Baker Graze - Cheltenham

Forget about the best cafe in Cheltenham, because this cafe is hands down the best. They have an inspired menu with beautifully sourced ingredients, along with the friendliest and most cheerful staff. My only complaint is that the name Graze Cafe doesn't fully represent the excellent brunch they serve here. But there's nothing wrong with keeping this local gem a bit of a secret. Word of mouth will surely spread the love for this place. Such skill, so impressive! Bravo!

The price reflects their delicious artisan products. Staying nearby for a weekend, we experienced their breakfast, brunch, and took away bread and pastries. All were very satisfactory. I loved the large pistachio Chelsea Bun. The Pain au Chocolat was equally supersized, though perhaps a little more chocolate would have been good. I’m not a huge fan of sourdough, but it is the fashion and their heavily seeded loaf was pretty good. For brunch, I had the excellent smashed avocado, smoked streaky bacon and poached eggs on toasted sourdough. It really worked well, with the crispy bacon contrasting with the softer textures. My partner had the devilled crab and avocado on sourdough, which she said was delicious. Staff were helpful and friendly. You have to wait outside for a table or to purchase at the counter when they are busy, as it is small, but I am glad it was a dry day and not too cold. We’d certainly be regulars if we lived nearby. Overall, it does deserve 5 stars.

I walked into the restaurant without any prior knowledge or expectations. I came for breakfast and was promptly seated and served. The staff was polite, friendly, and welcoming. The food and coffee were excellent. However, I was disappointed by the high volume of the music and deducted a star for that. The noise level was a bit overwhelming on a Saturday morning, especially with young children dining there. Additionally, I deducted another star for the smoothie, as it was mostly ice with a small amount of actual smoothie. I felt it was not a good value as I expected a blended drink rather than a glass full of ice. This may be subjective, but in my experience, a smoothie should be blended with the ice.

After waiting in the rain for a short while behind the sign instructing patrons to wait, I couldn't help but think of a song called "Standing in the Rain." Despite trying to get the attention of the three staff members who were chatting, I was eventually acknowledged by a somewhat stern-looking gentleman who seemed just as puzzled as I was about the situation. The scene felt like something out of a comedy sketch. Inside, it was mainly occupied by a group of six mothers and babies, as well as another couple with a young baby on their first coffee outing. The atmosphere felt more like a mother and baby group rather than a traditional cafe. I ordered a coffee, which was quite good, and was given a complimentary bottle of tap water and a glass. As I made my way through the group of mothers and babies gathered by the doorway, I paid and left, feeling a bit out of place due to the establishment's strict rules prohibiting laptops and indoor waiting. I decided to find a more welcoming and relaxing spot to enjoy my coffee.

I used to frequent this cafe often, but now I may reconsider. There have been some issues, such as being seated next to a noisy kitchen when other seats are available, and finding raw scrambled eggs in my dish. Despite these mishaps, I usually let it slide. However, after a conversation with a local businessman who shared negative feedback about the owner, I decided to see for myself. When I ordered a pot of loose leaf tea, it turned out to not be loose leaf, and I was charged for an extra bag. Additionally, I was asked to move upstairs because the owner apparently does not allow laptops in the cafe, even though it was mostly empty. I understand the policy, but it seemed unfair compared to other cafes I have visited. When I mentioned this to the waitresses, they admitted that the owner's behavior aligned with the businessman's description.