The Blackwater Pearl

This is a nice, freshly decorated cafe building with a nice long terrace area out front which is partially covered so good all year round I imagine. I popped in on Saturday at about 12.30 as one of a group of about 12. It was half full so we were able to sit at a couple of tables out the front. The staff member taking the food orders was friendly, effective and quick and you got your coffee there and then rather than having to wait so top marks on that score. There is quite a wide ranging, decently priced menu. I chose the Ham eggs and chips with a white coffee which cost £9.90, not bad as the portion was a decent price and it is quite central to the main waterside area of West Mersea. The food came quickly in a small pizza box with real knives and forks which made sense and was nice, the eggs were a little crispy but ok. A friend chose the doner kebab and salad but asked them to remove the chips (who orders a doner kebab when they're sober??!!). It took a long time to arrive as, no doubt, they had to fire up the doner kebab grill and get the meat heated up. When it did arrive it had one single strip of singed doner meat and a few other greasy strips in a small, crisp pitta bread, a table spoon of bland coleslaw and a spoonful of red onion. It was awful. Another reason people only eat doner kebabs when they're on their way home from the pub. I fully appreciate that we arrived en masse and the kitchen is small hence the time taken to cook a variety of meals however I think that if it is on the menu it should be ready in the wings not being woken up from a cold start. I would eat there again but would stick to the conventional menu options which you can see others are eating as they will be ready to cook and part of an established process.

Nice place for a hot drink and cake. Nothing special but a cosy place with seatings inside/outside or in the conservatory area. Not much staff working. Had to order and pay at the till point, therefore not much of a service and a welcoming service. However the girl who served at the till was very nice and friendly with a smile.

A good cafe with reasonable cost food. The patio is wheelchair accessible although a little steep. They have a conservatory on the front with two tables. This is also wheelchair accessible but entry to the main cafe/shop is via a door with a large step. Public toilets, including disabled are available in carpark opposite Certainly highly recommended this cafe as they are good quality products at affordable prices!

What a great cafe. Location is amazing just opposite the sea and the floating pontoon. You can sit outside on a nice day or when wrapped up warm. Or inside in the restaurant or in the dog friendly porch area. Now the concept is everything is served in cardboard pizza boxes so you order your food and pay, the food comes you eat it then go to the bin outside and scrap and waste food into a bucket, cutlery in another and box in the recycling. Maybe not for everyone but I am cool with that. We ordered large full English breakfasts which were very nicely cooked and were very large although they do one even bigger. At under a tenner with tea and toast it was fantastic value. A couple on the next table shared the American breakfast which was pancakes and that looks great too. We met the manager lady and she was so lovely too. So all together a great place and would definitely recommend and would visit again.