Imperial Express Cafe in Darlington

Visited for brunch today with two other friends. We just fell upon this place while passing through Darlington on the way back to Scotland after a weekend away. The food was delicious!!!! Nice coffee. Super nice staff. £14 each for a decent meal and a coffee each. Would recommend.

I would have given 4 but the ratings go from average to very good. It was good not VERY good Our starters of Prawns was excellent . The Main course of Goats cheese and caramelised onion tart was unpleasant , the pastry was soggy, there was far too much vinegary onion, a good slice of goats cheese, but it wasn’t heated through. All in layers with four uncooked cherry tomatoes in the layers . Not pleasant and most was left. We pointed this out to the staff!The chips were cold and tasted stale The desert was excellent . We weren’t even offered a free coffee , for our disappointment . All for 35 pounds a head. Not cheap, I won’t be back !

We love this restaurant, staff are always efficient & attentive. The food is delicious, the deserts to die for ! the atmosphere relaxed. Definitely recommend. We will be back !

Favourite restaurant in Darlington ! Service is always excellent as well as the food , we always make sure we visit Imperial Express when coming to Darlington

Sat down at a table with my partner today 2pm ish in glorious sun shine and waited 10 mins to be served! Previous customers glasses still on the table! After 10 minutes i asked the passing waitress if i could be served please! She later came out and cleaned the table behind me. After another 5 minutes we left £25 richer at least! Never again!

The imperial express, we found this little restaurant as we were walking back to the car. We sat outside our waitress was very helpful and the small menu she gave us had a nice selection, I went for the focaccia and my wife had the vegetarian goats cheese both served with fries.we both commented how nice our meals were When we come back to Darlo we will go inside and try the larger menu.

We called in, for drink only, last Thursday. We had a very brief window of time, allowing for 1 drink before meeting friends. Firstly we called into a gin themed bar close by and left, no more to say on that.We crossed the road heading to Imperial Express, the young girl working there was clearing a table outside. I asked could we get a drink, we weren’t dining .. yes, she said inside or out? We sat inside, we placed our drinks order straight away with no delay. She was smiling, efficient, she delivered our drinks to our table promptly. It was a fairly busy night so she didn’t have only us to indulge. What a relief to experience prompt, effective, efficient service .. whoever she is working for you is a diamond asset. One of the reasons we favour Imperial Express when in town.

We can't wait to get back to visiting our favourite cafe, until then a takeaway menu keeps us going. Beautiful beef cheek, homemade pate and still one of the best cheesecakes around! Hope it's not much longer!!

Warm, inviting cafe with very attentive staff. Lovely experience. Will go back!! Coffee and bacon sandwich was gorgeous.

We were staying overnight in Darlington, on our way home to Surrey, and booked a table at Imperial Express for dinner. It was such an enjoyable evening - the menu is great, food excellent and the staff were very attentive. We were not expecting to have such a lovely meal and I would recommend it.

Totally bad experience. Over priced over cooked. Sent eggs back as we're like squash balls.Owner needs customer service skills. Barked nothing wrong with them. Would have given the girl a tip until she told me the owner takes the tips. What a disgraceful human being he is

My daughter and I visited Imperial as a treat for her passing her exams. The food was amazing and the service was exceptional lovely girl really looked after us. I would highly recommend the Parnaby's

Good service, the waitress was very attentive and helpful. Nice atmosphere & tasty food, served promptly. Would recommend to others

Booked here for the 50% deal, on the table was a menu so we'd decided what we were having, lady came over & brought another menu said this is the one we are using now, so had to pick from that one wasn't much choice ended up ordering a club Sandwich 8.95, expensive for what you get must be the area your paying.

what a disappointment expensive food , lacked flavour and presentation , drinks extortionate an overall bad experience never again !!! £2.75 1/2 lemonade £4. 1/2 bottle lager food ... words fail me !!!

Beautiful cafe , Service was excellent , the food was great and so was the coffee. We will definitely be back there again !!

