The Alms Houses in County Durham

Ordered two 'Croque Monsieur' and what arrived was two ham and cheese toasties lathered in poor quality English mustard? Why English Mustard? With stale crisps and wilted lettuce. Very poor and given the price quite surprising, especially given that there are numerous much nicer cafés in the city. Staff rather surly as well.

This was a really lovely place to sit and have a drink while appreciating the wonders of the cathedral and castle. The staff were very friendly.

Llamamos después de las 3 de la tarde un domingo y muchos de los elementos de menú había acabado. La máquina de café estaba rota, así que en conjunto fue una experiencia bastante promedio. Hay cafeterías mejor en Durham.

Este café está ubicado en el casco viejo y la estructura tiene recogidas plazuelas sólo tenía los cambios necesarios para hacer un café. La comida es buena, aunque los asientos no es muy cómoda. El personal es agradable y el servicio es rápido. Hay una o dos mesas de pavimento.

Fuimos en el almuerzo tfor para tres personas. Dirigidos a una pequeña mesa con 3 sillas, así que nosotros mismos nos trasladamos a una mesa más grande. Era un lunes a mediodía, casi nadie. Lo que siguió fue un fiasco! El cocinero gritó a su joven camarera "bien mueva volver!" Nos negamos a mover, y los cocineros respuesta fue "bien tendrá que dejar". Él se escondió tras su cocina y se negó a hablar más, incluyendo no lo que le da un número de contacto por lo que podía quejarme. Un servicio tan pobre, simplemente maleducado. No vayas, la catedral es mucho mejor.

The outside seating here is a new development for me and a welcome one. We enjoyed the opportunity to sit outside and enjoy the glorious surroundings. Food and drinks were good and service was prompt. For my money the move to a system of table service makes it feel a little too formal.

Great menu and a brilliant location, staff were friendly and the food was really nice for lunch, my whole family found something that was delcious

The obvious place to eat on a warm sunny day with a dog who was welcome outside on the AstroTurf seating area just opposite the Magna Carta exhibition. Lovely hot drinks and delicious lunches which all three of us enjoyed. The waitress Kay looked after us well and brought a bowl of water for the dog. The setting couldn't be better on the Cathedral Green.

Situated on the green right opposite the cathedral, a lovely place to sit and admire the view sitting outside. Staff were friendly and helpful, and there was water for the dog.

Great location on Palace Green. We called for a quick snack prior to viewing the Magna Carta exhibition at the nearby library. Friendly welcome. Good tea, coffee and scones. Attentive service.

Lovely food so close to the Cathedral, small and personal. Good selection especially for vegetarians. The only downside is its size which at busy times means it can be difficult to get a seat.

Unrivalled location on Palace Green, when the weather is fine you get a great view if seated outside. If seated inside it has always been noisy, a product of the high vaults and plain walls. The Almshouses used to be a great place to eat, friendly staff and good food if a little pricey. Now the owners have decided to make the place more like a restaurant than a tea-room so you have to wait to be seated, the menu brought to you etc. Gone is the temptation of looking at the cakes and pudding at the cabinet while queuing, to a more waitered service. This has made the place feel too formal and far less friendly in my view, spoiling the place. I now go to the cathedral in preference.

Very attractive location, so overall average, but very noisy inside probably due to the vaulted ceilings. I had the afternoon tea, seemed fair value on the menu, but on receiving bill saw that the hot drink was extra! With a set tea the drink is usually included, so I was not impressed. The sandwiches were very small, cakes miniature and not home made, one scone was very dry. The food was served on a most unattractive plate stand. Plates were plain dinner style and food looked dwarfed. There are lots of better places to eat in Durham.

After viewing the Gospels my other half and myself were so hungry we didn't bother walking back into Durham, but decided to try this little place. It was set in the most gorgeous building, so I automatically presumed the food and service would match up to it. Sadly not. We were seated quickly (inside, as the sun was quite hot by now) and I ordered a chicken caesar salad. I thought I was playing it safe, but when it arrived I found the lettuce mixed throughout with cherry tomatoes (9 in total) and lots of raw, red onion. I don't like either, so had to spend minutes fishing all the bits out and popping them on my partner's plate. I have never had tomato and/or onion in a chicken caesar salad, so this was a new one on me. The rest of the meal was ok with a full chicken breast, crispy croutons, crispy bacon (this WAS mentioned on the menu) and lots of parmesan cheese. We were talking about ordered a pudding while only halfway through our main, but the waiter than plonked a plate on our table with 2 mints on and the bill! I was so annoyed I nearly said something, but thought that using our feet to do the talking was the best thing to do. After this I just felt rushed and as the place filled up quite quickly around this time I felt pressured to finish my chicken, pay and leave. Needless to say the puddings never made it out of the display cabinet. Such a shame, as this place and the footfall it attracts could be a really lovely spot

If you can get an outside table the location is excellent ut unfortunately the service and food were not so good. Afterbeing shown to a table I wasleft with the menu for 10 mins. Lots of waitresses walkedpast as I was just near the entrance to the inside tables, but no eye contact or smile. I ordered a chicken and crispy bacon sandwich on brown, and a pot of tea. The chicken and bacon were good but overall the sandwich (made with a wholemeal breadbun) was very dry as there was no butter on the bread. Salad was wilted but vegetablecrisps ok. Maybe I chose the wrong thing, but at thispriceexpected something better.

This used to be a lovely place, good food, friendly staff who knew what they were doing, and a relaxed atmosphere. Sadly that has all gone. There are so many rules! Some tables are even reserved for groups who have split bills! It used to have a really nice independent feel, it's now more like a staff canteen. Nice view if your sat outside, but there are so many really good places to eat in Durham, don't waste your time and money here.

I'm surprised the Almshouses hasn't attracted more reviews. It's a hisoric building next to the Cathedral Green. Near the University halls of residence & departments. it's a favourite with lecturers - although average undergrads might find it more expensive than they can afford. But you do see a lot of new graduates in June in their gowns. The food though is excellent quality, nutritious & filling without being stodgy. Coffee is good, & now soya milk is available.The cakes & pastries are marvellous, Highly recommended.

Now managed by the University and rebranded as the Cafe on the Green, with outdoor seating overlooking Palace Green and an unrivalled view of the Cathedral. Nice salads and pastries. Prices not bad considering the location. Indoor seating also available. Art exhibitions on display inside. Good service. Very pleasant.

Cold coffee, stale pastries, very noisy and miserable staff

I ordered a salad bowl with Wiltshire Ham.I got :lots of lettuce, a bit of cucumber, 4 tomatoes and some red onions with boiled ham that was shiny. This did not excite and was a poor excuse of a salad. I was going to have a pudding and coffee but saw that there was ice sitting on top of the crumble so left.On the plus side the ingredients were fresh. Next time I'd walk across the road and go to the cafe in Durham Cathedral.

This cafe has a great position near the castle and cathedral and is very popular at lunchtime. It is not very big and can only accommodate between 30 or 40 people at once. The menu is mainly soups/salads/sandwiches and fairly simple meals, but the portions are generous and fairly good value at about the £6-7 mark. They also seem to have a good range of cakes and other sweet treats so is probably good for morning coffee or afternoon tea. They are open daily at 9am but unfortunately don't seem to serve breakfast.