Back in the 1970s, at the bottom end of Cuckfield High Street, there used to be a little shop. I have a memory of my sister taking everything off the shelves and rearranging it all according to her tastes while my mother shopped. I can clearly remember the wooden floor, the shelving, the large sweet jars, and the big heap of trouble she got in! These days, the shop is home to Tom’s Food, a little café which I’m reliably informed by a Cuckfield native, is the best in the area!
What’s the vibe?
Tom’s Food oozed rustic charm and a warm welcome when I popped back for a Pitts-Stop recently (I last visited in the summer of last year). It’s good to see the wooden floors of my memories are still there and it now has a shabby chic vibe. It’s also bustling with a steady stream of people collecting takeaways but it still manages to feel leisurely and my party was not rushed as we lingered over lunch.
What’s on the menu at Tom’s Food?
Breakfast for a start! With a full selection of tea and coffee (including Horsham coffee), as well as “locally hand-crafted” smoothies and kombucha. In terms of food, think Greek yoghurt, homemade granola, fresh berries and berry compote; grilled banana bread, brown butter, oats, tahini, and toasted nuts; or Welsh rarebit with rarebit sauce, chilli jam, gherkins and sourdough toast.
But I opted for brunch and their potato hash with tomato, chickpeas, poached egg, coriander dressing, feta, and crumbled chorizo. It was superb (even more so because I don’t normally eat potatoes) although it was a close run race with French toast crumpets with smoked mackerel, confit tomatoes, dill and lemon mayo, creamed spinach, and poached egg. Hungry yet?
The cinnamon buns on the cake stand also proved too hard to resist. And yes, they were as good as they look.
Drink up
Speaking of drinks, they also serve Harvey’s and Bedlam Brewery beer, as well as Wobblegate cider, and Folkington soft drinks. They serve wine too but I haven’t seen the wine menu so I will need to return.
What else?
The menu seems to change seasonally which is great, and they had some tasty salads on offer on my last visit. They also offer private dining experiences for groups of up to 15 people. They cater for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. And I’ll definitely be back.
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