Sat down for sunday brunch at eleven, stuffed in a corner and forgotten about. Took staff twenty minutes to take drinks order, then ten minutes to show us the one single menu for the whole restaurant, another twenty to take our order, in which time we were asked three more times what we want to drink, even though we had already ordered drink but they hadn't arrived. When food finally came, thirty minutes after ordering, some items were missing and some dishes weren't what were ordered. Not wanting to wait another hour for the correct food, we ate up and asked for the bill. After table was cleared and the bill arrived, another waitress came over to take our food order!! Either this place needs more staff or perhaps some table management training. Unlikely to be returning, unless we have a spare two hours to have "brunch".......served at 1pm so technically lunch!!!

visited today and had a coffee and a cheese scone. The cheese scone was by far the nicest I have had and I would definitely recommend a visit if you are in the area. Staff were all friendly and there was a lovely atmosphere. Great establishment.

What can i say all the years ive lived in darlington and it was my 1st visit of many more to come.....Called in with a friend started with a coffee..then had lunch Beef cheek with haggis sausage neeps and tatties wow wow wow...this was amazing ....Also sampled a large glass of red to wash it down with exellent wine ....Will be calling back with family soon.Very good service and cost well very reasonable ...

Came here for brunch during the week and all three of us thought the food was average at best and very overpriced. £9.50 for a eggs Benedict which wasn't very good. Also there was a poor selection of vegetarian options. I won't be going again.

6 person family meal, lunchtime, just after Christmas. They coped with us booking, cancelling, then booking again and served up lovely food in a very pleasant atmosphere. They even allowed people to order food before they arrived, with the food and the people getting to the table at exactly the same time, most impressed. All the foor was lovel;y and we shall certainly be back, thanks team.

Went the other day for lunch and as usual it was really nice. Not the cheapest place to eat in Darlington but the quality of any dish is of the highest quality, so worth it. Staff always pleasant and attentive. The soups are lovely.

Darlington is the place to be lots of lovely little cafes diners and eateries. Just on the outer streets of the centre is the imperial cafe. This is a regular haunt when in darlington specially around lunch or breakfast time as the menu is excellent.Todays was a lunch time visit and went for the beef sandwich with chips. 8.95 lovely beef was so tender and arrived with a small amount of chips just enough to enhance the sandwich. Took away some cakes also this isnt the cheapest place around but the quality is there. Good service and friendly staff. Parking is close by but will cost you a pound an hour. Good fresh food never had a bad meal.

Absolutely gorgeous food the wine selection is unbelievable can't wait to go back great selection of food whether you want a meal or just coffee and cake/scones

we both had the breakfast that is well known of in Italy. a lovely potato rosti, Vine tomatoes. poached socket eggs, Bacon that is just wonderful. a huge pot of tea for two. we did ask for white bread as we wanted toast but they only do a granary bread so we had a white toasted Bagette . the staff are friendly. it is a set menu early on a Sunday morning as they close at 1pm There is toilets and it is a friendly place to sit and relax. out door seating, well done to the staff. well worth 5 stars i It could be classed as a posh cafe with detail. not sure about free WIFI as we were there to eat. as it was a set menu we are unsure ref gluten free or vegetation or vegan meals

Friendly, good value and makers of the most delicious scones. The coconut latte is moreish . I can also recommend the Sunday brunch. And if the menu is not quite what you want....they are adaptable.

Went here after a couple of beers at no 22. Quick service despite being very busy. Ordered the chicken with peppercorns and brandy sauce and salad. Sauce and salad ok but chicken was dry and tasteless. Seemed as though someone bought a chicken breast portion from Sainsburys and chucked it into the sauce! Chips were nice though.

Visited on a very quiet Monday Evening, just 6 customers in total, so plenty of tables to choose for my date tonight.The wine selection looked very impressive , but felt the Chalkboard Menu lacked variety. I choose the Salmon Fishcakes with Poached Egg, Hollandaise Sauce and Casserole of Beans which sounded interesting. The Poached Egg was spot on, and the Beans were very tasty but dominated the whole dish. The Fishcake lacked Salmon and was dominated with Potato and the Hollandaise was tasteless which perhaps indicates a ready made version. Presentation was well executed , but i must admit trying to cut anything in a Bistro Bowl is uncomfortable.

The food was lovely, the staff really helpful and willing to adapt for various allergies and intolerances or just being fussy! Good food, good wine and a good night out.

