The Blue Egg - Braintree

We visit for lunch regularly and usually enjoy our meal. Unfortunately today we had a rather poor experience. Ordered the warm chicken, bacon and avocado salad and presentation was good apart from the balsamic dressing dribbled all around the rim of the soup plate which smeared on cutlery and hands every time you took a mouthful. The chicken was plentiful but dry, hard and flavourless and goodness only knows when the bacon was originally cooked but it was totally dried out and impossible to cut with a knife! Picking it up and attempting to bite it proved equally impossible. Left on the plate next to the chicken. The staff were all so busy it wasn’t possible to pass on our comments to them so we left without saying anything.

Haven't been here for a very long time, we were passing so we thought we would stop for a snack. Too late for breakfast didn't want lunch so settled for coffee and a scone. Coffee was nice although quite strong scone itself was lovely and a good size, we expected it to be warm but unfortunately not. It came with 2 butter pats and what tasted like homemade jam as well as cream. The pots for the jam and cream were tiny, not small but really tiny. I would estimate about a large teaspoon full. Barely enough for just one half of our scone which we felt was on the mean side. There was a chalk board with sandwiches etc and the quiche looked and smelt nice. We will go again to sample something else on the menu hopefully we won't be disappointed next time.

Food was good, nice location, good feel to it. However its filthy. Everywhere you look is seriously dirty, toilets, doors, floors, tables. Seriously grimy. Its such a shame but we will not be returning while its in this state, if front of house is that horrible I dread to think what the kitchens look like.

This place used to be lovely, now it’s rundown and dirty. We had breakfast and the food was just ok, nothing special. Staff were uninterested and trying to look busy. The collection system is horrible…you order and sit down then a device vibrates and you have to go and collect your own food, resulting in elderly customers trying to carry trays and mothers juggling hot food and children. No longer a friendly place. And you have to go outside to get to the toilets.

A great little find. Ample parking for the bike, including additional spaces around the back. Lots of outdoor seating. There was good variety in the menu, but a bit gutted that we had just missed breakfast as they looked great. Portion sizes nice and generous with good fresh, local ingredients. Home baked bread and cakes. Will use again when we are next passing though, as a nice part way stop to us on the way to the Peak District.