Café Nucleus Rochester in Medway

Absolutely beautiful venue, food and especially the staff who made us feel so welcomed and looked after. Thank you for a lovely afternoon

Afternoon tea for 3 last weekend - very good service and handled a couple of dietary restrictions perfectly with no fuss. Good quality food all round.

Visited here last Sunday, my wife having poached eggs and myself the roast pork loin. My wife and I are both in catering and couldn’t fault it at all, from the service to the food, everything was excellent. Can’t wait to come again

Over priced and rude staff members avoid

Had a great brunch here last Saturday with friends

This was the first time for two years we had visited the Friday night fine dining restaurant in the Board Room, Nucleus, Rochester. It says the table is yours for the night - no time restrictions. We arrived at 7.30 pm with two very old friends who had not been before. We were served quickly and made welcome. The food was good and reasonably priced and the room was nice although not many people there. Around 8.30 pm, we were the only four people there and you could tell there was a race to get rid of us. Things started to go badly wrong when we were informed at 9.20 pm that they would require our table back in 40 minutes and we said that was fine as we had a taxi booked for 10pm. So, 2.5 hours there. At around 9.30 pm, we asked to have some coffees. We were told by our waiter he had to check. He came back and said no the coffee machine had been switched off. We couldn’t believe it and asked for the bill and brought forward our taxi by ten minutes. If people are going to be treated like this, Nucleus will find very few people will patronise their restaurant. Still quite shocked. Also disappointed as it could be so good.

Cafe nucleus is such a nice location! It feels very decadent inside and you get linen napkins and high quality serve wear. We had to wait quite a while for our table to be ready but they have a gallery for you to wait in. The building is so interesting and has lots of art/ intricate decor and the food is good. We went for brunch and there are all the usual options and they are done well. The drinks menu is also extensive. I would say the environment is the main thing I enjoyed about cafe nucleus! Such a beautiful building, the food didn’t blow me away but was just as good as anywhere else, so I would still choose to go here. While we were there we saw lots of Sunday roasts going by, which looked fantastic, so will definitely return to try one of those! 😋

We stopped at Cafe Nucleus in Rochester for a quick lunch and drink. They seated us straight away which was great considering we could see how busy they were. The service was amazing as was the food. Not overpriced for what it was. We left very satisfied.

Superb service and food/drinks. Could not ask for better!

Lovely afternoon with me and my furbaby absoutly fantastic all staff are amazing thank u all xxxx

I had a lovely lunch there today with my goddaughter. We sat in the garden area and were served by the lovely Ivan and Riley. They were friendly, efficient and an absolute credit to this restaurant. Nothing was too much trouble - especially as I have recently had a hip replacement and was on crutches. They went above and beyond. Absolute stars. The food was delicious too - all in all a great experience.

The scallops were disappointingly overcooked, lacking the delicate tenderness they should have had. The risotto was bland, with little flavour beyond a hint of creaminess, and the texture was far too thick. As for the Full English breakfast, it was nothing special—overdone eggs, dry toast, and sausages that tasted like they came from a budget supermarket. For the price, I expected something far more refined. A rather underwhelming experience overall.

Trip Advisor: Cafe Nucleus Rochester Written 17/03/25 Review Title: "Ivan & Anna genuinely cared" Mar 17, 2025 (12noon) I need to take back my previous bad review (staffs' attitude) way before, as ANNA & IVAN's caring attitude in today's visit has changed everything that made Cafe Nucleus now stands to its prestigious name through kind & caring care customer services which is one of the focal points that most establishments' customers / service users tends to come back again and again. I hope they ( lvan & Anna ) are in the manegerial status in this fine establishment to gather / entice more customers. Respectfully yours. Dr. Melvin E.de Guzman Asian Customer

The food was nice ,but way over priced for what it was coffees way to dear and a glass of orange juice 5 pound as I say so expensive for Chatham hight street and the drinks were small too .

we had a server his name was riley he was the most lovely waiter I have ever had while eating out he was attentive kind and always had a lovely smile definatley come again food was delicious

As always a truly beautiful breakfast … I’d completely forgotten that they add a little special element for the birthday person … so cute and over indulgent . My only issue is they won’t give a pot of hot water to top the tea pot Good food Good service Beautiful place

Very nice comfortable place to eat Visited twice in the last 4 weeks

A lovely little cafe we popped into just before Christmas. Beautiful decorations. Nice food. Polite, friendly staff.

Fantastic breakfast and well Looked after

I met a business associate for a meeting, the service was really lovely.

