Cafe Black in South Kesteven

We were welcomed in and they gladly accommodated our party of 5, orders taken quick, drinks all out quick and all food came out but one of the party their sour dough was burnt (very black) so we asked to return with less burnt toast, Sadly they forgot and when they did bring it it was wrong ingredients on top, my friend ate as she was so hungry and the rest of us has finished, we were feeling quite disappointed (we had asked the young staff a few times where it was before it arrived) however at the end the manager ( i assume) got wind out what happened he came over, apologised explained he had been stuck at front of house and wasn't aware of what had gone on, he agreed it was poor service and seemed genuinely mortified and wiped our entire bill. The way he handled this problem and reacted and his genuine distress at our poor experience showed he cares about his customers and cares what they put out and the service we get and we all really appreciated his apology. Aside from the issue all the other food and drinks were all super and if/ when we return to Stamford again I would re visit Cafe Black, the owner cares and happy to acknowledge and own mistakes

Had a great lunch at Cafe Black. The food was lovely and fresh (we had sandwiches with a side of chips) we didn't have to wait long and the service from our waitress Mollie was amazing. Will definitely return.

Very disappointed but please avoid this cafe. 4 of us went for lunch today the staff were miserable they forgot half our order. The food was terrible well out of date salad and stale crisps. Really awful place the staff are so rude I don't even think they want to be there.

Love this cafe! Food is well cooked and presented and the homemade soups are to die for! Staff are lovely and on the rare occasion there is a problem, the owner resolves it with grace and a smile. Highly recommend.

I visited 8 Sept. "The breakfast was good, with tasty flavors and fresh ingredients. However, it did take a bit longer than expected to arrive at the table. While the food was worth the wait, a quicker service would make the experience even better."

Decided to treat myself to a piece of Red Velvet cake which looked sooo yummy in the window display. This was to be my later in afternoon sin and at £4.25 per slice was it so. Sadly that is as far as the good points go... mediocre red sponge covered and interlayered with rock hard 'frosting'. All of it way too sweet. Recently had this in Greece and it was soft, rich and superb so what has happened to the UK version? Altho the cake was an uncut whole and should have been fresh it obviously isnt. Dear Owner, please take this item off sale right now - I cant be bothered to hoof it back to town and give it back or ask for a refund as I am so racked off. I notice several other stale cake reviews for earlier months - oh yeah and intersperced with rave reviews from new contributors.Hmmmm.

Best cafe in town, really good quality coffee and tea cakes from a local bakery, Askers. And my server, Asia, was lovely, really attentive.

I had the hunters chicken sandwich which was really nice and prepared to perfection. It had generous portion sizes and was great value for the price. Lovely atmosphere in the cafe and all the staff are friendly.

Love the new layout and the staff are always so friendly and helpful. We had delicious paninis and shared the piri.piri chips. The milkshakes are so tasty. We always love it here.

Always a friendly atmosphere from the staff who go above and beyond, the food and drink is great, and love the new look - keep it up!

It has a really nice and relaxed atmosphere, making it a great spot for catching up with my family when we meet up in Stamford or getting some work done on my laptop sometimes. I've been here a few times and always had a great experience. I highly recommend giving Café Black a visit if you're looking for a cosy place to enjoy a good cup of coffee.

This was my first time coming to cafe black and as soon as we entered we were greeted with a warm welcome by the servers who were very helpful and attentive through out our stay. The service was quick and efficient and we didn’t not have to wait too long for our food arrive and it tasted delicious. I have recommended this placed to others and they also enjoyed the experience.

I had breakfast and drinks here . Food was great . Good size portion and tasted fresh . Service was also good and drinks very amazing.

I’ve been going to cafe black regularly for the past 6 months and im never let down! I’ve tried many of their selections from the menu such as the chicken Caesar salad, tuna panini, hunters chicken and recently their special the Madam Croque. They have all been amazing! Cafes blacks coffee is also a must have, smooth and silky as well as their iced drinks. The iced honey matcha latte with oat milk is a personal favourite. They have a great selection of cakes, macaroons, baklava that are incredible! Thank you Cafe black for always providing a great experience each time I come , from lovely friendly staff to great food and drink!

