EL&N London

I don’t usually leave negative reviews because I understand how demanding hospitality can be but after giving EL&N London (birmingham branch) a second chance, I feel this experience deserves to be shared. The service was disappointing from the moment we arrived. We were placed in a corner table we didn’t want and when we politely asked if we could move to another corner where there were clearly several empty tables we were told none were available. Throughout our visit, those tables remained empty so the explanation simply didn’t make sense. We ordered the Turkish Eggs with focaccia and two drinks. The drinks arrived quickly but the food took around 35 minutes. I can accept a wait if the restaurant is busy and the food is worth it so that wasn’t the main issue. The real problem was the complete lack of attention afterwards. Our food arrived without any cutlery meaning we couldn’t even start eating. We tried several times to get a staff member’s attention, but we were repeatedly ignored. When we finally managed to ask, we were told they had completely forgotten the focaccia that was supposed to come with the dish. We were told they were “looking into it,” and then waited another 10 minutes before it eventually arrived. By then, the whole experience had become frustrating rather than enjoyable. What makes this even more disappointing is that this isn’t my first experience like this at EL&N. I visited last year May with my sister and received similarly poor service, which is why I never returned. I decided to give it another chance today with a friend, hoping things had improved, but somehow the experience was even worse. My friend even said she didn’t want to eat there because of how poor the service was. For a café that has built such a strong reputation and charges premium prices for what is ultimately a fairly simple brunch I’d expect the service to match the brand. Adding a service charge on top of the bill feels especially disappointing when we were left waiting, ignored by staff, served incomplete orders and had to repeatedly ask for basic things like cutlery. There are plenty of beautiful cafés in Birmingham serving equally good food with staff who actually make customers feel welcome. Sadly, EL&N seems to rely more on its aesthetic and popularity than on delivering a good dining experience. I gave it a second chance and unfortunately, I won’t be giving it a third. Ps: I take a lot of pictures but these are the only ones I took because after the drinks came everything was downhill. The Turkish eggs was alright but the service made the food taste terrible. We ate the food because we paid a lot for it and ran.

So where to begin. First would like to thank the members of staff who were friendly and caring and provided a great service. The shop was amazingly lit up, with lovely decor and cakes popping out of every angle, it was like heaven! Went with my family, we weee seated and it took around 20 - 25 minutes for our order which was One Breakfast, One Cake, One Iced Latte and One Mojito. Was impressed with the Cake and Mojito, however the breakfast was questionable. Did not like the Sausages, Turkey Rashers tasted nice, and the Bread was nice too. Overall the Sausages let down the breakfast.

Wanted to try out this place for their aesthetic deserts even though it has got pretty mixed reviews. Got here when it was a bit busy but the staff were accommodating even though some of them seemed a little stressed. It was noisy due to the amount of children and the music was a bit loud so the atmosphere wasn’t all relaxing but the cakes seemed to make up for it even though they are not cheap. All of the cakes tasted fresh and were not stale whatsoever. They all had a beautiful bouncy texture and moisture to them; far from dry. None of them were overly sweet which was lovely as well. My favourite was the carrot cake, well spiced and the pieces of crunchy walnuts levelled it up even more. I would also recommend the pistachio cake. So pistachio-ey! The honey cake was so delicate and the creamy filling balanced out the honey flavour. Unfortunately, the downfall was the meringue cake because the sponge and custard filling were all one texture and mixed with the meringue it made the cake very wet and flat. - Pro tip: if you are choosing a drink, you may as well go with something a little more fancy for a similar price to get your moneys worth as a large sparkling water costs £6.50😬

I recently visited EL&N London in Birmingham city center and was immediately struck by the aesthetic. It is easily one of the most "Instagrammable" spots in the city, with a vibrant pink interior, neon signs like "Love at first bite," and even a pink Vespa for photos. Massive Variety: The selection is impressive. From their "Supreme Croissants" (the Lotus Cube and Pistachio Round are standouts) to a huge array of cakes and cheesecakes, you won't be short on options. The Vibe: It feels very posh and upscale. It’s a great place for a catch-up if you want somewhere that feels a bit special. Quality: The food and coffee were genuinely good. The Dubai Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate, Omelettes and the Cappuccino were beautifully presented and tasted fresh. Be aware that a discretionary service charge is added to the bill. If you're looking for a fancy treat in a beautiful setting, EL&N is a fantastic choice. Just be prepared for the "London prices" in the heart of Birmingham!

Had the most amazing chocolate cake ever! It's definitely size big enough to share, could not eat it all. Alse the basque cheesecake was incredible, light. Must visit is you have a sweet tooth