The Holly Trail Cafe in Waltham Forest

I’ve eaten here many times and always enjoyed the food. However, I’ve recently had to switch to a gluten free diet. On arrival I asked if there were any gluten free options (previous reviews mentioned there were) and was told very abruptly ‘we don’t have anything’. I asked if their sausages were gluten free as hoping for a fry up and the chef gave me a look to make me think I’d asked the stupidest thing ever. I could have found something naturally without gluten eg jacket potato, but despite being a pretty regular customer, I didn’t feel like eating there! Wake Cup in the high street however were extremely accommodating and lovely!

Very friendly welcome and good menu at breakfast time. Went for a walk around the area having recently moved here and staff were attentive and service an excellent bacon sandwich, cooked to order. Nice outside seating area too.

Popped in here after an afternoon walk and it did not disappoint. Great menu with lots of choices. Very reasonably priced, but delicious, food. Deffs include a visit next time you wander round the forest!

Lovely coffee and lovely fredh bread with lots of bacon and friendly staff will be back again as saw some great food being served

Well where to start pictures are worth a thousand words. Inconsistent portion sizes I get some costs have to go up but 2 coffees a chocy bacon bag and chips @ Over £15 I’d expect to have some more care and at least a decent portion. So after comparing mine and my partners food with others in the group seems we was singled out! Only difference is the colour of my skin, can’t say racism but it begs a question as almost every other order that’s past us is better filled and bacon isn’t looking like it’s been cremated!

The very utilitarian building disguises this great little cafe. Smiling staff, a decent choice of light, cafe style staples on offer. All cooked to order, the food was tasty, plentiful and good value. Dog friendly and worth a visit.

Had a really lovely lunch today. Generous portions freshly made. The young lady who served us today really polite and friendly.

decided to go for breakfast - the food was excellent and the chef and staff were friendly and efficient. Another customer was being incredibly rude and bolshy and they dealt with him really well despite alot of provocation. I was really impressed and will definitely go again.

I have been here several times and it always amazes me how evreytime I go there is a different home made cake to choose from .Always a friendly atmosphere even in these difficult times . Keep up the great work

I regularly meet friends here for a quick coffee/snack. In an area with a surfeit of coffee shops, this establishment more than holds it's own. Great coffee, tasty food and friendly service. On the edge of the forest so popular with dog walkers who are sat at one end of the cafe in a designated area. Recommended!

The food was freshly cooked so I didn't expect it to be served in two minutes. However, the poached eggs were excellent and the coffee was well flovoured. The table was clean and tidy and the service warm and friendly.

This was our first visit to the cafe for breakfast. We had a full english which was lovely and worth another visit.

I regularly pop in to this cafe for a hot drink whilst walking in the forest. I am always met with a smile and a friendly chat. The cakes are delicious and the service is good. It can get busy at weekends because it is so popular and the food is tasty. Like any restaurant, when short staffed, things sometimes don't run as smoothly as usual but if you are a regular customer, you'll know how fabulous this little place is and will continue to visit. The seasonal decorations are a lovely touch and there is plenty of seating outside in the summer months. Highly recommended - service with a smile.

Went there today for a coffee with friends, they were busy and service absurdly slow, I think it took 10 minute queue to order and 20+ minutes for them to bring 3 coffees and a tea. The flat whites were more like lattes. We won’t go back.

Great cafe for a post walk in the Forest. Food was delicious and the freshly baked scones were an amazing bonus!

Unfortunately for the chef, the service here really let’s the place down. I would have scored 1 apart from the fact the food was actually delicious.First of all it took 20 mins to get a coffee and a tea. Secondly when my husband got his (long) bacon baguette it had 1 slice of bacon in it despite costing nearly 5 pounds. He took it back up and asked if it was right, got looked at blankly, they took it back and then it sat on the side for 10 mins until he went back up and saw it sat there! No apology.I ordered my son pancakes with strawberries and even asked for the cream on the side, however received pancakes and .. bacon!!Mine was lovely, but the fact that our sons who is 3 also came a few minutes after our food was just another slight mishap. You should always give the kids food first!!Unfortunately the waiting staff are inept at customer service.My son had a coughing incident - ( tables turning round as he choked on something) however not one of the staff seemed to notice. Clearly not their fault, however when I worked in restaurants I would have run over with a glass of water to offer SERVICE. There is none here.I have written great reviews for other establishments but this one was severely lacking..

