Oscars Bistro in Powys

Great food. Love little cafe. Nice and warm too!

I had the most awful meal there today made by someone who clearly can’t cook well and doesn’t taste what they cook. Lacking in seasoning and flavour of any kind it. Supposedly Moroccan lamb it was a bowl of chopped veg (namely undercooked carrots and peppers) in tinned tomatoes with a few pieces of apricot chucked in and six small pieces of tough dry lamb. The rice was fine. This was also served with over cooked frozen peas! Why? This place used to be a top eatery. Not any more. And not cheap. I don’t Mind paying for good food. My husbands beef curry was a bit more palatable but really not great as the beef was tough and tasteless. Bad cooking. Won’t bother again.

Always good value, often open, reliable with variation of menu. It would be good to see the veggie sausages (potato) replaced with actual protein ones, plenty around now. But we like and often return to Oskars

Delicious food with friendly service

Pleasant service and welcome from the oriental lady. My wife had the vegetable soup which was excellent, I had fish and chips to which fish was good but the chips were so so. Would return

pretty mid. the panini’s came out first. there was melted cheese and ham on the side of one of the tuna mayonnaise panini. two of the small plates were extremely late arriving. we had to ask where the other small plates were - one was still being made and the other they had mistakenly given to another table and was now out of stock. overall it was disappointing and the food hygiene was questionable.

Small establishment, but good food! They have an excellent menu of small plates that they deep fry which are all very affordable, and very tasty. The service was also very quick, recieving our food in around 5 minutes. The Mac n cheese bites were our favourite (plus they gave us 6 not 5!). We also ordered a tuna panini which was less exceptional, the tuna filling was lackluster and comparably expensive to the small plates. Overall would visit again, but would probably get more small plates over anything else.

Had a delicious lunch with great service.

Went here for lunch 18.5.24. Baguettes insipid and raw looking. Jacket potato skin was over baked and tough, and had horrible eyes on it. Lettuce looked like it had been in the bag for two weeks, soggy and brown. I had a chip in my glass which I felt with my lip. I took it to the counter to exchange it and the Manageress said and I quote "That is not a lip cutting chip!?" is that even a thing!? The young couple next to us left a strange looking soggy wrap, all their chips and half a glass of wine and walked out. Disgraceful, unhelpful moronic staff, don't waste your money!

Lovely place to get breakfast. Ordering and silverware is at the front counter, and staff were very friendly. Got the full English breakfast with a latte, all of which was quite tasty.

Weird hybrid service where they bring you the food but nothing to eat it with so you have to go back downstairs to get cutlery. Quiche was the driest thing I've ever eaten. Food just not good and service almost non existent. When we asked them if they had any free tables on entry we were told 'you'll have to have a look'. Not very welcoming.

Miserable little place, menu was very limited, food was average, coffee was fine but service with a sneer, atmosphere was weird. Won't go be going back in a hurry.

Such a weird atmosphere in there when we walked in, but we gave it the benefit of the doubt and ordered teas, coffee, a baguette and a burger. The baguette was pretty good. But the burger awful. Bland, greasy, and unpleasant. The service felt sub par. Not very welcoming, but "ok"

Great staff very supportive and friendly.

Had an extremely good Latte and customer service was amazing :)

Best place in Hay for afternoon tea. Only place we could find with scones, jam and cream which was delicious. Excellent service at the counter. We will come back.

Don't bother. Service is shocking. Food is no better for the price you pay. Wish I'd read the reviews before going in. If that's Oscar behind the counter, he needs to give it up, obviously doesn't want to be there.

Tuna melt okay but served with awful old brown lettuce which was very off putting not sure why anyone would think it's ok to serve this to a customer not worth the £8 price tag. Mentioned to young waitress who looked at me blankly. Would not recommend anything that is served with salad here.

Food/drinks were ok, nothing amazing but decent enough. Sadly have to echo the other reviews re. the miserable staff. I realise serving strangers beans on toast and filter coffee all day isn't the most thrilling job in the world, but a smile wouldn't go amiss. Strange semi-hostile attitude to customers - possibly because we were tourists? Anyway wouldn't go back tbh

There's just a but of an awkward hostile atmosphere when you enter, almost like they're dreading you sitting down. However once we went up to order the lady seemed to warm up and become friendly.

My favourite place for lunch and a coffee!

