Ferns in Exeter

Wonderful home made soup which was vegitable very friendly local run

Myself and several friends Have visited Ferns at least twice a month for years. But I’m afraid we won’t be back. Recently the smell of frying food has just got too much. The cafe stinks of cooking oil and our clothes smelt all day. They have only been doing chips for past few months. I assume to attract families. So Ferns how about investing in a proper extraction system? The food and service has always been great. Home cooked food and good cakes are what people came for. Forget the chips! You have been emptier since you started serving them and I would be interested to know if the introduction of fried food has actually increased your income. Go back to what you did so well....wholesome lunches and brilliant cakes.

Cheese on toast the best I have had

We chanced upon this hidden treasure as we hunted for a quiet place to have lunch. We had fish pie and homity pie. Beautifully home cooked dishes.Would definitely come again, great food and good location.

Very nice food and staff very polite and helpful

Bad service, wrong drink, while staff chatted together When they were there, waited ages to be served,ladies toilet closed, was a regular place to go but not anymore

A clean restaurant in the centre of Exeter. Lots of room and could be really good, however it is spoilt by the unfriendly and miserable staff. When ordering it was almost too much hassle for them and when we added to our order we were sighed at. Such a shame as the food was good just let down by the poor service.

Had a large breakfast, and it was a large breakfast!! Very nice. Friendly staff, good food, nice place.

Had a lovely late light lunch in Ferns. Good value for money with friendly and quick service. Loads to choose from on the menu. Can imagine this place gets very busy over the lunch period. I like to support the independent and was not disappointed. it makes a nice change to be able to choose food from a varied but largely traditional menu.

Went to ferns on Wednesday whilst having a day in Exeter shopping been many times before always been good sadly this time was had quede up for age's waiting to be served ordered chicken pannini only to be told no chicken at lunch time really!!!! When eventually got a pannini with brie and cranberry not very nice at all sister in law had soup which she said was eat able but not very tasty they didn't have any rolls to go with soup all in all a very disappointed pair of people and to top it all the cost of the food is quite expensive £8-40 for a jacket potato is really expensive as. A potato farmer wow !!!!!

Went here for Breakfast on a Saturday morning. I fondly remember Ferns as I visited it with my mum however I had not been in here for years until today. I was really disappointed. The inside smelt like a chip fryer inside so we sat outside. They didn’t have a proper menu and just told us what was on offer. When the breakfast arrived it was cold, the eggs were over done and it was not what would be expected for nearly £9, you can’t get far better at the Wetherspoons for half the price! We won’t be returning and it’s sad that such a lovely place to lunch has really gone down hill.

Nice food, not appetizing to look at as toasted sandwiches was pale, found it expensive. Has a panni, toasted sandwich 2 teas and 2 pieces of cake, grand total £22. Overpriced

Not to expensive and plenty of seating

Lovely food, happy and helpful staff

Slightly dated decor feeling very 80s if you like vintage dining. But their food seems to be always nice and full of flavour - the menu must have changed in the 15 years I've been visiting but when you go to ferns you know what you'll have. Popular with retirees and above.

Good hospitality! Good food ! GREAT!!

Had a very nice lunch here for a reasonable price. Nice location and staff very friendly, helpful and polite.

Very slow service food is very over priced £12.50 for a large chips you literally get 10 chip witch are frozen Macain chips steak pie that gets heated up in the Microwave and goes soggy and the coffee is literally a thimble full and the staff look like they don’t won’t to be there it’s gone down hill from 5 years ago it used to be ok not anymore save your money don’t bother you will be disappointed

I took my friend to ferns for a birthday lunch ,we have been many times before. We sat at the tables outside, only to be surrounded by college students, who didn't buy anything, no tables left for paying customers it was very uncomfortable experience. Chairs being dragged from table to table .WE WILL NOT RETURN TO FERNS AGAIN .