This is a small friendly cafe, the food is fresh and very tasty, the prices are reasonable. My only negative is the cafe allows dogs, great for dog walkers not so great for the rest of us, however dogs are kept at the far end away from the food..

such a great local place with home cooked tasty food....good quick service, warm welcome and good prices... highly recommend :) YUM

We normally go on a weekday, when the experienced professionals are working. No problems, The weekends are a different matter. I popped in with my husband and son, last Saturday, The table was filthy, I went into the toilets and tore off some of the blue kitchen roll , wet it and cleaned our sticky table, it couldn't have been cleaned the whole of service. We ordered, and my husbands Croque Madam wasn't cooked correctly , the toast was soggy. He didn't complain, but when the waitress came to clear, she asked if we enjoyed our meals, a strange question when one meal was uneaten. We were offered a free drink on our next visit. Had someone actually come to check after serving the meal there may have been time to recook the meal. Standards are better during the week, but we won't be back at the weekend, the staff are far too inexperienced to deal with any situation or clean the place.

So happy to have found this place. I’ve driven down Bury Road many times and never knew this cafe was there, so thought I’d give it a try after seeing the good reviews on Trip Advisor. Excellent vegan and vegetarian breakfast, presented really nicely with food in separate pots which I loved. Staff really friendly, would highly recommend ⭐️

The Holly Tree is situated on Chingford Golf Course entrance. The staff are always amazingly friendly and serve good honest food with a smile

I rang the day before to book a table as we were eight friends meeting for lunch! I have been before so know it gets busy! Lovely food coffee cakes in a nice friendly setting opposite the Golf Course we look forward to returning when the weather is nicer to sit outside! Great to have parking too as some ladies disabled! Give it a try!

This place is a hidden gem with excellent service. The kitchen is very allergy-friendly. The food menu has changed recently so if you’re after the lamb shank, you should give them a ring.

We have been in the station road area of Chingford numerous times of late and have struggled to find somewhere for a quick bite to eat and parking.today we solved both of these. Parking on one of the Corporation of London pear parks and walking to station road we passed this place.

Visited for breakfast, lovely full English, very nice little cafe with lovely views of the golf course and chingford plains, great place for dog walkers to stop for a snack.

We visited on a Saturday for a late lunch. Cafe was busy but not full. Food took almost 40 mins - we feared the worst but it was worth the wait. Hot, fresh and tasty. Would recommend but only if you have time. Not sure how they will cope when weather improves and it gets busier. I think some staff were new so give benefit of doubt that it might speed up/improve.

The food and the cakes are all homemade always good and the staff are very good , I have been several times and never fails.Well worth a visit.

Used the cafe as a pistop this morning whilst waiting for a meeting - had a lovely bacon baguette and cup of hot coffee - and sat listening to lpvely Christmas music in an nicely decorated cafe

Can’t lie the food was banging would recommend to the mandem, the bacon peng, eggs were cooked just right and the staff were banging

I took my mum dad and daughter to this cafe for lunch today - we all had different food as the menu has such a lovely range - I had the vegan breakfast which was amazing - my dad had liver and bacon and he said it was the best he had ever had - my mum enjoyed the homemade soup and my daughter had a lovely bacon and egg sandwich - all were lovely and fresh - and the staff were really friendly and so happy in there work - the coffee was hot and so was the hot chocolate which can be hit and miss elsewhere - all prices were so reasonable - also can I just say the Christmas decorations make it feel very homely and seasonal - lovely cafe 4 very happy customers and even my purse is happy - we will be back

The Holly Trail cafe started so well but the prices are now no longer competitive and yesterday morning (a Monday) I had a bacon sandwich and the bread was clearly not fresh. It crumbled it was so dry and therefore I felt it was being used up from the weekend (if not earlier). If this is not the case then they should find a different supplier. This was a real shame as in the past the food has always been good and cheaper than other local cafes but the prices are now catching up. This is the only reason i have rated the Holly Trail average and not poor but I will now go to local competitors as for only a £1 or so more I know I can guarantee better quality.