Jacket potato was gorgeous and nice coffee only down side was lack of high chair for little one

Lovely rustic cafe, food was good, and choc fudge cake was good. Service was pleasent and friendly but up untill 12.30you couldnt help feeling the poor lady was doing it all by herself. The food itself, cant fault, value for money & a good cup of coffee.. So def go go again next time in Hay

Coffee Okay but wasn't made to feel welcome. Staff could do with some tuition in how to smile and be friendly. I won't go again - there are plenty of other places in Hay where your custom feels valued

Went in to have coffee and possible spot of lunch. As soon as you went in the atmosphere was tense. The staff member serving the few customers before us was rude and looked like it was the most difficult chore in the world. We left and went else where.

Looked promising with outdoor tables and nicely set out inside. That’s where it stopped. Staff ( think it was the manager) couldn’t have been less bothered about us if he’d tried. Zero pleasantries and took the ordered and prepared it one item at a time. very weird. Coffee was ok, milkshake tepid and not tasty, cakes ok and tea cakes served with what I assume was margarine plus not nice tea cakes; like they’d been squashed. Stuff served at the table by young kids who said barely a word. Shame as it had a lot of potential but if the manager doesn’t care then doubt it’ll thrive or maybe even survive

Called in for a pot of tea and a slice of cake. The carrot cake is by far the best I've ever had!

Nice place for morning coffee. Uncomplicated and that's how I like things

Had the fish and chips avoid it cash & carry frozen fish peas rock hard we had to clear our own table we were sat outside best part of meal tin of ginger beer very pricey for basic food you could buy from a local value supermarket ☹️

Stopped for lunch. The pricy 'locally sourced' burger looked to have come from the local burger van. Chaotic service - my order got lost but they did apologize. Positive point - reasonable espresso.

Ham and chips , chips x 6 pieces , Ham x 1 . Dirty glasses , misreable staff , £8.50 per meal what a disgrace ! AVOID ! AVOID ! AVOID !

Had the £10 plowmans. Served with slightly less than half of a supermarket bake at home white baggette and some plain cheddar. The Ham was Ok. Was rather hoping for at least some stilton. The kids had chips and not super breaded chicken balls. My partner had a panini that left a greasy after taste. But at least they had some kids options. Although we should just have brought sandwiches for them.

Me and the family were camping just out of Hay, and we visited this ‘Oscars Bistro’ looking for some breakfast. We entered, me and my brother sat down as my farther went to order us some food. I noted that a gentleman, in his late 50’s wearing round glasses was behind the counter. I also noted that he was incredibly miserable. I didn’t even once see him smile. Not even a ‘hello’ according to my farther. We sat down and the first thing my dad said was ‘what a miserable and depressing man he was.’ Food was surprisingly quick but unfortunately very average. Wouldn’t personally recommend.

A good place for a snack. Cafe type menu of baguettes and panini plus some daily specials. Reasonable prices too.

Had a coffee there that was ok. I came back the day afterwards as I thought I'd left a belonging there. I asked and was mocked by the gent behind the counter for the way that I asked. I have a condition where I sometimes freeze when speaking so it's difficult in stressful situations. I found it unkind and unnecessary. I understand that working in hospitality is stressful - but if you can't be minimally kind, then perhaps being at the till isn't the place for you. I'll be skipping next time I'm looking for a cafe

I agree with some of the other reviews on this site. The person behind the counter who I believe was the owner, was so rude and quite clearly does not want, neither will he get repeat custom. The food and drink was not fit for human consumption. The jacket potato was so dry and burnt and looked as if it was cooked two months ago and just warmed up today. Why is he running the place if he hates humans so much. So rude and surly to say the least. The tea was vile and had the most obnoxious smell and my husband was almost sick when he tasted it. I told the miserable man who served us about the tea and he said someone else had complained a couple of days earlier, why had he not done anything about it. I will be reporting this place to the environmental health department.

Depressing, old-fashioned, overpriced, and generally poor. There are far far nicer cafes in Hay-on-Wye

Terrific charming staff, generous portions and good selection of fresh ingredient options. Happy to bespoke add or remove bits as you like it from sandwiches, baguettes, paninis and salads etc, good honest nosh for a day of canoeing on the Wye, or just searching for that elusive book in Hay.

The choice and quality of food was good, and our meals arrived quickly. The host/owner was surly and unpleasant throughout. At one point he held the track and trace notebook aloft, angrily proclaiming to the entire lunch service that nobody had bothered to sign in - despite there being QR code posters on the walls for sign in, and despite having alerted nobody to the presence of the notebook. A quick glance revealed that not one name had actually been entered that whole morning...

