The Strawberry Tearoom in Braintree

Having eaten here many times, today was disappointing. Whilst the fish pie was fine it was let down by the 'seasonal fresh vegetables'. The carrots and cauliflower were so hard I couldn't cut them and in my opinion the green beans were from the freezer. I was brought another dish of vegetables, but these were just the same. An apology was offered, but I'm sorry to say my friend and I have decided to eat elsewhere next time we meet.

Absolutely awful. I ordered sausage and chutney sandwich. It came out without the chutney in it so I took my plate to the counter and after being ignored for a couple of minutes a pot of very sweet pickle was put on my plate with no apology. It was so badly presented. The sandwich was dry, whoever prepared the salad obviously couldn’t be bothered. What a waste of money

Decided to pop in for breakfast on a weekday morning and the room was pretty busy. The main waitress who served me was very helpful with a permanent smile. The food was ok, not sure about the mushrooms, and I know my wife would have been horrified having her baked beans covering other parts of her breakfast, The presentation wasn't very appetising so I would suggest they take a look at a recently opened cafe in Newland Street, Witham where their full house breakfast looks and tastes fantastic for the same price.

I stay with my mother every three weeks. We always come for lunch here. I'm shocked to read previous reviews that give a poor rating. We have always had good food here. The service is a welcome change. It is always with lovely smiley faces and nothing seems too much trouble. In winter time the dorr is a problem where it doesn't actually click closed and constantly opens. Cold in the winter. But that's just a minor. It doesn't detract from the food and service. Well done to the team. We appreciate all your efforts. Perhaps if customers are not smiley and polite to the staff they don't reciprocate. Try being kind! 😀

What a find, was recommended by a friend. Was not disappointed. Greated very warmly and shown to our table. Was left to study menu. Took our order and we made many customisations. These were all met with a no problem attitude. Drinks arrived promptly. Followed by our freshly cooked food just as we ordered. It was hot tasty and well presented. Staff very polite professional and friendly. Highly recommend The Strawberry Tea Rooms. Can't wait to go back and try lunch

We visited the tea room yesterday for a friends birthday and the staff had really made an effort for my friend, they made her feel very special and we were very grateful - very unexpected and much appreciated. The food was lovely too. Will definitely be visiting again soon.

We only popped in for a tea and a chat. The tea room was very clean warm and welcoming. The tea was a little expensive, but it was prepared so the first cup was not weak. I will be going back to try the breakfast.

First visit yesterday. Lovely food, friendly staff, gluten free options and nice atmosphere. Only negatives would be that it is a little pricey compared to other similar places, and they don't allow dogs. Apart from those two small negatives, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, drink and cakes. I shall definitely go back another time.

Totally not wheelchair friendly. There was a ramp up to the front door but we then had to negotiate a table right behind the door from which 2 customers had to move. At the counter a sign said wait to be seated as it is table service. We said we wanted to sit outside but were told there were 2 steps. She then said we could get there round the outside. So after negotiating the table, and customers, again we went round the outside only to discover the lawn seating area was surrounded by a 4 inch raised edging. I parked my wheelchair and thankfully can walk short distances with 2 walking sticks. We found a table, sat down, then noticed a sign saying that if you are sitting outside, to go in and order at the counter!. I assume the ramp up to the front door was purely for show to tick a box. Not impressed.

We go their a couple of times a month , mostly for breakfast sometimes for lunch . Never had a bad meal , great staff great food nice place to be .

A visit to the tea rooms with my dad is a regular event for us. Always greeted with friendliness , warmth and great service. The staff team are delight. Food is faultless. Thank you for making a 92 year old feel so very welcome , you really are the best. !

I visited on the 6th of this month and the staff were incredibly attentive and very friendly. The food was good quality with an excellent choice of dishes. Would 100% recommend and I will be back

Booked a table for 13 for a family brunch get together. The chef apparently wasn’t feeling brilliant but still came in as he didn’t want to let down the booking, but had to go home after with a migraine. The staff were very helpful and polite and couldn’t have been more accommodating. The food was good, but to Mark’s to the staff who did really well.

I had the homemade chilli con carne yesterday for lunch and it was so delicious! Compliments to the chef. My family also very much enjoyed their meals.. my sister said it was the best jacket potato she's ever had.  The tea rooms was nice and clean with a calm atmosphere. It is nicely decorated too. I will definitely be coming back :) 

Not been to the tea rooms since pre covid. We went for lunch. We booked but it wasn’t too busy. It didn’t disappoint, the staff were really attentive and pleasant. The food was really good. Very good portions. I had the ploughman’s which I struggled to finish, my husband had the chilli jacket which came with fresh salad. Definitely be back .

