Sainsbury's Cafe in Colchester - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Thank you to the staff today who helped me find something to eat for lunch. The food was lovely. I have severe intolerances to a few very common ingredients. I appreciate that the café has a book where every ingredient is listed. The staff were helpful with allowing me to look through the book and answering my questions. In the end they put together a custom meal for me. I am very grateful!

Slower than a legless tortoise being served

Had to wait 20 mins to get a coffee, due to one server. After been served had to wait another 5 mins for drink to be made then 10 mins for food to arrive. The restaurant was not that busy as plenty of table's free. Staff were just so slow snails pace.

Excellent choice of food and drink.friendly helpful staff.Enjoyed turkey baguette lovely hot and tasty.Would definitely recommend

Unbelievably bad breakfast. This was my first visit and I can confidently say, it’ll be my last. I have never experienced such appalling food. Burnt sausages, rubbery fried egg, dry baked beans, over cooked hash brown potato. Bacon, toast and half tomato was the only edible items and even they were like warm. If I hadn’t of paid, I would of handed it back and left. When leaving I noticed other people had left and did not eat all there breakfast, so it wasn’t only me who endured poor food.

Very poor £16 got 2 coffees ham egg n chips and a fish finger sandwich which consisted of 3 fish fingers cut up to cover half of the bread When replaced it actually filled only half of the sandwich Food definitely gone down in my opinion Sadly won't be back Definitely spoilt my experience

Very poor £16 got 2 coffees ham egg n chips and a fish finger sandwich which consisted of 3 fish fingers cut up to cover half of the bread When replaced it actually filled only half of the sandwich Food definitely gone down in my opinion Sadly won't be back Definitely spoilt my experience

We were really not impressed by the breakfast at all. Fried eggs were over cooked, beans & mushroom were cold. The bacon was so rubbery an elastic band would have been better. If you get what you pay for then unfortunately you would have been extremely overcharged. However the staff were fantastic.

This is for the Stanway Store not the cafe…few checkouts choked by full trolleys, queue at customer services desk with one person long…I don’t work for Sainsbury’s and have no wish to support appalling customer service and the sacking of till staff on the altar of Sainsbury’s profit so refuse to self scan. Stuff I picked up was then left with the security guy as I left, I can buy elsewhere…incidentally, he cared about as much as your senior management do…customers, apparently we are there to serve you…some of us however, refuse to play!

Its all good at Sainsburys cafe. Just a shame its not open later.

Visited the Sainsbury’s Café at lunchtime. Waited quite a while for the food to be brought out but they were busy and there was a long line to be served. Food was ok. You get what you pay for and it’s decent value for what you get. Only minor issue were the chips, they looked pale and were soft, could’ve been cooked a little longer (I had the Ham, Egg & Chips).. but for a fiver you can’t go wrong.. Staff were really friendly and we working tirelessly however most of the tables were cluttered and dirty with food stains and crumbs on the floor but that’s how customers choose to leave it, not really a fault of the staff more inconsiderate people. Would return but would try another hot dish in the future.

Food was cold waiting forever very disappointing

It is a place where you can sit quietly, have a good breakfast and do some work.

A lovely place to have something to eat or drink. We had the chicken burger which was lovely. They have a variety of cakes and drinks. Lots of places to sit. We went when it was a quiet time which was nice. The lady at the till was very friendly and helpful.

No coffee, sandwiches dry and hardly any filling .this is just not Colchester but chelmsford.no wonder these cafes are not busy any more .

A good Breakfast at a fantastic price. Agreat start to any day. The food was piping hot with a good mug of tea. Super value for money.

Confusing cafe different counters people wonder around aimlessly , ordered milkshakes and told at wrong counter and had to move to another and rewait , really poor signage , poor quality food and expensive for a supermarket cafe

My husband told me 3 choices he would eat...out of everyone. Opted for a jacket potato, it was the smallest I have ever seen.

Arrived at Sainsbury's restaurant at 1030hrs and ordered 2 x full English breakfast with black pudding and scrambled egg plus two coffees. Was informed that they did not do black pudding any longer (despite it being advertised online). 40 mins later breakfast was served without scrambled egg. Meals were returned. Waited for 10 mins. Asked for refund and left.

The fry up is vile, sits all day on hot plates or in hot water for hours... the scrambled eggs are kept floating in hot water?! Just disgusting, expensive and the staff are unfriendly. Asda cafe is much nicer.

