was delighted (but not surprised) that my friends had high praise for their first experiece of The Suffolk Carver. Generous portions, sensible prices and an overwhelming feeling of being made welcome put this establishment very high on my list of reccomended places...