Oakhouse Bar Cafe

Visited today for coffee and lunch. There are seats outside but thought the sunshine was attractive the midday traffic was not, so we ate in the wooded interior.
We both chose identically (!) so we both had crispy outside and fluffy inside chunky potato skins with sour cream to start and a sun lush tomato, pesto and pine nut risotto for main with salad. The risotto was fresh, ‘juicy’ and lovely, the rice cooked just right, the tomatoes full flavoured and almost chewy and the toasted pine nuts drizzled with a little balsamic vinegar were an excellent topping. The salad was nice and fresh with a honey vinaigrette.
We wrapped up with an above average cappuccino accompanied by a shortbread biscuit.
It’s a relaxed place with friendly staff and a spacious wood heavy interior with some sofas and tables in the bright full length windows. They do breakfast too with a good sounding veggie option but I’ve not yet tried that, but I plan to!
An update seemed called for! I’ve been back many times now and would say its one of my favourite places to eat. Their coffee can be very good but sadly that’s not consistent. Their food though is consistent and whether it’s soup, potato wedges, mushroom on toast, breakfast or cake, the food is certainly consistently good. I was there for a Christmas meal when a lot of places often give little in return simply because of the time of year but they delivered a lovely meal with generous portions and fab vegetables.
They regularly have Farmer’s Ales on draught (brewed locally in the Blue Boar) including my favourite, Puck’s Folly. :)
All the staff are very helpful and the manager has been very friendly and also receptive when I’ve said some things weren’t quite up to scratch. I’m vegetarian and was saying how impressed I was with the amount of vegetarian dishes regularly on the menu and he said that they have a vegetarian chef! That explains it.
No connection with them other than a satisfied customer.

Great spot for a break. Very good coffee, friendly staff and good food. Interesting wine selections too.

Just been for breakfast, a lovely building but disappointing food and service. Had to wait ages to be served whilst others didn’t get served at all. The quality of the food was generally good but dont expect much of it and they served us burnt toast! It’s not cheap either so if you want value for money then there are much better places in Maldon. Not sure what it’s like in the evening as a bar, but not really tempted to go back and find out. Shame…

it ok, i suppose. having gone there during the evening i thought the place lacked atmosphere. its nice and clean though, with friendly and helpful staff. reckon i shall be sticking with the local boozers though

I dont really ‘get’ this restaurant/​bar/​coffee shop — I am not sure which one it is meant to be? It is a lovely building with wooden & glass door frontage & wooden tables inside, very tastefully done. I have a very nice coffee here mid morning & wanted a snack but cake was all that was on the menu. Doesn’t seem to have an extensive food menu at all. Would imagine it would be a nice place to have a drink in the evening though. Always seems quite busy especially this time of year with people sitting on the tables outside on the high street. Maldon High Street is a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by.

Lovely clean bar, stylishly decorated. Good food and drink, although much of it is a little overpriced for the area. You are most certainly paying for the decoration and the atmosphere! Usually busy in here most nights for drinks with friends. Also usually busy at lunchtimes due to the lush food!