reviews
We are extremely proud of our hard won reputation as one of
the best breakfast and lunch restaurants in South East
England. But we wouldn't want you to take our word for it;
here's what just some of the reviewers say:
The Good Food Guide 2012
(the best restuarants from the UK's best selling
guide)
Breakfast is the top deal at this cracking pitstop
beside the A12: pull in for a full Suffolk (from £6.90),
Orford kippers or smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. Come lunchtime, the
emphasis shifts to colourful salads, herby fishcakes,
double-crust steak and mushroom pie (£9.40) and specials
such as skate with capers.
What sets this place apart is its uncompromising local
sourcing and unbranded enterprise, with foodie shopping and
takeaways adding to the allure.
Drinks range from yoghurt smoothies and Fairtrade teas
to Suffolk beers and a few wines (£11.90). Open all week.
Toby Young - As a farm-café lover, I visit them as often as possible whenever I'm out and about on the road. And this is the best I've been to by a country mile.
Click here to read Toby Young's full review
The Observer, Life & Style section, 6th December
2009
Breakfast epiphanies.
Early risers have had Suffolk's Farmcafé to themselves
for far too long, says Jay Rayner Click here to read the full review
Voted best breakfast in East Anglia by readers of The Observer Food Monthly Magazine, March 2007
Waitrose Food Illustrated March 2007
"Everything in his café and farmshop is bought locally,
from kippers to ketchup. Newspapers, cappuccinos and a roaring
wood burner make the place welcoming for all. Corned beef
hash, partridge casserole and stuffed breast of lamb are on
offer. "If you start with really good ingredients it's
difficult to go wrong," says Paul. How right he is."
The Times 25 February 2006 The Knowledge Magazine
Top 10 spots for breakfast
"Owned and run by local people and serving locally sourced
food, Farmcafé delivers friendly, warm service and
freshly prepared food for travelers on the busy A12. Breakfast
is the business, served from 7am, with local sausages,
exemplary bacon, free-range eggs and brilliant sauté
potatoes."
The Independent 'Information Magazine' 20 January
2007
The 50 Best Brunches
"Once Marlesford village's petrol station, it's now an
unpretentious eatery. "Everything is sourced locally," says
Mario. "Sausages, eggs, bacon and chips go into the standard
brunch for £7.40; extras include black pudding and
lamb's kidneys. And they do really good kippers."
The Times 25 November 2006 The Knowledge Magazine
Top 10 breakfast venues in the South East
"....Lunch brings tomato and fresh basil pasta, fillet of
fresh haddock, or something meaty such as local Suffolk ham
with two free-range eggs and chips."
With Kids Magazine October/November 2006
Best breakfast in town
"When people drive 150 miles for breakfast, you know you're on
to a good thing. Recently voted by The Times one of the top 10
breakfast places in London and the South East, this unassuming
Farmcafé is on the side of the A12 in Suffolk. It has a
large south facing veranda for alfresco dining and a garden
away from the road where children can play. The views are
lovely and it is an area of outstanding beauty.
Owner Paul Thomas says, "It is extremely popular with
families, often led by the children - parents say 'The only
way we can get them to visit the grandparents is to promise to
come to this café." But it's obviously no hardship for
the parents for the grown-ups to be dragged here, with its
continental ambience, award-winning sausages, great coffee and
mellow music playing in the background. Children choose what
portions they want from the menu. The produce is mostly local
and you can even buy it from the on-site shop."
The Independent 'Information Magazine' 11 March 2006
The 50 Best UK Cafés - Number 3, Farmcafé
"Paul and Linda Thomas's Farmcafé showcases Suffolk
produce such as sausages and bacon, fruit juices and jams,
kippers and crabs, cask beer and more, from more than 35 local
producers."
BBC Olive Magazine October 2005
"Six years ago Paul and Linda Thomas decided they wanted to
take the roadside caff concept and turn it around. After a lot
of hard graft they've now succeeded in bringing a little
café culture to Marlesford's hard shoulder.
Unsurprisingly, Farmcafé is no longer simply a pitstop
for those who spot it on the off chance; word has spread and
it has become a real attraction for the area.
Paul and Linda know they couldn't have done it without the
great local produce available in the area - and on sale in the
food market adjacent to the café. Even more reasons to
spend your weekends on the A12."
We really welcome customer's feedback, good, bad or
indifferent, so please let us know what you think by
contacting us at:
feedback@farmcafe.co.uk
sourced locally
since 2001