Cafe Football - Trafford

Before Covid and the cost of living crisis, Cafe Football was a solid – clever even – American diner-style experience, albeit with the unavoidable football theme. Today, it feels like a reflection of a Brexit Britain, a shadow of its former glory, broken by economic misfortune and ill-advised decisions. The current slimmed down menu appears to have been created not by chefs – or anybody who knows anything about food – but accountants. The clever dishes – I seem to remember a 'Pot Noodle ' which was in fact, a Vietnamese-style pho – are all but gone leaving a fairly uninspired selection. A lack of inspiration can be forgiven if quality is maintained. Alas, that too appears to have scarpered. It 's never a good sign when the first chip to pass your lips tastes like an oven chip. Chips are levellers. If you don 't put effort into your chips – i.e. peeling, parboiling and frying them – it 's unlikely you 'll try any harder with the rest of the menu. A few chips later and I 'm pretty convinced they 've come from the freezer. I fear the same of my burger. The brioche bun is stale and the patties are insipid, oddly textured discs of salt and oil. My dining partner 's halloumi burger contains one miserable overcooked square of said Cypriot cheese. The kids ' burgers look as if they 've come straight from the kitchen of a pub that has reluctantly started serving food to stave off the inevitable closure. Except pubs of that depressing ilk don 't charge these kind of prices. Our burgers from the main menu cost the best part of £18 each. If they 'd cost a tenner from an actual cafe we 'd have felt stung. The 'Messi fries ' £10) is impressive in size only. It 's a large portion of suspected oven chips with what tastes like Stagg chilli and some cheese. It tastes microwaved and it may well have been. It feels Cafe Football has cut corners to maintain the bottom line but it may prove an own goal.

I had a pre-match lunch, whilst it was very busy around the bar, I was checked in and taken to my table quickly. Good service taking my order. Match day menu is £30 for two courses, I had the lamb kofta to start, followed by steak ale pie, chips gravy. I would recommend and visit again before a game.

Great match day atmosphere, average food. Service was quick and staff were friendly. Messi chips were dissapointing. And there was a LOT of dressing on the ceaser salad. Plus an extra £5 for a couple of slices of reheated chicken with it was a bit of a joke. It was a good space to be for the match build up but well overpriced for the standard of food.

Very disappointed with our experience. Initially we were greeted with balloons and a card which was a nice gesture but the service we received was very poor. The staff. Seemed to be congregating and chatting but not serving. We had to get their attention for our order, drinks, dessert and then the bill. Such a shame.

Went to Cafe Football after Palace match, service was good and staff friendly, But just felt ripped off when advised that we had to buy the 2 course option from the Matchday Menu at a price of £30! Had we known that then we would have went elsewhere. Food wasn't the best either, my burger was okay but my son had to leave his fish. Left disappointed.