We visited today & was lucky to get a table for the four of us as it is always busy. The food is amazing, the staff are friendly, overall a lovely place to visit. Parking is available.

Have visited on a number of occasions whilst cycling in Epping Forest. Down to earth but more than your conventional 'greasy spoon'. I can't speak for larger meals but sandwiches/baguettes are excellent. Everything appears to be freshly prepared - bacon baguette is a triumph. Tea and coffee good too.

Wonderful service, gorgeous little place, UNREAL food. We are new regulars. Pop in for the best cooked breakfast and take a slice of cake home with you!! Lovely ❤️

Went to the cafe this weekend and thrilled to see it being used by a film crew, very exciting to watch all the stars coming up to the counter and ordering, cafe was mobbed but even though we was all star struck, the staff were still up to there usual excellent standard and the food as usual what can i say Yum Yum.

Visited during half term and on a lovely sunny autumn day. However, there was only three staff on duty including one young man in chef's uniform. As I could see from the service counter that he had a number of waiting orders I asked how long for sandwiches. The answer was about ten minutes but we waited 25 mins for them. Whilst we were there several people asked for their money back due to waiting so long and another customer said he wanted his money back as his food was cold. The coffee was good although a bit more expensive being it was served in a small tea cup. However, they did replace it when I said it was too strong and needed to be served in a much larger mug/cup. Piles of washing up could be seen quite clearly from the service counter which did not give a good impression to customers. Personally I feel that they were not coping very well as the cafe was not full and I wonder how they might manage if more customers arrived. We visited this venue when it was run by different people and it was always great. Sadly, we didn't have the same experience and probably will not be returning as there are many good cafe's in the area. The positive points are that there is usually plenty of parking and outside seating (great for dog walkers)

Very nice cafe, especially if you play golf (next to course). Great food and beautiful to walk to through Epping forest. Opens early

We really fancied cream tea on the walk so tried this place for the first time.

When staying up the road at a local Scout campsite, we were looking for somewhere for a cooked breakfast after dropping scouts at the local station

This cafe is a little gem! The food is always excellent! Freshly prepared. They use a local butcher for high quality bacon & sausages, if you decide to go for the full English, which is top notch too! Definitely not a greasy spoon, not a bit of grease in sight! The kitchen is immaculate! Natasha, the chef, makes the best poached eggs, in fact she’s even given me tips in order to make my own, almost as good as hers, but not quite!!! Her scone recipe is spot on, she has a passion for cooking & presentation! Her home made cakes are simply divine! There is often a little taster tray, so you can try before you buy! The staff are always ready to accommodate whichever whim you may have! The portions are very generous! Hence, because I’m trying not to over eat, they make me a smaller size! The prices are incredibly reasonable. You would pay almost double in most other similar style establishments in the surrounding area! There is outdoor seating, but they will also allow you to take well behaved dogs in, at the far end of the cafe!

Our first visit for a long time to this little gem at Chingford Golf Club. Wow! what a different experience. With inside and outside tables to choose, the menu for breakfast and lunch is a real winner. We went for breakfast which was fresh cooked, delightfully presented and delicious, it could make some more up market places blush. My wife had fresh avocado with poached eggs and I the No1 fry up. In the corner to the right of the counter there is a home-made cake and tea display which looked just like a village tea shop, so it would not go amiss to perhaps drop in at tea time and indulge yourself.

