Royal Cafe in Braintree

This was a brilliant traditional cafe supplying a good selection of reasonably priced English style breakfast and lunches, I was a regular punter. They closed a couple of months ago for a refurb and are now about to re open so I stopped by to check out the new menu. Oh dear, oh dear, it seems they have all gone a bit "Champagne Socialist" while they have been closed. The prices make no sense, instead of, say, £7.20 the menu says it as "7.2" Why? It's hard to find a breakfast without flippin Haloumi included! Why do I want squeaky rubber with my fried egg?? When you find a decent breakfast on the menu it's £11.90!!! (11.9 in their money) and that includes 1 slice of "sourdough toast", no drinks though. So by the time I add a coffee I'm going to be paying upwards of 16 quid for a fried breakfast (16.0 apparently), and I'll still only get one slice of poxy "sourdough" (yuk) I'm sure some of the Wickham Bishops Massiv will pop in from time to time but at these prices you've probably lost your core customers, the oldies, families and workers. And as for Halloumi on a fried breakfast, what's all that about eh?

For me the best breakfast place in town. Always great food and the breakfast sets are really Good. Have tried other places and not a patch on this place

Café Royal is wonderful. I visited this restaurant on 3 and 4 May. They make wonderful breakfasts, very generous portions and incredibly filling. Staff very friendly and helpful. Great value for money. This restaurant is a little diamond, so I hope lots of people continue to eat there.

Been this place few times absolutely love it nice food and attentive staff. Especially Bacon, cheese and mushrooms dish

Went in today , slightly dubious as used to be a dive, BUT new owners by the look of it. Clean fresh and tasty. At first prices seem steep but then the size of meal is huge for what you pay. I would ignore all past post and give it a try. Helpful owners and very courteous

£6.20 for a takeaway tea and a bacon and egg sandwich. Sliced medium bread. Average. Clean and friendly staff

In here last week after plenty of previous visits over the last few months, 10 minutes sat at a table in a not very busy place without a single moment of staff contact. A couple next to me complained to the cook, who was serving tables, that their order hadn't been taken. He took their drinks order, made & delivered the drinks. At that stage, I got up & walked away. They weren't short staffed, same number of people as usual. Plenty of cafe's in Witham who are happy to take the business though.

Never had a problem But today all different staff very rude got tickets mixed up and food was wrong!

Cafe seemed welcoming but cash only. Seriously, who needs to pay cash these days. Much more hygienic, efficient and easy to budget using cards. Costs businesses next to nothing using facilities such as Sum Up. Now I know why cafe was nearly empty. I never use anywhere which is cash only. End of.

Been here twice and had a nice breakfast both times. Unlike some of the other reviewers my food wasn't greasy at all, it was cooked very nicely. The prices were OK too, what I would have expected to pay for a cafe breakfast. We will definitely be back.

I must this is not a very nice cafe very greasy everything is done in the deep fat fryer everything is full of Grease and I think it should be closed down way overpriced

Greasy deep fat fryer is the easy way for him Very bad food and way over priced I will never go again

Honestly the best cafe, I’ve been to quite a few in witham and royal cafe has had the best service, food and atmosphere. The girls working there made sure everything was spotless, 5 star hygiene and not slow like other cafes around the area. The set 2 I had was massive and great value for money Will definitely come again !

Absolutely love this place. We visit regularly when shift patterns allow. Never been let down on food or service. Girls serving always pleasant and polite, even remember our order off by heart now, which is a nice personal touch! Food always cooked well, hot and plentiful. Couldn't ask for more!

Should of listen to my gut instead of thinking its normal seeing a customer in a fast food cafe eating a Sunday roast. Ordered Sunday roast beef as it being Sunday and can say 100% worst roast dinner I have ever eaten. Even though I had asked fore gravy in a side dish i got the roast swimming in the stuff but after trying it I knew why, to try and make it taste. PLASTIC BEEF PLASTIC SPUDS DEEPCSOAKED CARROTS STALE LOOKING PEAS AND A LUMP OF WET RAGE THAT I DISCOVERED WAS MEANT TO BE CABBAGE.