A thoroughly underwhelming experience. The scrambled eggs with salmon were overcooked and lacked seasoning, making the dish dull and unappealing. The risotto was stodgy rather than creamy, with barely any flavour to redeem it. As for the croque monsieur, it was a greasy, uninspired mess with a disappointingly soggy texture. Given the reputation of the café, I expected far better quality and attention to detail.

Lovely cream tea Fresh and warm Service was great too

Sunday lunch was nice. Service was ok although arguing about the menu content is not on when it is printed in black and white and the drink prices are exorbitant. Didn't realise about the automatically added "service" charge as I was away from table and my wife paid our bill. Surely it is for the customer to decide the value of this? Does the service increase proportionately based on the size of bill? I think not.

Great food,great atmosphere and service was outstanding,defo worth a visit people's 🤟🤟🤟

Had a lively evening in Friday with some friends and everything was excellent. We were served by the lovely Ivan and Gretta, who were the perfect blend of funny, kind, helpful and knowledgeable. They made our exquisite meal even more enjoyable. Would definitely reccomend, the upstairs is so elegant. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

One of the best places for breakfast

The scrambled tofu was absolutely dreadful—bland and unappetising. The sourdough was inconsistently toasted, with one end barely touched by heat. To top it off, the entire meal arrived stone cold.

My friend invited me to this cafe and it's situated in a beautiful building. The decor is lovely and the food and drink is top notch. The young man who was looking after us was exceptional he has a gift of making our stay very special and I am sure he must have theatre training as he knows how to dazzle. The other staff were good and I highly recommend everyone going to this cafe as everyone makes an effort. When I went to the inclusive toilet there was an audio book being played on the speakers, this was a nice touch. I will certainly return to this terrific cafe.

Unfortunately I was made to feel very unwelcome and uncomfortable with my dogs at this restaurant by one of the staff members. Considering they advertise as a dog friendly establishment. I also haven’t received any to my email expressing this before Christmas.

I have now eaten here for both lunch and dinner and it was great both times. Fantastic food and excellent service. If you’re looking for somewhere a bit special in Rochester then definitely give Café Nucleus a try.

Great atmosphere, friendly staff and fabulous food

We had an amazing Christmas afternoon tea with my parents. There was more than enough sandwiches, cakes and scones and all were very tasty. The service was excellent and the dining room was very Christmassy.

Ate here today and ended up very disappointed. We were told outside had heaters but which didn’t really warm to a standard healthy to sit people outside in this weather. Food arrived and the portion size was tiny and overpriced, shakshuka didn’t taste like shakshuka, more like tomato paste with chickpeas with a couple of fried eggs on top. My friends jacket potato came with cold beans and an overdone jacket. Overall not a great service or quality for the prices asked for. Advice that the owner and management look at stepping things up! It could be so much better if small things were tended to and improved.

Loved Cafe Nucleus. Great atmosphere. I had the brisket which was very tasty.

Love this place so worth a visit 💕

Such a lovely place to have lunch. The decor is amazing. We had an amazing hot chocolate which was so needed on a cold day and some panini's which were served with a salad. Food was perhaps a tad pricey but would I go back? Yes. In a heartbeat if only for the toilets. They were the best toilets I've been to since visiting the Ritz in London. They were clean, smelled nice and quite inviting due to the audio stories and cloth hand towels.

Great atmosphere and service food was tasty but was served piled on top of each other which we didn't enjoy. Vegetables and sauce would be better served separately

A beautiful environment and delicious food.

Excellent location, food, atmosphere and staff, can't wait to return

Beautiful setting in the courtyard. Great, friendly service. Will definitely return

What a lovely place for Saturday brunch in Rochester. Very good menu options, including vegan and gluten-free. I enjoyed my pea and mint soup, and the staff was very attentive to my food intolerance. My friend enjoyed vegetarian truffle pastry with veg and mashed potatoes. Very nice and clean restaurant, lovely ambient and staff.

Went here for a birthday breakfast, decor is great, waiter was good. The food was average, shaksuka was flavourless. Only other observation, the tables are too close to one another (where we sat).

Amazing venue. The ambience was incredible, the good great and the whole experience is to be recommended.

My recent visit to this café was something of a mixed experience. I was pleased to find the portions generous, and the food itself was worth the wait. However, the service left much to be desired. Upon arrival, the hostess seemed distant and unwelcoming, speaking to her colleague about our lack of a reservation in a manner that was less than discreet. I almost felt a touch of guilt for simply wishing to dine there. The servers, while efficient, appeared somewhat aloof, which felt out of place in an establishment with such an elegant ambiance. Formality is one thing, but a baseline of warmth and courteousness would elevate the experience significantly. Our wait for two sandwiches, a salad, and a jacket potato was overly long, which transformed our leisurely visit into one of impatience by the time the food finally arrived. The one redeeming factor in the service was the gracious blonde lady with a bob who went out of her way to ensure we felt welcome and attended to. Her kindness was a breath of fresh air and left a positive impression.