I love coming to this restaurant which is very light and bright and has the most wonderful staff and serves the most wonderful food together with a tremendous selection of wines

what a find!!! - food was gorgeous and a fantastic choice and also a good choice of a main meal and dessert for children - staff excellent - service fantastic - not far from the main street - can't wait to go back

Been going to this restaurant for about 25 years, on and off. We always drift back. They do lovely small portions. Tonight we had s Sardinian garlic bread, deliciously flavoured with tomato and garlic and a homous with a plain garlic bread, they are thin and crispy. We had mussels and salmon fish cake, they were both lovely. We’ll be back again soon.

My husband and I went to Imperial Express for our evening meal to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We went early in the evening, after booking so it wasn't very crowded.

Good food, good company, in a relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant was busy. Special mention of our waitress Ella who was very attentive.

We used to visit here every Friday evening but life got in the way and we don't see each other as often as we would like, but the Imperial Express is as good as it always was, lovely menu, friendly staff and a happy atmosphere, well worth a visit.

From a snack to a full meal over the years I have never been disappointed. Great atmosphere and lovely food.

Have enjoyed many of breakfasts and lunch here during visiting Darlington. Good location in close proximity to all, highly recommended.

Had a very nice meal with all my family as a get together for Christmas would highly recommend this place

Went to Imperial Express with my wife and some friends on a Saturday morning a few weeks before Christmas. I’ve been here many times before. This time, the full English breakfast was delicious (though still no beans) but my wife didn’t think the quality of the scrambled eggs and smoked salmon was that good. On balance, however, not bad.

I really enjoy coming to the imperial for breakfast, it has a really nice choice and is in a lovely part of the town, the only issue is the staff! I have been on several occasions and been completely ignored whilst just waiting for a seat! the older waitresses have even scowled for simple requests like asking for a drink or asking for the bill, really is a shame as it is one of the nicest places in darlington for breakfast !

Always go here for full English breakfast as it is the best and good poached eggs are

We thought we would give this a try for lunch after hearing they had a new chef ! We definitely were not disappointed, food excellent and staff were really lovely,def worth a visit if your in the area.

We popped in Friday evening as we couldn't be bothered to cook. A good selection of freshly cooked food, friendly service and good selection of wine and beers. Well worth a visit if its just for coffee or Breakfast Lunch or Dinner.

Not been here for years. Lunch on bank holiday Monday was very tasty indeed. We were in no rush and had wine with the meal. Teriyaki salmon noodle dish was excellent. Service good. Ambience - good buzz for lunchtime stop.

Considering Darlington is a small town, we have tried nearly all restauraunts and decided to visit this cafe for breakfast. What an absolute let down. As soon as we got there, the service was terrible. We had to go in twice to once ask for a menu, and once go back and ask for cutlery. The breakfast can be best necrotic fingers, well the sausages can. The poached eggs were essentially boiled, the toast was cold. The whole thing was just bad. Nobody took the plates away, I ended up going inside to pay where what I would assume was the manager was just talking to staff. I had to ask how much it actually was after she had already asked me to enter my pin after she forgot to let me know how much I was being shafted for. In other words, just save your money. Weatherspoon serves better breakfasts than that, and they serve the cheapest food known to man. They either need a new owner, or a whole new service team.

This review is a short one. My friend and I went for lunch on Monday 29th July. I choose a hot roast beef sandwich whilst my friend chose the Spanish omelette. From order to table this simple order took well over half an hour.

We had lunch here yesterday (24th July) after finding this lovely looking place by accident. Ordered our drinks which came out within ten minutes. Our food order was taken which was olives and rustic bread for myself and my mother had a tuna sandwich. Both dishes you'd think wouldn't take that long. After waiting 45 minutes and still nothing my mum politely asked a waitress who was coming out attending to another table how much longer our order would be. She said that she would go and check and then came back to us about 5 minutes later to inform us that the chef had burnt his hand and that they'd had a queue of people. No apology was given. Our food which didn't need to be cooked then eventually came out. The food itself was nice but the service was atrocious. After we'd finished we then went into the cafe to pay the bill to be served by the gentleman who had taken our order and again no apology was forthcoming and in fact his manner was quite abrupt. Not impressed as this eaterie gave the impression of being a little more upmarket and pricier compared to other establishments in Darlington, but we were willing to pay the extra for the service we expected to receive. Will not being going back.