Rubbish food, rubbish coffee, staff not very friendly

Very dated, cakes did not look appetising. Staff very disinterested and looking scruffy. Food is all precooked cooled then reheated in a microwave why cant they cook to ordered would make more sense. Coffee flavourless and bitter and no chocolate sprinkles for the cappuccino. What has happened to ferns used to enjoy eaten here now no longer what a shame.

Queued for good 10 mins, to be told item unavailable,massive queue behind me, only 1 person serving, so rather than keep everyone waiting walked out, if it's not on the menu why advertise, disappointed

Awesome little find today! Good quality food, outstanding service and proper yummy food. Nothing fancy just good basic food you get exactly what you order, loads of seating, the lady even went and brought us a high chair for my son and lots of seating. Very nice cake display in the fridge.

Expensive and the choice has declined.

Freashly made lovely Quality food, friendly atmosphere,

Good place for a quick bite to eat and drink.

Girl serving was fairly dis interested

Ferns is in the Guildhall shopping area and has both quote indoor" and "mall side" seating overlooking the rest of the shopping center from the second floor level.. The food was decent-we had ham and cheese Panini. The biggest problem for us was that there were birds flying around constantly trying to get our food even though we were technically inside. It made the lunchtime less than it could have been. We would've been better off sitting inside of the cafe.

Have been visiting the cafe for a number of years on and off, I usually visit because of the gluten free sandwiches which they make and the coffee. I was very disappointed last Friday, when I asked for a gluten free bread sandwich I was told there was no bread but then the long haired blond girl assistant looked again and found some. when it was served at the table the sandwich was broken in bits, there was no salad on the plate and the girl over charged my wife at the till. The coffee latte had more foam than coffee and a latte is supposed to have very little foam. The girl asssistant seemed to not want to bother, perhaps a lot me training on how to make a sandwich and present it to the customer would be good, and how to make a proper latte. Won't be visiting again.

Queue out the door. No soup for my liquid diet wife. We left!!!

Service etwas langsam, sonst okay

A lovely atmosphere, serving some great food with great prices.

Set in the Guildhall shopping centre at the top of the stairs it's near the public toilets 🚻. Lovely cup of tea and a nice bacon roll less than a fiver. Not bad.

Really like this cafe lots of lovely cakes and they do good roasts and bacon sarnie staff are lovely in here also fave of mine!

Like lunching here and easy to traverse the area on my scooter. Good and varied menu with choice of free salad. Carvery option on certain days. Good ambiance and helpful staff. Lift up from ground floor. No disabled toilet sadly but could maybe be installed in the future???

Great to find a cafe that does great gluten free food

Went in for a quick bit of lunch, had a toasted cheese and ham, it was rammed came with side salad. Worth every penny.

Excellent cafe, good coffee and a good veriety of cakes and food

Very dated, slow, over priced, food is very average at best, none of our party of 6 enjoyed what they ordered. Asked for a flat white, got filter coffee topped up with milk, this is not a flat white. Would not come back.

plenty of home made choices both savoury and sweets. Queing at the counter could be a problem for less mobile customers, but the staff will carry your tray if asked.

On our recent visit to Exeter.. we found this little gem of a cafe in the guildhall shopping Precinct.a great selection of food and specials board.. We found the place very cosy and friendly..and very fast service.. also a free salad bar For certain meals ordered(jacket suds)etc. Ok it’s not a high street rip off place to Eat It’s just a nice place to have lunch and chat.. nice one Fern’s keep up the good work

Brilliant!!! :) Tea & Cake & Friendly Staff! Great customer service! :)

Nice place to stop for lunch. We had two soups with rolls and butter and a pot of tea but I thought it was a bit pricey.

Very busy place, over priced food and rude staff. Just awful.

