Ninedeli in Waveney

We had the best chocolate cake ever! And it came with story, as the rest of our meal. Friendly owner and quite an experience having the whole place to ourselves including listening to our own playlist.

Excellent breakfast including fruit and yoghurt followed by full English - delicious and set us up for the day - thank you James.

If you are in Southwold, do not miss this restaurant. Be prepared to engage the owner in badinage, it's all part of the excitement. Good is excellent, and the atmosphere is even better

Great coffee, with a very friendly and helpful owner who advised us about the area. We sat outside the front on a bistro set enjoying the sunshine.

We pre ordered the fish platter and were not disappointed it was fabulous. This is a very small eatery with just four tables but the host James was great. Wine is served generously!!It such a shame that previous negative reviews were based on him not being there without booking. This site is for reviews on food and experiences and if you don't bother to book then that is your issue. Southwold needs more venues like this.

Scrumptious crab salad, chicken risotto & baked cod. Fab personal service. Very reasonably priced. Top drawer. Thanks!

Ordered a fish platter which was delicious and very generous. Highly recommended. Photo shows the size of one portion.

Had a delicious Sunday lunch cooked by James. He looked after us well. Enjoyed the meal and chatting with James. We came last time we were in Southwold and had a delicious meal and takeaway then. We will be back!

We were a family of 4 plus dog, wanting a decent, relaxed meal with time to chat. James was an attentive, friendly host and the food was lovely. I'm not vegan, but beetroot Wellington is a favourite of mine. This was an excellent, no nonsense version but could have done with a 'bit of moist' for the veg and roast potatoes. I mentioned this and James returned a few minutes later with a super red wine gravy which hit the spot perfectly. The cod Wellington was also delicious, as was the chicken and veg pasta and oh my goodness the garlic bread! We definitely recommend this unique little restaurant.

We’re very pleased to say that we throughly enjoyed our moussaka, garlic bread and green salad take away - Served fresh, piping hot and on time with our allotted pick up! We thought the the evening take aways had been stopped at Ninedeli as the menus had been removed, it would be great to see them back as we’re a frequent visitor to Southwold and would love to see what staple options are available. We’ll be back soon!

James welcomed us as we walked through the door and allowed us to read the menu. He held a table for us for an hour whilst we wandered along the seafront. The roast chicken Sunday lunch was excellent: half a hen, fluffy but crisp roast potatoes, delicious gravy and perfectly al dente vegetables. Equally delicious was the fish of the day, sea bass. Nothing was too much for James. Did we want potatoes with the fish? No? Then what would you like in substitution? Bottomless coffee was encouraged, and a dessert of chocolate tiffin or orange and coconut cake with ice cream provided a suitable finish. No pressure on time. Plenty of space but enough interaction and interest in us and what we were doing (walking the Sandlings Way).

My dog and I thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to ninedeli which is tucked away along Pinkneys Lane in the seaside town of Southwold. James, the owner, could not have been more hospitable, chatty and friendly to us both. From prepping and cooking my meal of choice - a delicious chicken pasta dish with cheesy garlic bread and a super salad (complete with a pretty carved radish flower), letting me know that I could play my own music on his sound bar if I didn’t like his choice of music, introducing his adorable dog Mabel to us, giving my dog treats and plenty of fuss, leaving a little bell on my table to press should I need anything while he was away cooking, to giving me a brolly when I was leaving as it was pouring with rain. A true gentleman. Yes, James has his “rules” about seating etc but chat to him, let him explain why and hopefully you’ll understand his reasons like I did and enjoy all the delicious things there are on offer at this little gem. I was so full after eating my meal that I didn’t have room for coffee or cake but we will definitely be back to enjoy both, to see James and Mabel again and to return the brolly.

Could not ask for more, went for a Valentines Lunch with my wife, James put up Valentine’s decorations for us. The service was excellent and he was great host. We had the seafood platter for two and it was excellent, with both shell and fresh fish and home made fish pie, plus a fresh salad. Many thanks Stephen and Pam.

Ordered a Victoria sponge for my mums birthday. A truly fabulous cake! Wasn’t too sweet and came with chocolate covered strawberries and a chocolate decoration. Divine!! Everyone loved it. Great price too. Many thanks James. Highly recommended

Best coffee and homemade soup I've had as long as I can remember. The meals were fab and all left very satisfied! Very worthy of its #1 slot ! A must visit if you're looking for some great food.