Arrived at the busy Imperial at about 1.40

Good choice of food, with reasonable portions at a reasonable price. Small place, so can be crowded and you need to book. Closes at 8.00pm

Friendly service. Really good full English breakfast but lots more choice from the menu if you so wish.

Superb meal, great wine, perfect atmosphere with place busy. Everybody in the restaurant was clearly enjoying themselves. Don’t forget the Corridor bar in there, perfect for either before or after or both!

avoid the breakfast , sausages well under cooked , bacon over cocked , eggs were ok . nice coffee though , and pleasant place to sit .

We booked for an 8.15pm sitting. The last booking is 8.30pm. The staff were still full of energy, attentive and very friendly. There were four in our group and everyone really loved the food. We have been here many times abd the cafe never fails to impress.

Second visit to this restaurant and both visits excellent. This visit wonderful Sicilian garlic bread followed by pan fried Sea Bass cooked perfectly followed by a fantastic ginger sponge dessert. No music so a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Turned up on spec on Friday night. Found us a table for two. Lovely atmosphere, relaxed chatter, no piped music, thank god. Main courses were lovely, highlight though was the Cherry Panna Cotta. So good. Friendly service, and reasonable price for good quality food. Been...

went out for a meal with my girlfriend date night very busy nice atmosphere had to wait a little while for the seat but well worth the wait food was lovely gnocchi was lovely and Spicey

Super brekkers on our English Breakfast tour. For me.... No black pudding is a pity and for him..... No baked beans was a sin but the meal was delicious. £9.95 which also included toast and jam, coffee or tea. It may not matter to some...

We had an early evening meal. The marinated seafood dish was excellent, but the Rosemary focaccio was rather bland. The manageress was very helpful to get us connected to the internet.

A popular place to enjoy a relaxing lunch service and food are always excellent can be very popular so wood advise booking at peak times. A good selection of meals and snacks. They have an outside seating area for the warmer months as well.

The staff were not on form, seemed not to want to be there. The food I had was very poor and not worthhalf of what I had to pay

Lovely ambiance efficient service great food the swordfish was excellent thanks for a great experience

Had lunch here with my daughter and her partner who go every week ( so it must be good!)

Had a lovely meal with a very good bottle of wine Saturday teatime, we shared a garlic bread, very thin & crispy, the chef kindly added a handful of black olives, pheasant risotto was absolutely fantastic, my wife had the sea bream, two good sized pieces of fish, lovely bottle of Italian red wine and all for less than £60, highly recommended

Had a very tasty lunch today which consisted of some of my favourite ingredients but would never have expected them to be cooked together. Belly pork, beetroot, bacon, spring onions warm salad and mussels. Surprisingly nicely balanced flavours.

Great food and service. Goats cheese filo parcels were lovely. Would recommend it. Have eaten here on several occasions. Chalkboard menu changes frequently which is great.

The rating for the imperial in Darlington is incredibly low (50th ish) in the area.

I absolutely adore this place, trendy, clean, superb food and choice, great wines, fabulous staff I love it

We had booked in advance for this evening treat. The restaurant does different 'theme' nights at the end of each month, this month was 'British'

This cafe was recommended by my friend as I don't know Darlington all that well. I wasn't disappointed. Food was lovely and it has a pleasant atmosphere and surroundings.

Went into Imperial Express cafe 3 minutes after the Breakfast menu finished. I asked the woman at the counter whether I could still have a full English breakfast due to my gluten intolerance. She said no straight away(In a I can't be bothered to go ask the kitchen whether this would be okay). Made me feel very unwelcome.

Tenía un pan siciliano agradable ajo, seguido de la pasta excelente lo recomiendo café era bueno también.

Thank you Imperial for such wonderful service during the last few months. Any complaints about the food, well, sort of - there is just so much that it would fill the hungriest appetite.