Great place central location in Exeter, food always good and service excellent

Very much worth a visit when shopping in town

Went in there today just for a light snack we had never been in before we didn’t want much just some toast and a drink so we ordered are toast I just wanted some toast with butter on it and my mum wanted cheese on toast so we ordered it we got two drinks mum got a coffee and I had a bottle of pop that cost us £10 when we got are toast mine was okay but they brought mums cheese on toast out it wasn’t even grilled it was hard and burnt in the middle and it was all soggy on the bottle on the bread when she went to go and eat it it was like rubber she couldn’t cut it of anything we expected it to be at least grilled on the top but it wasn’t it had been done like in the microwave it was horrible we was very disappointed and never going back again we didn’t think to complain in the cafe because there was lots of people having lunch and we didn’t t want to make a seen but we couldn’t get out there quick enough

It's a nice cafe but its got very expensive.

Enjoyed another visit here today as we often do. Always a good selection of foods from hot fare to a tasty roll or soup Can't fault the place in any way. Well done Ferns

Lovely staff ,clean,great food and drink

Good old fashioned restaurant. No table service but order at large counter and choose from plenty of seating. Good selection of food e.g. jacket potato, salads, cakes etc and pretty well priced.

Always good value for money. A good selection of food veggies are well catered for. Staff are always friendly and welcoming. Venue needs a bit of a redecoration.

Prices have gone up was better before

Tea delicious and refreshing, bacon bap NOT greasy 👍 an service very quick. Only downside was hand dryer in loos, (which were very clean an plenty) it was so slow I thought it was broken, needs maintenance maybe. 👌👍😊

Often passing through Exeter, Ferns is a welcome change to the standard types of these coffee shops and so much more friendly.

Bad timing as only 1 staff serving and a big que but very nice

Not very good today scone was doughy or under cooked

On way back to the car park and thought I would grab a piece of cake and tea. Not on your nelly! Not at that extortionate price. £4.25 for a piece of date slice. I understand profit etc but that’s day light robbery. Waitress also came out shouting out a number and then walked holding her thumb on the food so it didn’t slip off. Yuk

Called in today never been in before what a gem. Had a lovely home made cottage pie. Will definitely be returning soon.

Although staff are very friendly, wasn't impressed with the food. My Jacket potato wasn't cooked though throughly and was really salty. My Husband didn't enjoy his corned beef hash either, it was bland with no flavour at all. Won't be going back.

Ferns is like a time warp from decades ago and reminds me of a place I would go with my grandparents for coffee. The atmosphere is pleasent and its not too expensive, the food is pretty average and the menu is standard things you would eat if you were in the later years of your life and wanted a big lunch. The service is ok, usually pretty friendly but can be a little rude if busy.

I called in today to have lunch. I have no idea what the food is like as I, along with 6/7 other people, walked away. We were waiting in the queue, staff were around but were either sitting in the office or serving tables. I can’t believe how apathetic they were about losing so much custom. Just didn’t seem bothered. I won’t be back.

Dropped in for a small lunch Needed a small lunch before an evening out. I had cauliflower cheese while my wife a jacket potato A reasonable price for a reasonable meal. Ferns has been there for years so must be doing something right

Pedí un café, un té, frijoles tostados y huevo frito sobre tostadas. Pidió que se cambiara el café, ya que era como si le dieran agua al plato lechoso a otro exactamente igual. Huevo en pan tostado llegó nunca visto algo así como huevos fritos quemados y negro debajo de un plato caliente sucio, las papas fritas en pan tostado no tenían mantequilla. Se quejó y pidió que me devolvieran el dinero por los huevos con tostadas, que era 4. 20. Al personal no le importó menos, también dejó una nota en la mesa que muestra mi disgusto. ¿Cómo podría alguien servir eso? Merecen perder su negocio espero que lo hagan.

