CSONS

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#5 of 78 Restaurants in LudlowCafe, British, $$ - $$$

What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

CSONS

Review

At a glance

Opens in 36 min

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Website

+44 1584 879872Improve this listing

About

Travellers' Choice

2024

We are four Crouch brothers (The CSONS ) with an addiction to great food and drink. Our food is different; we use the best locally sourced produce and treat it with the respect it deserves by creating simple, modern, unpretentious, globally inspired dishes that shout about the ingredients reflect the seasons and are full of flavour!

Features

CUISINES

Cafe, British, Healthy

Meal types

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Highchairs Available

Outdoor Seating

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Takeout

Location

Mill on the Green Linney, Ludlow SY8 1EG England

Is this a juice / smoothie bar?

Yes

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Hours

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Opens in 36 min

Sunday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Monday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tuesday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Wednesday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Thursday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Friday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Saturday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

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4.8

290 reviews

Excellent

251

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Average

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Terrible

942sarahjaneh

8 contributions

Beautiful Riverside Restaurant/Cafe

Jul 2024 • couples

On arrival not having booked, on what was obviously a very busy Saturday lunch service; we were offered the only table available inside the restaurant. Because we preferred to eat outside, the lady who greeted us then carried the table outside. The service from start to finish was amazing. The food was different, imaginative and delicious, and beautifully presented, such a refreshing change from the norm, and very reasonably priced. We are looking forward to returning

Written 13 July 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SharonE72

Chippenham178 contributions

Dog Friendly Riverside Location

Sept 2023 • couples

We were looking for somewhere relatively "safe" for our dogs to have a paddle and a swim. We'd parked at The Linney and CSONS was only about a 5 minute walk back up the road. The sun was shining and we couldn't have picked a better location as the cafe overlooks the River and the Weir. We let the dogs have a play in the shallow water first in order for our youngest to burn off a bit of energy but she was still very vocal (she's only a year old and a 'rescue'). We were seated and given menus and the food came out quickly too. My husband had a double burger and I had the smaller plate Scandi style Smoked Salmon with a side of Roast Potatoes with Aioli. We both also had a local cider each as we like to try locally produced food and drink whilst away and on holiday. The food was delicious and yes, it is dearer than a 'standard cafe' but you do get something different and with an interesting mix of flavours. I could have quite easily eaten what I'd had again! The female member of staff was very friendly and welcoming and never made a fuss when our hyper youngest dog jumped at the empty table next to us knocking a small glass pot of salt off. She was more concerned with picking any bits of glass up so that our dog didn't cut her paws. Thank you for your care and consideration and apologies for the accident. I'd definitely recommend this place, not only for the excellent food and service, but also for the beautiful riverside location, where you can also go wild swimming if you fancy it!

Written 14 September 2023

johnhp702

Derby20633 contributions

On the Terrace

Feb 2023 • none

If you want to sit inside I suggest that you make a reservation as this is a very popular place to eat, if you are okay to sit on the terrace then you should be okay, there are blankets available in case you are cold. This is a great location overlooking the river to enjoy a bite to eat/drink, sharing plates are great value and an ample portion size. Staff are very welcoming and friendly with excellent attentive service.

Written 25 February 2023

Angler

6 contributions

Very Poor

Mar 2024 • family

Booked a table for a birthday lunch. Ordered two small plates which were priced at £11 each. We were served and charged for 2 full mains at £22 and £24 each, making the total bill, with drinks, for lunch an incredible £65. The salmon main consisted of at least 50 percent rocket, 3-4 strips of salmon and various pickled things piled on, it felt like a meal made up from raiding jars and tins. The hake main was horrible, it comprised a square of fish with dried fish skin sitting a bowl of gelatinous 'chowder' punctuated by small cubes of beetroot, the whole thing was difficult to stomach and was bland and tasteless. To cap it off, despite informing the cafe that it was a birthday meal, no acknowledgement was made of this at all.

Written 19 March 2024

Janet F

1 contribution

truly a 5 star experience

Feb 2025 • family

My husband said this the first restaurant he had visited where he didn't think he could have prepared the meal just as easily at home and for a fraction of the price. The food is creative, tasty and attractively presented. The best place in town for non-meat eaters and carnivores alike. We have tad 2 lunches here and hope to make it a regular feature of our lives

Written 5 February 2025

Jenna H

Patchway8 contributions

Amazing local produce, lovely staff

Feb 2025 • couples

We came to Ludlow for the weekend and booked here for dinner on the Friday evening, we enjoyed the food and atmosphere so much that we came back for brunch. Dinner was incredible, highly reccomend the chicken shawarma, pakoras and pork belly. We came for brunch the next day and had the salmon. All the staff are so welcoming and lovely, we were able to thank the chefs as it is an open kitchen. Exceptional, we would highly recommend and we would definitely come back.

