Wild Bean Cafe in Epping Forest

We did the afternoon tea with Cinderella. The service, food, atmosphere and certainly Cinderella, could not be faulted. The children's afternoon tea is the best we've ever been too. They really understood what the children would and could manage. The adult afternoon tea was huge! Thankfully they gave us goodie bags to take home. We don't live local, but the trip is certainly worth it! Look forward to visiting again.

The course is absolutely fantastic and with the sun out our day couldn’t have been any better. The staff couldn’t have been any more helpful, what a great atmosphere, definitely coming back .

unfortunately having now sent 6! e.mail complaints ot hed office and still njot having the courtesy of a reply I feel that I have to write a review about this branch. I have been a regular customer here pretty much since it opened. Now and again I have had cause to complain about the food being cold or waiting time. However, these have been minor. On the whole I have always been positive about this branch. Unfortunately I had the misfortune to visit her circa 2 weeks ago. As always I had the dates and steaks with my daughter. Occasionally we ask if we can swap the dessert for a mini pud and coffee (=no difference in price, in fact sometimes it works out cheaper). Never ever ever been a problem before until this night. Firstly there were barely any staff on. We were told due to school holidays sickness etc. I accept that it is common in a lot of restaurants in the holidays. Lady was very polite explained that she was very busy juggling everyone but would not be too long. Again we understood. We got our starters and mains which were delicious. Unfortunately after this it went downhill. We had to ask twice for someone to take our dessert order. We explained re sometimes changing the mini pud and he said as he was new he would check with his manager. Again no problem at all. He came back took our order and after some considerable delay we finally got our desserts. After 20 mins or so we decided to ask for the bill. This is where it went catastrophically downhill. The lady waitress whom we had to go and find said that she could not put the mini pud through as till would not accept it. We explained that usually they just put through a standard pud off the menu. She then went to find her manager at 8.40. By 9.30 we had to ask 3 times bar staff and other waiters what ws going on. We are both NHS workers coming off a 14 hour shift and wanted to get home. Eventually a very bolshy little man who I assumed was the asst manager came over and very rudely argued that we had not waited 40 minutes (we had) but suspect we were forgotten. Then argued that "its a set menu for a reason" not for changing. We argued that this had never been a problem before and also queried why it had taken so long. He claimed to have been on the phone to the General Manager (Damien) for 20 minutes ??? Eventually he said he had corrected the bill but not to bother coming back if we dont like the service and if we want to alter the menu because apparently it is now under a new company and a new protocol (according to Damien) . What I find strange is why is this not noted on the menus, as I know we are not the only ones to sometimes change the pudding )as 2 customers also stated to us whilst we were waiting). They had also been waiting 15 minutes for their bill!. And also, if he knew about the change of company and protocol why did he not make his waiter aware of this. My daughter rightly said that their staff are clearly not trained correctly which he argued they are buit cannot be as even he did not appear to know about this so called new company or protocol. SO AFTER SENDING IN 6 COMPLAINT E.MAILS TO MILLER AND CARTER STILL NO REPLY WHICH PROVES THAT LOYALTY TO THIS COMPANY MEANS NOTHING. IN SHORT DONT GO IF YOU DARE TO ASK FOR SOMETHING OFF THE MENU OR IF YOU DARE TO CRITICISE HOW LONG YOU HAVE HAD TO WAIT OR YOU WILL BE BARRED!

Great from start to finish. The food is amazing! We shared the hot mezze to start, which was spot on (and huge). Then a mixed grill for me and a lamb stew for my other half - the meat was so tender and really well seasoned. Totally random but the salad with it was fantastic! Portion sizes are very healthy - we were both defeated (again, rarely happens). Service was attentive and friendly. All in all, we had a great meal and will definitely come back :)

Out of the way canalside pub that has ample outside dining