Gymboree Peckham Rye

[IanSE22]

Went to this long awaited and anticipated cafe for lunch today. What a disappointment! Met two friends there for lunch at 2.00pm, a pitiful choice. I asked if they had soup? They said they'd have it on Saturday, I said I'd be too hungry to wait that long! So my pal had the last quiche which was served runny, more like scrambled egg inside. My other friend opted for the hot dog brioche, myself bacon in brioche. We were then both told no brioche, but ciabatta instead. The bacon arrived, streaky with the rind still on so indigestible, once rind removed very little left to put in the very substantial 'artisan' bun, the hot dog was a single over cooked sausage that had been sliced untidily down the middle, both only served with a side of ketchup. No other filling with it. The coffee was excellent, but so it should be for the price. The service was indifferent and disorganised although clearly not short staffed. The food arrived no condiments, cutlery or napkins brought. We asked for each, the napkins are horrible little transport cafe type cheap and thin. With the money that has clearly been spent refitting this place, surely more attention to details would improve the dining experience? This place really needs to up its game, the menu is limited and pretty pathetic that main options sold out by 2.00pm. The waitress wouldn't let us run a tab, so if we wanted to add anything later we had to pay each time we ordered. In the end after the very poor sandwich we went to Boulangerie Jade for excellent cake and coffee and almost certainly won't return to Gymboree. I hope they can improve drastically before they ruin their reputation before even getting going. Next to the Rye it would be a potential gold mine. But you don't get a second change to make a first impression! I doubt we will return in future to give them a second chance.

[Nigello]

That's a very full and detailed post. I hope you were as thorough in your on-the-spot criticism to the manager/ess or waiter/ess.

[minder]

I would be starving for lunch at 2pm so maybe they had sold out of everything on a Friday. No excuse I suppose but then picking on silly things like a napkin (who cares whether it's thin) seems a bit over the top.

[IanSE22]

Yes I was

[IanSE22]

I don't think it's over the top, if you charge those kind of prices you expect a bit more than a tracing paper thin piece of transport cafe paper. Besides if you're homing in on the comment about the napkin rather than the quality of the food and service you've really missed the point!