The coffee at all is recommended. Most know their macchiato from their latte (and the one which didn't, does now). Some use Italian brands (the best ones) others have discovered the joys of Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds coffee companies. And, to be fair, Freepack stands up well in this company.
https://thelounges.co.uk/prado/+
The only chain (albeit quite a small one) that we recognise as any good - and very good it is in Sudbury. Excellent food and very well 'signposted' for those with food issues. Now with outside seating for the warmer weather.
https://www.facebook.com/spencersfarmshop/
An old favourite - now under new management. Early worries assuaged and the cafe is reopened. The brilliant chef is still in charge, the food is very good especially anything involving pastry. The Cox family is into branding so the cafe is now Carter's at Spencers (as the excellent market fruit and veg stall holders have named their bit of the farm shop Cox's at Spencers - all very up to the minute!)
https://www.assingtoncountrykitchen.co.uk/
Further afield this one but worth the drive. The barns site includes an excellent farm shop/deli. The cafe is a restaurant as well serving very good food. Possibly the best coffee of an excellent bunch.
https://www.facebook.com/Thehyacinthtearoomgreensteadgreen/
More traditional this one but very good coffee. Their cakes are a speciality so if you like towering creations of sponge and cream this is your heaven. Good honest food. In a lovely old barn with excellent outdoor, covered, seating. Visit the adjacent clothing and children's shop in the post office/general store next door.
https://theforagersretreat.co.uk/
And the best is last. This opened a couple of years back in converted stabling at Pebmarsh. Carl (chef) and Beth Shillingford opened the Retreat in time to be banjaxed by Covid-19! But they survive and the coffee is excellent as is the Italian deli. But best of all is Carl in the kitchen. His food is divine all the time. He likes to ring the changes and is at home with most food styles, including Eastern. One clever trick is to prepare cook and chill dishes for home finishing; they are nothing short of brilliant.
After a coffee call we booked Sunday lunch. Now we use Sunday lunch as a test in a way. Of course, with only two at home cooking decent joints is not a sensible use of time, money or effort. But good Sunday roast is an acid test for the kitchen. Well his beef was brilliant, his pork divine, the vegetables a triumph of choice and delivery, the potatoes I wish I could buy. We did our usual - one starter for me (shared) and one dessert for Janet (also shared). The dessert deserves mention - a trio of Italian confections - tiramisu of course, lovel cannoli (home made and soft) and the other defeats my memory but not my taste recall - divine!
So there we have it; providing June does indeed bust out all over we are home and dry!
Oh, just the Fox and Herb in Halstead High Street to return to - tomorrow!
And of course we are booked in for posh lunch at the unbeatably brilliant emporium of Pascal and Karine Canevet at Maison Bleue, Bury St Edmunds next month. More anon.
https://www.maisonbleue.co.uk/
