February 2023 by fluffyhedgeh0g
Nice location, building and facilities . Pleasant out door seating and dog friendly. Staff pleasant\n\nHowever, the prices are opportunistically expensive:\n\nPlain hot chocolate £4\nSliver (no wider than a tea spoon) of cake £3.95 They must have cut at least 20 slices from the one cake today\n\nPreviously I have ordered a salad main and only received a garnish of greenery decorating my plate\n\nAfter the mean portion of cake I received today, I have decided to go to The Windmill, Stable view or Old School House Deli in future
July 2022 by H7496UDhannahs
The setting is beautiful with ample parking. We were seated promptly and order taken. Few minutes after we were told there was a 40 minute wait for food, we had driven out of our way to come here so decided to go with it. Kids had a plain sandwich, crisps, fruit shoot and brownie. Adults order toasted sandwiches with crisps and coleslaw on the side, so nothing extraordinary. It took an hour for the food to arrive by which time the kids were hot, hungry and bored. The food was tasty but nothing special and certainly not worth the wait. If they were short staffed they should not have taken the orders. I would rather have been turned away. I must say the staff were friendly and polite they just couldn?t serve the volume of customers. Unfortunately I wouldn?t dare try it again with kids, perhaps adults with the afternoon to waste might enjoy it a little more.
March 2022 by LadyBublet
I went to The Cowshed to meet a friend and introduce my 3 month old baby. My friend arrived before me and was seated inside but when I arrived a member of staff rushed over and immediately told me there was no room for the pram and that we?d have to sit outside. I agreed to this as my friend had travelled a good distance to meet me, otherwise I?d have left. The staff attitude is rude and abrupt if you go with a baby in tow it would seem. Food (soup and bread was nice) but I felt uncomfortable there because of the staff, who I felt embarrassed me in front of other customers so didn?t really enjoy it. I will not be returning. \n\nI attempted to eat there several years ago with my partner, the place was busy and we stood inside the cafe for a while whilst staff ignored us so we left. \n\nThis place has the potential to be great however staff attitude needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency because a warm welcome isn?t available to all.
February 2022 by adyval
Visited here this morning Weds 9th Feb 2022. Been here before in June 2018 and then sat outside. Sat inside today getting a table easily. was busy but not overcrowded. Nice menu, liked that they did gluten free toast and chatting with one of the waiters was told they can offer lots of gluten free items which was good to hear. Drinks and toast etc was very nice. thought service was slow.\nBit pricier than some other nice cafes, prefer a bigger cup of coffee but was ok. like the waiter service and was very customer focussed. Will be back
October 2021 by lainey662015
Lovely location and food was really good but the rest are all very negative comments I'm afraid. It was half term so really busy. We had to wait outside until a table was ready, we understood that, we were told it was 40 minutes food wait, we understood that too but when we were seated the waitress didn't take our order for 15 mins then it was her first day which we were sympathetic but she could not work the ordering device at all and it took a lot of time to get the order correct. She was sniffing a lot and appeared to have a cold. After a nice lunch we went to choose cakes and told her what we wanted as there wasn't a lot left and we didn't want to miss out. She then cam back five mins later and said it was sold out! Not happy so we cancelled cake order. When we finally got to pay they were quick enough to charge us for the cake we hadn't had. Serious note to the manager. You have a wonderful place please train your staff properly and get it ran as it should be. Going out for lunch should not be a exhausting stressful experience but this was.
October 2021 by Frank Wilson
We stayed in the Cow Shed for 4 nights, using it as a base to visit family & friends.The owner was very nice & friendly, we really enjoyed our stay, and would definitely stay again & recommend it ??.
October 2021 by tonyrpayne
Called in this morning to try their breakfasts. My wife had poached eggs on toast and I had the full English. The poached eggs were a bit of a let down because one of the yolks was set and the other barely runny. The same can be applied to my fried eggs which also seemed to have been just tossed onto the plate. The sausages were really good though. I thought prices were just about okay but charging 50p for hot water to convert an espresso to an americano seems a little OTT. Staff were very pleasant and service was good.
September 2021 by N5913GQsarae
This used to be my favourite establishment going once a week before COVID but I doubt I will go again. There is a lot more seating now granted but the staff and food preparation time is very poor taking a half an hour before our order was taken. The last three sit-in visits have had incorrect orders given. Cakes aren?t as good as they were when not sold out.\n\nThe final straw was when my husband went to get a takeaway and he told the person three times that one was gluten free. He got home and when I saw it, I knew it looked to good to be gluten free so I phoned and checked and it wasn?t gluten free. Yes they refunded the sandwich item but the inconvenience of either having to take a 40min round trip to get one sandwich and not eating together or me missing out, just isn?t on. I would have had a very bad allergic reaction of I had eaten it.\n\nSuch a shame, go here only if you are very patient and have time on your side.
