I’d never even heard of The Lakehouse Cafe in Onehouse, just outside Stowmarket, until I stumbled across videos of their decadent-looking French toast creations on TikTok. Since then, it had been sitting firmly on my “must-visit” list – so when my husband’s birthday rolled around, it felt like the perfect excuse to book us in for a child-free midweek brunch.
On the drive over, he did question how I’d found the place and why I was so desperate to go there, as The Lakehouse Cafe is tucked away in the middle of nowhere. With the place having been crowned Best Café in Suffolk & Cambs at the Muddy Stilettos Awards in both 2024 and 2025, though, I had a feeling it would be worth it.
At 10.30am on a random Wednesday morning the car park was already packed, which was a reassuring sign. I was very glad I’d booked our table in advance, as recommended on the website!
The setting of The Lakehouse Cafe is lovely. True to its name, it sits right by a lake, with a large green space and a kids’ play area out the back, perfect for little ones to burn off some energy.
Inside, it’s bright and welcoming, large windows flooding the space with natural light. Four-legged friends are clearly more than welcome, too, with a whole shelf of the counter dedicated to dog treats and toys. When the table behind us ordered, they were offered a bowl of water for their dog without even needing to ask, which was a nice touch.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll no doubt be tempted by the counter’s cake display: towering, indulgent creations that are hard to ignore.
The brunch menu itself is extensive, with something for everyone – from classic egg dishes to sandwiches and sweet options. My husband chose the Big House Breakfast (£16): a plate loaded with two eggs, two sausages, two rashers of bacon, three hash browns, sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes, beans and toast. The quality was obvious, but it was definitely a challenge to finish, even for him!
I went all in on the specials menu, starting with an iced hot cross bun latte (£6). I wasn’t sure how well this would work, but it turned out that the strong coffee combined with the subtle fruit and spice flavours was a winner.
The real highlight, though, was my main: the Yangnyeom Chicken French Toast (£15). I’d been intrigued by the inclusion of a savoury French toast dish on the menu, and it absolutely delivered. Two thick slices of soft, cinnamon-spiked brioche French toast were layered with crispy, coated chicken, drizzled with a sweet-and-spicy Yangnyeom sauce, and garnished with finely sliced spring onions. It looked incredible when it arrived, and tasted even better: bold, indulgent, and totally worth the TikTok hype.
Despite how busy The Lakehouse Cafe was, the service was warm and efficient throughout. We didn’t have to wait long for our food, and we never felt rushed, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable.
The Lakehouse Cafe more than lives up to its reputation. Great food, a beautiful setting, and genuinely lovely service: it’s easy to see why the place has won that Muddy Stilettos award two years running. We’ll definitely be returning soon and with our son in tow next time, as the kids’ dishes we saw heading out of the kitchen looked just as tempting. Definitely recommended.