Memhas is a family-run café in Braintree Market Place, known for all-day breakfast and brunch, freshly made lunches, and a menu that blends classic café favourites with Mediterranean-leaning dishes.

Memhas sits right in the centre of Braintree, on Market Place, and it feels like the sort of place that fits naturally into everyday town life. It’s open daily for breakfast and lunch, with Sunday brunch hours too, so it works whether you’re popping in early, meeting someone mid-morning, or turning a shopping day into a proper sit-down bite. The team describe Memhas as family-run and established in 2017, with a focus on responsibly sourced ingredients. That comes through in the overall vibe, simple, confident, and built around doing the basics well rather than trying to be overly fancy.

What you can expect when you visit is a café and casual restaurant set-up where the menu gives you loads of choice without feeling chaotic. It’s very breakfast-friendly, but it doesn’t stop there. Alongside the full plates and brunch favourites, there’s a strong lunch side with toasted sandwiches, paninis, bagels, salads, pasta, grills, and comforting mains. If you’re with a mixed group, that variety really helps. One person can go for poached eggs and avocado, another can go for a burger, someone else can pick a salad, and you can all still feel like you’re eating in the same sort of place.

The brunch section is where Memhas feels especially “treat yourself”, but still practical. A lot of the dishes are built around eggs, toasted muffins, and the sort of add-ons that turn a simple breakfast into something more substantial. You’ll see classics like Eggs Florentine, which is poached eggs on a toasted muffin with spinach and asparagus finished with hollandaise. There’s also Eggs Royale with smoked salmon and asparagus, plus a house special that pairs poached eggs with bacon, avocado and asparagus, again with hollandaise. If you prefer something a bit simpler but still brunchy, avocado on toast with poached eggs is there too.

If you like sweeter breakfasts, there’s a fun angle as well. The American option comes with fried eggs served alongside homemade pancakes, streaky bacon, hash browns, berries and maple syrup. Then there are waffle-based plates that lean into that brunch comfort. One comes with eggs, bacon, sausage and beans, and another mixes scrambled eggs, beef sausage, turkey rashers, beans and waffles topped with berries. There’s even a chicken and waffle plate, with fried chicken strips on waffles, served with maple syrup and coleslaw, which is exactly the sort of order that feels like a weekend treat.

If you’re more of a traditional breakfast person, Memhas still has you covered. There are larger breakfast combinations with familiar components, plus some options that bring in Mediterranean flavours. For example, you’ll spot Turkish-style sausage on the menu, along with halloumi, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and turkey rashers appearing in breakfast builds. One of the nice touches is that you can customise with extras, so if you want to add something like avocado, halloumi, smoked salmon, black pudding, hash browns or even bubble and squeak, you can tailor your plate to your appetite.

For families, the kids’ choices are clear and straightforward, with mini breakfasts and familiar favourites. Options include a small pancake plate, egg and bacon with beans, sausage with smiley-face potatoes, nuggets and chips, fish fingers and chips, penne in tomato sauce, a mini cheeseburger with chips, and a simple omelette with chips. It’s the kind of selection that makes it easier to eat out with little ones, because you don’t have to force them into “adult” dishes.

When it comes to lunch, Memhas moves into toasted sandwiches, paninis and bagels that are built to feel like a proper meal, not just a snack. There are breakfast-style sandwiches, plus toasted sourdough options such as BLT, fish finger with tartare sauce, halloumi and avocado with pesto, prawn and avocado in a seafood-style sauce, chicken and bacon mayo, and a breakfast melt with egg, bacon, sausage and cheddar. Paninis include combinations like tomato mozzarella and pesto, ham and mozzarella, bacon and mozzarella, a tuna melt, and one that mixes sujuk, egg and mozzarella. Bagels cover both classic and deli-style flavours, including salmon and avocado with cream cheese, chicken and avocado, halloumi and cream cheese with pesto, and a New Yorker style with pastrami, cheddar, gherkins and mustard.

If you want something more “main meal” than sandwich, there’s a lot of choice. The menu includes fish plates like scampi, calamari, and grilled salmon served with mash and salad. There’s a burger section with a classic cheeseburger build and add-ons if you want to level it up. Then the main dishes lean into comfort and variety, with things like lasagne served with chips and salad, chilli con carne served with rice and salad, chicken casserole served with mash or rice, chicken kiev with chips and salad, and a signature-style chicken curry with rice and salad. You’ll also see grilled chicken options, including peri-peri style, plus kebab-style plates like chicken kebab and kofte kebab served with rice, salad, hummus and toasted pitta. If you’re hungry, the mixed grill combines chicken kebab, kofte and lamb chops, which makes it a strong “big appetite” choice.

If you’re not sure what to order on a first visit, these are a few reliable starting points based on what’s on the menu:

Eggs Royale if you want a classic brunch plate with smoked salmon

The American pancake breakfast if you want sweet and savoury together

A breakfast burrito if you want something filling and handheld-style

Halloumi and avocado toasted sourdough if you want a meat-free lunch that still feels substantial

Chicken curry with rice and salad if you want a comforting, straightforward main

Chicken and mushroom penne if you’re in the mood for a creamy pasta lunch

Dietary options are best handled carefully. There are clearly marked vegetarian dishes across the menu, including items like Eggs Florentine, avocado-based brunch plates, salads with falafel and hummus, and multiple halloumi options in sandwiches and salads. Beyond that, detailed allergen information is not currently provided in a full published list. The site notes that many foods contain allergens and that an updated allergen list is coming soon, so if you have allergies or need strict controls, it’s sensible to contact them before you visit or speak to the team on arrival. Vegan options are not stated. Gluten-free options are not stated.

Location-wise, Memhas is easy to place because it’s right on Market Place in Braintree at 13A Market Place, CM7 3HG. That’s ideal if you’re meeting someone in town, because it’s central and walkable from the usual town-centre routes. It suits a “park up and wander” kind of visit, or a planned brunch before errands. Parking information is not stated, so it’s worth using the nearby town-centre car parks you’d normally use for Market Place and the High Street area.

In terms of who it’s best for, Memhas is a strong match for:

Breakfast and brunch fans who like plenty of choice and generous plates

Catch-ups with friends where you want an easy, relaxed café setting

Families who need kid-friendly options that aren’t an afterthought

Anyone who likes mixing classic British café comfort with Mediterranean flavours like halloumi, sujuk and hummus

Lunch visitors who want more than just sandwiches, with pasta, grills, fish and mains all available

Handy info is clear on the essentials. Memhas is open Monday to Saturday 8am to 4pm, and Sunday 9am to 3pm. It’s positioned as a breakfast and lunch venue with a Sunday brunch service. Booking is not stated. Takeaway and delivery are not stated. If you need to contact them, a phone number is listed as 01376 341 568, and an email address is shown as hello@memhas.co.uk
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Overall, Memhas is one of those town-centre cafés that works because it’s genuinely versatile. You can go full brunch with eggs, waffles and pancakes, keep it classic with a hearty breakfast plate, or head in at lunchtime for a toasted sourdough, a salad, a pasta bowl or a comforting main. Add the family-run feel and the central Market Place location, and it’s an easy one to keep in mind when you want a reliable breakfast or lunch in Braintree.

Food Types: Café; Coffee Shop; Breakfast & Brunch; Restaurant

Dining Type: Dine In

Area: Braintree, Braintree