Waterfront Café, Bar Bistro
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Waterfront Café, Bar Bistro
Review
About
Discover the charming Waterfront Café, nestled on the banks of the stunning River Thames in Benson. This inviting venue serves mouth-watering menus of delicious homemade specials, perfect for every appetite and taste. Kickstart your day with a hearty breakfast, indulge in a light lunch or feast from our main menu. Little ones will love the varied children's menu and our Ben & Jerry's counter, while furry friends are warmly welcomed. Enjoy breathtaking views from the large outside deck, complete with ample seating and cosy seating areas. Satisfy your sweet tooth with tempting cakes made fresh daily. Relax and unwind in this casual oasis where time stops as you watch the world go by. We look forward to seeing you.
Features
CUISINES
Cafe, European, British
Meal types
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Digital Payments
Free off-street parking
Free Wifi
Full Bar
Highchairs Available
Mastercard
Outdoor Seating
Parking Available
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Street Parking
Takeout
Visa
Wheelchair Accessible
Wine and Beer
Location
Free off-street parking, Parking Available, Street Parking
Does this restaurant serve Romagna food?
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Hours
Open until 9:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 - 21:00
Monday
8:30 - 21:00
Tuesday
8:30 - 21:00
Wednesday
8:30 - 21:00
Thursday
8:30 - 21:00
Friday
8:30 - 21:00
Saturday
8:30 - 21:00
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3.9
1,087 reviews
Excellent
469
Very good
325
Average
128
Poor
84
Terrible
81
Neil M
St. Albans4 contributions
Aug 2024 • friends
Have been coming here for years but this was first visit after the refurbishment and I assume new owners. Ordered full breakfast (only one option on menu) and when put in front of me I was so disappointed. Sausages overcooked and no tomato or mushrooms. Table was never cleared even though we ordered a second round of teas the server just left us to push the used plates and cups to side of table. Very poor.
Written 12 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Voyage26999598910
1 contribution
Apr 2024 • family
Had fish and chips brought to the table by an Asian lady with condiments no vinegar ask the server for vinegar she said she did not know asked her to find out she looked blank and walked away eventually had to go and ask at the counter as she had no intention of bringing the vinegar, peas were missing from the dish and were eventually served after we had started our meal. Fish was lovely chips were a bit over cooked several were too crisp and fatty to pierce with the fork overall genraly edible but not fantastic for the price would think twice before ordering again. Rate 2 star
Written 27 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gripper101
Bron20 contributions
Mar 2025 • couples
Ordered fish and chips. Fish was swimming in oil. :)
I suspect that a cooked and battered piece of fish had been ‘freshened up’ by dunking it again in hot oil before being served. Possibly the one that had been mistakenly served to the next table a minute before.
Left with a queasy taste.
Written 5 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Samuel James Ol... L
2 contributions
May 2024 • family
Visited the Waterfront many times over the last few years with today being the first time since the refurbishment. It was not overly quite nor busy but in between. Ordered a drink and a little lunch. Once we placed our order at the till we then waited some 20 minutes for our drinks. We enquired with a member of staff and were informed our drinks would be another 5 to 8 minutes. Eventually my partners drink arrived, a large wine in a gin glass, however my drink was still missing. A minute later our food and my drink arrived, but food was cold. Food was distinctively average at best, certainly not worth the price of £35. Overall poor service, overpriced food and unorganised staff. We certainly weren’t the only ones who thought this, we watched 5 other people complain. Overall, really disappointed and will not be visiting again anytime soon.
Written 5 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jamie L
6 contributions
May 2024 • couples
Chaos like you’ve never seen!
Piles of plates and glasses on tables, 30 minute queue to order food, then told it’s 40 minutes to actually get food. Everyone in the tables complaining about the service.
Queues out the door, no door stops so constantly hitting you in the back, same door they’re trying to deliver food out of. Staff behind the bar desperately asking for clean glasses and staff so stressed they’re banging the doors open into the kitchen.
Why don’t you have QR code ordering to the tables? Been coming for years but will be another year before I’m back.
Definitely gone downhill since new ownership despite obvious investment - it’s just in the wrong places!
Written 27 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hannybag
Estepona9 contributions
May 2024 • family
Won’t be returning.
Returb. Is stunning but unfortunately everything else falling short.
Went for Saturday morning breakfast, place not even half full and was told it would be a 40 min wait for food which was ok. Took 30 mins for any drinks to arrive, 1hr 25 mins for food. Prices the same as before but food not as high quality, huge portabello mushroom that was ordered as an extra was tasteless and full of water which flooded the plate and rest of food.
Lots of people unhappy and getting refunds, toast arriving to tables after people have eaten their food and left.
Kitchen just not able to cope which is a shame as it’s such a nice venue. Unfortunately one of our favourite places is now off our list.
Written 5 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather D
Oxford15 contributions
Apr 2024 • couples
Having been to the Waterfront many times over the years, often bringing or meeting friends, we were interested to see there has been a makeover and possibly a change of management. The building has been updated with greater indoor seating capacity. An access ramp to the entrance makes entry suitable for those on wheels but to get to the ordering point and toilets there is a threathold preventing level access, so inclusive access has not been thought through. This is also a trip hazard for unsuspecting visitors as you have to step over for entry.
The menu seems much the same as in previous years and our food was reasonable value. However on a cool, dull and not particularly busy Friday lunchtime there was a 40 minute wait from time of ordering to time of delivery. Wait times in the past have always been short.