We regularly visit the cafe when it is open, however have slowly cut down to just getting drinks. Whilst the food is varied and cheap, we have unfortunately always received cold food as it sits on the counter

Prices are ok, portions are a bit small, good food for a supermarket cafe

Not bad at all. Lovely helpful staff. Reasonable price. After a good shopping having breakfast or even coffe helps

I persuaded my husband to have lunch at Sainsburys as we needed a few items from the store. A big mistake. The choice of food was limited and a lot of the counter space was empty. Nonetheless we ordered steak and ale pie with chips and peas and a jacket potatoe with cheese and a side salad. The pie had obviously been sitting in the warming cabinet for quite some time as the pastry was rock hard at the bottom and the gravy inside had dried out. The first potatoe was returned as it was virtually cold but the replacement was only a little warmer, to the extent that the grated cheese didn't even start to melt. The slightly off flavour was due to having been sitting for some time. Unfortunately the staff didn't improve things with a lack lustre approach to customers.

You would expect for being within Sainsbury’s but the food might be at least edible the food is disgusting the place needs to be closedown

I ordered 2 omelettes and the lady asked chips or salad. So I got one with each. Only to discover when I got to the tills that they were charging me £1.40 for about 10 chips!!! Also my bottle of water said not to be sold separately. I certainly won’t be going back any time soon

We went here yesterday and hoped it had improved since we last ate there. Unfortunately it was just as bad. We do not live locally and usually go to our local cafe at CRAYFORD which is excellent. We know that hot chicken baguette at Sainsburys Crayford is delicious, large baguette filled with roast chicken and small jug of gravy. What did we get at STANWAY was small stale baguette with one slice of cold chicken roll!! Also my grandson had hardly any choice of fruit as bowls not filled up. We will not be returning. The price for baguette was £3.50 disgusting for what we got.

as always with the knowing you can get the best . it's a pleasure to shop here

Sometimes hit and miss. Good can be good

Wanted to go for dinner here with my boyfriend and 1 year old son, about 5pm. When we got there the café only had two other people in there. There's a big seating area so no problem finding a seat and plenty of highchairs available! However, the food did not look appetising at all. I wanted a jacket potato but they were tiny so decided it was not worth the £5/6. My boyfriend didn't fancy anything on offer (cottage pie, bangers and mash, quiche...) So we just ended up walking straight back out. Definitely wouldn't go here for food as there are plenty of café/restaurants that are better quality for the prices. Disappointing as it's within walking distance for me and would be convenient. Would consider going there for a cuppa with a friend but nothing else.

Good choice of food, comfortable surroundings

We have eaten here twice in the last month and both visits have been terrible,no customer service at all,no rolls for soup?,it’s a supermarket too much effort to go down and get some,no veg with a junior roast,questioned this at the till,oh you get 3 sprouts but was then only given 2,food cold,gravy like water,asked if can have an extra side of veg,was bluntly told no as cannot add it on the till?disgraceful service,incompetent staff.

Handy place to wait if you have to.

Average, but consistent quality

It sounded good for £4.50 full breakfast but it turned out to be like another commercial disaster. The only fresh bit on the menu was the eggs, the bacon was tasteless, the tomatoes were under cooked, the hash browns were cold, in fact the hole dish was was cold and i never tasted backed beans so horrible in my life!!!!!! you know when things are bad when you here the kids on the table next to you say i IT TASTES FUNNY!!

Popped into the Colchester Tollgate store for a quick bite before, doing a bit of christmas shopping this morning 16/12/19. First and last time; really Colchester you need to do so much better than this.Issue 1 - Despite telling the member of staff serving, that she had recently had a stroke I actually helped a poor lady; who couldnt carry her tray, to her table??!! Staff ignored her.Issue 2 - Partly served breakfast left on counter whilst eggs and toast cooking, result a luke warm breakfast.Issue 3 - And the "icing on the cake", I politely asked for just a plain piece of toast with no butter on. However the young woman serving proceeded to slather butter all over the toast (it was dripping) and when I again politely tried to explain that I couldnt eat it with butter, she proceeded to tell me that's how it comes? She then picked it off the plate with her hands and slammed it (literally in a huff) into the bin. She did re-do me another piece, but again slammed it onto the plate, breaking up, my by now lukewarm egg.Honestly if you're not happy in your work...go do something else. It wasn't busy and I wasnt rude; purely a polite request for toast with no butter; and as I had requested to the lady who took my order. The young woman was particularly sullen and very rude. The lady taking the orders acted like a "robot". No customer service skills between either of them? Due some training perhaps?I for one will not be going back.