A really great full English breakfast, the owner/manager seems to be running everything and he was friendly and prompt. Sadly the staff don’t seem to have any clue what’s going on! I realise that they are young but it’s quite simple, take customers order, bring them their order, ask if they have everything they need, take away plates and bring them the billI. There’s no sauce on the tables and none was offered, so I had to go and ask for some. I’ve been sitting here now for 20 minutes with a £20 note on the table…I don’t know why anyone hasn’t come to my table to take it! But all in all, it was a positive experience and I will return, fingers crossed the staff will remember the four things they have to remember!

A lovely cafe with friendly and efficient service. A good range of snacks, light lunches and cakes, including vegan options.

Thought would sit outside and have a coffee as had the dog. Popped inside and was advised that it was table service. 5 minutes later (timed!!!!) nobody showed up so clearly there is a shortage of staff in this cafe. Shame as never tried it before. We left and went up the road to another cafe. Why you couldn’t order inside god only knows 🤔

Just nipped in for a coffee (no food). Really tasty and very friendly staff. Will go again when next in Stamford

What a little gem , great food and nothing is ever to much for the staff we will be back again and again

Twice I’ve been - the first time the bread was stale the second it took 23 minutes to get a simple sandwich and a coffee which was paid for and left at the cafe. Hopeless service - lots of staff but not sufficient staff in the kitchen to prepare meals on time - another few people were being apologised to for late meals while I was there. The cafe wants to be supported by locals but this is not the way to do it.

Really friendly and efficient service Food excellent and coffee really good We had poached eggs on sour dough and bacon sandwich with hash brown on a bap Delicious

Unfortunately, I won’t be going back despite only living 5 mins walk away. I love supporting local businesses, but every time I go, there is a problem or delay. Today, I waited 40 minutes for an empty panini as they forgot to add the filling. I had to leave without eating as I ran out of time. Always new staff, and always hiring so staff turnover is high which isn't a good sign. Avoid.

Really lovely and welcoming staff, a really homely atmosphere to the place, everything has a certain Stamford aesthetic and peaceful vibe to it in the cafe. Would definitely recommend to all tourists and visitors to support this independent business.

Service was very quick and was pleasant. Mug of tea and cappuccino were fine but a little pricey. Biscoffi cake was very disappointing - very dry and tasted of nothing really. Probably wouldn’t return.

Lovely cafe, great food and very friendly service. Lovely personal touches including red roses on the tables and little nests of chocolate eggs. Great selection of cakes and generous portions. Definitely a treat.

Visited this cafe today, first time ever to Stamford so was intrigued to find out what the local eateries would be like, so tried this one ,so pleased we did we were served by a beutitful young lady called Alice, so polite and friendly, as were all the staff, food was delicious well cooked and served with a smile, we were made so welcome, can't wait to return, highly recommend x

We had a fabulous breakfast at this lovely place as a group of six. The cafe was very busy, and despite this, the staff went above and beyond to find us a place and serve us. The food was great (we ate it so fast I didn’t get a pic!) and I loved that they had vegan options, and a fabulous smoothie! But it was the friendly, approachable and polite staff that made it extra special. Thank you for a lovely breakfast which made our friends get together even more memorable :)

I visited looking forward to a nice breakfast and a few coffees while taking some to enjoy some downtime. I had never visited this establishment before and had high hopes. On entering I was greeted by a friendly staff member who directed me to take a seat and informed me that someone would be with me shortly…promising! Unfortunately that’s as far as I got! There were three tables who had finished and were leaving as I arrived and one table who were just finishing their breakfast - this left one table and myself. After waiting over ten minutes for at least my coffee order to be taking and no sign of any service (even after trying to catch the eye of the young lady who was more interested in chatting to the young man behind the counter) I gave up and went elsewhere. Extremely disappointed, as in these difficult times I would have thought trying to attract and keep clientele was paramount - it seems not in this cafe’s view. I shall not be returning as there are plenty of other places in Stamford willing to make customers feel welcome and valued.

