10 Things I Love about The Café in the Park

If you are ever looking for top-notch food in a laid back and unpretentious atmosphere, then you have to try The Café in the Park.

I wrote about our day out with friends at the Aquadrome yesterday. Now I have a confession to make… Whenever I choose the Aquadrome for a day out, I think of myself, not the children. Before we even consider a walk, we always stop at the café.

Their coffee is better than in any coffee shop, the food is scrumptious and the team particularly welcoming.

Their motto is, ‘Good food, naturally’ and you can tell as soon as you step into the café. They have seriously thought about everything you can possibly consider to make a café successful.

Without further ado, let me share 10 things I love about The Café in the Park:

1- Their food and drinks

You just have to taste their food and coffee once to know you will be back! I had a mezze plate, juice and coffee for lunch yesterday. Just before we left, we went again and I had ice cream and a latte. I could honestly have brunch there every day and never get bored of it.

2- The staff

… simply because great food tastes off when you do not feel comfortable. At the Café in the Park, you feel at home. You can ask questions. You can be yourself. I did not feel embarrassed about my children talking animatedly or running around a bit.

When I ordered our food, the lady at the till answered all my questions about allergens. When I came back a few hours later, she remembered me and asked me whether I had enjoyed my lunch.

When we left at 5.20 p.m., my friend spotted the opening times. The café was closing at 4 p.m. Nobody made us feel like we were not meant to be there. A young lady cleared the table, but she did not mention that the café was closing, or was about to close (or had closed over an hour earlier!). To me, that is customer service at its best.

 3- They serve ‘free from’ food!

There were plenty of things Jumpy could eat. It is a rare thing when we eat out, given her range of allergies.

Their gluten-free bread is egg-free, too. I never thought I would say that, but I loved it! I have not yet baked my own ‘free from’ bread for Jumpy, simply because until now, I had found gluten-free bread made without eggs quite frankly inedible. Yesterday was different. I would lie if I aid it is as good as my trusty crusty bread, but it is definitely the best ‘free from’ bread I have ever tasted.

4- Cake!

All the cakes and savouries are made in their kitchen, and believe me; they are like homemade cakes, only better!

5- The team’s determination to give their customers a great experience

The suppliers they use are carefully chosen; hand-picked even. Sustainability and working closely with their community are at the forefront of their vision. They use milk from a local farm. A local florist provides the café with seasonal flowers for the tables. Their coffee is “sourced from small farms, estates and co-ops that are sustainably managed with high standards of agricultural practice.”

6- Consistent Style and Gorgeous Branding

The place is unique, effortlessly shabby-chic. The objects decorating the room proof of their vision to be as sustainable as possible. The tables are separated from the queue with sacks of flour. An old mixer serves as a container to store seeds you can buy to feed the ducks.

Packets of crisps, books and various items are stored in crates or baskets.

There is consistency in the values displayed in the café, in what I can only refer to as their ‘wall of wisdom’, their loyalty cards, the way they source their food and their feedback cards.

7- Even dogs can have a treat!

They have really got it all covered! These people are caring, generous and thoughtful.

8- The toilet signs

I know, this would not normally make it to the top ten things about a café, but check them out… I bet they get popular on Pinterest.

9- Family-friendly at its best

There is a dedicated space to park prams, a quiet room, an outside space, a meeting room and you can organise your child’s party in a private room there.

10- Cleanliness

The place is spotless and their food hygiene rating is the highest it can be.

The Café in the Park in one word? Splendid!

Yes, there is a queue. There is always a queue, but you will not mind, because as you queue, you can help yourself to a menu and start selecting what you will have. You can also help yourself to drinks, crisps, cake or fruit.

The Café in the Park

The Aquadrome, Frogmoor Lane, Rickmansworth, WD3 1NB

Phone: 01923 711131

Email: hello@thecafeinthepark.com

Web: thecafeinthepark.com

I was not paid or compensated in any way for writing this review. I simply love the café and wanted to share my experience so others could discover this fantastic place.