Obe of the best food for lunch time. Fish and chips for a fiver and a nice cup of tea or cappacuino.

Huge queue for hot food. Having finally got served 4 'hot' meals, we then joined the line to pay and order drinks. Standing there, the meals sit on the tray and go cold before getting to the head of this second queue. We then order coffees, to be told it will be 5-10 mins before the coffees will be ready and so we should go to the till on the other side of the café and just ask the staff their for the coffees. So we walk across to find another huge queue, with everyone glaring at us as we sheepishly pushed in and asked for our coffees. So by the time we sat down we were completely stressed, the food the was completely cold and I was completely convinced I would never eat here again.

One cannot complain about the food but could be extremely disappointed at the selection of meals available.

Only had coffee and fresh cream doughnut but oh so yummy would recommend to anyone

Good food for a reasonable price

Dry and hard fish. Small portion of over cooked chips and crusty mushy peas.. Sorry, but I refuse to eat there anymore. I complained and handed back my food and was told sorry, but no one else has complained. No refund was offered Just not good enough

This is one of the best restaurant I have been to good variety of food and lovely coffee

Ok so let's be honest . I don't think anyone would expect anything special from a supermarket café .. you kinda no it's going to be some what basic but convenient. But honestly for the prices Sainsbury's charge within there café range the food is rather dry, tasteless and dreadful. And sits somewhere seriously under par with their rivals..

Nice, cheap breakfast. Does the job.

Quickly popped in for a jacket potato and latte. No jackets left at 2pm, opted for ham egg and chips. Found a member of staff who was really rushed off her feet (bless her) and asked if somebody wouldn’t mind clearing and wiping over the table for me.... ended up having to do it myself with her cloth. Food was fine, latte was great. Sainsbury’s need to accommodate more staff for busy days/times.

The café is at first floor level, is large light and airy, with plenty of tables. They serve breakfasts, drinks. snacks and hot meals. We only had drinks which were fine, decent price. Many supermarket cafes are cramped and dull, this one is very welcoming and spacious.

Very poor selection of 'healthy' foods especially for those of us with specific dietary needs.

Staff are amazing in this place!! Always polite and helpful. However the quality of the food itself has dropped hugely. For a company of this size that's poor. It's not the way it's cooked but just substandard in the quality itself. Been stopping on my way home from work over the past few years but not sure I'll continue. Big shame

Great cheap place to eat only complaint is so often they " run out" of veggie options and kids options especially veggie sausages. Bit annoying big you have kids who are veggies.

Food is great and a good selection for adults and children but service is very slow as you go through 2 queues before paying

The service was really slow 2 young staff on there who weren't experienced. Water tasted strange on tea & green tea. The service in this restaurant isn't good at anytime

Good value for the money, children's menu very good

We go here frequently while heading off to do our weekly shop. The cafe is always busy, the staff are helpful efficient and work well as a team. Yesterday although short staffed worked well, and I ordered two jacket potato beans on one cheese on the other and the lady serving remembered my hubby is a no salad man! Wow that's above and beyond with the door fall of people. Great coffee, pleasant surroundings too. Well worth the money .

Useless. Qued for food for a long time due to no body readily available to take orders. Once there, despite having a full menu on display, were told we could only choose from 6 options. Then told to pay and wait... for 10 minutes! No table service, just having to stand their awkwardly as everyone else is served. No sugar free options for drinks, or diet soft drinks either- good thing theres not a sugar tax in this country.... Food was average, and certainly not good value for money.

good shopping, good parking, convenient

I like the coffee in Sainsburys and they are reasonably priced..

Not organised, food cold while having to queue to pay waiting for people having coffees etc made. Please try re think the lay out. Not enough staff.

Toasted Teacake was pappy and not toasted ver well.

Nice food at a very resonable price. Staff were friendly and helpful.

Food was lovely, I couldn't enjoy it at all because one member of staff really made me feel like I wasn't welcome, based on that alone I don't want to return here.

Not enough check outs open and lots of empty shelves. This is always the case around 5.30pm on Fridays. This needs to be addressed!