Fantastic food, homemade moussaka, garlic bread, chips, calslaw and a beautiful salad with a massive homemade Victoria sponge. The young man was a gentleman and catered to all our needs giving us unlimited tea. By far the friendliest place to eat in Southwold. We will definitely be going back on our next visit as we all struggled to pick from the nicest of menu.

Ordered two meals from the evening takeaway menu - Beef Chilli and Cauliflower Dhansak Curry - and was amazed at the fantastic quality of the home cooked food plus the quantity which included extra side dishes we weren't expecting (see photo). Ordering was easy and ready for collection at time given. Highly recommended.

Last minute arrangement for a birthday lunch was welcomed by James, the chef-owner …. he made a special effort to welcome us by making me a hand-made birthday card waiting on our reserved table. He couldn’t have done more to look after us, cook to our request and offering additional extras like a savoury with our pre-meal drink and a complimentary after-meal coffee.

After our usual go-to fish and chip shop was closed - we decided to find somewhere else to eat. My wife is completely intolerant to gluten (celiac) and we have our dog with us so it can be tricky to find somewhere suitable! After some research, we decided to try Ninedeli. We were welcomed by James who explained that sandwiches were not in season so it was just proper, fresh, cooked to order hot meals - perfect! The dining area is small but perfectly comfortable - we asked James which of the dishes could be made/altered to be Gluten free of which many of them could. He took the gluten intolerance very seriously which is nice. All food was made to order, when it arrived it was presented very well and was delicious! We were looked after the entire time and James checked in to make sure we had everything we needed (inc water for the dog!) Dessert was a homemade carrot cake and ice cream - 10/10. If you are reading the other reviews on here then please bare in mind the type of people that southwold can sometime attract - if you want some proper, homemade, tasty food with some real conversation and laughs then be sure to make your way to Ninedeli. Thank you James, we shall see you again soon

Tucked down a side street, this place is an absolute winner. Nothing too much trouble for the owner, who set to and produced an excellent veggie lasagne with a delicious salad. It was an 80th birthday meal and it could not have been better. James has a wonderful selection of cakes and interesting jars of chutney etc all home made.

I just happened upon this lovely little eatery whilst looking for somewhere to eat lunch. James the owner gave me a very warm welcome, and couldn’t do more to cater to my every need, plus he has a great sense of humour while he’s at it! Delicious, homecooked dishes, I went for the moussaka with side salad and cheesy garlic bread - yum! It’s so cosy inside that I got chatting to the table next to me, and before I knew it, a couple of fun hours had gone by. The only advice I’d give is not to go there in if you’re in a hurry, as James is a one man band and cooks everything from scratch, so you could have a bit of a wait for food depending on how busy he is I suppose; it only takes about 12 people to fill the place inside and out! He also does great coffee and cakes for take-out, and is dog friendly.

Lovely owner allowed us inside with our pet whippet so that we could enjoy the warm welcome! Really good coffee and a share between us of homemade sausage roll and an orange sponge desert served with cream. A true example of how genuine personal attention and quality food in a small business wins customers .

We each had a burger: excellent home made burger and lovely garnishes. Loads of options - fresh sweet yellow pepper was my choice. Side salad was incredibly fresh (not the wilted mixed salad from a bag type but crispy Little Gem lettuce & lambs lettuce with cucumber). My potato wedges were good but slightly greasy which stopped me rating this 5. Cafe latte very good, owner witty and fun and paid attention to detail. We’ll be back next time we visit Southwold. Recommend!

Great to meet & talk to James, who made us feel welcome, made us laugh, & produced some excellent food. Super find, with good food, cooked to order, well presented. We will be back!

Great coffee and food, and owner super helpful with my missing Christmas dinner ingredient! Thank you!

Popped in with the family on Christmas Eve for lunch. The food was delicious and the owner was very entertaining. We loved it. 5 of us and we all got something we wanted to eat and drink. Highly recommend!!!

An absolute gem. A delicious mushroom risotto cooked fresh to order, & properly which is a rarity in many eateries these days. Accompanied with a freshly prepared & sumptuous side salad with delicious garlic bread. & James knows how to make a decent mug of...