Always come to ferns when shopping in Exeter and never disappointed! There is a great selection of lovely homemade food. I always receive good service and find the staff very polite and helpful

Nunca he estado tan decepcionado en un almuerzo. Solía ​​venir aquí con mi Nan a una edad temprana y siempre tenía buena comida y buen servicio. Ojalá nunca hubiera pisado el café. Pedí una baguette que ya estaba hecha y un batido y en total eran las 9. 40! La baguette también debía venir con ensalada, sin embargo, el miembro del personal le había dicho a otro cliente que había tirado la ensalada, lo que significaba que acababa de tirar una baguette en un plato y eso era aproximadamente 4. 50 lo cual es ridículo. También tenían un bar de ensaladas que estaba siendo empacado a las 3. 30 teniendo en cuenta que seguían abiertos hasta las 4. Nunca he conocido un café para tirar comida hasta que se acercaba la hora de cierre. Otro cliente entró y pidió un poco de sopa en la que el personal dijo que no había más sopa hoy. Esto hubiera estado bien, pero luego este miembro del personal dijo en voz alta a otro miembro del personal: "Hay otro que pide sopa, que pediría sopa a las 3 de la tarde, si se están riendo". Esto es completamente poco profesional, especialmente porque no cierras hasta las 4 pm. Si no quiere servir comida caliente después de un cierto tiempo, ¡no lo haga y ponga un registro! No hay personal sonriente o buen servicio al cliente. Para ser sincero, todos parecían aburridos y no querían estar allí. No lo recomendaría en absoluto! Tal decepción y ha ido muy cuesta abajo ahora.

Entré a los helechos a las 3 pm un domingo por la tarde con mi hermana, ninguno de los dos había almorzado, así que decidimos entrar y comprar un sándwich antes de que cerraran a las 4 pm. Sin embargo, subí y pedí un panini para que me dijeran que habían tirado todos los emparedados y que habían apagado los hornos cuando se estaban preparando para cerrar. . bastante justo si hubiera estado más cerca de la hora de cierre, sin embargo, no se estaban cerrando durante otra hora, así que no estoy muy seguro de cómo puede justificar apagar todo y desechar todo, ¿una HORA antes del fin del comercio? No había ninguna oferta de qué alimentos podían servir y ningún deseo de intentar complacer al cliente y obtener una venta. Mi hermana decidió pedir una baguette pre hecha y un batido de leche que llegó a un total de 9, para una baguette sin ensalada o extras (ya que habían tirado toda la ensalada y la barra de ensaladas había sido quitada) y una batido de leche, extremadamente caro para algo que era sosa y francamente no muy agradable. Mi hermana había pedido su comida primero, lo que significa que cuando ordené y básicamente me dijeron que no había nada más que comer, que luego tuvimos que compartir la baguette, ya que no estaba claro qué otra comida se ofrecía en realidad y el personal no mostró ningún interés. en hacer más comida. Todos los pasteles en la pantalla ya se habían filmado como si no los estuvieran sirviendo por más tiempo. Al pagar el pedido, la señora de la caja registradora usó la tarjeta de mi hermana sin contacto, sin pedirle permiso para hacerlo. Otra pareja entró y pidió algo de sopa, a lo que la señora respondió: "hemos tirado toda la sopa", una vez que dejaron a la señora detrás del mostrador se escuchó decir a otro miembro del personal "otro para la sopa, quien ¿Viene y quiere sopa a las 10 y 10 de un domingo? "También se escuchó a este mismo miembro del personal decirle a un cliente lo aburrido y tranquilo que había sido el día, tal vez si hubiera un mejor servicio al cliente y un personal más agradable, su día no habría sido tan aburrido como los clientes realmente desearían pasar tiempo en su ¡café! Como alguien que ha trabajado en la industria de la restauración, puedo empatizar con ellos por tener un día largo y solo querer salir y no tener clientes; sin embargo, hacer que los clientes se sientan mal recibidos y tirar toda la comida una hora antes del cierre no es aceptable. . Si quisieran dejar de servir comida caliente una hora antes de la hora de cierre, debería haber señales para que los clientes sepan esto. Sin embargo, no hubo carteles, no hay precios claros y todo el lugar es oscuro y lúgubre y no es un ambiente agradable. Extremadamente decepcionante cuando todos intentan apoyar a las empresas locales y usar menos cadenas grandes, sin embargo, hace que sea muy difícil cuando las empresas locales realmente no valen la pena y ni siquiera parecen preocuparse por sus clientes, que son las personas que mantienen. ellos en los negocios Podría haber ido a una cafetería de cadena grande y haber recibido comida de mejor calidad, mejor servicio y mejores precios. Solía ​​venir aquí cuando era niño con mi familia y lo pasé muy bien con una comida deliciosa, definitivamente no volveré después de esto.