Good food value for money friendly staff

Very good food lovely staff always try to stop there to get lunch

Hot food gets cold whilst queuing for drinks and paying, also cold air blowing from vents. Tables not cleaned when vacated. Very nice fish & chips though.

Lots of places to sit, first floor but has a lift. Room. Lots of snack products are same as on shop floor but more expensive?! Poor hot meal options and v limited.

Way to expensive for very low standard food. Was on the verge of going back with my omelette and asking if they wanted me to show then how to cook an omelette properly. The baguette is not worth doing its chewy bread with cold food in it. Do not reccomend

Its fine... The food is good plenty of room and tables to perch on.. The tea🍵 wth milk excellent flavor and the ☕️ coffee is frothy man... Brill... nice place to chill.. Nice and clean... cups etc on tables don't stop long its cleared away uktra quik and chairs and tables wiped dwn... Brilliant

Reasonable food at a good price.

Perfectly acceptable food, cafe decor, large sitting area, good selection of items and dishes and helpful enough staff. As supermarket cafes go, its does the job. Unfair to rate it anything other than very good given this context.

Good atmosphere, good customer service and nice food at a decent price.

Excellent food, something for everyone. Great staff.

Good food and good service very clean and tidy

Dont eat here, I used to love my local sainsburys cafe but then I moved to Essex. Of course I walked in with high Hope's but everytime I've been thetes been a problem from no food first thing in the morning to rude team.

Staff were lovely and very helpful, a member of staff carried my tray and got a highchair for my granddaughter as she was being very clingy. My jacket potato was tiny and not much cheese, but my granddaughters meal was much better. It’s a pain with the different queuing areas.

Another long wait at checkouts. Served by a very rude member of staff. Sainsburys really is going downhill these days. Maybe time to shop else where.

Good value but slow service. Not enough staff

Why do they have to put mayonnaise with everything? Menu board read "Tuna & sweetcorn" as an option to put with jacket potato but there was clearly a good deal of mayo in with the tuna. Had a jkt pot with some peas but by the time they'd sent us from one side to the other and back again to pay it was stone cold. Note to self - don't go here again.

Only one till open food cold before you can pay for it. Not up to standard of rest of store. Let's down shopping experience.

Dirty and unclean facilities also toilets are hit and miss. I would not eat food there

Average food last visit didn't have the first 2 options I wanted, frustrating

Made my day! Lovely pkace to have a tea! And very nice staff!

Lovely food and nice choice. However a bit confusing as several queues for different food options and then have to queue to pay.

Very popular cafe for a Sainsbury's, always busy, confusion to where to stand to get food and where to pay, other than that, great!

Food was hot service was nice and staff are great. Was a pleasure to have had breakfast here.

If it's to do with food sainsbury's do it well..

Slow service and by the time we had paid and got our drinks our hot food was cold

Food and service are good but it's disappointing the jacket potatoe fillings are from sandwich filling packs (sainsburys own). Surely there is a more efficient way to provide fillings and most importantly reduce plastic waste?

They were slow in clearing the table I think not enough staff.Coffee and tea were fine.

Had prawn mayo sandwich and a cuppa tea wasn't to expensive and tasted good

Coffee was horrible but otherwise ok

Good for a break when you can't stand any more shopping! Popular with families with kids.

Poor food and poor service, won't try a 3rd time

food was hours old,hard, cold and the staff are rude.dont bother

Victoria sponge was nice, but despite tea being freshly made it was luke warm

I was extremely disappointed with one female worker in the bakery when I needed help. She wouldn't come near me and she could hardly hear what I was saying. I then switched on to her colleague who was lovely and really helpful. I didn't want to ask for the manager as I was with my client who specifically wanted this Sainsbury whole meal seeded bread. Some PR Training needed for this individual and she paints other staff with her *Black paint*

The Lady where you get hot food from, Jacket spuds, fish & chips etc was very HELPFUL and jolly. I picked up my food you then have to get in line to pay eles where. You order coffee tea drinks here and pay.

It's a rather disorganised cafe, especially when it's busy.....so I would suggest buying drinks before hot food. Today it took more than five minutes to get drinks and pay, so the food, which is okay, went cold....🤨

I had a Chicken and Bacon Pannini, asked for it to be heated up, by the time I got to a table after queing for a cup of tea and to pay, the pannini was cold and to be honest it was titalky bland and dusgusting, would never eat there again, an appalling place.

Such a long wait to be served by the time you got a table the food was cold staff need move a bit quicker so slow