Been to the holly trail a few times and can't say a bad word about it. Food is great and always fresh and the menu ranges perfectly from breakfast options to dinners. Staff always seem to be happy and this brings a great atmosphere to the cafe

Went to the cafe again today and had the best breakfast ever. Everything was so fresh and so nicely presented and the staff are so friendly and the chef spent a lot of the time laughing, and as this is an open plan kitchen this is so nice to see. Cakes were being made while i was there and the scones looked absolutely amazing, next time i will defiantly have one. I just cant fault this cafe, both times i have been i have loved it. Well done guys I will be back. (for one of them cakes)

Had the best time, the food is lovely and the staff are too, i cant believe that event though the cafe was sooo busy, we good served in good time, Thank you guys for service with a smile will definitely be back - see you next time we are in the area

A lovely cafe with a comprehensive menu that is suited to most folk. Recently just popped in for a bacon and egg sandwich which was yummy. Nice fresh thick bread with a very generous portion of bacon.

Happy staff serving top quality food with lots of laughter and smiles, providing a lovely atmosphere.

I visited this cafe last month just after walking my dog in the forest. There was a really nice vibe to the cafe as they had a lively music playlist. Im quite fussy so i tend to be limited for choice at most places but i actually found it hard to decide what to have here because there was SO much choice. Me and my dog sat outside with umbrellas to shield us from the sun and there were even water bowls for my dog to drink from. Staff were really helpful and were always going the extra mile to ask if i wanted anything.

Seemed nice when we first arrived but when the chef bought our food over, his chefs "whites" were really filthy. Looked like they hadn't been washed for ages. Made me wonder how clean the kitchen is !

Went to the Holly Trail for lunch after a walk in the forest and couldn't have been more impressed. All day breakfasts were great but there was a wide range and my wife's poached eggs, asparagus and black pudding was terrific. Everything was freshly (and well) cooked and great value. Really deserves to do well!

Lovely, friendly, owner-run cafe on the edge of the Chingford Plains.

Been coming here for a while now from the old management to now the new and I have to say it’s a fabulous cafe now.

An absolute gem. Welcoming despite being splattered in mud from bike ride. Fab home cooked food, had delicious eggs Benedict, then amazing home made cake.

Excellent quality food at reasonable prices. Although they didn't have a children's menu, they were so accommodating with the portion sizes for my grandsons. Best bacon I have tasted in years. Home made soup made with love and care. To top it all, the customer service matches the excellent food and wonderful atmosphere. The only regret of the day was that I didn't have room for the fabulous cakes on offer. We will return.

Just visited this little gem, bit tucked away so hadn’t realised it was there but what a find!

Very friendly staff and great food cooked on premises. You can reserve table for lunch. On recent visit had delicious butternut squash soup followed by bread and butter pudding and custard. Prices very reasonable. Throughly recomend.

Since opening last year this cafe as proved to be the best in the area at affordable prices, friendly staff and a great atmosphere.

Came here for the first time on Mother’s Day for breakfast with my daughter.

I first came to the cafe at Chingford Golf Course, around 1973. This was my first visit since the cafe has reopened. It's a great concept. The cafe area has extended, with the addition of a long breakfast bar and more tables. I had the lamb shank, which was super tender. The only thing I would change, is the size of the plates for the specials. They were on the small side.

Had 10 am breakfast overlooking Chingford public golf course. This cafe offers very good food which is cooked while you wait. We had an egg and bacon and poached eggs breakfasts which were presented with a choice of granary or white toast. Produce was good quality, hot fresh tea and coffee and staff were welcoming. Good place to meet or pop into if out walking.

This is my 3rd visit. This time they were busy so I was concerned about the speed and quality, but needn’t have worried.

Really lovely cafe, nice atmosphere. Very good service, the staff can't do enough. I had the Croque Madam and wow...it was so tasty!

Came here last week with family. I ordered the full English and it was literally the best cooked breakfast I've ever had. Top quality food, prepared and cooked to perfection.

Arrived around 12 and only 1 other table occupied. Was a little unsure of what/how to order, no menu on the tables and only a small chalk board at the till. A lady immediately approached the till and asked us what we wanted. In front of the till were a pile of A3 menus which I assume should have been on tables? We looked at the menu and decided what to have. Felt a little rushed as would have preferred to sit down and choose. I imagine this method of having menus at the till causes a long queue at busy periods!

