JUST GARDEN CENTRES

CAFE REVIEW FOR FOREST LODGE GARDEN CENTRE

CHOICE OF FOOD
Types of food on offer include main meals, snack meals such as sandwiches, paninis, salads etc. There are lots of cakes to chose from and a good range of cakes.

FOOD QUALITY

 

Food quality is about average with no remarkable features although the presentation was better than normal. We had a main meal which tasted OK and a cheese salad which was served with a chunk of rather bland cheddar cheese.

Service is to your table for main meals and it was quick, prompt and courteous.

PRICES
Main meal specials are in the price range £7 to £9, a regular coffee costs £1.99. The main meal prices are slightly over the odds, other prices are mainly average.

The cafe was awarded a rather poor three star rating for food hygiene in November 2012 by East Hampshire District Council. Click here for the full report. This is not really an acceptable level as far as we are concerned given that the majority of garden centre cafes have a four or five star rating.

CAFE DECOR

 

The cafe has an indoor and outdoor seating area. The indoor area has exposed brick walls and paved flooring. The ceiling is the exposed metal roof which is slightly oppressive.

The tables and chairs are plain plastic. Although very little thought has been expended in arranging the tables chairs, the regularity is broken up simply by the fact that cafe is L-shaped. The area is clean and tidy.

CONCLUSION
Everything is acceptable but nothing inspires you to visit this cafe rather than any other cafe in the area. Slightly on the pricey side. The low food hygiene rating is concerning.