The Garden Cafe - East Dorset

Went 18 months ago for a cream tea NO gluten free Scones, found a cake in a packet WOW ! Yesterday went for a light lunch soup we thought advertised with scone guess what No GF Scones or bread or roll took five minutes to work out if the soup was gluten free it was but who wants soup on its own. Staff helpful they blame head office complaints all the time they said. Waste of time if you are COELIAC

The old John Brown's cafe was sunny, classy, and a pleasant place for a coffee or meal. The new Hilliers cafe is like going into a dark warehouse. Industrial ceiling, lighting and floor. Not worth going now. Staff are still friendly and the quality of the food is good (though pricey). But with that ambience it's no longer worth visiting.

This restaurant is now operated by Hilliers Garden Centre but on Trip Advisor it is listed under the previous owner John Browns,so is difficult to find on TA The name of the food outlet is the Garden Cafe. The facility is clean/modern and the staff hard working but the food is expensive compared with other local similar establishments. Our meal today was simple: 2 x Ham Egg Chips 2 Teas 1 Scone and 1 Cake. Total cost: £27.46. The chips I believe were reformed frozen potato with poor taste, one egg was under-cooked ,the tea was in a small pot for two people and cooled rapidly with no additional hot water provided. There did not appear to be any person in charge with whom we could converse. All in all an expensive and disappointing lunch.

Went in the cafe today and absolutely gobsmacked by the staff and food! It felt like we were an invonvenience to the staff, who were in an empty cafe and under no pressure. Manners cost nothing! I decided to go for the traditional breakfast....big mistake! £7.50 and as you can see by the photo, it was pretty damn awful. A thimble of beans, a cold tomato, dry bacon, 2 small sausages and the egg was rubbery. Wont be going back!

Well not very good ...Three lunches were ordered ...Curry on specials board contained no meat but did not say vegetarian, meat pie contained gristle and undercooked meat with overcooked vegetables and the fish and chips was adequate but chips were soggy. Staff did not know about lunch deal for over 60s and I had to ask for the dessert and free tea. Disappointed with what used to be a venue for tasty lunches