My husband and I walk in the forest 3/4 times a month with another couple, and then have lunch. For a change we though we'd try The Holly Trail Cafe. The menu is extensive, I'd be surprised if there isn't something for everyone on the menu. It wasn't full for lunch today, and there is plenty of parking available at the back, and another car park off to the left, on Bury Road. I've given up meat for January, there were fish dishes, Avocado on toast, sandwiches and jacket potatoes, I didn't notice a vegetarian section as such. I am gluten free, no allergies are marked on the menu, but the lady serving at the counter said there is gluten free bread, I think the bread was the Genius loaf, sold in supermarkets. It was fine toasted, and served with a very generous potion of butter. My husband asked for coffee after the meal, which he paid for at the time of ordering our food. The coffee was the first thing to be brought to the table! We normally spend double on lunch, so I'd say this is good value for money. I hope it does well and they can make a go of it, we need more choice at that end of the forest. There is a cycle hire place next door, which looked closed today.

I drive past this location almost every working day. I thought I would try it out for breakfast. with an old friend. The service was excellent. The scramble egg was good as were the mushrooms. The sausage was full of meat not filling and the bacon on excellent. I will be back soon

Went for coffee. But there was these homemade cakes . There were out of this world . told made in kitchen most days. The views across Chingford plans were amazing. Please don’t tell anyone. It’s already busy. Les

I went here for the first time over Christmas and I thoroughly enjoyed it! They made me and my friends feel very welcomed and were very accommodating. I had one of the breakfasts and it was clear that they take great care over the presentation and quality of the food. I had a generous portion and for the price, you couldn't beat the value. Even if you don't play golf, I recommend you pay this friendly café a visit! You won't regret it!

The Holly Trail Cafe is located in the same building as Chingford Golf Club, and is open to the public every day. We went there after a lengthy walk in the nearby countryside.

Whilst out walking my dog over xmas I stumbled across this great venue! Warm and inviting, they had free cake samples on offer (which were lovely) - but I decided to warm up with a breakfast! The full monty! The sausages were tasty and well cooked as was the bacon! The breakfast didn’t feel greasy at all, unlike most full english’ ! I loved the choice of granary or white too. This is more than just a cafe as some might presume! I’ll definitely be taking a drive out again for this place! If not for the grub, for the great service! Maybe take the kids next time ! Oh and FRESH coffee!!

we had cooked breakfast which included quality sausage, bacon and eggs, we had a good mug of Yorkshire tea to. Aside from the friendly staff and pleasant café, they allow dogs in one side of the café, which for us means we are very likely to be return customers. Very recommended, they had a selection of cakes which we will have to have a return visit to try

Excellent food, wide choice, very modest prices, and staff couldn't have been more helpful and friendly.

A friend and I met at Holly Trail Cafe for breakfast having not been there before. I pass it regularly and I was drawn to it by its location on the edge of Epping Forest and it’s immaculate appearance. We both ordered a full English, which I believe is called a Breakfast Number 1. I found the cafe itself an extremely pleasant place to sit, I found the staff friendly and helpful and I found the food to be lovely. My friend had poached eggs with his breakfast and they looked like they were cooked by a TV chef! Worthy of particular note were the Cumberland sausages. It was so good that we followed our breakfast by a massive wedge of bread & butter pudding. It was delicious and all very reasonably priced. If you visit I feel sure you won’t be disappointed.

Absolutely great: Tasty and reasonably priced food. Nice atmosphere. Lovely staff. What more could you want?!

Went on a Wednesday afternoon and had a lovely curry that was mild but full of flavour.

Stopped for breakfast after a dog walk, breakfast was lovely and we were given a taste of lovely home made coconut cake, will definitely go back for cake. The service was excellent, the owner and staff very friendly, couldn't be more helpful. We were made to feel very welcome.

Very friendly staff and obliging .We started off with drinks and breakfast snack .The café was very clean and good choice of food .The prices were reasonable and you got your moneys worth. We went off for a walk in the forest then returned for more drinks .Some of us had meals others had cakes or desserts. Great place to relax and enjoy good food. What I liked was they gave you a taster of a few cakes to try which is a good up sell.

Stopped off at the Holly Trail after a long walk and was greeted by a lovely smiling woman at the counter and a wonderful coffee. Exactly what I needed.