September 2021 by johnmL8399ZF
4 of us came today, very busy but waited only a couple of minutes for a table on the new beautiful decked area. Food arrived quickly, very fresh, ample portions and only just over £42 for 4 of us. Would definitely visit again, great walks also right on the doorstep !
August 2021 by 853ChrisL
What can say? \nWe (group of4) have been quite regular visitors to the cowshed since it opened a couple of years ago. Always singing it?s praises for good quality food and service. Making numerous recommendations to friends and family. \nUnfortunately this is no more, we have visited the cowshed a few times over the last couple of months and each time we have been disappointed. \nThe food quality has most definitely gone down hill, cheap watery bacon. One mushroom when the menu says mushrooms. ( this has happened on more than one occasion)\nAs for the service, seems like they are trying, but just not quite getting it right , no sauces brought when requested. Slow service, always having to remind them about things.\nThe cowshed set pretty high standards when they 1st opened and we were happy to pay above average for above average food and service.\nThis is not the case now and sadly will not be rushing to go back.\n\nThis review may seem petty to some but when you pay nearly £45 for 4 breakfasts you expect more. \nSeems a bit like they established a good reputation and are now reaping the rewards but not quite delivering the same product.
July 2021 by alocinnossum
Went here today with friends, we had our drinks order taken when seated but no one came back to take our order for food or any further drinks. We asked 3 different members of staff if we could order food as they passed, then said they would get someone to take our order but no one came, we then asked 2 further people for the bill but that didn?t come either. The place was busy but they didn?t have enough staff on to deal with the demand. They should clearly have more staff on or if not possible seat less people. We were there for 2.5 hours in total and not served beyond the first drink. I won?t return here.
June 2021 by Paulloak
We called into the cowshed for lunch after having walked around the hermitage at about 11.45. We probably got there at just the right time as there were plenty of tables and soon after the place filled up, with people then having to queue and wait for a table. I plummeted for the farmers breakfast and my wife had the tuna melt panini which we washed down with a cappuccino and a green tea. \nThe breakfast on delivery looked great consisting of 2 Sausage, 2 bacon, 2 hash browns, 2 eggs, beans, tomato and mushrooms, with 2 full slices of toast . The ingredients were all of a good quality, but the bacon and eggs were both over cooked. One portion of butter for 2 pieces of toast didn?t really work. \nThe panini looked great and was vey tasty I was informed although a little dry because they used sourdough bread . Coffee and tea both good. \nToilet facilities are shared but were very clean. \nIt?s a very pleasant place off the beaten track and I can see why so many people go there, maybe chef is under too much pressure !
May 2021 by Soozie64
We paid a long awaited visit to one of our favourite places to have breakfast this morning. Absolutely love what they?ve done with the addition of the enclosed awning. It was very busy but as we got there early we didn?t have to wait for a table. Unfortunately it felt as though they were a bit overwhelmed as service was a bit disjointed and slow, not the usual standard or pace we?ve been used to previously. Our breakfasts were cold from the outset - we appreciate eating outdoors will cool your food much quicker but, at best it came out tepid, the egg, beans and mushrooms were actually stone cold. Again it?s just probably teething problems but it felt like they were not ready for the first service of the day or for the amount of people turning up. It won?t put us off though, we love the Cow Shed and we?ll be back, but we might just send the food back in the future if there?s no improvement. Great place and quality food, it could just do with being served hot from the get go!
October 2020 by DottyG03
We enjoyed the farmhouse breakfast!! Very well cooked, the quality of the sausage was also very good. \nThey served a delicious vegan hot chocolate which made me very happy. \nAnother major plus was that the quantity of gluten free toast served with the breakfast was the same as the regular toast!! \n\nThe parking is a little tight in the car park but there?s plenty of room on the road
October 2020 by Ness Bear
Second time we have stayed and just as lovely as we remembered. Spotlessly clean and very private for those nervous about travel during the covid-19 crisis. Ideally positioned to explore the area; Matlock, Bakewell, Chatsworth house and the beautiful walks the area is known for. Kitchen offers all you need should you not feel happy to eat out at this time or you can even get a take away delivered which we did! Perfect for a few days escape from lockdown life!