Absolutely disgusted give vinegar with ants in the bottle, changed twice and still came back with ants. Waitress was not really concerned. Needless to say we did not risk the saracens bottle as we could not see inside. Not even a proper apology. Weill definitely not go there again. Disgusted.

Came in today 29/1/2022 we have always used cafe black when in Stamford , well from today we will be going else where it was busy but it usually is so waited absolutely ages for our two jkt potatoes when asked why we was told we have a lot of food orders to do , over 40 minutes later food arrived the chilli looked as if it had been in the pot for ever , my cheese well I say cheese as you hardly had any beans were ok potato was dry no butter In it , when we was asked if everything was ok we politely told the young lady the truth to which she walked of with no reply , it’s now time to try out all the other eateries in Stamford we won’t be coming back to cafe black .

This little venue is a breath of fresh air in the main street, with charming polite staff, prompt service, great coffee and scrummy cakes. Highly recommended!

Disappointed that they are still operating out of a kiosk, serving coffee in cardboard cups & cakes in paper bags when others are managing to operate a proper outside experience with proper crockery & service. We have preferred to use this independent cafe for some years now but if you are not careful you will lose your customers. This is not a pleasant experience.

Wonderful dog friendly place. If this pandemic had taught you anything it’s to eat cake when you have the chance!

Greeted at the door with a warm welcome, table service was great didnt have to wait at all, I had a bacon and sausage baguette and my wife had the bacon one, the food was spectacular and the drinks was good too ( latte and a smoothie) would definitely come back.Alex

Great food and great staff! Thanks as always, I wolfed down my yummy guacamole and bacon breakfast so fast I forgot to take a pic to add.

Lovely scones, cakes and coffee in a very dog friendly place. I always love going here as they always make me very welcome. Lovely service with a smile and gorgeous refreshments in this lovely independent cafe.

Worst experience, ordered lunch and hot drinks. Hot drinks came after 20 mins, then 15 mins later waitress came to our table asking for full payment before food arrived!!! We asked if we could pay after our food but were told it was their policy to take full payment (this was not even mentioned when we ordered!!). 2nd waitress arrived confirming we had to pay before food. We reluctantly paid before food arrived only to notice on table next to ours, after they had finished eating, they requested bill!!! Why treat customers so different!!! Very dissappinted!!!! 3rd waiter arrived to clear our table and confirmed they take payment upfront according to government policy!!! I am not sure which policy he was referring to.... note to cafe black - explain your policy when taking order and not 30 minutes after order taken !!! Food was only average and would not recommend :(

If you are concerned about going out during COVID this is the place to choose. On arrival you will be met by someone at the door that will direct you to a seat ensuring you are socially distanced. You will have to give your name and contact number and will see that all staff are thoroughly cleaning and maintaining all health measures. The food and the cheerful friendly staff are great too!Very recommended!

Nice food but way over priced. Can’t fault the food. We chose 2 brunches but very over priced for a cafe and the amount you got. Service was average

We stopped here for brunch on our first ever visit to Stamford and what an excellent place. I had the smokey bacon eggs Benedict and it was really tasty. Proper thick cut bacon and great runny eggs. Flat white was excellent and everbody serving had a smile and couldnt do enough.

The staff are friendly and the takeaway coffee delicious. I explained I wanted a drink to warm up and have quickly as I wanted to hop back on my bike and cycle then voila...the barista is recommending a macchiato!What a pleasure during my 32mile wr and windy ride! Thanks chaps. Xx

The warmest welcome. The best coffee. The best service. Food is excellent. Hygiene first class. Try it....you will not be disappointed!

It's true that Stamford is blessed with a plethora of cafes, tea-rooms and coffee-houses. CAFE BLACK simply stands out because of the friendliness of the staff and warmth of their welcome.Where catch-up-chatter meets friendly-faces. What ever the weather, CAFE BLACK is perfectly-placed. It’s just-on-the-corner to everywhere we need to be. Ideally situated between after getting stuck into the work-of-the-day, and before the ruddy-deadlines get-too-much! You can lose yourself in that first cup of coffee, it's a miracle worker, and the Staff are absolute gems.

Always look after you so well. Great coffee cakes and snacks. My family went back in the morning for breakfast!

