
The Waterside Café
Quick info
About The Waterside Café
Set inside a large garden centre on Chester Rd, The Waterside Café is a Walsall café where the outdoor tables sit by the lake and ducks can be fed, while booths line the room inside. A fairy-themed walking trail and a walk around the lake are attached to the site, so a stop here can bookend a longer visit. Breakfast runs to a small English breakfast alongside scrambled eggs and pancakes, with a lunch menu, afternoon tea and toasted sandwiches served with salad. A large cake selection includes cheesecake slices, and the drinks list covers a wide choice of teas and coffees, though the afternoon tea comes with filter coffee and breakfast tea. High chairs make it workable for families with young children, and a step-free entrance suits visitors with mobility needs. It opens daily in the daytime, reservations are recommended, and it gets busy enough that you may queue to be seated. Toilets are on site, and the car park has an overflow area for busy periods.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible car park · Wheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Kids' menu
- DietaryVegan options · Vegetarian options
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention cake selection and cheesecake, afternoon tea, sitting by the lake with ducks and wide tea and coffee choice.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention cake selection and cheesecake, afternoon tea, sitting by the lake with ducks and wide tea and coffee choice.
Customer Review Summary
Cake is the draw reviewers return to most: a caramel cheesecake one calls heavenly, a courgette and avocado cake described as delicious, and cheesecake slices among a selection several describe as great. Close behind is the staff, repeatedly called friendly, helpful and smiling, with diners noting they were not rushed even when the room was full. The lakeside setting earns its own mentions, whether outside with the ducks or in the comfy booths, and several pair the visit with the fairy walking trail. The breadth of teas and coffees comes up often, though one finds the coffee thin, and another on an afternoon tea notes that only filter coffee and breakfast tea were included, suggests a decaf choice or a small pot, and describes struggling to get a refill in the noise. Vegetarian choice is called limited, pancakes arrive out of a packet, scrambled eggs came overdone, and one reviewer feels prices have crept up. A toasted sandwich served with salad is singled out as the best in a long while.
Customer Review Summary
Cake is the draw reviewers return to most: a caramel cheesecake one calls heavenly, a courgette and avocado cake described as delicious, and cheesecake slices among a selection several describe as great. Close behind is the staff, repeatedly called friendly, helpful and smiling, with diners noting they were not rushed even when the room was full. The lakeside setting earns its own mentions, whether outside with the ducks or in the comfy booths, and several pair the visit with the fairy walking trail. The breadth of teas and coffees comes up often, though one finds the coffee thin, and another on an afternoon tea notes that only filter coffee and breakfast tea were included, suggests a decaf choice or a small pot, and describes struggling to get a refill in the noise. Vegetarian choice is called limited, pancakes arrive out of a packet, scrambled eggs came overdone, and one reviewer feels prices have crept up. A toasted sandwich served with salad is singled out as the best in a long while.
Featured reviews
- Bogdan Nedelcu
“The staff: incredible friendly and helpful with a smiley on their faces! Sorry to say, but the food is now a little bit pricey for what offers. But you go there for the atmosphere and for a chat, not for the food. Recomand it!”
- Rae S
“Wonderful cafe for Breakfast, Lunch or Afternoon tea with cake! They are very good & recently visited for a small English breakfast.”
- Jack Pryjmachuk
“Portions were great, staff were helpful and happy (always a good sign!) and the food arrived quickly even with how busy it was; will come again!”
- Just Me
“Had a lovely Sunday breakfast followed by a Fairy Nuff walking trail. Food quality and portion size okay, wished the pancakes were freshly made but they were out of packet, tasted fine though. Coffee on the thin side.”
- Dee O.
“Lovely place for brunch with the usual baked items & cheesecake slices. My hot breakfast was good, but the scrambled eggs a wee bit overdone for my liking. Gluten free toast available. The tea was hot & a generous serving. A great place for people to meet & gather, we were not rushed on at all & the staff very friendly. Highly recommended. Toilets available.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Free parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
Show more amenities
- Vegan options
- Casual
- On-site services
- Coffee
- Quick bite
- Dessert
- Dining options· 5
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Seating
- Table service
- Facilities· 1
- Toilet
- Parking· 1
- Parking
- Offerings· 3
- Healthy options
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Atmosphere· 1
- Cosy
- Family-friendly· 2
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
- Planning· 1
- Brunch reservations recommended
- Highlights· 1
- Great tea selection
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Location
How The Waterside Café compares to nearby cafes
- The Waterside Café · This shop4.5371 reviews
Mentioned in reviews: cake selection and cheesecake, afternoon tea, sitting by the lake with ducks
- 142 reviews1.7 mi
Mentioned in reviews: fried breakfast, free tea/coffee refills, generous portions
- 162 reviews3.8 mi
Mentioned in reviews: large english breakfast, bacon sandwich with 4 rashers, reasonable prices
- 63 reviews4.1 mi
Mentioned in reviews: breakfast box, overdone bacon, pizza box breakfast
The Waterside Café This shop | The Lunch Box | Elliot's Café | Coppice Side Cafe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5(371) | 4.7(142) | 4.6(162) | 4.7(63) | |
| Price | ££ | £1–10 | £ | £1–10 |
| Distance | — | 1.7 mi | 3.8 mi | 4.1 mi |
| Open today |
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How this listing is sourced
- Where the data comes from
- Name, address, hours, contact details, amenities, ratings and review counts come from the business's publicly available profile data — not from the owner and not from paid submissions.
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