Love this place excellent service friendly staff totally recommend

Great food and the staff were really good and remembered lynne and Paul, I wish lynne and the other girl were still there though to make it even better but never mind still brilliant

the owner is very friendly and help ful nice joyful place to go all the staff are lovely

Went in Friday lunch time with an old friend of mine and can say for sure we will be visiting back! Lots of variety of food I had a prawn salad sandwhich with salad garnish and an amazing big slice of coffee and walnut cake.. Was delicious and fresh! All the staff were friendly and polite. the young lady serving me was very helpful,10/10 for her service. Highly recommend to others looking for a relaxed place to eat.

Nice clean place with friendly personnel. Clean toilets.

Ferns' Restaurant has some good range of food, in addition to a plant-themed atmosphere. You can pick a sausage roll, a ham and Stilton panini and/ or a baguette-shaped pizza, to name a few. As for dessert, you would probably be spoilt for choice: cakes, scones, flapjacks and cheesecakes come in different flavours, and you would have to go here on different days to try them all!

Just a nice place to sit inside or out. Whether you just want a coffee, a meal, or a sweet treat. Very friendly.

Oh yesss, a really good restaurant. Exeter may have cafes and restaurants from every part of the world under the sun, but for true traditional English cuisine, friendly staff and management . . there's nowhere else in Exeter to beat it!

This place has always had the feel of a senior day centre with some good old hearty portioned food.

Went for a family breakfast. Average food, mediocre at best. Over £30 for two sandwichs and 2 breakfast. Clean and tidy, friendly staff.

Very pleasant place for a bite and a coffee/tea. Slightly away from the busy main high Street, Queen Street areas. Good value & service. Selling bottle beer also.

When shopping in Exeter we always head to the Guildhall shopping centre and Ferns. Usually shop there about 4 times a year. We usually have lunch at Ferns and in the past their Farmhouse bake which is very delicious. On the last 4 occasions we have asked for the Farmhouse bake which is on their menu. We have been told they dont have any and havent done for a long while !! Not just this time but the last 3 occasions. We suggested that they remove it from their menu (each time) if that is the case but is still being advertised. If you dont do it anymore take it of the menu !!

Nice food good service the place could do with updati g a bit tired

Nice clean reasonably priced restaurant, tables spaced apart well, service was superb. Recommended.

Enjoyable food, great choice, lovely friendly staff. Prices can be a little high in my opinion but portion sizes are generous as well as tasty. Nice just for a coffee as well.

My first visit to Ferns which nestles in a top corner of the Exeter Guildhall shopping Centre and has good access via a lift or wide stairs. Clean and tidy facade and comfortable interior dining with differing seating placed well apart. There is also a patio dining area by the entrance. Staff smartly dressed and the restaurant offers a good choice of snacks and meals. My visit was a surprise treat from my wife for a full English breakfast . Order at the servery and meals brought to the table. All very tasty, groaning plates and the biggest helping of baked beans I have seen since America. Additionally, excellent toast and the tea/coffee served in clean china. A very appetizing buffet was being assembled for lunch time diners and this may bring us back on another occasion. A bit of a bygone age about the place but for me that's a bonus - a quiet oasis above the shopping hoards below and a substantial tasty breakfast.

Overheard staff talking to each other and moaning about customers drinking our free water , not very professional also young table clearer telling another member of staff how knackered she was working this end, we used to use ferns all the time being local to Exeter but the standard of food has slipped for sure and the staff , no smile or eye contact enough said we won’t be back ferns get your act together.

Very convenient location in Exeter guildhall shopping centre. Spacious seating arrangement. We hav always been able to find empty table. Vast selection of homemade food. Not vastly expensive. Staff helpful and friendly.