Gentleman serving could have been friendlier, smile.. It costs nothing.. Food pricey but OK..

Terrible service! The older man behind the counter was extremely unwelcoming and rude. I felt as though the owner didn't want us in there and he was more then happy for us to just walk out of the door. Couldn't find any where to sit because the staff hadn't cleared any of the tables from previous customers. Then found a place to finally sit down after ten minutes to be then told to move as they hadn't sanitized the table. All I wanted was a quick eat whilst I was on my short lunch break at work. Wouldn't recommend to anyone.

Not too bad, little expensive for what we had but aren't all places to eat expensive. Person taking orders could be a little more friendly looked like they didn't want to be there. Smile everybody else in Hay on Wye does.

Avoid this bistro at all costs! After walking around the town we came across this charming bistro (so we thought). As we entered we weren’t greeted, not even a smile. My partner sat down at a table, I proceeded to the counter to place our order and the first thing the older man with glasses said in an aggressive tone was “YOU CAN’T SOT THERE ITS NOT BEEN SANITISED!” Directing his eyes at my partner so he moved tables, I asked if they were still serving breakfast to which he answered in a blunt and sarcastic manner “NO”. I have never experienced customer service like it, I would not recommend to anyone! The menu was very limited too, spaghetti on toast is something I’d give my 3 year old.

Did not request people coming in to wear a mask shocking made me feel very uncomfortable and vulnerable. When I challenged the said person they looked at me with disgust. Should be reported to health and safety.

Stopped in for a quick coffee and ended up sampling the beautiful cakes, and they didn't disappoint! They were delicious! Staff friendly. Cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Would definitely visit again.

Cosy spot in the cosiest of bookish towns. A great place for tea and cake in between bookshop-crawls.

Not welcoming or friendly, not doing the eat out to help scheme either, food ok

Lovely staff, lovely environment and wonderful poached eggs. Thank you :)

While out with my family visiting this iconic town we happened across this ‘Bistro’. Customer service Oscar Bistro style: Step 1 - Greeting the customer Err nope, they are but a mere inconvenience to my otherwise busy day (referring to I guess the proprietor, slicked back hair and a moustache that would raise concerns with operation Yew Tree) Step 2 - Taking the order Face away, make little eye contact, always allow your customer to feel slightly uncomfortable, only do one thing at a time, if you require to replenish the crockery on the shelf feel free to stop serving the customer and do that instead and always shout the order loudly to the skivvey you’re paying minimum wage to in the sweat box that is your kitchen Step 3 - Taking payment Can’t fault this stage of Oscars Bistro customer satisfaction best practice, clearly happy to do this stage Step 4 - Delivering the order Ensure that the staff you employ adopt the same distain towards the customer, place the order firmly in the table to ensure the customer knows it’s arrived, creating a rather loud bang is often most effective Step 5 - Dealing with a problem When dealing with a customer problem (clearly ordering 2 portions of chips was just to hard to honour) always stare at them as if they’ve just taken a dump in your bacon sandwich. Ensure that they feel as uncomfortable as possible and utilise your skills to have a very odd smile on your face. Without exception always and I do mean always shout the order a second time to the quivering wreck (I think his name is Tom, well that’s what was shouted, I feel for you Tom!) in the sweat box Step 6 - Thanking the customer for their business Why on God’s great planet would you do that? Ensure at all times that you continue to make as little eye contact as possible and only when doing so a sneer is often the best way to display your gratitude towards these Muggles. Step 7 - Continuous Improvement Take time to reflect on the service you’ve provided, ask yourself some simple questions like, could I have done anything different, could I improve my already amazing customer service, alternatively continue enjoying your time interacting with the general public If you’ve bothered to read this far then it’s likely that it’s too late for you, you’ve already entered the twilight zone and realise that you are a worthless waste of time....

