Cafe Zara in Rother

So we picked up some takeout this morning…. Having waited ages while the staff went for a smoke just up the road I finally got our takeout.A coronation chicken baguette… this was actually a dry panini and no chicken whatsoever in the the coronation, which was like an oil slick. I also got chicken nuggets and chips for the kids. These were absolutely dripping in the dirty oil they had been cremated in, kids say yuk! Then the best was the fresh motzorella, tomato and basil pesto panini, this was actually the same dry panini as the chicken less oil slick with some old tomatoes, something that was not motzorella and instead of basil pesto there was a sprinkle of mixed italian herbs. See photo. Had I have checked in the containers befor driving on I would have wanted a refund. Needless to say this place needs a chef that can cook, and a menu that reflects what they serve. 25 pounds badly spend. Disappointed and will not return. Terrible!

I haven't given any negative reviews since COVID as I understand businesses are having a hard time and customers should be more patient. However, there is no excuse for this appalling cafe. Like other reviewers, I waited ages for my order--a basic falafel wrap. After 30 minutes I had to ask them to wrap it to take away so I didn't miss my train. Ten minutes later, after asking for a refund, I am finally handed my "food". Hard, dry, cold, crumbly, stale, flavorless falafel that had clearly been sitting around much, much longer than the 40 minutes I had been waiting for them. They reminded me sickeningly of things one might scoop out of a cat box. Garnished with sad, wet, limp, wilted salad. Quite literally inedible. Shameful.

Where do I start 🤔 we sat there waiting to order food for a while as they only had one person to take orders but about three people taking drink orders and when someone could be bothered to take our order something that resembles food arrived kids chicken nuggets and chips cheap and nasty ! Bacon and eggs on toast cooked in dirty oil and cold ! My dad ordered cod and chips and they brought him fish fingers and chips but after complaining they brought cod and chips that looked like a cheap white fish ( economy battered fish from Iceland) with overcooked cheap chips! And now my order a gourmet type burger and chips ??? Cheap thin nasty tasting beef burgers sitting on lettuce, onion and overcooked chips on the side.They didn't even bring us cutlery or condiments we had to ask for them after they walked off and don't even have vinegar for fish and chips! The lucky people sitting opposite us saw they food quality and swiftly left to go elsewhere.I'm sure it's OK for the tourist trade but we will never go back and would find better quality food at mcdonalds 😉 👎👎 AVOID!!!!!!

I had the same experience as others. I was the only person in the cafe and ordered the breakfast. When it turned up the beans and the bacon were both cold and the sausage was barely warm. When I took it back none of the staff seemed to bothered about it. Still charged me for my coffee as well

Had lunch there today.They sat us down immediately, then we waited. Eventually they asked to take our order, so we said we'd not been given menus - so menus rushed over. Saw the same thing happen at another table.They took our order. Eventually my tuna baguette arrived as a sandwich, so I sent it back, and not long after a baguette arrived. No cutlery to eat the accompanying salad, so had to ask for that. The included "crisps" were the dregs of a packet of tortilla chips, crumbs and tiny broken pieces but I ate them. Discovered my baguette was not tuna but cheese and sweetcorn. Hungry so ate that too. Left and paid, expecting to be asked how it was - but they didn't ask, so I'm telling it here.If that experience floats your boat, go there.

Went in here today, sat for about 15 minutes before our order was taken, no big deal, waitress took the order and brought over the cutlery, only 1 fork but again no big deal. My wife and I ordered plain and Spanish omelette and chips, my wife specifically requested hers was cooked without butter, about 30 minutes later a waiter brought over 1 burger and chips, not ours.. a few minutes later our chips came out, 10 minutes later I complained as we still didn't have the omelettes, a few minutes later my wife's omelette came out, swimming in butter and about as thick as a pancake, my omelette was know where to be seen, chips had now gone cold. So got up told them to forget it and walked out. While we were in there saw at least 3 other meals being returned, not sure why.. would not go back.

Very rarely do I come to Rye or even to the general area. I really enjoy stopping here for a drink, something to eat and the friendly staff despite the rain. I hope to come here more often when the weather is a lot nicer.

This place is always welcoming, warm and friendly. I usually come here for coffee or a light lunch and I've never been disappointed. The coffee is delightful (I'm so over medium coffee pretending to be the real thing). These guys know how to make a customer happy!

Friendly welcome and served promptly. Panini & side salad was nice but could have done with a little more tuna filling. Coffee great.

We popped in after a long drive into Rye, it was late afternoon. We were seated straight away and our order was taken within a few minutes.We ordered coronation chicken baguettes and eggs Benedict.The staff were friendly and service was good, the food was nice however the eggs were overcooked.Right on the high street this cafe is a good little place to refuel.