We booked a group of 22 people including 8 German friends who were here for a car tour. Staff were brilliant, friendly and attentive- food was superb and service great. Our friends commented on the quality of the food and atmosphere and want to come back next time they are here! Thanks Tony and staff!

Nice upmarket cafe, service not overly friendly at times depending who is working but food is well prepared & I would recommend

Best full English breakfast in Darlington.Also lunch offers great variety - simply delicious to say nothing of evening meals.Being coming here for many years and despite lots of competition with many new coffee houses,lounges and restaurants it remains my number 1 venue.Love it.

Haven't been here for some time but it's still the great place it has always been. Friendly & efficient service, lovely food and varied menu - something for everyone. In spite of all the other new places springing up around it the place was buzzing when we visited. Highly recommended and definitely on a par if not better than most places in town. It won't be long until we return.

Have been a regular at The Imperial for many years but due to work commitments, not of late.Full on menu,plenty of flavours,even a gluten free selection.Venison braised in its own juices served with mash and green beans followed by an Italian cheese platter,great drinks service,never rushed to finish.There were 8 starters and 7 mains plus 6 sweets.We tried to guess the Bill for 9 of us,we were all over,great value.No place beats their wine selection/price.

Said I would never go back and made a big mistake.The service and the quality of the food leaves a lot to be desired.Howecer the coffee is good so are the croissant if they have not run out.

We have been here several times and I have left a positive review on it previously. We went on Saturday to find it unusually busy for a lunchtime. The order was taken and then we waited and waited and waited. Thirty minutes went by then and then a waitress said that they were backed up in the kitchen. When I paid I said to the owner, I assume that he is, that they should explain to customers that there will be a delay. His charmless reply was that they had taken 40 orders in 3 minutes so I can only assume a stampede of patrons a minute before we walked in. Odd because they all look settled when we arrived ! The couple beside us had a similar wait and when a fish dish plus a bacon roll arrived they described both as awful. We will not be back.

Don't be put off when you walk in as the tables and decor are very basic. 3 of us went there for lunch & all had delicious main courses ( 2 x pasta with bacon, mushroom & cream sauce & 1 x eggs benedict) & desserts (banoffee pie & chocolate brownie). I noticed that they had a really amazing Italian wine list. Unfortunately we were all driving, so had to stick to 1 small glasses of house white each. The bill came to £20 each which I thought was amazing value for the quality of the food. Everything looked homemade and freshly cooked.

I hadn't been to the Imperial for years because I didn't like the wait for a table there used to be. Went for lunch on Saturday and had pasta carbonara which seemed to have a. lot of creamy sauce under the pasta. There was much cream and the carbonara a little uninteresting. Service was friendly if a little amateurish.Some people like this restaurant. I won't try it again for a while.

We regularly visit as a family. The manager is great! So accommodating. Great for gluten and dairy free! Very popular. Always busy. Would recommend. Best cafe in Darlington by miles.

So sorry to have to say we called today 18/3/17 for lunch. Waiting staff very keen on taking orders no time to choose but came back when asked. I ordered Rissoto friend the Spanish Omelette on arrival mine was spot on but oh dear Omelette was sloppy on cutting into waitress took it away and a Baked Camembert with rustic breeze was ordered so unfortunately I ate alone. Second meal arrived unfortunately the rustic bread was a baguette that had been cut and warmed which had done it no favours as made it taste stale so this customer had a really bad lunch time. We have eaten here so many times​ and give the waitress her due she deducted both meals from the bill. We also said the worst meal we had ever had there which makes us not want to return.

Took the wife out on Friday . Love this place . The pilsner larger is to die for . However the food is simply amazing . Well done guys

Had Sardinian garlic bread in the middle a glass of Barolo,followed that with a linguini that had tomato,basil and mushroom sauce which was not on the menu but Tony (owner) happily offered.Italian cheeseboard between us was ample.'The Imp'does things nicely without fuss.Enjoyed the softer lighting it created it's own atmosphere.

food was lovely atmosphere good and great value for moneyalmost like a cafe in france somewherecocktails were also good

Went for evening meal here and was pleasantly suprised, having been in the past and been disappointed. We had Spag bols, with a lovely crisp salad, whuch doesn't sound much but really hit the spot. There was plent of other really nice dishes on the menu and the service was excellent. Great for a nice quick tea/supper or something more adventurous if you're really hungry. Unpretentious and really good service. Will be back again.