We pre-booked Sunday lunch and were not disappointed. Ample portions and piping hot - turkey roast with all the trimmings. Delicious.

Ordered the red Thai curry special as take away. Food was clearly freshly prepared, very tasty and quality ingredients.

Came in for lunch. Good food cooked to order. Clean and tidy and pleasant servi ce. No toilet though.

Best sandwiches around, and lovely service! We have especially enjoyed the smoked salmon sandwiches:)

Proper food, with real ingredients - none of your processed rubbish. Relaxed and friendly service too.

Excellent spot for a sandwich. Even cut the children’s sandwiches into quarters and gave us some stickers so we could re-seal the boxes when the kids wanted to save some for later 👍

Really nothing to rave about, won’t let you drink coffee inside, small selection of dry old cakes in the window, very strange standoffish bloke who runs it - wants to waste time giving every 20 something blonde his whole life story instead of their coffees,...

First class fresh food. Reasonable prices. Fantastic service from a great guy (owner). Tucked away but you need to find it. We will definitely be returning when in the area

A delicious meal. Great choice and a fabulous vegan option. Fantastic service. We will back again tomorrow..this time for a pre ordered takeaway. We cannot recommend enough! We will be back.

James is a great guy. Food is delicious. Good banter and very dry sense of humour. Yesterday had a great sandwich with a beer. Today we came back for breakfast. Everything is made fresh to order. My poached eggs were cooked perfectly & the sausages...

Only stopped for a coffee but was a lovely place out of the way. Friendly and chatty owner, coffee was great and the locals that were in and out show how hood this place is. Will be back to dine in the evening when we...

This is the second time I’ve come back to nine deli and I wouldn’t have lunch anywhere else. Amazing value for amazing food.

Popped in for a take out sandwich and drink to eat on seafront. Owner very entertaining and very obliging. Turned out to be one of the best sandwiches ever. Beautifully fresh, enormous amount of filling and obviously made with a love of food . Tea...

After travelling from North West Essex arriving at Southwold found this lovely place, really friendly and welcoming, amazing food, fresh and delicious. Cappuccino was the best , better than Costa and Starbucks. This is a must visit forever.

Discovered this when casually looking for somewhere for breakfast next day - so glad we did. The pre--ordered breakfast was tailored precisely to our needs and was excellent. Especially the poached egg on toast - it was perfect. And our host entertained us with his...

We had a very relaxed lunch in this quirky place, which we very much enjoyed. We both had tuna, which was excellent. Everything was freshly cooked and could be personalized to us. Because I didn't want the potatoes the owner even replaced them with more...

Found Ninedeli by chance while looking for somewhere for lunch. Wanted alternative to fish dishes and found there was steak and ale pie with veg and potatoes on the menu. Delicious homemade pie and gravy, well worth the wait having it cooked to order. Good...

Unique establishment and experience. Lovely home cooked food. Only a few tables and the ownerJames is a friendly, no nonsense character who prides himself in his food and service. The evening meal was a fun filled evening. It was entertaining from start to finish.

Had a very good takeaway roast chicken dinner, which we really enjoyed one evening when we couldn't be bothered to cook for ourselves. Everything was in separate containers and easy to dish up. Would definitely do again next time we stay in Southwold.

My partner and I came across Ninedeli quite by chance recently, when looking for a late dinner, after a day by the sea in Southwold. We were intrigued by the setting and took to James straight away. He was extremely accomodating towards us, this whilst...

This place is rated the best restaurant in Southwold. And it is. The food James makes, the quality of the ingredients, and the attention to detail in the presentation is flawless. You will see the odd one star reviews and I kind of get some...

We had fish pie each which wasn’t on the current menu but not a problem! Our dog was walked whist we ate and we had a lovely meal! Nice chatting to the owner as well.

This is our 2nd visit to Southwold and after an excellent takeaway from Ninedeli first time we were determined to make a 2nd visit and we are very happy that we did. James is a great character and always helpful when ordering - we all...

Having read the positive reviews on Tripadvisor, we called in on Tuesday 29th to explore dining options. We were greeted warmly by James who clearly explained the way his restaurant operates. Although this may seem unconventional to some who are used to mass produced food,...

