Gardeners' Retreat in West Berkshire

We stopped here for 'quick' coffee, what a joke! I waited at the deserted food counter, along with another couple who were ahead of me, for about five minutes while the person who was presumably supposed to be taking orders faffed about in the Kitchen. We three were the only customers at the counter. When she did finally appear she was unable to deal with the other couples order without help for some else who she dutifully went off to find. She eventually reappeared with another member of staff in tow and they both huddled round the till trying to figure out the problem. When it was resolved the original server continued with the rest of the couples order while the other staff member looked straight through me and disappeared back into the Kitchen. As it was now getting on for ten minutes of waiting like a Lemon I decided to give up and go elsewhere. If this is an example of how they treat their customers I am not surprised the place was virtually empty at Lunchtime. So if you want my advice it would be go somewhere else!!

Lovely restaurant, great carvery. Staff are all friendly and food is always good.

Very good food at a fair price. Nice friendly staff. And they make a nice cappuccino.

We had an enjoyable meal until my grandchildren needed the toilet. I’ve never ever been in such disgusting toilets in a restaurant environment ….. not even in the far east!!!! They stink and visibly have not been cleaned for days. I’ve heard they’re not clean from other people but I hadn’t expected this level of filth. Who is employed to clean them ? Maybe they need to go to hermitage garden centre to see how to clean. The loo’s there are spotless. It’s really not hard to keep them clean. I’ll never eat there again ….. food Prep so close to those loos!!!!! Just revolting .

Good food in a surprisingly nice restaurant area. Sensible food prices for frequent dining. The Carvery food is of a high standard but could be served warmer. Having found it, we will eat there often.

Not a Restaurant. But all one would want to have Food as different area to eat. Breakfast. Dinner. Tea. Your choice . I had a carvery .

We reserved a large table here for a family get together, I had the carvery which was very nice (despite them only having gammon available) there were plenty of vegetables and I really enjoyed my meal. My son had burger and chips and he said the chips were the best he has eaten, and he's eaten a few 🤣 Prices were ok £11.99 for a large carvery and £11.99 for Burger and chips. The staff were very nice and helpful. This is the perfect place for us to meet for a family get together as the little ones can play in the soft play area. It's also very nice look around the garden centre and browse the few other shops.

The service at the retreat on Saturday 22nd was terrible. At least 20 minutes to place an order. The process needs to be reviewed of the way they make there drinks. There was plenty of staff on duty, it was not overly busy, a general flow of customers yes, but not packed. There were x2 to x3 staff on the counter serving, x2 making drinks. It was shockingly slow, the blender for smoothies and shakes was really loud, ideally need to be moved, it was unpleasant for babies and noise sensitive individuals with a sensory impairment, yes you cannot cater for all. But it was awfully loud. We gave up waiting to buy drinks after at least 15 minute wait in the que. They really need to up their game, they have a little gold mine with the soft play bringing in lots of business, they could be on to something good if only they improve there service. Good luck with the school holidays.

The food was lovely, but the vanilla iced latte was a let down. It was not mixed properly and there was hardly any vanilla syrup in the drink and was in small glass and also was not offered any different size of drink

The food is basic, no frills. I have just had a hotcross bun. It was toasted ! And burnt, I wasn't given the option of toasted or not !! And seeing they bring it to the table, I didn't see it beforehand. It was tasteless. Toasted sandwiches don't have much filling. But nice staff and nice eating area. My biggest gripe is the toilets. they are always dirty or don't have hand soap. And puddles of water on the floor where two of the toilets have tiny sinks and big taps. So you can not avoid getting floor wet.

Really liked the place. Nice staff. Will be back

Great for kids in their play areas

Nice for a snack and a coffee, friendly staff too.

Met up with some old work colleagues, the service was slow ie several people in the queue but it took a while to serve each person. In fact I left the queue to go to the toilet and I rejoined the que at the same place with the same people in front of me.

Lovely coffee, scone a little dry and disappointing

Service and quality does not match the environment they have. Could be so much better if they didn't operate a table number system where you order then go back to find someone else is at your nominate table! Food brought out with a big shout of table number (would do well in a bingo hall). Food not great at all - can't even make a toasted ciabatta - slow to produce lukewarm latte and flat white while you stand at the till .. with good chefs and waiting staff, this place could be a goldmine😒

VERY DISAPPOINTED, waited over 30 minutes for a ciabatta, and sausage egg and chips, order was incomplete and ciabatta was hard almost stale like or cooked from frozen 🙁 Waitress was rude an uninterested when we said our food was wrong...Sadly won't be returning.

Really nice cafe in the grounds of the garden centre complex. A real improvement on the previous cafe in this location. Taken over recently when the garden centre changed hands.

I hadn't been here for over 5 years and wasn't that hopeful BUT the place ans been refurbished and the restaurant extended. We chose to eat here (for Sunday carvery) because it was about half way between different family members. Very good find! Excellent food and staff both friendly and helpful. No hesitation in recommending