Came here with friends on a Thursday evening, so it was quite quiet except one large table in. After a lot of pondering over what to order, I chose the Chorizo and prawn risotto, which was really nice!! However, my friends couldn't decide between the risotto or the flash fried steak strips, and the waitress recommended the steak over the risotto. However when it came, it looked like a school lunch, and after being told it would be cooked medium rare, it arrived well done with some rice and peas. Needless to say my friends were disappointed with their meals and ended up finishing my risotto when I was full. Bit of a shame!! Price was ok, around £18 for meal and small wine.

I have been a frequent visitor for years and this gem never disappoints, menu changes regular, service is exceptional, food is as ways delicious, beautiful wines. It's just got a wonderful charm and we always feel welcome. And it's very reasonable.

The staff at the Imperial are some of the nicest and friendliest staff you'll ever come across. The food is always delicious and the atmosphere is great. Best place to eat in Darlington!

We have eaten in here a lot of times, and every time we have it's been fabulous. The food amazing and the staff are always lovely x

Attended with a group of 12 from several nationalities, has become a regular venue for such visits, all were delighted with service and food. Wine was also very nice. Confirmed repeat customer.

Excellent service and food. Great for all the family we are regular customers and have never been left disappointed !

Have been using IE for some 15 years on and off so have been able to witness the inevitable and understandable ups and downs. That said it remains what it had always been a non chain, interesting, pleasant and good venue to eat and drink. The menus are always varied and generally the dishes are of the highest standards, choice in terms of dish size and whats in them is always good and interesting. Personally I have always found the service to be friendly and efficient.

I have found the full English breakfast at the Imperial Express very good and even excellent on occasion but we had a family breakfast this week and although the full English was reasonable value I think £8.95 for scrambled egg on toast was very expensive. The scrambled egg with salmon is marginally more expensive. Quality was just OK for the scrambled egg on toast but with a cup of tea nearly £12 each?

Was disappointed by the service I received, no one acknowledged my arrival, or came over to take my order, despite how quiet the cafe was. I've been here before and had similar issues with staff, who actually started to mop the floor and scrape noisy chairs around while we were still eating our meal. I think the place is nice, Darlington has too few smart places to eat, but the staff really do need to up the standard of service to warrant better reviews.

I have been to Imperial Express a few times in the past and have been satisfied. However, on the most recent occasion I attended with a small group and had the Christmas set menu. The pate starter was distinctly ordinary and the main course was a chunk of turkey that was dry and indegestible. Service was inattentive - one almost had to kidnap a waitress to get some attention (which was being given freely to larger groups) and at £25 the menu was overpriced for the quality.

I went here with friends to celebrate a 50th birthday. We had decided to have a late, long lunch.The food was exceptional, I had the sausage and black pudding tower which was really tasty.I've been to this 'cafe' for breakfast only before but would now recommend breakfast and lunch/dinner.

Visited Imperial for a late tea. The service was efficient and the atmosphere good even tho the restaurant wasn't full. I had the rigatoni with chicken and chorizo which was delicious and my friend the beef strips which she also enjoyed. Hadn't visited for a long time but glad we did.

Popped in late one Saturday afternoon for coffee and cake. From the outside the cafe looks very inviting and inside it has a mediterranean feel so it showed promise and its great to support non chain cafes.There was plenty of seating (cafe almost empty) and it may well have been a busy Saturday as only 3 types of cake were on offer. The chap came over to take the order (maybe he was new) but he kept forgetting what we'd ordered as he wrote it down - not a great impression.The cakes are on a fairly open display which may be the root cause of the problem as we ordered one of each - parkin, scone and orange cake. To be honest with the exception of the orange cake which needed a bit of frosting the parkin and scones were pretty dry and unappealing. Something more Italian might have gone down well?????? they weren't particularly cheap either.Coffees arrived and were hot and tasty - the waiter then forgot to bring one of the cakes.Overall needs to up its game on service and review its cake offering (and the freshness of that offering) if it wishes to compete as a coffee shop as sadly the chains do it better.