I can’t believe previous reviews this place is terrible now. The owner was rude, dismissive, and condescending. Comments like ‘ if you want to eat in the shade it will cost you £15 more inside’ . We were told to put our rubbish into the...

A little off the Main Street this is a lovely wee cafe with a delightful owner/chef Jame’s carrot cake is the best we’ve ever tasted, had to take some home to have later too

My daughter and I popped into Ninedeli with the thought we would see if we could order a takeaway for that evening. James was very welcoming and worked out a way to accommodate our table of 5 to dine in that evening in the tiny...

Afternoon tea courtesy of James at Ninedeli in Southwold. Huge slice of lemon polenta cake, dark hot chocolate and a Baileys. Perfect! Highly personalised and friendly service. Top quality food and drink. Very sad that I leave tomorrow and won’t be here for the carrot...

We booked a table in advance after having some truly delicious sandwiches from here for a lunch and it's safe to say that the dinner did not disappoint! We pre-ordered the fish platter which was delicious, especially the crab! James was very welcoming and accommodating...

A week into my trip to Southwold I wandered past Nine Deli and decided to get a coffee. As a mum to a newborn-ish baby, good coffee is important to me, and I’d so far been fairly disappointed with what Southwold had to offer (I’d...

Lovely place, James is friendly and funny. Coffee is awesome and the cakes are really nice. We come to Southwold only once or twice a year but will be visiting Ninedeli again for sure.

Excellent platters from James, he even delivered them too...and the lobster was great...perfect catering for a very special 80th birthday!

We were looking for a place to eat a more substantial lunch (not just a sandwich) and Ninedeli came out tip on TripAdvisor. It was easy to find, although slightly tucked away and not on the main street in Southwold town. The proprietor/chef greeted us...

Thank you James - great food - a very personalised service and we had a lovely grandparents/grandsons experience - highly recommend

I came across Ninedeli purely by chance and called in for a takeaway cappucino. Owner James was very welcoming & friendly & it was obvious that good service was high on his priorities. The coffee quality & taste was excellent & when I next return...

Fabulous (decaf) coffee, delicious home baked cakes and a friendly and welcoming host in James. All tastes and dietary options catered for with vegan, gluten/dairy free cakes made on premises. We were made to feel really welcome here on our day out in Southwold. Many...

Total jem of a place. Excellent service Excellent food. Highly recommended owner goes above and beyond one of the best lunches ive had in southwold in many years

Delicious coffee! We popped in for a takeaway coffee whilst passing by as I’d seen great reviews online. I’d heard the coffee was very good here and it didn’t disappoint. Looking at diners photographs on here, we’d really like to come back and sample some...

Great evening, superb service and the best fish platter I had for a long time . Thanks James for looking after us . We had a great time .

Great experience Seafood platter was great- we ordered in advance when we booked We really enjoyed the evening . James is a great host / chef / waiter

James is a great host and kept us entertained from the start and the food didn't disappoint either. Exactly what we were after

We stumbled across this little gem after being turned away from other eateries, we were welcomed in and nothing was to much to ask. I had a delicious pizza, freshly prepared pizza with the ingredients sold in the deli. Perfect end to the day!

Best filling in a sandwich for a seriously long time and a proper cup of coffee. Really fresh ingredients, great taste and very good value. Owner is extremely welcoming. Highly recommended.

We stopped on our bikes for a coffee and James the owner was very engaging, chatting about the area etc. Whilst enjoying our lovely coffee in the sun we e arranged to have a roast dinner there with our 3 daughters in a few days...

Lovely sandwich lunch and coffee, egg mayo and tomato was very nice with lots of filling. Very welcoming owner/chef who made us very welcome.

Fantastic little find off the beaten track. Fantastic sandwich’s. Over brimming with fresh fillings. Both food and drinks made fresh. Carrot cake was something special !! James is a great owner and takes him time to chat and made us feel so welcome and comfortable....

Wonderful coffee. Best in Southwold, beautifully served with great passion for good food and drink. Tempting array of savoury dishes and cake. Make sure you eat and drink here whether you’re on holiday or local. So good in fact, we’ve booked for this evening -...