This restaurant is STUNNING. My favourite place I’ve been to so far in Rochester. The only downside (for me) was the lack of main meal options. I’m not a fan of meat, and they only had meat options. The chef did end up making me a vegetarian option which was a cauliflower steak with roasted veg, which was really lovely of him. But I would love for a chicken option. The bruschetta was the best thing I’ve ever flipping tasted like OH MY. And the staff are WONDERFUL.

Lovely experience, we had afternoon tea, but the vegetarian option is lacking, due to an overkill of cheese sandwiches. Service was attentive and beautiful surroundings.

Great service, beautiful venue and atmosphere, been for lunch and breakfast. Food is amazing

Really nice Cafe. Helpful, friendly staff and reasonable prices. 🥰

Wetherspoons food for high end prices. £12.50 for the fry up shown in the photo and £9.50 for the panini which was made from all clearly bought in food. Panini, super thin salt beef slices that were dry and shit plain crisps. Absolute rip off, but the coffee was good

Splendid small cafe, coffee excellent. Seating 'cosy' or a bit cramped. Would happily go back.

Apparently the Bar woman prided herself on her long islands but they were really not great. Maybe that’s how they’re taught. Couldn’t poach an egg without vinegar even in a quiet restaurant, and their vinegar choice isn’t gluten free apparently. Seems like an easy fix.

What a great space and the service is so on point. We had brunch but it's love to go back for their evening menu and cocktails.

Great place for authentic Italian food. The pizzas and other food ordered like risotto were very well presented and tasted good. All fresh produce, the service was relaxed and friendly. Good wine selection. It's great for large groups or lone diners. Reasonabley priced too. Clean and well presented. Definitely would recommend visiting here.

Lovely restaurant really enjoyed it. Good prices and lovely helpful staff. The good was presented beautifully and tasted really good too.

Really nice food and service place is very interesting and bathroom throws you off a bit lmao!!!! Really good experience

Such a beautiful place for eating....love the round tables too

Great service from Hannah, she even went the extra million miles to bring us hot water bottles and extra brown sauce. Delicious and great quality food along with a cosy garden atmosphere.

Aki was lovely. Despite other tables it felt like a private dining experience. Went for breakfast, Canadian definitely filled a hole. Love the decor and the history of the building. Aki also off the bat with knowledge with questions about the place. Will be back again for dinner

Located in Rochester town. This was a perfect place for a brunch getaway. The place is beautiful, the atmosphere is luxurious but relaxing. The service was spot on. Of course the food was nice and the produce was fresh. I couldn't fault this place. It's slightly pricey, but you pay what you get for. Highly recommended and will definitely get back. It's one of my new top places.

What a wonderful place! Highly recommend! Greta was so great❤️

Nothing special and expensive for what it is

Enjoyable get together in comfortable surroundings. Food very well presented and delivered with warmth. A bit pricey but on balance I would recommend.

Excellent service all due to the wonderful Riley. We have had a really lovely experience celebrating two birthdays with Excellent service from a relatively new team member, who helped make the day wonderful. Thank you. The food was superb 👌 😋 we all loved it. Five star rating

Love this place,so elegant,so beautiful. The food is delicious.

Avoid!! Staff are not very welcoming, poor food compared to the Nucleus at Chatham. They also charge £2 per person towards their charity and then add 10% tip. I don't mind paying for anything if it's worth it, but unfortunately this was not. I felt obliged to pay the charge as the male staff member made such a scene in front of all the customers when we questioned about paying it and kept repeating its on the website. It does refer to a contribution, no amount is advertised. I have never been charged this in the Chatham one. Looking at previous reviews, a lot of people feel the same about the staff, quite rude and huffing and puffing when you politely ask them about the charges on the bill. Food was average and nothing special. Expensive for what it is. Never had any issues in Chatham.

Great, food, long waits between appearances of staff, lovely dining room (upstairs). Service needs to match prices, but still a nice option in Rochester.

Absolutely terrible experience today - We had booked a table for breakfast at 11.15, only to be told on arrival that they thought it was 12pm. When showed the confirmation they said they could sit us outside but had nothing inside (we had specifically booked inside) - no apology, no offer to have a drink outside or at the bar until a table inside became available. We went elsewhere, along to Fish at 55, which was delicious, with amazing service - would encourage anyone to do the same.

