Salt Cafe in Southend-on-Sea

Ordered the fish & chips…. & at £14.95, I was expecting something bigger than the palm of my hand… Definitely not catch of the day, straight out of a packet. Service was reasonable . I definitely won’t be returning , under any circumstances

First they say no hot chocolate, so we ordered cappuccino. Then after I pay hot chocolate is available. We amend order. Hot chocolate is cheaper but they can't refund. For s some reason it was all my fault. Stag extremely rude

The food was nice. There were options of fish and chips, scampi and chips and others for baguettes. Drinks were available. The seating area was comfortable. Lovely view. Good prices. Short queues. Staff were friendly. More variety on the the menu would be appreciated.

At the end of December this was the only place to get any food on Southend pier, and I didn’t even get to taste any food! Queuing for the restaurant I finally got to the front when I was told in no uncertain terms by the charmless proprietor that ‘ we’re not currently serving food’ in what looked like for all intents and purposes to be a restaurant. As I was both hungry and thirsty I asked if I might stay for a drink and some crisps. He said I could and told me I should buy crisps in the takeaway cafe then I could come in and have a drink. After 20 minutes in the takeaway queue whilst a single operative served complicated coffee beverages to hordes of families I reverted to the restaurant area for my drink. I waited as instructed by the ‘wait to be seated’ sign (for the second time) but when no one came I approached the bar and asked if I could order a drink. I was told ‘you’re supposed to order your drinks in the takeaway but I suppose if you sit down I’ll come and take your order’. Pretty fed up at not being told this before I sat down and waited… and waited… but after 30 minutes gave up and left so that I could get the next train off the pier - never to return to this shambles. A truly awful experience.

Went there today for a much needed coffee, sitting inside listening to aloud manager telling off her staff, saying they needed to work as a team. She needs to follow her own advice and wait for customers to leave and she needs to revise hygiene guidance for packing cakes into bags. Will not be going again in a hurry!