Written 15 February 2025

Geoff... Not A Chef

Grimsby92 contributions

Globally Inspired - Locally Insipid

Jul 2022 • none

Small lunch for two – July 13 2022 The Crouch brothers (CSons) might be inspired by the wealth of inspiration offered by different world cuisines but they struggle to communicate that passion to their staff and fail to deliver it to customers. We arrived understanding that the mix of dishes would draw on South American, Middle Eastern and Scandinavian influence among others. I doubted that my fish dish would include the spicy ox heart skewers which were hinted at but our server was not able to explain the menu. She had to return to the kitchen for clarification. Such a shame that all staff aren't involved properly in this enterprise. We waited half an hour for two small fish plates and then another half hour for two small meat plates. A fair amount of our frustration was relieved by the delightful setting. The restaurant is lucky to have that as an initial attraction but it can hardly claim credit for its pleasant location. Food had certainly been given thought at the development stage but the kitchen obviously struggle to offer distinct or pronounced flavours and textures. Any excitement about the supposed variety of items was seriously diluted by our wait and the lack-lustre appearance of food when it arrived. We saw other customers’ lukewarm reaction to desserts and decided to call it a day. Demands from the takeout hatch might go some way to explain the poor pace of our sit-down meal Much keener organisation in both kitchen and front of house are needed. This is not high end dining and doesn’t pretend to be – but great ideas are stuck on the drawing board and fail to materialise on the table. Still plenty of unfulfilled opportunity here. I hope it is grabbed and used.

Written 19 July 2022

Barbara

2 contributions

Memorable Wedding Banquet

Sept 2023 • friends

We wanted an intimate wedding venue reception which was less traditional with high quality food in picturesque surroundings. CSONs went out of their way to accommodate us. From the first meet they turned our dreams into reality, not just with fantastic food and service but also going out of their way to cater for children and mature adults who needed special dietary requirements. Their menu advice and guidance was invaluable. They decorated the room and made it into a magical setting that we and all our guests will long remember. A special thank you not just to the wonderful Emma and Reuben but the whole team!! Love Barbara and Derek

Written 30 September 2023

itchyfeetlady

Windermere177 contributions

Nice enough

Aug 2023 • couples

We called in on the off chance for breakfast. It was fairly busy, and they asked if we had booked but then gave us the offer of 3 tables. Our table wobbled, and we fixed it with a tissue. It's a small place inside and although the tables are close together they are arranged well. The tea would have been nice if it was served with extra hot water, I should have asked, but the staff seemed very busy, and as we hadn't booked... I felt uneasy about doing so. It was weird but afterwards my hubby said the same that although the staff said all the right things and looked after us well it felt like they were going through the motions rather that it being sincere. The hot chocolate was lovely. My hubby had the full breakfast, and I went for poached eggs on toast with some sides. I wasn't asked and should have requested how I wanted my eggs to be cooked. They came cooked through with hard centres and were a little tasteless with a taint of vinegar. There was no butter on my toast. The bread used was lovely. The kale was very chewy, the tomatoes and mushroom were very lovely. My hubby enjoyed his full English but would have liked 2 slices of toast with it instead of 1. The bacon, sausage, and chorizo patty were cooked well. The setting by the river is beautiful. The loo was clean.

Written 14 August 2023

Joseph A

Tenbury Wells195 contributions

Lunch by the river. You cant ask for more!

Jul 2023 • couples

A really lovely spot by the river. You couldn't ask for a better spot the food is delicious and all local which I feel is fantastic. The small portions a few sides are perfect for a mid summer lunch. The staff are all friendly and attentive also always accommodating for unbooked customers (like myself). Please keep doing what you're doing!

Written 7 July 2023

I G

Aberdeen234 contributions

Nice sunny day

Jun 2024 • couples

The setting by the river is hard to beat. The service is friendly and efficient. The food is tasty, but the portions are a little mean for what they charge. I would still recommend a visit though especially on a nice sunny day.

Written 13 June 2024

landofwater

Shropshire4 contributions

Lovely, proper food

Sept 2023 • family

How lovely to find somewhere that puts real thought into their vegetarians options and their children’s options. The food was just perfect, and the waitress who served us was really nice and made us feel very welcome. We will definitely be returning.

Written 27 September 2023

Nancy

63 contributions

Delicious food, above expectations on service in a cosy buzzing venue with amazing view of the wier!

Nov 2023 • family

Absolutely outstanding food! Fabulous service! Superb views and cosy vibrant ambience! We enjoyed our family lunch with this first experience at CSONS in Ludlow and are planning to drive the 2+ hours again as soon as possible to return. The best food we have eaten in years - full of amazing fresh flavours. We were a party of 5 and all selected different dishes, all of which left us in awe of the kitchen. We even chatted to our next door table and all remarked on how delicious the food was. Really hoping they keep doing exactly what they are doing so we can keep returning!

Written 22 November 2023

Sarah S

117 contributions

Best Breakfast Ever

Nov 2022 • couples

We visited here on a cold November morning, walked into a lovely atmosphere, smiling waitress showed us to our seat and gave us a menu. We chose a coffee, apple juice and 2 Csons Breakfast’s. All we can both say is WOW, what a breakfast, amazing local real sausage full of flavour, homemade beans these were better than any tinned variety, field mushrooms, seeded bread, thick bacon, fresh tomatoe, scrumptious chorizo patty and poached eggs that would of got a 10plus in four in a bed 🤣. This place is a hidden gem stunning views, prefect food and service. Highly recommend. Just wish it was in our doorstep and not a 45 minute drive away.

Written 18 November 2022

Frankie G

Great Malvern24 contributions

Consistently exceptional

Apr 2023 • couples

Our first visit was so incredible I didn't hesitate to book in again once the menu changed and I had a free Friday night. We once again had an incredible evening, exuding consistency and a premium experience. We were absolutely blown away by the food itself as well as the service. Trust the menu, if you "don't like" a minor ingredient then persevere and go for it! (for example, I'm not a fan of peanuts which were mentioned in the lamb dish - the chef knows better than I do and it absolutely complimented it and I enjoyed it). A very well thought out menu, unusual dishes with local produce, exceptionally well made, well presented, and reasonably priced for the calibre!