We were the second lot of pensioners to be banned! Never in 79 years have I ever been banned from anywhere. I was having coffee with my friend and was told to leave because we took too long and not come back during meal times! disgusting! To treat pensioners, part of the community this way. Certainly not in the spirit of Christmas! We usually eat there too but never again. If you are a pensioner and take too long to decide what you want you will be asked to leave! Other pensioner friends were told off for moving table too! These people have no time, respect or courtesy to the older generation that are a big part of this local community. Staff should be ashamed!

Brilliant place to stop for a drink or food. This is run by a family who are very friendly and know their customers

This is a hidden little gem- friendly servcie, great coffee, the best jacket potatoes anywhere, great full English as well, very clean, often crowded. A true favourite,

The attitude of the staff was not good as they wouldn’t serve us as one of our family chuck a dinner at the staff as they were be mean to my uncle but it weren’t us but the manger said we was welcome any day. Never going to go in their as bad attitude

Decent food at decent price staff polite and considerate best place to get just a breakfast some come with hot drink in price ive never had a problem

The best cafe in Witham without question. Very clean,great staff,great food (at least I've never been disappointed in there.) 5 out of 5

Very popular little cafe second time that we have been here food frost class very clean waitress service well looked after clean and always busy recommend to all

Breakfast is fresh and quite delicious ,clean envoirenment ,very friendly staff ,perfect and quick service ,we will definitely be back ,one more secret information it is family business ..

Right, finally writing a review about this little gem. I've been coming here for 5 years now and because I'm a bit awkward I'm forever making up my own meals. Nothing has ever been a problem and It's always cooked the way I want it as well, it's always busy in here, for a very good reason. It offers great value and attentive service, with polite girls ho never show any signs of stress even when rushed off their feet. Lorry drivers would love this place to be on the A1, however I hope it remains in Witham for as long as I live because there is nothing better in Essex .

Food is good get a good breakfast staff very friendly never had a bad meal nice and clean never have to wait long even when busy very hard working staff

I have been going to this cafe for a while now if I am in Witham, I have had breakfast, omelettes, chicken and rice ect ect and what I have not tried my husband has, we have never had a bad meal yet, the staff are friendly and the cafe is always clean, great place to eat.

We go there for a breakfast on a weekly basis Food is always good Very Clean and staff extremely friendly and helpful

Visited Royal Café on the recommendation of a friend. Glad I did. Have only sampled their fried breakfasts so far but no complaints.

Called to Witham today needed a breakfast came across this little café popped inside what a lovely find . beautifully clean friendly staff and the food was fresh piping hot and well presented . and plenty of it . a good selection to choose from at a good price . If your passing and in need of a good meal this is the place .

im usually here once a week for a cooked. breakfast it always hits the spot and represents really good value for money, wash it down with a hot piping cup of tea

Came here with the family for breakfast before we went to nature reserve it did not disappoint was very filling the full English which was enjoyed by the whole family staff were really good with us

Just moved to witham found the royal cafe by pure luck is fantastic real friendly staff g8 food will be our regular cafe

Has turned into a regular trip here for a saturday lunch, very quick service, food is great. Girls work very hard and always pleasant and smiling,

What a great cafe in witham freshly cooked food good portion lovely staff and value for money , I've been going there for over a year and never had a bad breakfast or meal ..

This is the 2nd time I've visited this cafe, first time the food was disappointing and today tried the roast dinner, the lamb was hard to cut and though to eat, only 3 round slices which makes me think it wasnt freshly cooked, pretty poor portion for the price they charge and my partner had the chicken roast which was very dry, the veg was not fresh, I'd have to say frozen. Have to say they did a decent cup of coffee and this was good value for money

Very pleased with our visit to royal cafe , friendly staff were quick to serve and the food was lovely . The food was hot and the portions were good . Very clean . Will definitely be visiting again soon .

Really great place to have a breakfast. Good quality food at good prices. The waitress staff could not be more friendly and are ready to make you your tailor made breakfast. I really cannot speak highly enough about the Royal for the service and food. Yes I admit it, I love my "Full English" and yes I am a regular, but surely that speaks more then words could.