OAKhouse Bar Cafe

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#37 of 98 Restaurants in MaldonBar, Cafe, ££ - £££

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OAKhouse Bar Cafe

Review

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Closed now

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Website

+44 1621 859965Improve this listing

About

Features

CUISINES

Bar, Cafe, British

Meal types

Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Drinks

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Buffet

Free Wifi

Full Bar

Highchairs Available

Mastercard

Outdoor Seating

Private Dining

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Visa

Wheelchair Accessible

Wine and Beer

Location

35 High Street, Maldon CM9 5PF England

Does this restaurant have private dining rooms?

Yes

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Hours

Suggest an edit

Closed now

• Opens at 8:30 AM

Sunday

8:30 - 23:00

Monday

8:30 - 23:00

Tuesday

8:30 - 23:00

Wednesday

8:30 - 23:00

Thursday

8:30 - 23:00

Friday

8:30 - 1:00

Saturday

8:30 - 1:00

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3.7

238 reviews

Excellent

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Average

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Terrible

Trace271962

Chelmsford16 contributions

Disappointing

Jan 2024 • friends

Very disappointed the last couple of visits. Today ordered the smashed avocado with roasted tomatoes. The granary bread was nice but because I ordered the vegan version there was no butter alternative. The avocado must have been very small as not much on the toast at all. Last time we went I had the hummus with harissa vegetables and again hardly any hummus on the sandwich and scarcely any veg. Did tell them about the lack of food on both occasions but don’t know if message ever gets through.

Written 3 January 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.

Isabelle N

Javea1 contribution

Worst Sunday roast I’ve ever eaten.

May 2024 • friends

We went there for a Sunday roast. Oh my goodness never again. I ordered lamb which was tough, roast potatoes must have been reheated in the microwave because there was no crispness, definitely used frozen Yorkshire pudding, undercooked parsnips and gravy which was like water with no flavour at all. I fed most of the meal to my dog, so happy little girl.

Written 6 May 2024

David A

7 contributions

The manager should check out his staffs attitude to the customers

Aug 2023 • friends

I agreed to meet my Goddaughter for breakfast this morning, suggesting the Oak House, I was so disappointed, they had three staff and were certainly not busy. The service was dreadful and the waitresses with sullen looking faces, don't these people get any training? It's such a shame as its a lovely venue, the miserable waitresses are spoiling it for the good waitresses who serve with a smile.

Written 31 August 2023

EssexT

Burnham-on-Crouch170 contributions

Lunch visit with children

May 2024 • family

We recently visited for lunch on a Sunday afternoon on the spur of a moment and was very pleased we did We had the all day breakfast and the children eat from the kids menu (which also acted as a playmat to keep them entertained). All food was made fresh and hot. All was of a high quality and tasty. The coffee was outstanding as well The atmosphere was very relaxed and chilled and we was made to feel very welcome even with young children Stag were attentive without being over powering. Prices was very reasonable for the quality of food Can’t wait to come back and visit again

Written 17 May 2024

Mr B

12 contributions

Awful Sunday roast

May 2024 • friends

We had what was the worst Sunday roast we’ve ever had. The meat was pre-cooked and sliced and not from a joint which they heated, presumably by micro wave so it came out dry and curled at the edges and grey in colour. The meat portion size was tiny, just three very small and very thin slices - probably no more than 3-4 oz (100g) and the gravy was a joke. As thin as water and completely flavourless. The Yorkshire puddings were clearly bought in Aunt Bessie style as they were too perfectly shaped and bland to be freshly baked. The roast potatoes were tiny and had been reheated and the parsnips were under cooked. The vegetables were OK but small in portion size. We were very hungry so we did eat much of it as it wasn’t inedible, just bland and tasteless. But we were still hungry after the meal and got pizzas on the way home. We really should have sent it back and ordered something else as although I’d never eaten there my two companions have several times and have enjoyed the food in the past. We all agreed we’d give it another chance but would never order the Sunday roast again. In Maldon you can get a vastly superior roast at Le Bouchon, The Queens Head, The Jolly Sailor and probably many others. Even the very average roasts I’ve had at The Pavillion and The Muddy Duck were vastly better than this very poor offering.

Written 6 May 2024

Lee O

11 contributions

I'd give it a miss if I were you!