To avoid a crowded pub we popped in for lunch, staff were all under 18 so we’re unable to serve a bottle of Perone from the menu, after a short two way radio call an elderly gent appeared behind the counter in his gardening attire complete with dirty hands, after lots of shuffling about and glances across to my table the young waitress was sent over to me to tell me they didn’t have any bottles after all, so my ham egg n chips had to be accompanied with a pot of tea instead! Served from a tray that was stacked in a heap on the floor! The youngsters were trying hard and were very polite but this is clearly being managed by a garden centre worker with no knowledge of the food industry.

Have been to the strawberry tea rooms on numerus occasions always found them a bit over priced, retuned on Tuesday had an excellent ploughmans at a very good price with excellent & prompt service, not sure if its new owners or not but a vast improvement on previous visits, a big thankyou on for an enjoyable visit

Having read some of the more negative reviews on here I felt I had to write because this was not our experience at all. We had an hour to spare because our dog was having tests at the vets so we decided to try this cafe for breakfast.We ordered two vegetarian breakfasts and two teas and it was only 9am and the cafe was only just opening. We were met with beaming smiles, and before long a lovely lady came out of the kitchen to let us know it would be a little wait as the burners had to be heated as we were the first order. We thought this was so kind and thoughtful.The breakfast was absolutely lovely with a choice of Eggs, Mushrooms Quorn Sausage, Hash Brown, Baked Beans served in a small dish and toast.The cafe view is very peaceful with a view across fields.We would like to offer this review as a way of thanks for making our day as it was such a treat to be served such a lovely breakfast with such kindness.We will be back and the cakes looked delicious so they will be sampled soon I am sure!

Lovely breakfast. Maybe a little overpriced. Quick service and friendly staff in a clean warm area. More signage needed to direct to the actual tea rooms from the car park. Will definitely go back.

Took my Mum for a look around the connected nursery and thought we’d have something to eat as well!!!! Good range of meals available, we went for mozzarella and tomato quiche served with salad and new potatoes - Mum said it was the best quiche she had ever had, hard to disagree!!!!!!

Group of 6 of us visited for breakfast. Was a 45 minute wait for food which we were not told about. Only ordered fry ups and sandwiches between us. We had to ask to see how long the wait was after 3 of our party had their food and had finished with the rest of us still waiting. To make things worse another table got their food before us (sandwiches too) although they’d arrived 20mins after us?l!As we left another table who had had the same issue of a 45 mins wait for food had been offered free cake to take away! We were not even offered this instead just rubbed in our face that others had been. Was planning to visit in a few weeks with family, glad we now know not to return after such disappointment!

Went for breakfast, opted for smoked salmon and scrambled egg. Salmon was pretty tasteless and eggs were lukewarm. The tea was fine and the prices reasonable but it was all a bit lacklustred The restaurant was fairly empty apart from a couple of mums and their four children. Sadly the children were completely unruly, running round between the tables and screaming loudly. This isn't the restaurants fault but it made talking almost impossible and a couple of other visitors were looking very disapprovingly. Maybe a separate area should be made available for either the children or people who was to relax and enjoy their meal in peace. On this showing, probably won't go again

Visited for the maze. Decided to eat lunch as it started raining. Went in, found our table then ordered our food. Half hour later we were still waiting for our food. Went to ask was told will be ready in 5 mins. Food came, well for 4 out of 5 of us. Was told my food would be another 2 mins... after nearly 10 mins I went to enquire where my food was. Was told it was imminent. I complained there and then. It wasn’t particularly busy but people were arriving after us and getting their food before us and by some considerable time. Firstly it doesn’t take 35 mins to make a ham sandwich. Staff need to learn time. Was given money back for my meal that was later than the rest of my family but that wasn’t the point. We weren’t told that there would be a delay when we ordered. Ruined our experience and won’t be returning.

Out for lunch with "the ladies" and there was rather a lot of us. Although we had pre-booked, and were sat all together, we had intermittent servings of lunch. Other people coming in were served, leaving some ladies waiting for their meal whilst others were considering desert and tea. The food here was very nice and reasonably priced but it spoiled the experience because the whole idea of a ladies lunch is to eat together, we might just as well have been seated at different tables. Very uncomfortable situation.