Good location, menu ok but unexciting, service very much without a smile

Thirsty and hungry from a morning’s sightseeing in beautiful Hay, my partner and I were looking forward to a warm pot of tea and a tasty lunch. Oscar’s seemed like the perfect spot from the outside, with its timeless charm and classic British cafe menu. How wrong we were! Upon entering the establishment, an uneasy atmosphere immediately gripped us. Staff hurried round, fearfully clearing tables, but didn’t greet us or make us feel welcome in any way. A surly gentleman scowled from behind the counter, as if we’d interrupted his tasks by daring to enter. There was certainly no service with a smile and a hint of abrupt sarcasm with every sentence. My partner, who is extremely short sighted and wears strong prescription lenses, ordered a panini. Due to a dietary requirement, my partner is always very worried about eating out, and asked me to check there was no processed meat in his meal. To be extra sure and put my partner’s mind at ease, I approached the counter to check with the proprietor. Again I was met with sarcastic abruptness and a humiliating remark for all customers to hear: “I can clearly see there’s no meat in it. Is he blind?” When challenged on his remark and his overall behaviour, the proprietor responded angrily and refused to admit any error on his part. Seeing this reaction we decided to abandon our uneaten meal and leave. We requested a refund, but were refused and were threatened firstly that the police would be called and then that someone would be called to “sort us out”. In conclusion, we received poor service, were insulted, humiliated and threatened with violence and arrest when we challenged the behaviour we had experienced. Hardly the cup of tea and lunch we had hoped for. However, thanks go to the lovely staff members who tried to reason with their irate boss, calm him down, and granted us our refund. Thank you for attempting to offer a modicum of customer service in this bleak environment.

Went to Oscars Bistro today for lunch. Well what l can say about the 'thai green curry' or so they called it? It was a watery mess covered in garden peas. I really wish I had taken a photo because it has to be seen to be believed. I had a few mouthfuls but, as it was as vile in taste as it was in looks, I took it back. They refused to give me my money back! So I'm hungry and out of money. Terrible customer service.

A lovely restaurant, with helpful good staff, really good food with good quantities. Lots if choice and over 2 floors so plenty of space, loved it.

It is a okay looking tea room and the staff were pleasant. It's just a shame the food tastes like a poor school dinner.

Not sure if I could follow all the instructions posted in this place :-)

Not a good choice for lunch, poor menu, the worst quiche I have ever had! My husband's lasagne was dried round the edges, and piled up on a plate that was too small. my little granddaughters lunch was dry and not appetizing, especially after the man serving had patted it! The meals were literally thrown on the plate. None of us ate our meals. Wouldn't recommend, certainly not service with a smile!

Il padrone che serve anche alla cassa è scorbutico e con poca voglia di lavorare. Nessuno passa a prendere i piatti, ma bisogna farsi la fila di fronte all'entrata del bistro per ordinare e prendere il cibo, così nessuno riesce a passare. Cibo piuttosto inferiore alla media e caro per la qualità e il tipo di locale.

Potrebbe essere meglio, diciamo che il rapporto qualità prezzo propende più per il prezzo, purtroppo. Personale alla mano e simpatico, anche se a mio avviso il servizio potrebbe migliorare.

I don't feel it deserves an Oscar for it's food as the menu claims. Staff had poor knowledge of allergens, food was alright and served quickly but nothing special. Too many signs cluttered the shop.

A lovely afternoon in the hills with a long lunch at Oscars. Cod a chips, nice coffee good conversation on a quiet afternoon.

Not particularly any good. Said home made quiche, no way was it home made.

Food was ok but pricey for what it is. Good atmosphere and coffee.

Had a quick lunch here. Nice staff, decent food and service. Could do with keeping their table tops cleaned properly.

Long wait, mediocre food, no apology for forty five minutes to make beer battered cod. I'm sure some people have had good food and service here, but we didn't.

The host is rude. The food is tasteless and overpriced

Nice place that serves tasty food. The portions are pretty nice and the food is easily customizable. The food is prices how it may be at a pub- about £10 per meal. The food was served in under 15 min. The staff are pretty friendly as well. Would totally go there again

Very tasty Leek, Courgette & Celery Soup. Just what I needed on a wet and windy February Day. Efficient and friendly service. Thanks

Good hearty food with decent portion sizes but a limited selection and quite pricey for what was on offer.

Nice, fast service and nice, reasonably priced food

My daughter worked here and worked hard. She was poorly treated by other staff which I myself witnessed and being a sensitive soul decided not to work there anymore. On ringing to let them know rather than just not turning up I was told how unprofessional it was. The manager wasn't interested in hearing my comments about the other staff and put the phone down on me. Now that's what I call unprofessional! If you don't give someone a contract don't expect the same in return. I'm sure they would have no compunction cancelling a shift. The fact is she was always overworked. The high turnover of staff is therefore hardly a surprise. We had been warned but took no notice. You have been warned!

Lovely café in Hay, about 9 different cakes on offer plus a large range of lunch options - fresh quiches, jackets, soups and salad. Friendly staff and very reasonable prices. Cosy décor with wooden tables and pews.