May 2023 • none

Had the most awful experience at the Oakhouse, sub-standard from start to finish. I had booked a table weeks before for a Sunday lunch to celebrate my husband's 60th birthday. There were 8 of us all together, 6 adults one child & a toddler, which I had informed the restaurant of at the time of booking. When we arrived we were shown to our table which was for 6. When we said to the waitress it will be a bit of a squeeze she said they were busy & full so she could add a chair onto the end next to a high chair for us. We reluctantly agreed & all squeezed in, the high chair was dirty & the table was sticky. We ordered drinks & some small plates to start before our main meal. Wish we hadn't bothered! We waited 40 minutes only to be told that not all of the food we had ordered was available! We settled for the reduced starters & they were mediocre at best. Our glasses were empty & nobody came to offer us another drink. After an hour of being in the restaurant, we were informed & I quote 'the kitchen is broke'! I kid you not! Apparently a fuse had blown and we were not going to be able to have any food! Even though the group of young guys on the next table had their mains despite the fact that they had ordered after us! We were offered a free drink but of course we were all hungry, we had two young children with us & they didn't want a drink they wanted their lunch. We got up to leave & then the young waitress told us we had to pay! For what? Appalling service? incomplete food order? filthy conditions? No chance! We walked outside and were then pursued by another young woman who did not introduce herself to us so we had no way of knowing if she was a supervisor or management of any kind. Instead she basically just wanted to tell us that we had upset a 17 year old and then continued to defend herself and the rest of the staff by telling us it wasn't their fault! She was then joined by the chef who did the same thing. No apology, no empathy, no understanding of the fact that we had two hungry children, our celebration had been ruined and we had had enough! Needless to say we will not be returning to this disorganised, haphazard, chaotic shambles of a restaurant. Absolutely disgusting treatment!

Written 21 May 2023

Debseedo1

Maldon76 contributions

Lovely location and delicious food.

Sept 2023 • friends

Lovely, clean and spacious interior. Great for big groups or couples. Friendly quick service. We had a really delicious light lunch and hot drinks that were actually hot (not the tepid stuff from machines). Will definitely return.

Written 23 September 2023

Neil

London41 contributions

Disappointed

Feb 2023 • couples

Popped in for lunch £36 wasted.. Haven't been before and won't bother again The oakhouse burger was a tasteless beef patty and built into a massive tower with greasy fatty bacon and overpowering greasy cheese. Virtually no relish. Chips were ok but for £15 this didn't represent good value . My ham egg and chips was a disappointment too. Slippery slidey fried eggs covered in grease on top of a tough chewy grilled gammon steak. We both left disappointed and this meal was not good value.

Written 11 February 2023

Carlie Mayes

Maldon109 contributions

Scrumptious lunch at the best bistro cafè in Maldon

Nov 2023 • couples

Fabulous roast in convivial surroundings. The lamb was done to perfection and had freshly made mint sauce. Perfect roasties with delicious bowl of veg. Carrots; tender broccoli spears and red cabbage. Absolutely scrumptious. As if things couldn't get better, dessert was a luscious brownie with ice cream.

Written 12 November 2023

Cbnorth

2 contributions

Expect long wait

Jun 2022 • family

Out of area visit Saturday 18th June. Service was poor although staff were friendly , minimal interaction for service needs. Waited over an hour for the food to come out , which was wrong and my sons fry up was missing sausages and hash brown. Table opposite also waited over an hour for a salad! Staff all very young and appear management were not visible and organisation was lacking.

Written 19 June 2022

Little Drummer Boi

4 contributions

People with dietary requirements or allergy sufferers beware!

Oct 2021 • none

I've twice had the misfortune of visiting this establishment and on both occasions, have been met with poor customer service and a bad attitude from poorly trained staff. Despite having numerous members of staff, service is painfully slow and disorganised. On the occasion that I ordered food, the wrong item was brought out and the server maintained that I was in the wrong, even after the receipt showed that not to be the case. Needless to say, if I were an allergy sufferer, this could have been disastrous for all involved. No apology or attempt to remedy the situation was offered so I wont be making the mistake of going back.

Written 21 November 2021

Graham D

Langford18 contributions

Beware of Service Charge

Jul 2021 • family

Nice lunch, a bit overpriced but not happy after paying the bill for just two of us when we realised a 10% service charge was added and not pointed out that this was optional. As it was my wife gave the waiter a tip which he accepted without having pointed out this service charge. Their menus states ‘An optional service charge will be added for a table of 8 or more’ whereas we were just 2. If you rip off customers in this way you won’t get repeat customers Also Diet Coke was from a soda stream and tasted strange, full of ice so not a full measure, not offered a bottle or can of the real stuff

Written 27 July 2021

livicas

Maldon4 contributions

Very pleasant visit

Feb 2025 • family

We visited the oakhouse today for lunch. The service, food and atmosphere were 10/10! I had the Brie, avocado, rocket and chilli jam ciabatta, which was delicious. My husband had the oakhouse breakfast which he said was one of the best he has had in a long time. We didn’t book a table but luckily one came free as we arrived, would highly recommended booking as it was very busy!

Written 2 February 2025

Bav96

Braintree95 contributions

Xmas do!

Dec 2022 • friends

We had our Christmas do here in December, really well organised. There were over thirty of us, I am gluten free and was fed with no Ill effects and had a really nice meal. Chef actually has an allergy himself so is clued up, which is reassuring! Had a DJ in which was great, danced the night away!

Written 21 December 2022

Alastair James

3 contributions

Incredible birthday celebration at the Oakhouse

Sept 2023 • friends

Thank you so much to the team at the Oakhouse for an unforgettable birthday celebration. You went the extra mile to make my BIG birthday one to remember! The upstairs venue is perfect and the food you laid on was delicious, everyone commented on how good it was ! The staff couldn’t have done anymore, faultless! I would highly recommend the Oakhouse for any celebrations you wish to have! Great bar and an amazing team.

Written 23 September 2023