Belgique
After driving past a few times and noticing the packed tables outside, I finally popped into Begique, the new patisserie near Wanstead Tube Station on Cambridge Park Road. Seems to be rather good – very nice inside with a huge selection of cakes, some unusual sandwich combos, coffee and tea and some warm dishes too. Having googled them, discovered that they are in fact a small chain based in East London, with shops in Woodford Green, Epping and a new one opening up in Chingford. Well worth a visit.
Their website can be found at www.belgique.co.uk.
Nice – I’ll have a look next time I’m up there.
Supremely irritating website they have, though.
Shame so many of their cakes are frozen. Have you ever wondered why their counters are so full at the end of the day…to thaw of course for next day
Called in today having heard good reports. Won’t be going again. Perhaps we were unlucky but waited 10 minutes before order taken and then another 25 minutes before a waiter looked at us surprised that we had not received our coffee. We left and did not bother to wait any longer!
Just to correct the comments made by Joanna i actually work at Belgique and i can assure you the cakes are made on a daily basis in the bakery underneath the shop, none of them are frozen, so could you please insure you have correct information before making such comments
went to the Wanstead branch for breakfast yesterday, Saturday – it was brunch/lunch, almost tea time by the time our food arrived! Waited 1 hour having been told by the waiter it would take 15 mins…got free coffees, but only after I asked for them we were not offered any reduction in the bill. I spoke with the manager and she informed me that the service was slow due a staff shortage in the kitchen (no show chef).
It seems clear to me that if you’re offering a wide ranging menu with complex brunch dishes that involve poaching eggs and making sauces etc, then you need the right number of staff and skill level to provide what the menu promises – if not then reduce/rationalise the menu and as a result disapoint less customers. Having worked as a chef for the best part of 20 years I can tell you it is a huge mistake to offer such a variety of dishes on a menu and to then fail on delivery. you cannot compromise on quality and service just because you are short staffed – hard poached eggs don’t cut the mustard! I assure you, this level of service/quality would not be tolerated in Belgium!!
@nick
Hi Nick
These shops are franchaised i think it’s who you employee helps a lot no excuse staff shortage get your finger out. I sooo agree.