Hippos Cafe - Southend-on-Sea

Lovely little cafe where 5 of us came for a late breakfast, which is served all day. Tables are made up for 2 or 4 persons, but they quickly adapted a table to accommodate us. Our waitress coped well with our order, despite us needing one with gluten intolerance and another with a dairy intolerance. Once she took the order, she repeated it back to us slowly to ensure she had written it down correctly. The meals took a while to arrive, understandably, but we had to chase for the final meal which arrived with apologies. Food was hot and tasty. There seemed to be more scrambled egg and salmon on the normal breakfast as opposed to my gluten free one, disappointingly. Overall, a pleasant place to visit, with plenty of warm, friendly staff on hand. There is seating inside and outside.

The senior staff/managers here are incredibly rude. We ordered a pot of tea for two and we were given the wrong sized cups. There was not enough tea in the pot to fill one cup. When I questioned this and asked for more tea I was told I cannot control the way you pour tea how would I know the cups were wrong until pouring! I asked to not be charged as we were not given the right order. I was told I had to pay as I had been given the pot of tea. The manager was so incredibly rude and had no customer service skills. Really awful service spend your money in other places in the broadway!

Breakfast at Hippos was very very poor. Everything overcooked and cold. I wouldn’t recommend eating there.

Was looking for somewhere to have a full English and this offered that and more. All the milk variations for your coffee, iced coffee and milkshakes. My husband had the full English which came with butchers sausages and a spare for our dog. I had eggs Benedict and the poached eggs were 10/01, still hot and the hollandaise was delicious. My bacon was cooked to order so as.i liked it. Chunky, thick slices of toast. Service was circa 15-20 mins but we didn't mind as all cooked fresh and delicious. Highly recommend.

Food was bland, table filthy, coffee weak at best . Used the toilet..had to go through kitchen which was so unclean I wouldnt let a dog eat there . Woud NEVER return and definitely would not recommend. How hard can it be to get scrambled eggs on toast right, surely its not rocket science!?! A great location spoiled and wasted by in experienced owners. The place needs a revamp as its tired and dirty. This wa my true findings and experience of this eatery. Sorry ...or should I be !?