Visited this cafe on 14th May for lunch and had cauliflower soup which was like vegetable water with no flavour or seasoningl and cost £4.99.Also the cake portions were very mean at £3.99 although cake was ok.Very disappointed-wont return.

A large number of W.I. members attended Olivers Nursery (Strawberry tea rooms) for lunch. It gets very busy there so I would strongly advise you to book a table. We had a nice experience, food was very good, the service was a little slow and I think it was so busy that they were a little overwhelmed by the numbers.It is a lovely place to eat or to have coffee and cake, followed by a look around the nursery and shop.There is plenty of space for parking but the venue is situated on a bend so beware when both entering and leaving the premises.

We went for a late lunch and received massive sandwiches nicely presented and cheerfully served. Its a little dark inside, however would certainly like to go again, perhaps in the summer. Cost wish it was most reasonable

While on our way to Maldon we stopped here for something to eat.

We went to the tea rooms after a trip to Chelmsford. We arrived to find a clean looking eatery. There was a few people in but it was fairly quiet for a Saturday lunchtime. We found our table and ordered.

Nice setting. All three of us had ham, egg and chips for £6.99 each. It was a very good hot meal. There were two slices of nice ham, two eggs cooked well with runny yolks, and decent chips. There was a 20 minutes wait, but we drank our tea whilst waiting. There is a blackboard telling you how long the wait is for food, and it had gone up to 30 minutes when we left. It was bank holiday Monday though, so busy.

Poor service hot food tasted like it had been previously been frozen and reheated in the microwave, cake didn't seem very fresh we thought it was expensive for the quality of food

The last time we visited was when the tea room was under a previous manager - our lunch was mediocre and the staff were rude.

Cakes very dry, scone for one of our party came with hair on the plate underneath the scone which put her off from eating anything.

Visited yesterday. We ordered two jacket potatoes, one with cheese and one with chilli. After 40 minutes, yes 40 minutes, one jacket potato arrived that was split in half, each half on its back facing-upwards, with a layer of melted cheese on top! I have never had a jacket potato presented to me like this before! There was no sign of my companion's jacket potato and no-one seemed to know where it was! Enough was enough and we went up to the Counter to complain and ask for a refund which we were given. We were told the cook was off sick and they had an agency cook who didn't know her way around. (I counted three waitresses. It is a shame one of them could not have helped the cook.) We said we should have been forewarned that there would be a significant delay but the waitress behind the counter (that was in front of the kitchen) apologised and said she didn't know! Total waste of time. Needless to say we won't be back.

our son and partner with our grandson took us here for mother and nana's day meal at lunchtime. our table and high chair was waiting for us as we arrived. there was a choice from the menus or the special of the day. also special tea and cakes. food was really tasty and served quickly. made to feel welcome and accommodated very nicely. after your meal you can take a walk around the garden centre and shoppe.

Don’t come here if you want chrome and a McDonalds’ type experience. You will get courteous, efficient staff who ‘know their onions’ - or at least tea and cake! My wife thoroughly enjoyed her cream tea and my coffee cake was one of the best I’ve ever had. So very pleased we went in.

Poor customer service. Very rude staff. Scones, cakes and sandwiches all extremely dry. Completely inedible and definitely not fresh. Over priced. Unhelpful and disinterested staff. Hygiene was also poor. Staff stabding around when tables need cleaning. Seemed more interested in gossiping amongst themselves or checking phone. Needless to say we will not be returning.

Went for afternoon tea with Prosecco, was very disappointed not equal amounts of sandwich fillings for four people, scones were small and dry and cake choice was very boring 2 pieces of ginger cake I slice Victoria sandwich I slice of red devil cake , so one slice each, nothing fancy at all. Wasn't expensive think a lunch meal would have been more appetising .

La comida era muy buena, mi marido tenía la Plowmans y esto no podría haber sido mejor (aparte del hecho de que se me olvidó la mantequilla y me tuve que levantar). Yo tenía un trozo de tarta, que era preciosa y buena relación calidad-precio. Un poco decepcionado de que el café con leche de una máquina y aunque bien como el café, no era el mejor café con leche. Estaba muy tranquilo cuando estuvimos aquí, y aunque el servicio que recibimos fue excelente, a ver tres miembros de personal hablar detrás del mostrador cuando necesitan limpiar mesas era lo suficientemente mala, pero el más joven señorita puesto detrás del mostrador recogiendo su nariz era muy desagradable. . Me alegro. Ella no hacer nuestra comida o servirnos. Quizás alguien también puede mostrar su donde el lavabo es para lavarse las manos. No estoy seguro de que me visita aquí, simplemente porque estas cuestiones de higiene.

