'I ate in M&S, Asda, Morrisons and Tesco cafés and there's one I would avoid'
Supermarket cafés have come leaps and bounds - but how do they compare to each other?
Supermarket cafés have come a long way. In recent years, many of them have begun to offer much more than the standard toastie or baked potato.
Nowadays, many menus include the likes of TikTok-viral items such as the strawberry iced matcha latte at M&S, as well as posh brunch options like eggs royale, making them seem much classier than ever.
However, how do they compare when it comes to, not just how good the food and drink is, but also in terms of value for money, cleanliness and suitability for children?
That's exactly what Holly Morgan of the Mirror decided to find out recently by visiting cafés at four major supermarket chains - Asda, Tesco, M&S, and Morrisons - for the first time since she was about 12 years old.
After finding a stark difference in how much more there was to try out, alongside the friendliness of staff members, the reporter ranked each café visit, finding one menu item at M&S "special", while one place to "avoid" going in the future.
Here's what Holly had to say about each supermarket café visit.
1. M&S
"It might be predictable but my favourite was M&S. Known for their quality produce on the shelves, the café was not going to disappoint. It was by far the cleanest, and had the best menu for my taste. I went for the chicken and pesto crunchy sandwich, and it was delicious. It was fresh, tasty, and healthy.
"I also tried a supermarket café classic, the jacket potato with cheese and beans, as well as the breakfast wrap (as recommended by staff on the day) and the viral strawberry iced matcha latte.
"The only time I had ever tasted matcha before, I compared the taste to that of grass but I gave it another chance and, as much as I hate giving into trends, something about the strawberry matcha was special. I loved it!
"The only downfall of the M&S café was that it was the most expensive, by far, and so I am not sure you could justify dining out here so often. The jacket potato with cheese and beans cost £7.50, my chicken and pesto sandwich cost £7.50, and the breakfast wrap cost £6.95.
"To me, this is a little expensive for lunch in a supermarket, as these prices are even higher than the likes of Costa and Starbucks. M&S does however boast an affordable kids' menu, where children can grab a main, snack, and drink for just £4.50."
2. Tesco
"Second on my list is Tesco, and again, I was shocked to see the range of menu items. Here you can get a chicken burger with fries, barista-made drinks, and some seriously lush brunch items, as well as teacakes, scones and other classic supermarket café sweet treats.
"Despite the range of carefully put together, restaurant-grade dishes, I could not do a supermarket café review without getting a full English, could I?
"I opted for the big breakfast, with fried bread, sausages, hash browns, eggs, beans and bacon. It was £9.50, but the portion size was enough for two!
"The prices of their other menu items ranged from £6 to around £9, and all appeared to be great value for money. I also enjoyed yet another strawberry iced matcha latte, which was on par with the one I had in M&S. The staff were friendly, the service was fast, the café was clean and everything was tasty. On top of this, kids can eat here for £4, which to me, is a bit of a bargain!"
3. Morrisons
"Dining at Morrisons café exceeded all of my expectations. On top of the extensive range of freshly made cakes, salads and sandwiches, you can grab British classics such as bangers and mash, fish and chips, steak pie and mash, and other hearty meals all for around £7.
"The best part is, kids eat for free with an adult meal costing £5 and over. This means you could get a jacket potato with cheese and beans for example, and your child can get chicken dippers, chips and veg, and it would cost you just £5 for the lot.
"They also sell refillable soft drinks for £2.75, have a slushie machine, and refillable coffee machines. This café really caters for the whole family. The value for money here really stood out to me, and the jacket potato was actually nicer than the one I had in M&S, while being £2.50 cheaper.
"The staff were friendly, the café was nice and busy, and it was really clean. The menu here is definitely more humble than the one in M&S, but it still offers a restaurant level of dining with café-style value for money.
"So, don't be fooled by its ranking. For me, (a 23-year-old with no children or financial responsibilities), I'd prefer somewhere I can grab an overpriced barista style iced beverage to post a picture of it on my Instagram story, but if I was a mum looking for somewhere I could take my kids, Morrisons would easily be in the number one spot."
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4. Asda
"I was debating not including my experience in Asda in this review because all I am going to do is urge you to avoid the place. I have to be honest, after all.
"The only enjoyable thing was drinking my Costa coffee, as I used it to wash down my stale panini, stale carrot cake that was as hard as bricks, and to distract me from the dirty tables and the sticky floor.
"My experience was definitely hindered by the fact that the entire hot food menu was not on offer due to staff shortages, and there was only one person working on both the till and in the kitchen. Though, despite the staff shortage, I received friendly service.
"The only other menu item I tried was a £4.95 ham and cheese panini. The bread and the cheese were decent, but the ham was like eating rubber.
"One positive is that when they are serving food, kids can eat here for just £1, which is real value for money. It is safe to say I will not be going back to Asda café again any time soon, especially with Morrison's, Tesco and M&S just around the corner."