Very lovely atmosphere for dining out! Excellent service and food was just magnificent. The menu is very versatile and has many options, lots of drinks to choose from too which was great. We didn't have to wait long and the staff made sure we have everything we need. One of the best places to go to if you want a cosy yet exquisite evening. The location is close to Rochester castle so if you want you can have a nice walk after dinner. Me and my partner enjoyed every second. Definitely coming back again for brunch next time!

Had an amazing experience here today. Staff members were very friendly and the food was exceptional. Will definitely be returning in the future.

Visited this morning...greeter was nothing short of rude! OK we chanced a table being available...to be told in a very trucculent and facetious manner that "Its a bank holiday" .....ahhhh thanks for that wonder why the wife didn't go to work today. Go to Quills down the road....like we did...despite being very busy they were very welcoming and the food and service was excellent .

Nice food but you must book at busy times like weekend lunch for example

What a stunning establishment. Good food, good music and fabulous people. This is the future of having a good time with friends.

I was taking to Cafe Nucleus as a birthday treat, I went with my family, everything was outstanding, lots of food and hot drinks, and the staff were so very friendly and helpful, I would recommend it highly.

Only has a 4 star rating for Food Hygiene which is not great considering its got the most expensive fry up in kent at 16.5 ! Wow This place looks pretty but it’s guaranteed not to be clean. Dogs should not be allowed into an area where food is consumed. It is unhygienic. Ive seen staff then touching the animals and serving food to customers. Not enough washing of hands have we not learnt anything. This is basics.

Perhaps slightly expensive but a good quality fry up.

Yes decoration lovely, clean, decent service but ridiculously overpriced. The worst scrambled tofu ever eaten, sourdough was only toasted one end of the slice given. The whole meal was cold. Another diner with me had toast, which wasnt even toasted & served without butter, which had to be asked for. I could not believe the bill presented, for so little food & a coke, orange juice & a coffee, which like the food wasn't hot.

Dropped in purely by chance, and what a brilliant find. Everything about the place is spot on, from the food, which is amazing, to the service which is professional, friendly and attentive. Would we recommend this place,? Absolutely and without hesitation. Next time we visit, we'll definitely call again.

I actually went here two days running! The first visit was a Saturday lunch with my son. I had always wanted to go but never had an excuse. We sat upstairs and the room was fantastic. Large, airy with lots of room. The food was OK, if a little toppy price wise but the service and location make up for that. They didn't have the starter or the beer my son asked for, which was a bit disappointing but not really a deal breaker. The second visit was Sunday afternoon and a cream tea. We sat outside which was OK. The table was tilted at quite a slope, which was a bit odd. The cream tea was delicious and not overly priced. Overall I'd recommend it for "an occassion" visit and would definitely look to go again.

We had a delicious breakfast in the board room. Eggs royal, pancakes and waffles were all great. Hannah our waitress was excellent as well as the chef sorting our 7 year old out some extra strawberries we will be back again.

4 generations of us girls out for Grandma's 86th birthday brunch. We had the table for 1hr 20mins (4 of us) and this was just the right amount of time for us. We weren't made to rush and the service and food were 5* We dined inside on the ground floor as we had a walking aid trolley and they stored the trolley safely out the way for us. Not a cheap place to eat but value for money as the food was delicious and beautifully presented, and the restaurant was gorgeous. We'll definetely be going back for the next special occasion!

Really nice food, pleasant atmosphere and just the right level of service. I would highly recommend this cafe to anyone in the area

Turned up asking for a table for 5 with my 98 year old grandma in a wheelchair. Was swiftly told there were no tables despite the place being 80% empty. We asked if there was anything in the courtyard and asked if we could squeeze on a table of 4 even though it was on a hill and we then had to get grandma out the wheelchair. Once we sat down I noticed all the empty tables and enquired why they can’t accommodate when an odd number arrive, was told they only have 2 tables of 6, it is their policy not to bring tables together and we would need to sit separately. It seems a very strange business model to turn people away rather than accommodate when your cafe is mostly empty. It is also not very accessible for wheelchairs at all. Disappointing experience.

Great atmosphere, great food, great staff.

Had a delicious Canadian breakfast at this place! Chill vibes, perfect for the morning! Friendly and quick service. Perfect location, in the middle of Rochester. Would visit again for sure!

Loved this place. Unique, quirky, tasteful decor; friendly and attentive staff; delicious food; great menu for vegetarians and vegans. Not tried the cocktails yet but will 100% be back for those as they looked amazing!