Alex, Ismail and Lucy were amazing! The food wasn’t bad either - in fact the breakfast (Bacon Benedict & Bacon Sandwich & Cappuccio) matched the service in its amazingness! Thank you! Happy Christmas

A fantastic, independent coffee shop in the heart of Stamford. Great coffee, tasty cakes and super staff. Highly recommended.

Visited with our two whippets and had a lovely time . Staff so friendly and helpful. Food really good and coffee was excellent. Lovely and clean. What's not to like !

My partner and I spent a few hours in Stamford, it is the first time I had been there since I was stationed nearby with the RAF over 45 years ago. We decided to stop for a tea and bacon sandwich. We were lucky to be seated outside on the hottest Bank holiday Sunday on record. The tea, real tea leaves, and the bacon sandwich were absolutely superb and well worth the price. The staff were excellent, friendly and very efficient. To add to our lovely morning it was also the Vintage Motor Show alongside the river. Stamford is as quaint as ever and, hopefully, I will be back before another 45 years.

Stopped here on our way from York to Kent and had extremely good flat white and brunch with poached eggs, bacon and guacamole. Friendly staff and charming location. Highly recommended.

My wife and I called in here for a coffee ☕️ & cake whilst visiting the town. Very nice coffee and good selection of pastries. Although we didn’t sample any the ice-cream was very popular. Great little Café with friendly attentive staff. Free WiFi. Highly Recommended

Had a quick coffee break whilst the wife was shopping friendly staff also outside seating that was handy on a hot day

On the basis of seeing Cafe Black on here thought would give it a go and we weren't disappointed!

Great tea n cakes nice seatings ambience was great enjoyed the tea Nice surroundings not v busy though

Called on way further north to quick tasty lunch. If you like fresh ingredients cooked fresh and served hot with a smile this is the place.

We are Cafe Black regulars and love it first and foremost for the genuine passion the whole team has for making customers feel truly valued. Super-friendly staff with a real pride in all they do - they deserve praise indeed for that alone. The cappuccino is made just how we like it (they are happy for you to be picky - just mention when you order if you have any special requests)!! Breakfasts are generous and delicious - bacon sandwich this Saturday was stuffed full ...the perfect post Park Run treat. Fantastic choice of toasties, wraps, salads and specials for lunch. I've yet to get to the artisan ice-creams, but have witnessed the smiles and yummy sounds from people enjoying them.

We visited for the first time this weekend and all I can say is wow! The food was amazing, you could it was good quality ingredients and then beautifully presented. The peanut stack is the best! The staff were so friendly and couldn’t do enough to make our visit perfect. We can’t wait to return to try more off the menu!

Visited for coffee and breakfast coffee was fine nice smooth tasting, however ordered bacon sandwich and sausage sandwich. Arrived some time after ordering but was steady so happy to wait. Arrived but sausage was Cumberland sausage, but a herby one, which just ruins a sausage sandwich, they should advise it was herby. Bacon sandwich was okay what ruined it was brown sauce had been doctored with vinegar and the taste was disgusting. We left the sandwiches and went.

My family and I have breakfast here at the weekends at least once a month, sometimes more. Nice strong coffee and fantastic poached eggs. Wonderful!

I came to the Cafe on a busy Friday morning with my wife and ordered two flat whites. The coffee was amazing as so was the staff. I would highly recommend going here!

I always love to come to cafe black, great coffee and friendly service, great location, always good to relax and watch the world go by.

I love coming to cafe black. The coffee and food is fantastic but also the staff. They are so polite and friendly. Nothing is too much trouble. Thank you Cafe black for your wonderful hospitality

Popped in for a breakfast catch up with my mother the other week. I enjoyed a lovely meal which was catered to my dietary needs at no fuss, and a decaf Americano. The cafe its self was lovely and clean, with a bright an airy atmosphere. Staff were very helpful and friendly, thank you Cafe Black for a lovely experience x

How lovely to have a selection of loose leaf tea in a pot! I had the mushroom one for lunch which was a wholemeal bagel with spiniach, a large flat mushroom and a poached egg on top which was delicious. I thought the selection available at lunchtime was varied.I would definitely go back if in the area again. Service was prompt and with a smile.