Paramos aquí para un café y panini con mi esposa, había algunos otros al mismo tiempo. El café llegó bastante rápido, pero estos fueron bien acabado por el tiempo que el paninis llegamos, todo el mundo parecía estar servido más rápidamente, así que supongo que simplemente no tuvimos suerte. Lo que vino después era razonable, pero por desgracia no tengo prisa en regresar.

Paramos aquí para café y pan tostado tanto a camino a Maldon. Tenía grandes dificultades para encontrarlo, ya que la mayoría de los centros de jardín tienen la señalización en la entrada o en el café. Caminamos alrededor durante bastante tiempo, y tuve que pedir al final

Visitamos el sábado a mediodía y encontramos una variedad de mesas en el interior y en el exterior. El restaurante está en un edificio nuevo de madera dentro de los confines del centro de jardín con vistas a campo abierto. El mobiliario y la decoración tenía una temática de madera y parecía limpia y cómoda.

También es un tiempo que hemos estado aquí para el té de la tarde y pasteles y sin duda no se apuran volver!! Parece que han cambiado de manos, y no el amable saludo que utilizamos para llegar.

Terrible experience at the maze, £18.50 for a family ticket would be great but our Grandchildren played in the sandpit for half an hour and then were extremely bored.Grandson was scared by the maze (but pretty boring anyway) and nothing for a 3 year old,...

Los bollos son para morirse. En las instalaciones de horneado un cocinero excelente. Recomiendo una visita. Personalmente me siento más clientes a pie a través de las puertas si eran locales perros ya que hay razones suficientes para dueños de perros. fuera Un muy buen...

Alquilamos el Strawberry tes para una reunión familiar por la tarde y no nos decepcionó. Es espacioso, luminoso y todo el personal era muy atento. Tomamos el té en la forma de un buffet y una gran variedad de bebidas alcohólicas. La comida parecía en...

POSITIVES. Nicely situated with nice view. Food always hot. Friendly staff. Generally nice food - lunch and sandwiches. NEGATIVES: Full English Breakfast - needs work. One small rasher of bacon (in one instance minescule) and one very small sausage not really good enough. Tried it three times, and each time was left a mite disappointed.

Been a few times before and have always had good food, but our last visit was very poor The food really wasn't up to scratch. Have since found out it had changed hands maybe a little more attention needed

This is a lovely, convenient place to have a snack, and at the same time visit the nursery and shop.

Cakes that are home made and taste devine, service is good,a relaxing experience. But it's the food that will bring me back again for sure.

I used to eat here on a fairly regular basis until recently and always enjoyed the food that was served.Since new ownership, I have only been twice. After the first occasion I decided I wouldn't bother again, but did give it another go recently and there was some improvement, but it still has a long way to go to get back to the quality of food and service there used to be. Maybe they should try changing some of the items on the menu and then the comparison would not be so easy.

The food was lovely. My Grandchildren had a kiddies selection box and My husband and I had a quiche with salad, and the fabulous cream scones. Would definately go back again. Good staff atmosphere, very helpful and chefs help with gluten free allergy was excellent, took time to listen to our needs.

We visited the tea room today for lunch as a group of 1 adult and 3 children aged between 2 & 11 years as we were visiting the maze next door. Although the staff were very friendly and helpful I have to say that the children's lunch "deal" in a box was the worst I've ever seen. The children all chose the meal deal. Advertised at £3.50, the box contained a sandwich, carton of drink & raisins or biscuit. We ordered one ham, one jam & one chocolate spread, to be told there was a 20 minute wait. The cafe was not busy, maybe 5 other tables seated at the time. On arrival, the boxes contained the sandwiches, drinks & packet of awful mixed berries which all of the children declined plus an animal mask that broke as soon as the kids out it on, furthermore, the chocolate spread was horrid and certainly did not taste like a premium brand that we had expected for £3.50 and the other two were no better. I have to say it was a waste of £10.50 and we would not bring children here again. Such a shame as massive opportunity with the maze next door.

Totally different, to the good quality of food/price and friendly atmosphere, when it was ran by the previous owners. Very disappointing.

We detect a change of ownership which has resulted in a reduction in food quality. There was once a more personal touch which seems to be lacking now. That said, the food is perfectly acceptable although it is over priced for what it is. The staff on the till could definitely be a tad more friendly and welcoming. All in all, it's fine but not as good as it was.....