Imagine a café bang in the middle of a 41 hectare nature reserve with wide open spaces, woodland and two lakes…Café in the Park in Rickmansworth is just that and has a strong focus on sustainability and delicious seasonal food.

If you’re not lucky enough to live locally, it’s a short day trip from London and perfect for dog owners.


The Setting

There’s no tricks here, this hidden gem is situated in the middle of the Rickmansworth Aquadrome Nature Reserve. It looks like a large wooden barn and on entering you’re greeted with the aroma of home cooked food, friendly faces from the staff and a whole range of local products on the shelves leading towards the till. This cozy café is packed with locals and is perfectly suited for dog walking, as there’s picnic tables outside for you and your four-legged friends. They even accommodate the dogs with water bowls.

The little things

The café clearly projects ethical and sustainable values. They have a filtered water tap in return for donations and they’ve already raised an impressive £18,500 for water aid.

The back wall displays their values- ‘Feed the mind’, ‘Ethical and sustainable produce’, ‘Health and well-being’. They  also have an adult zone at the back which contains wooden tables, cozy arm chairs and even art work from their local high school children. It really has a real local community feel..

The Green Juice

The green juice was packed with a range of fresh produce including cucumber, pear, celery, apple and lemon. I watched it being freshly made so I knew that there’s no cutting corners here.

We also tried the carrot, apple and ginger juice which was zingy and packed with a ginger kick.

What else

The café also has a Shop In The Park which sells local produce, seasonal fruits and vegetables and ethical food and lifestyle brands.

There are taps where you can bring your own containers to fill up on organic natural washing detergent and there’s even have a machine to make your own nut butter! I’m absolutely sold on that. The ethical values even trickle through to the bathroom where they have organic flowers stuck to the wall and ethical soap brands.

What we ate

We ordered the falafel veggie burger which was full of flavour, well seasoned with a crispy outside and a soft middle accompanied with homemade chips.

It was presented on a rustic wooden board and filled with lettuce, pickles and a roasted bell pepper to add some colour. We also ordered the park salad which was a combination of pesto quinoa, beetroot relish, roasted cauliflower and sun-dried tomatoes all topped with a variety of mixed seeds to add a perfect crunch.

The salad was super flavourful, a generous size and loaded with nutrients.

I also washed this down with a Birchall lemongrass and ginger tea I left feeling comfortably full and very satisfied. It was all very reasonably priced.


The bill

Green juice  £3.60
Carrot, apple and ginger juice  £3.60
Veggie burger  £9.90
Park salad   £7.90
Ginger and lemongrass tea   £1.40

What made us glow

Carly, the owner has clearly shared her passion for sustainability and her care for health and the environment throughout both the café and the shop. Every detail has been so thought through. I can’t wait to return!


 

 

 

 

 

The Café In the Park

The Aquadrome,
Frogmoor Lane,
Rickmansworth,
WD3 1NB

01923 711131
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