Very enjoyable evening at Ninedeli with a delicious seafood platter. James made us very welcome with our young baby. He went to a lot of effort preparing an amazing selection of fish and seafood which was presented on a sharing platter. We also appreciated that...

We stumbled upon this fabulous find late on Sunday when it seems most of Southwold eateries are shut. Even though I’m pretty sure he was closing we were welcomed and seated it the lovely intimate restaurant. We both settled on a chicken noodle stir fry...

James was most welcoming and had prepared a wonderful seafood sharing platter. We had a great evening with a host who was attentive and entertaining. Be sure to visit this little gem of a place, food freshly prepared so take your time.We will return. Thank...

Great home cooked food, visited yesterday evening for a pre-arranged meal to celebrate a 70th, had a really good meal followed by a lovely seasonal fresh cream and srtrawberry sponge

As we learned on arrival in Southwold, James at ninedeli is a really special character, modest and really wants clients to have a good experience. That’s already reason to visit! We wanted a seafood platter to takeaway on a Tuesday evening ( this was at...

We first had a Take-a-way Seafood lunch boxes. Presentation and contents were excellent. We also then booked an evening meal which was very well served in the small intimate restaurant and extremely tasty. The following day we again had a Seafood lunch box and the...

Enjoyed a great Mocha sitting in the sun Friendly service with a smile will definitely be going back 🌞😁

If you want a unique , special home cooked meal, this is the place. You can go to all the chains and all the modern places but this serves cracking home cooked meals, big portions and the taste is superb. The gentleman running it a...

Amazing little coffee shop with an amazing restaurant! Fantastic and friendly host with lovely food available as snacks and for dinning out in the evening.

OMG what a wonderful experience. A chef and restaurant all to ourselves. Great food, fair price. And James was an entertaining host. 10/10

What a wonderful experience having such a hearty breakfast here. We had a perfect table for two set just outside the shop, in the glorious morning sunshine. While eating, we shared lovely conversation with James, who seems to know everyone in Southwold, and his stories...

steak and ale pie from heaven. Best meal we've had during our stay in Southwold. Powell family from Wigan.

Visiting Southwold with family for long weekend break in local cottage. Ordered 4 take out meals to pick up early evening. Ready right on time. Excellent food, piping hot and freshly cooked to order. Highly recommended.

Brilliant food, beautifully presented. We had to wait quite a while as the chef was on his own but we didn’t mind at all and just sat in the sun.

We had take-away sandwiches and coffee from ninedeli on our first day in Southwold, and then returned for dinner for the next two days! Everything is freshly made to order, the portions are generous and everything we had was absolutely delicious!! There's also homemade cake...

James prepared salad, garlic bread and pasta of the day in piping hot bowls for us to eat in. Excellent fare!

Been to this great little deli a few times now, I gotta say the coffee is really very good! This place should have a queue but often the queue is at H&J (a few doors up) not to down play H&J as they are great...

Staying in Southwold for a few days in March, we visited Ninedeli, having seen the good reviews on TripAdvisor. It certainly didn't disappoint. Fantastic lunches of fish and a risotto prepared by James the owner. and the signature hot chocolate was amazing! We had a...

If anyone knew prandium of Southwold which was a few doors down from the post office and closed in early 2020, the owner James moved closer to the beach and reopened as this place. I have visited both establishments and the food he serves is...

Really good home made carrot cake . Good coffee. Smelt good of home made cooking. Real treat to sit in sunny. Owner came out and we had really interesting chat.

We had one each of the two hot chocolats on offer, dark and milk. They were made with special powder, super hot, super tasty, a bit like hot ice-cream. Nice friendly man in charge, we will visit again.

Cracking breakfast with lovely coffee. The wait for the food is worth it! Friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere

Hidden down a side street. This place is well worth a visit. I just had the most amazing burger all cooked to order.

Great small restaurant hidden away in back street of Southwold. We had an excellent freshly cooked lunch - home made tortellini and steak and ale pie. Highly recommended.

Excellent coffee! Thank you very much ! I have to write a hundred characters but I believe my original statement says it all!!

Brilliant and Fantastic The best thank you James for looking after us, and supply sandwich Cake s for my Brother s. Funeral . Every was injoying moment on this sad day Will be recemediing you all the time . thank you James once again alan