I came into this café with my husband and did not enjoy the experience there at all. The overall staff and manger didn't seem interested in the customers and was not professionally dressed at all which I was discussed by. I would not return to the café and would much rather visit Frothys just up the street which is where I normally go for breakfast with my husband!

Love this buzzy cafe, coffee, cake and sandwiches are great. Always cheerful staff, it’s my go to cafe when I visit Stamford.

Popped in here one Saturday with my son, j wanted to try the ‘Black Forest’ hot chocolate that has been advertised in the window! We ordered and found a table, my son also opted for a different hot chocolate. One drink was brought to the table, asked ‘which one is this? ‘ He didn’t even know! Had to go back and ask the person at the counter! Got both drinks and tbh they were just normal hot chocolate! Both had whipped cream on top, mine a squirt of what I assume was cherry flavour? And some chocolate ball things. Nothing special at all, quite disappointing considering quite a hefty price. Lots of staff loitering about too. Wouldn’t bother again!

A pleasant cafe on the High Street with a wide range of snacks and confectionery. Good quality and friendly staff

Sat outside with table service and were greeted with very friendly staff especially a waiter called Kyle . He was very attentive and wasn’t smiling the whole time . Would highly recommend :)

Coffee is fine here. It is just a bit cramped for my liking. Not a bad place at all just need some wider chairs for the more ‘endowed’ Lady

I have just left from my first visit here and can't help but tell you how amazing it is. The service was fab, the staff were so lovely. My hot chocolate was impressive and caloriffic. My husband's chai latte was apparently really good as well. The price was a little high but you definitely get your moneys worth.

Lovely friendly café with great coffee and food , the service is good and you always get greeted on entry.

On a visit to Stamford recently we headed straight for Cafe Black for lunch as we have been before whilst visiting the area. Again not disappointed. Fabulous food, friendly staff I opted for Chicken Kebabs with salad it was absolutely gorgeous, very generous portion, my husband decided to have a panini which he also enjoyed. All washed down with perfect coffee. The staff are excellent and friendly and as soon as a table becomes free they are on the case straight away clearing empty plates etc. Would highly recommend. Shames we only visit Stamford about 2/3 times a year, this would certainly be a regular place to go to if we lived closer.

Cosy little cafe Fab bites and sandwiches Only thing is a little bit too small!! Everyone trying to squidge past each other but still Lovely place

Have visited many times and always had a very welcoming experience. The coffee is excellent (best in town) and the food consistently fresh and very tasty. Definitely recommend this if you want great food and refreshments.

Average coffee shop with a range of small tables. Expensive with a limited range if sandwiches abd cakes. Coffee is average but expensive. Ice cream is ludicrously expensive for kids.

Poped in there today for coffee with my partner. Didn't expect much. Never been before. Menu looked good, so we oredered good too. Omg! Was amazing. Super fresh, and tasty. Staff very friendly and helpful. Place very nice for a lunch stop. We loved it

Went here for a quick pit stop after being Reccommended.. no disappointment here. Great service. Awesome festive baguettes Free WiFi and papers.. Will definitely return if I’m back in Stamford

The Café Black breakfast surpassed expectations. Served hot and eggs exactly as we asked for them. Granary roll came toasted. Loved the attention to detail (chives on the perfect poached eggs). Perfect. The food was truly delicious. I really liked the bacon and sausages. Great coffee and so impressed they did quality Rooibos tea too!

We drove to Stamford yesterday to have some Cafe Black big selection of ice cream only to be told it’s sold out and they don’t have any after the summer. We were really fed up to waste time and fuel for a weak excuse.

Had a little trip out to Stamford not knowing what to expect. Delightful town full of stone buildings from 17th to 19th century. Anyhow ... This cafe served a great cup of tea and delicious cakes. Will return if I have come back to area.

Great coffee, wonderful people, I’ve been getting my daily caffeine fix for years here. The management and staff are lovely, very friendly and helpful. Couldn’t recommend this place any higher :D

I hadn't visited for some time and wasn't sure if there would be many Gluten Free options for me. I was pleasantly surprised by the good selection of choices. I went for the 'Mushroom One' -spot on. Very accommodating staff and a free hot drink from an old loyalty card I found festering in my purse -bonus!

