Excellent Breakfast
Took mum to the Elm Tree for breakfast today and enjoyed a splendid start to the day. I had the larger breakfast and Mum had the child’s portion to suit her appetite. The food came in good time and was hot, including the toast. The food was moist but not at all greasy and the eggs a good colour and fried to perfection. Breakfast doesn’t seem cheap anywhere these days but this was the going rate which you don’t mind when it’s good ingredients. Black pudding as standard is a bonus for me. Staff friendly too.
Paul
Dining in the restaurant for a family…
Dining in the restaurant for a family Xmas get together £3.30 for a 330ml can of coke... at least buy in the glass bottles then you don't feel like your getting so fleeced :( Ouch
Mike
Disappointing
Disappointing when compared to the Christmas displays of other local garden centres and vastly overpriced. Despite the cafe being quiet we were told there would be a 20 minute wait for a hot drink due to the 'backlog' yet nobody operating the hot drink machine although staff milling about. Had a piece of 'millionaire shortbread' but base almost raw.
LadyG
Very disappointed asked for no gravy on…
Very disappointed asked for no gravy on my roast. It came out with the meat and vegetables it was sitting on covered in gravy. When I challenged a member of staff I was just told that’s the way it’s cooked. Only a few vegetables got eaten.
Chris
Poor & overpriced
I am sorry to report but the cafe has really gone down hill.Firstly the cooked breakfast is lacking in content & is overpriced for what you get.The cafe will no longer substitute one item for another - I do not like tomato but could not get an extra hash brown instead - It is a small thing but everywhere else I go will gladly substitute.I was given the option to go without the tomato & pay extra for a hash brown - As I was paying for the tomato I had it and left it on the plate - It is about time the cafe listened to their customers - I shall take my custom elsewhere
Kevin Neal
SUCH A SHAME THIS CAFE HAD NO ONE MANAGING ITWe come regularly to the cafe which is…
We come regularly to the cafe which is not cheap. Every time we order our money is taken but NEVER do we have our order. I am sorry but cafes survive on giving a service which never happens here. Drinks are brought separately with a ten minute gap and it's the same order where the cakes, scones whatever they never have what we have paid for. This to me is the basics of managing a cafe, you need to know your orders, know what food you have or haven't got. Someone needs to go in and literally manage this lovely LOOKING cafe.
Karen Rainey
Jellycat teabag
Absolutely disgusting behaviour me and my daughter been coming this garden centre for years now. Especially my daughter who gets her plants here on weekly basis.come In today waiting for the jellycat teabag and we both live at separate addresses they said only one per family we don't live together clearly states one per customer not per family my daughter ended up buying me one i will never go in there in there again rude people
Sibby Smith
Food took ages to arrive and then was…
Food took ages to arrive and then was missing items of order.Went back at the end to complain and was told ‘why didn’t you come and ask?’Was refunded and the assistant manager said perfect!Not really.Not nearly as good as old style restaurant which used to serve excellent food.A little bit of style over substance.Will not be going there again
I K
Not budget friendly
Popped in with family for lunch, seemed clean enough. But anyone on a budget this is not the place for you. Extortionate prices, even a sausage roll (with coleslaw and side salad?!) was £9! A slice of cake a little under £5. Not freshly made, factory manufactured. We didn't stay, found a great pub down the road with much better value for money.
BlueDoes
Fantastic visit to Monkton Elm Garden Centre
I cannot thank you for such a great experience We went to buy plants from a local garden centre and they have a fantastic selection.We thought why not have a quick coffee break first,We went into the new restaurant and WOW it was amazing bright and welcomingThe place was spotless and very friendly staff We ordered Sunday lunch and drinks which came to the table within 10 minutes It was delicious this might be to do with the new chef who I think made a complete difference to the experience We went and spend loads on plants chatting the the plant staff who were super knowledgeable and kind in helping us choose plantsThank you for such a great afternoon And we will definitely be back
paul musgrave
We had to complain as our meals were…
We had to complain as our meals were barely warm but the assistant manager jack was just so helpful we came away feeling very happy to return again. He couldn’t have been more helpful in making us feel our complaint was valid and went out of his way to assure we went away happy. At the end of the day all you want is good service as problems can happen and Jack made sure we felt ok. All very much appreciated.
Julie Black
The food was not very hot,barely warm…
The food was not very hot,barely warm as was our coffee, the staff on the till of the restaurant could do with being more amiable, I wouldn't recommend breakfast again, I have been coming here for years and as a rule the food was always good but somehow the quality is less ,sorry to be negative.
Derek Gainsborough
Ordered a cream tea with a fruit scone
Ordered a cream tea with a fruit scone, I was assured at the till that there was one available, 5 mins later I was informed that they didn’t have a fruit scone so I had to settle for a plain one. When it arrived the lid had been removed from the cream, I assume because it was out of date, the cream was dry and flaky so I sent it back, the second one was exactly the same! I won’t be returning.
Andy Brown
Poor experience
New restaurant not designed for a good customer experienceVery noisy, couldn't hear other people on my table. Ordering process slow, but delivery of coffee to table even slower and coffee slopped into the saucers.Coffee was weak and quite unpleasant too.Won't be going again.
Anne Bark
It pains me to say it …
It pains me to say it but we stopped for a quick cup of coffee and had to wait nearly 20 minutes. Plus, when ordering, my husband was asked if he would prefer mugs, which he requested. It arrived in small cups!There seemed to be a lot of members of staff just standing around doing nothing.
Kate
Beautiful new restaurant but couldn't…
Beautiful new restaurant but couldn't order food today as kitchen was over run.Surely when you build a beautiful new restaurant you have a kitchen that can cope. The new garden room isn't even open yet.Had to wait ages just for our cup of tea.Such a shame.
Helen
Disappointed
We visited because your new restaurant was open. We were disappointed in the menu, strange options we thought. Is the battered fish and chips cod or???We ordered two meals but only one was for our table , the other meal followed after nearly ten minutes. Surely they should come out together? We both had quiche albeit different types. My quiche was one largish and quite deep. My friends, however, was two small very shallow quiches so she had barely any filling.We were both disappointed in the clothing available, you used to have some lovely things. All in all we won’t be back, we much prefer either Sanders or Cadbury garden centres.
customer
Disappointed visit to refurbished cafe
Looks lovely The noises level was horrendous . Worse than before and I gather this was to be addressed with the referb.Cakes prices high.Service slow.Tea cakes were tastless. Coffee was bitter, the worse coffee we have tasted anywhere in years..We visited only last week ( the small cafe by pond) and the coffee was OK then..I was expecting so much more.Unfortunately we won't be visiting the cafe when we next visit the garden centre.
Sally Jones
A step too far?
My wife and I went to the new restaurant and were disappointed. It seems that Monkton Elm may have over extended themselves as there are more tables and there will be even more when the outside area is up and running yet the food took a very long time to prepare. This suggests that the kitchen is not keeping up with the demand. 40 minutes is too long to wait for a main course. And it was very noisy with sounds echoing around. It is early days and the restaurant may become more efficient, I certainly hope so as the Garden Centre is generally very popular with helpful staff but I fear this restaurant revamp may be a step too far.
Robert Harris
Food in temporary cafe
Food in temporary cafe served cold offered to reheat chips but in meantime peas got cold and so did the eggs.First time I've ever seen hot eggs put on top of stone cold ham? Asked to reheat but told we don't have a microwave. Sorry monkton I and my wife were not impressed.wont be eating here again.
MRS SHEILA SINGLETON