One of my 4 favourite eateries in Rochester, the food is always delicious & the service exemplary. I had a very late lunch on 17/06/24, choosing the chicken, avocado & bacon salad. I love their desserts but it was so large I could barely manage the ice cream I had instead. An added bonus was that my personal 'Dream Team' - Aki, Anna & Ivan - were on duty.

Good cafe, went here for Father's Day breakfast... service was good, and so was the food, ketchup portions are big, interesting painting on the wall

Love this place. Always good quality food and the staff are super friendly. A little bit pricey but worth it.

This place is always awesome! The decor is stylish, food is scrumptious and the staff are just amazing! So friendly and amenable. We went for brunch with our 3 yr old and they were more than happy to cater to our every need. He had the chocolate pancake stack that was absolutely incredible!! Drizzled chocolate, powdered sugar, raspberries, strawberries and blue berries. I had the California eggs: buttered muffins with mashed avocado, poached eggs and warm hollandaise sauce. I added a slice of Bacon. It was soo iso delicious I could have eaten it twice, if I wasn't so full from the first plate. Hubs had the French toast which vanished so fast I don't even have a description of it to leave here! He said it was "horrible" while cleaning his plate entirely. I agreed he must have hated it seeing as there wasn't a morstle in sight. Lol. To drink I had a bramble which came with frozen red currents and hubs had a long island iced tea which again was gone in seconds and professed as so horrid I wouldn't want to try any. I know he was just trying not to share it with me. They seated us outside but under the marquee. I asked to see if we could sit in the sun outside so as soon as one of those tables came up they had us on it. So friendly they giggled and joked with our 3 yr old son who is a total joker. As they always do!! I can't recommend this place highly enough to anyone. Especially if you are looking to take someone for a posh feeling spot of food. Sometimes it gets busy and fully booked so it's always worth calling ahead to make sure they can accommodate. Or actually making a booking. Definitely a place to try in Rochester. You won't regret it.

Great food in gorgeous surroundings. NOT cheap!!!!!

Cafe Nucleus Chatham and others....Unbelievable overcharging, complained when I asked for the avocado and poached egg on toast, and to switch out the eggs (allergic to them) and have bacon instead!. When bill came, the cafe decided to charge me £2.50 per bacon rasher!!!! All in all the waitress did not make it clear that it would be charged on top and when i spoke to the manager today, they failed to address the fact that the waitress should have advised me that the items i wanted would add up to £5.000!!!!!!!!!!! Disgraceful!!!!!!!So to add insult to injury, a tiny sausage 1 sausage cost another £2.50!!!!! This company need to seriously look at over charging £7.50 for three utems ..I certainly will not be recommending nor visiting this establishment again.

Staff are very nice and very dog friendly food is amazing and just my favorite place to go

Lovely fresh food, friendly staff that do not rush you and great decor, will definitely be returning.

Had the pleasure of lunch here. We didn't have a booking but they managed to find us a table outside which was nice. They provided blankets and there was an oil heater on the table. The service was great and everyone was really friendly. Really enjoyed the lunch. It was fresh and tasty!

Loved the decor of this place! The service and staff were excellent. Great food and loved the spicy chai latte. Would be a great place for food with friends. Nice bathrooms too!

Great place to have lunch with the girls

A gem in Rochester for bistro eating in ambience You can also browse the mini art gallery and purchase an original art piece

Everything great only one thing , only 2 toilets.

We’d previously dined at Café Nucleus in Rochester for a cheese and wine evening and, although a little expensive, the food and drinks were excellent, as was the service. The actual venue is stunning. On Sunday we booked a table for a light lunch and sadly we were disappointed. It has to be said that the service remained spot on and the selection of drinks excellent. However, we were very disappointed with the food and unfortunately this rather spoilt the lunch. My wife chose a jacket potato with 3-bean chilli and I chose the Nucleus Ploughmans, adding Kentish honey roasted ham for an extra £3.50. The jacket potato appeared to have been reheated and was in a very bad way, served with a woefully small 3-bean chilli and some salad. The ploughmans consisted of some bread, 50% green leaves, a sprig of cherry tomatoes, pickles and a small piece of blue cheese. My extra £3.50 bought me a single thin slice of ham. We don’t go out often and didn’t want the negativity of arguing with the waiter about the quality so we ate what we could and left a significant portion. I appreciate the venue has some very good reviews but our experience was unsatisfactory and, as such, I really cannot recommend Café Nucleus in Rochester. My recommendation for a much better alternative to Cafe Nucleus is the Cheese Rooms just down the road.

Fantastic vegetarian brunch absolutely faultless Great coffee Beautiful location with an attached gallery Would hold its own anywhere