I always order a black Americano and it's usual sitting there before I have even paid for it. Great service and there breakfasts are honesty the best in town with fresh ingredients sourced locally and if you have anyone with u that likes ice cream, cafe black has amazing ice cream. There must be 10 plus flavours. Overall, great service and good quality local food. Thanks cafe black

What a super place Cafe Black is in the heart of beautiful Stamford. I took my mum 72 and step mum 65 there for lunch and brunch over 2 days. My mum is a vegetarian and is a little fussy so always has a list of requirements! The young lady who took the order was charming and attentive.. She was happy to tend to all our needs so much so I thought she must be related to the owner. I asked and she isn’t but she certainly works and cares as if she was. The owner was also charming as were the rest of the staff. The food and drinks were full of flavour and thoroughly deliscious. They clearly go the extra mile for their customers. I would happily recommend Cafe Black to anyone of any age.. Suitable for families, couples, singles and they even have seating outside if you have a dog. We are very much looking forward to our next visit

We need a stop for lunch and a coffee and tried this independent place in the centre of Stamford. Quite a range of food and drinks on offer. the staff were pleasant and though service was a bit slow, the sandwich lunch we had was okay. We did feel that the tables were a bit close together and if it had been busy, it would have been overwhelming

I visited this morning for what I was hoping would be a quiet cup of tea and a nice piece of cake. No that didn't happen. There was a table of very loud shouting screaming middle aged women,I asked for a cup of Tea and was charged for a pot of tea. I then asked for a slice of carrot cake which I was expecting to be lovely and moist as carrot cake is meant to be and it was all dry and stale it was awful. Not a very good atmosphere and the staff just walk and stand around as they have nothing to do as it's not busy looking lost. Will not be returning. I was looking for somewhere new to enjoy but I think I shall stick to the local coffee shop chain.

Just called in for breakfast. First time visitors and had the full breakfast. It was fantastic. 4 rashers of proper bacon, not the stuff used for Windows, along with sausages that tasted like they had seen a pig. Will definitely be back

Worth it and not pricey for a good eggs benedict! Great cake selection that's all homemade for a teatime treat!

I have visited this establishment a number of times and always enjoyed the coffee

Well what can I say, me and my friend normally come for the guacamole brunch with mushrooms istead of egg, this time we came for the florentine, wow, the food is absolutely amazing and the service of the staff and the warm welcome you get is great, always having a smile on their faces no matter what and the young man always remembering my order is superb! Exceptional and a number 1 to visit if you are ever in Stamford!

Used to love the coffee and snacks at this lovely independent cafe but lately they are slipping in standard. Bitter coffee, vastly overpriced drinks (£1.50 for a babyccino!!) Inattentive service and cold food. Will head to the fine food store instead in future

Kamila is amazing and so friendly and helpful and so is Katy cousins ask for better waitresses, the semi Spanish assistant manager is very update and punctual,

Service was friendly and all round incredible smiles all around and just a unique experience which you don’t get at most cafes

We were sharing a toasted sandwich as we knew we were going out fof an Indian in the evening. The waitress spotted we were struggling to share with only one plate and one set of utensils. She immediately popped across and gave us another plate and set of utensils. The portion was quite adequate for the two of us and we sat outside and watched the world go by.

Think this must be the best breakfast to be had in Stamford. Beautifully cooked, piping hot. The staff were helpful and cheerful

Super place to bring the children for healthy lunches and naughty delicious cake and coffee for me! Best coffee shop in the town.

Came here for morning coffee whilst shopping for the day, very little selection of cakes and pastries and we were very disappointed as we had been here before and it was amazing.

Always Come here at least once a week and recieve excellent service and all the staff are very helpful and friendly

A joy to have a refreshing drink, not your mainstream cafes, a very pleasant environment and experience, staff are very friendly and service is excellent

I came in to this lovely establishment just for a coffee but I decided to have a chicken tikka kebab it was absolutely amazing i will come again and recommend to anyone