Elm Grove Cafe in Brighton and Hove

Went here for the first time. Clean, pacious and airy. Didn't have a stale food smell. Helpful, honest staff. Really good selection of cooked meals, sandwiches and cakes. Even had vegetarian sausage sandwiches, with proper brown bread, thickly sliced too. One or two vegan options aswell. Has outside seating for hot days and they accept contactless payments. Definitely worth a visit.

I was recently working very close by and decide to use this place for lunch. I ordered a veggie sausage, chips, beans, a fried slice and a can of coke. The price seemed very reasonable (£7.50) and the food was great. So great in fact, that I went back the next day and ordered exactly the same thing. I was therefore surprised to be charged a different price. £8.50 this time. I mentioned this to the lady who told me that it must have been wrong the day before. I deliberately went there for the third day running. I ordered exactly the same thing a got different price again! This time £7.99. Again I mentioned this and got a mumbled excuse about how the others must have been wrong. Three days, three different different prices! And not one of them was correct!! The prices are written up on the board. My lunch should’ve been £8. I know it’s only pennies, but that’s not the point. They are clearly making up the prices! Which is a shame because the food is actually quite good. Sort it out.

Always walking past this café it looked lovely but was met with extremely disappointing circumstances.A group of my friends and I went on a sunday morning and were told we couldn't order some of our choices as there was only one lady working that shift which was fair enough.She then takes all our orders and MASSIVELY overcharged multiple of us. I ordered a cheese omelette, falafel wrap, bottle of coke and iced coffee which should've came to just under £15, and when the lady saw me pull out a £20 note she told me "We'll just call it £20." My friend also ordered a cheeseburger and iced coffee which should've totalled £7.50 but she charged him £15! After realising this we went back to the lady and politely told her she has overcharged us. Her attitude changed tremendously and she started denying this and told us to wait until she was finished with our food.All our food arrived very half-arsed and not worth the expensive pricing. Even though my friend and I who complained had ordered first, we were served last and kept waiting 25 minutes for our meals, long after everyone else had actually finished their meals. Feel like this was done purposely as we had initially complainedWe then went inside and asked for our change in which she had originally overpriced us for and become furious and visibly annoyed raising her voice at us for even suggesting so. She added my order up in front of me, making up increased prices in front of me, when the menu and pricing was literally right next to her. She starts gaslighting me telling me I never handed her a £20 and she would not of charged me this amount, when many people witnessed it happen. She loudly sighs and hands me back £3... when she worked out it she should've owed me £5 in return. She also tried to argue with me that my bottle of coke was £4... When the largest coffee they sell comes to £2.70...Overall would definitely NOT recommend coming here, you will be overcharged, met with very rude staff and left unsatisfied by the quality of food.

Thanks again for the lovely breakfast and lunch, great reception from the ladies at Elm Grove Cafe, highly recommend. Mediterranean breakfast and the Spanish omelet were eaten away greedily!Cordially

I was very excited to try this Caffe after a the good reviews. The place was charming with a nice atmosphere. Unfortunately the food was pretty disappointing. I ordered the Mediterranean breakfast and my boyfriend order the Spanish omelette and a burger.I don't want to be very strict for the Spanish omelette, it has to be a bit wet in the middle but this one was extremely undercook, green peas was an extra that was completely unnecessary and should never happened. The burger was offered with salad. And we got a few iceberg lettuce leaves with the meat and the bread, for £4 I don't expect gourmet burger but I this is to much. The Mediterranean breakfast felt like I'm paying for the name, most things tasted like they were just put in the plate from the fridge little to no effort was put in this dish which I paid £9 for. We ate everything anyway. I'm sad because I wanted to love this place and I believe that just with a bit more effort could be great instead. I'm not sure if I want to give a second chance but I really hope they hear the feedback to get better.

Delicious food, super friendly staff, will definitely be coming back!

Cold food...greasy....cheap sausageWould never recommend this cafe.... looks nice but uncovered food on the counter with flies in the cafe isn't appealing either

What a brilliant place! We sat outside at the back in peaceful surroundings and had a leisurely breakfast.The food was great; 2 of us tried the spinach and ricotta pie which was delicious and made a great change from the usual fry up; my son had the vegetarian breakfast, also excellent. They brought us a complimentary bowl of olives which was a nice touch.They offer a variety of teas, including Earl Grey and all sorts of savoury pastries.They were really pleasant and no one rushed us. One of those happy experiences which sadly is all too rare.

A very friendly place, with welcoming staff and a great selection of edible treats. The full English breakfast is very nice, not at all greasy, and comes with a free mug of tea. Coffee is well made, and presented beautifully. Highly recommended.

The Elm Grove Cafe is very local to me and sports the usual big breakfast scenario but with an additional twist of offering alongside the great traditional hangover fry up you can also indulge in freshly prepared Mediterranean delights. This cafe offers a huge selection of both meat and veggie options.