The Front Room in Stafford - St Mary's Mews.

juice-comedy

Well-Known Forumite
A new cafe located in St. Mary's Mews at the site of the old Stephanie's/Tapas bar. It opened up Saturday 14th April.

I popped along with Mohawk Pete (nobody calls him that) on Saturday afternoon to try things out, I do enjoy a good tea room/coffee house. The furnishings and decor look nice, and there were people on most of the tables. As we walked in there was a service bar which we started to queue up, but then there was also one of those podiums with menus on that you get at restaurants (in a "wait here to be seated" sort of way) so we were unsure where to go. A smartly dressed older chap (whom we seemed to be the manager) approached us and said he'd take us to a table. I should declare now, that this is not to my personal taste in cafe service. It's fine in a restaurant, but I find it annoying if I just want a drink. That being said, they are very clearly going after the Soup Kitchen customer-base (what with being right on their doorstep and all). I asked if we could get drinks first before we sat down and he said it was table-service and someone would take our ordered when we were seated.

Okay, that's fair enough. Personally I just want to get a cup of tea and sit down, but I am not everyone. We were took upstairs and seated, then the manager-fella said that someone would be along to take our order shortly. Okay, fair enough, he's the manager and surely has other duties. Across from us was a couple of older ladies who told the manager that they had ordered two coffees and they hadn't arrived yet. The manager said he would chase this up.

We waited and waited, nobody came to take our order. A member of the kitchen staff came up the stairs on way to the Staff Room. The older ladies stopped her and asked about their coffees which still hadn't arrived. I didn't hear what this member of staff said to them, but she left and went into the staff room.

We waited and waited some more, and still no one came to take our order. Eventually, after we had been sat there for around 12 - 15 minutes, the couple of older ladies had still not received their coffees, they got up and left. We soon followed suit as we had clearly been forgotten about.

I understand it was their first day and I don't want to be unfair to them, as teething problems will happen. But that was four unhappy customers on their first day. Oh, and a staff member spilt a hot coffee over a customer while we were there, so that's five.

We went straight to Number 15 for a pot of tea and some nice cake.
 

andy w

Well-Known Forumite
The same happened to us in the Post house- sat down wait along time to order and then even longer for our drinks- you expect to wait for food but when you are ready for a drink you want it fairly quickly and thats where the Soup Kitchen have got it right, you can have waitress service or just que at the counter for drinks and cakes and then they are taken to an available table
 

Jade-clothing

Well-Known Forumite
We went here for coffee today after seeing the write up in the paper. The decor and ambiance are really nice but we were the only people in when we arrived although a few more arrived before we left.
I had a cappuccino and my mum and mum in law to be had lattes - they loved their coffees but the cappuccino wasnt up to my high cappuccino standards. I like a thick froth and chocolatey chocolate on top but it was just basically a milky coffee with cheap drinking choc on top. I felt they were exceedingly pushy trying to get us to have something to eat. the cakes did look nice but we said more than once we werent eating but were asked several times if we would like a cake. They very much play on the 'everything is homemade' take, and I asked if they made their own cakes as some of them didnt look homemade to me. The waitress assured me they did but the manager/owner later told me when I commented on a particular cake that they get most of them from Parkside bakery! In my opinion although they may be baked at Parkside - this does not make them homemade!
That said its early days and I wish them well. I will still try it again as mum and mum in law both liked it a lot in there. so good luck to them.
 

Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt

Well-Known Forumite
Went in yesterday for lunch - maybe many of the previous "teething problems" have been ironed out as I have to say it was pretty damn good. Only had a sandwich and a pot of tea but both arrived promptly, the waitress was pleasant and very helpful. The sandwich was really chunky with good filling (obviously home made). It was pretty busy and other dishes that were coming out look good too. Only minor complaint would be that no cutlery or napkins came with the food and so I had to go and hunt them out myself - difficult to eat a side salad with fingers! I'm happy to let them off though as everything else was fine
The place itself is a lovely setting, shame about the purple ducting that encircles the ceiling which rather interupts what would otherwise be a splendid feature. I also found the "self playing piano" a bit loud and also rather spooky. Strange to have a real piano with keys that go up and down seemingly by themselves, couldn't they at least get someone to sit there and pretend...?

To sum up though, please everybody ignore the faceless chains and support this type of venture - it is miles nicer than identi-kit places like The Butlers Bell et al. I'll definately go back.

9.5 / 10
 

eab1968

Newbie
Have visited several times and I think all the above problems have been sorted. Everyone deserves a second chance so please give them your support if you can. I don't think you will be dissappointed.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
There is a jazz concert at The Front Room this Thursday - featuring Liane Carroll.

The Front Room
(formerly Stephanies Bistro)
St Mary’s Mews
STAFFORD
ST16 2AR
Tickets £23.95 (includes a full three-course meal)
from The Front Room tel 01785 249995
Arrive 7.00 for 7.30pm. Liane will appear at around 9.30pm.
TICKET ONLY - MUST BE PAID FOR IN ADVANCE
There are 10 tickets left for the Liane Carroll concert this Thursday.
So get in fast if you want to see this country's no.1. Should be memorable.
NB. There will be no tickets available on the door.
Info via Chris Gumbley.
 

Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt

Well-Known Forumite
Apologies if this is "old news" but I went to visit the Front Room the other day and there was a note on the door thanking people for their support and custom but unfortunately they have had to close. Shame as I quite liked it. Another one bites the dust......
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
I never knew it even existed until now.

Maybe better (or even some) marketing would have helped...
 

Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt

Well-Known Forumite
I never knew it even existed until now.

Maybe better (or even some) marketing would have helped...

The fact that it was quiet and out of the way was one of its most redeeming features - whilst the hoards were off seeking out all the usual coffee/tea places in the town the Front Room always had that feeling of being a secret, English Breakfast tea wielding mystery place.
The first rule of The Front Room....

Unfortunately that mystique was probably also its biggest downfall
 
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