If you're going to Longwood, I highly recommend that you don't eat there. Unfortunately, they have a lock on food. The food was pretty much tasteless, and obscenely expensive! I mean, come on, $7.75 for an order of french fries?? My wife and I ate there recently: each got a drink, chicken tenders and a soup (I also had fries}. the bill was over $43.00! The gardens are well worth the admission price, butreally get you on the food cost.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Kelly Boyd
Though some things have changed at the Cafe' since our last visit, the food is still the same high quality, and the atmosphere can't be equaled anywhere. Many items that used to be available on the steam tables are now pre-packaged, so service is faster and more hygienic. In particular, the mushroom soup and other hot items are kept at the ideal serving temperature, which I really liked. This isn't McDonald's though, so don't expect fast food pricing. You pay for the convenience and the setting, which are well worth it, since you don't have to leave the Gardens to eat. It's best to think of the Cafe' as a snack break, instead of a meal, because there are many fine restaurants nearby for later.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Emily Koneski
This little cafe has unfortunately become more of a convenience spot then a lovely little cafe. The food is all premade and mostly prepackaged. It is still tasty, but well overpriced for what you're getting. It's a bit better for a quick snack than an actual meal.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Tropical Tart
Joe “JLSE” Spytek
Definitely a lesser experience at the Cafe since the "renovation". Gone are the custom prepared salads/entries. Mediocre food now. Freshest things are the fries and chicken strips. Definitely not worth the costs.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: French Fries, Chicken Tenders, Three Cheese Mac
Lawrence Hu
Terrible and overpriced, as all monopolies should be (salmon was dry, pasta was low quality, chicken tenders also dry).
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Barb Hauck-Mah (barbhmphilly)
We ate lunch al fresco under an umbrella terrace table on a spring afternoon. Two of us sampled the quiche, shrimp, chocolate mousse, fruit cup and chocolate cake square. Everything was pre-made and packaged for cafeteria-style pickup. The food was all delicious ,but pricey for the serving sizes and ingredients. We spent $65 for the food listed above.We did not see many vegan options, or kid-friendly options aside from fries and chicken tenders. None of the packaging was labelled as being recyclable, and plastic cups were used.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Rick Bruce
Food at the cafeteria has greatly diminished in value and taste while increasing substantially in price. For shame, Longwood Gardens!!!!
Parking: Thousand spaces available.
Kid-friendliness: Yes, but don’t expect to play in the spaces as in a public park. This is a show garden. However, the tree houses are exceptionally fun for everyone.
Wheelchair accessibility: Very good
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Ben Thomas More
Sorry I never wrote a positive review in prior years, they deserved it (though 2023 and prior was over priced the entrees were good). HOWEVER, This 2024 cafe is not good. They used to serve entrees fresh from server to your plate/tray, or fill your soup bowl for you. Now in May 2024 they are serving you out of grab & go whether it is $18-20 entree , tenders, fries, burgers (wrapped in foil). worse is there is only bac cheese burger. no plain burger?. Who would limit menu so there is so few non dairy free gluten free choices? Entrees this weekend were spicy bean 2 options. No (non spicy?). Horrible update. Longwood REIMAGINE the Cafe back to what it was in 2023 and prior. Please. We go 3 times a year. Will seek food off property. If FOOD SENSITIVE, stay away.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jonna M
I like the Cafe's new "grab n go" format. The line moves faster. I miss their fountain soda, though.As usual, dining experience marred by screaming children and parents who make no effort to intervene.
Vegetarian options: The Cafe always has at least 2-3 meatless hot items. They also have cold salads, yogurt parfaits and fruit cups.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
H. S-C
Always loved the cafe. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the interactions with staff were friendly. While the quality of food is still very good, portions are smaller, and everything is pre-portioned in boxes and displayed on floor to ceiling serving shelves. Small labels describe what is in each box. There are no people to interact with. Lines were log-jammed as people stood to read what was in each box. The food-serving space was impersonal, less inviting, and overall, less efficient. Lighting felt dim. Overall atmosphere of the serving area was very disappointing. Also, check out is now self-serve. (Table spaces are still lovely.)
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich, Three Cheese Mac
This was a hidden gem of Longwood for years. Recent renovations leave a lot to be desired with many steps backwards. Want a custom salad? Gone. Want to skip an allergen in a product? Too bad. It's now basically like a grocery store with a few hot items (same food as before) pre-packaged. You now have to use self-checkout kiosks that are very slow and frustrating. Whoever came up with these "improvements" should be fired.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Paul Voelker
Putting piano music on repeat and trying to "upscale" the atmosphere doesn't make up for subpar carnival food.