The most disapppointing thing was a man smoking a skunk cannabis roll up stood at the entrance, beckoned the waitress and asked her to fetch a bottled drink for him which she did. The revolting stench of his drugs pervaded the eating area for some time. I said to the waitress that it stank and she agreed. I was shocked he was not asked to leave the premises for smoking an illegal substance and upsetting paying customers with the disgusting smell, let alone being welcomed as a customer.
We are reluctant to return or recommend - which we have been happy to do in the past.
Written 26 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J A
Chalgrove38 contributions
May 2024 • friends
Having visited many times I am very sad to say that things have really gone down hill since the new owners took over. It took over 1 hour 20 minutes for us to get our drinks and food order (and it wasn't even busy). We had to ask several times where everything was and when our food did arrive it was cold. We ended up collecting our own drinks from the bar as they had just been left there on the side! The staff were not at all interested and couldn't have cared less. It was a complete shambles with no communication between the kitchen and the waiting staff. Lots of tables around us hadn't been cleared, much to the delight of a local Pigeon and Magpie! Such a shame.
Written 13 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jane l
11 contributions
Jun 2024 • friends
This cafe was my absolute fav place to go as they served such delicious cake in such a beautiful location but the last 2 visits since the revamp have been very disappointing. The revamp is nice, there is now much more covered area, good for when the weather isn’t great, but the prices have increased and, more importantly, the quality has dived. Last time I came I had tea and cake, the cake choice was much less than previously, and the cake was a much smaller slice and nowhere near as nice as it used to be. Today I had elevensies - red velvet cake and cappuccino, both of which were nice, but I didn’t get a serviette, which was surprising.
An hour later we ordered lunch, I had a cheese and ham toastie, the cheese was bland, the bread was tasteless and the salad that came with it was just a meagre bit of lettuce, no dressing, and it looked a bit brown around the edges, we were offered condiments but there is no salt and pepper on the table, you have to ask for it.
The tables and chairs are all new, but they have removed the lovely comfie low sofas, and it all feels much more formal now.
Overall just not the wonderful experience it used to be.
Written 10 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pete A
12 contributions
Jun 2024 • family
Went for an afternoon lunch. It was not good! Our food, a burger a childrens meal and garlic bread, took 30 minutes to arrive. Cafe not busy, so that's not why it took 30 minutes. Food absolutely not worth the wait. I ordered and paid for at the bar and do you know what, the waitress asked me if I wanted to leave a Tip, added to my bill even before we had our food!!! I said are you joking??? No I said, that depends on how good the food and service is! We never finished our food and they never got a Tip. The only Tip I could give them is Find a decent Chef, QUICKLY...
Written 17 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sarragrummett
London8 contributions
Oct 2023 • family
Long time visitor here. Not entirely sure what happened to this once brilliant cafe but what an absolute rip off. £7.95 for a ham and cheese toastie that included one incredibly thin slice of ham and barely any cheese, burnt toast and some limp salad leaves on the side that had seen better days. Pretty sure this used to come with crisps at least but no, we had to pay extra for chips. It seems the cafe has become so busy these days that food has fallen to the way side and no care or attention has been paid to it. During covid we could come for their takeaway breakfast and it was always brilliant and since then food standards have fallen so incredibly low. Despite the wonderful views in the sunshine we will not be back. I suggest to the managers to start focusing on your food again before you lose more long time customers.
Written 8 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bensongirl
Wallingford11 contributions
Jun 2024 • family
This has been beyond ruined as a place. Staff are clueless, ordered drinks tried to order food at 7.15 on a Friday evening only to be told the chef was too busy easily an hour wait….. there was about 20 people in there not everyone waiting for food! Glasses were dirty, I went to the bar to chase for my drinks to see one bar staff texting the other saying she couldn’t be bothered and one of them rolling their eyes at the till. This used to be the go to summer evening place it’s horrendous nobody has any idea what’s going on. Bring back decent management the previous owner had this place booming fab service and never ever was quiet! Sort it out of it may as well close.
Written 21 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan M
38 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
Lunch was dreadful:- took 3 attempts to make a hot latte after bringing warm coffee to our table, the clueless staff then couldn't remember which was decaf! £13.95 for 2 fishcakes and limp salad was a rip-off, even had to pay £3.20 for a small cold portion of chips.
The queuing system for food was ridiculous, only one person taking orders.
Your business will fold if you continue to rip off customers. Needless to say won't be returning.
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue A
Oxford27 contributions
Jun 2024 • friends
Under the previous management this was a great place which our cycling club really looked forward to visiting. Not now!
As we arrived a couple warned us that they waited for more than 30 mins for a pot of tea for two. When it arrived it just had one teabag. We joined the vast queue and after 20mins placed our order for coffee and cake. Only one piece as GF choices had run out . Another 40 min wait to be served .
Previously, with the same number of customers and probably the same number of staff, there were minimal queues which moved swiftly and the food and drink arrived almost immediately. The owners need to look at their processes and train their staff.
We won’t return until we hear it’s all changed. So disappointing to see it all go wrong.
Written 16 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike J
United Kingdom167 contributions
May 2024 • couples
During my 70 min wait for food, 40 min for drinks I observed food coming out overcooked and under cooked, service totally chaotic wrong food delivered to wrong tables. The manager couldn't care less and I joined a queue of customers complaining about the delay. The kitchen is not big enough to handle the food orders they have over expanded their capacity.
I feel sorry for the staff members having to work under this pressure.
Hope the management take heed to this frank critic which is not malicious but constructive.
Not planning to relive the experience soon.
Written 5 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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