I must say I was extremely disappointed with the Full English breakfast I ordered - Ferns advertise and pride themselves on fresh homemade food - this is most certainly NOT the case with the breakfast - there was nothing “freshly cooked about it (other than the egg and toast) - Microwave clearly features heavily in their “Breakfasts” - rubbery watery mushrooms, a sausage that was inedible as the skin was tough and the Inside like rubber, the tomatoes and beans were microwave hot ! - not what I expected from Ferns AT ALL at nearly £7 - the staff are very friendly and were very apologetic provided another piece of bacon in place of the sausage - Please Ferns - sort your breakfast out and DITCH the microwave - very disappointed

Popped in there for a hot lunchtime snack and was amazed at how far back the place goes and how many people were already in there. Food-wise n without being too disrespectful to the other diners already in there, it wasn't the healthiest menu and most of the eagerly microwaved dishes I saw like mine were swimming in oily melted cheese and petrified salad. But hey, you might like that. Might get a sandwich next time - they looked good.

Quiet but tidy coffee and snack restaurant

Went here for the first time in abt 15 yrs. Hardly changed but although it could do with a face lift, the food on offer is still fab and reasonably priced. A nice change from all the soulless high St coffee shops. I'll defo frequent Ferns...support local businesses before they disappear.

We had a sausage roll and a piece of quiche. Hubby was not happy about the price of the food £7.95 for a small piece of quiche and small bowl of salad but it was very nice being homemade. The cafe is open,airy and comfortable.

I love this place as a typical old fashioned cafe or 'caff', not the likes of the chain coffee shops with the same food everywhere you go. Everything in Ferns is homemade, and the food is delicious. The place is always kept clean and tidy, and you do notice it is more frequented by older clientèle, which maybe why the decor has not been updated for a long time, as it is very green and very old fashioned. There are a couple of things that let it down, one being the prices, which are rather on the expensive side, and the second is the staff, they are not keen to accommodate special orders if you have a fussy eater or a particular dietary need. That being said I have still visited here often, and I never pass up the chance for a Fern's cheese scone!!

Cold coffee rude members of staff look like don't want to be here never coming again

First of all the staff need to buck their ideas up and learn some customer service skills. No smiles, eye contact or manners! Also when we asked to buy a half jacket potato for our 5yr old Granddaughter we were told they didn't have any but they have whole ones??? So 1 panini 1 toasted sandwich and a jacket with 2 fillings and a coffee, mocha and cup of tea cost £27.

8.25 for a jacket potato that has a rock hard skin and my 5 year old won't even eat the middle is saying it's bad. The salad 'bowl' you get included in the price is no bigger nor deeper that a saucer you would sit your tea cup on. The place is out dated and the staff need training in basic customer service because clearly they don't even smile. All in all £27 spent table cloth was dirty staff was rude coffee was cold and the 'leather' jacket potato. Honestly I wouldn't bother.

Popped in for a quick coffee and was very pleased to see how clean the tables were, the girls behind the counter very friendly and a nice selection of cakes and sandwiches on display. It was also quite busy which is always a good sign. Very good value

Nice place to sit and have a snack and toilet break when shopping. Had pea and ham soup, which was nice and hot.Followed by lemon merringue pie.

Really friendly. Lots of room and food is good price and nice

Great for people of a certain age. Enjoyed the food and service. Definitely go again. First time for us never knew it was there..

It has been several years since I last visited this place. I had avoided it owing to several previous poor experiences. All I wanted was a coffee and a bacon roll just after they opened at 10.30am on a Sunday morning.

The cafeteria seemed clean and welcoming , not over busy so found seats easily.Ordered cheese and tomato panini with tea for myself and husband- came to just under £16.the panini was barely warm at all, very doughy and tasteless, with a poor salad garnish -few yellowing lettuce strips, 1 slice cucumber, 1 slice of tomato.Asked for chips- but this large cafeteria does not make chips! A very poor experience, for the price I would have expected waitress service and decent portions at least.The panini was dreadful-there are much better places to eatin Exeter at lower prices, better service and tasty warm food.Do not waste your money here