If you're going to Longwood, I highly recommend that you don't eat there. Unfortunately, they have a lock on food. The food was pretty much tasteless, and obscenely expensive! I mean, come on, $7.75 for an order of french fries?? My wife and I ate there recently: each got a drink, chicken tenders and a soup (I also had fries}. the bill was over $43.00! The gardens are well worth the admission price, butreally get you on the food cost.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Though some things have changed at the Cafe' since our last visit, the food is still the same high quality, and the atmosphere can't be equaled anywhere. Many items that used to be available on the steam tables are now pre-packaged, so service is faster and more hygienic. In particular, the mushroom soup and other hot items are kept at the ideal serving temperature, which I really liked. This isn't McDonald's though, so don't expect fast food pricing. You pay for the convenience and the setting, which are well worth it, since you don't have to leave the Gardens to eat. It's best to think of the Cafe' as a snack break, instead of a meal, because there are many fine restaurants nearby for later.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This little cafe has unfortunately become more of a convenience spot then a lovely little cafe. The food is all premade and mostly prepackaged. It is still tasty, but well overpriced for what you're getting. It's a bit better for a quick snack than an actual meal.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Tropical Tart
Definitely a lesser experience at the Cafe since the "renovation". Gone are the custom prepared salads/entries. Mediocre food now. Freshest things are the fries and chicken strips. Definitely not worth the costs.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: French Fries, Chicken Tenders, Three Cheese Mac
Terrible and overpriced, as all monopolies should be (salmon was dry, pasta was low quality, chicken tenders also dry).
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
We ate lunch al fresco under an umbrella terrace table on a spring afternoon. Two of us sampled the quiche, shrimp, chocolate mousse, fruit cup and chocolate cake square. Everything was pre-made and packaged for cafeteria-style pickup. The food was all delicious ,but pricey for the serving sizes and ingredients. We spent $65 for the food listed above.We did not see many vegan options, or kid-friendly options aside from fries and chicken tenders. None of the packaging was labelled as being recyclable, and plastic cups were used.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Food at the cafeteria has greatly diminished in value and taste while increasing substantially in price. For shame, Longwood Gardens!!!!
Parking: Thousand spaces available.
Kid-friendliness: Yes, but don’t expect to play in the spaces as in a public park. This is a show garden. However, the tree houses are exceptionally fun for everyone.
Wheelchair accessibility: Very good
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Sorry I never wrote a positive review in prior years, they deserved it (though 2023 and prior was over priced the entrees were good). HOWEVER, This 2024 cafe is not good. They used to serve entrees fresh from server to your plate/tray, or fill your soup bowl for you. Now in May 2024 they are serving you out of grab & go whether it is $18-20 entree , tenders, fries, burgers (wrapped in foil). worse is there is only bac cheese burger. no plain burger?. Who would limit menu so there is so few non dairy free gluten free choices? Entrees this weekend were spicy bean 2 options. No (non spicy?). Horrible update. Longwood REIMAGINE the Cafe back to what it was in 2023 and prior. Please. We go 3 times a year. Will seek food off property. If FOOD SENSITIVE, stay away.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
I like the Cafe's new "grab n go" format. The line moves faster. I miss their fountain soda, though.As usual, dining experience marred by screaming children and parents who make no effort to intervene.
Vegetarian options: The Cafe always has at least 2-3 meatless hot items. They also have cold salads, yogurt parfaits and fruit cups.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Always loved the cafe. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the interactions with staff were friendly. While the quality of food is still very good, portions are smaller, and everything is pre-portioned in boxes and displayed on floor to ceiling serving shelves. Small labels describe what is in each box. There are no people to interact with. Lines were log-jammed as people stood to read what was in each box. The food-serving space was impersonal, less inviting, and overall, less efficient. Lighting felt dim. Overall atmosphere of the serving area was very disappointing. Also, check out is now self-serve. (Table spaces are still lovely.)
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich, Three Cheese Mac
Restaurantji Recommends
This was a hidden gem of Longwood for years. Recent renovations leave a lot to be desired with many steps backwards. Want a custom salad? Gone. Want to skip an allergen in a product? Too bad. It's now basically like a grocery store with a few hot items (same food as before) pre-packaged. You now have to use self-checkout kiosks that are very slow and frustrating. Whoever came up with these "improvements" should be fired.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Putting piano music on repeat and trying to "upscale" the atmosphere doesn't make up for subpar carnival food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
Vegetarian options: Cafe choices were adequate
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Three Cheese Mac
Extraordinarily overpriced food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Great food. Never disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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