I discovered this place by accident at their downtown location and immediately fell in love with…read moreit. Everything looked amazing, and so much of it is made in-house. Since this location was closer, a friend and I decided to give it a try.
I ordered the Mexican Cubana with lentil soup and a Banana Nut Matcha Latte. The Cubana was absolutely out of this world. Everything about it was perfect. The lentil soup was also very good, although my friend ordered the black bean soup, and I think I might have been missing out. LOL.
The sandwich and soup are definitely on the higher end price-wise, but I wouldn't let that stop you. There is plenty of value in the meal, and the sandwich is incredibly hearty. Both my friend and I had to take half of ours to go, which is something I seldom do.
The Banana Nut Matcha Latte, however, was not for me. At $7.50, I expected more and would probably skip it next time.
The atmosphere was very nice. They have indoor and outdoor seating; the restaurant was very clean, and even though it was extremely busy, there was still enough room to move around comfortably. They also have a coffee bar that doubles as a regular bar.
Unfortunately, the customer service experience is what brought my rating down to 3 stars--and I honestly considered giving it 2.5.
I understand this was a busy Saturday morning, especially with the restaurant being near a major entertainment and shopping area. We waited in a line outside, which did not bother me. The bigger issue was what happened once we got inside.
Everyone enters the same line, moving first through the pastry counter--AND THE PASTRIES ARE HEAVEN!--before eventually reaching the register to order and pay. You are then given a table number and your food is delivered to you.
I've been to plenty of restaurants that operate this way, but the flow here felt unnecessarily chaotic. Everyone was placed into the same line regardless of whether they were dining in, ordering food to go, or simply stopping in for pastries. I think having separate service areas or lines could help tremendously.
It was also obvious that some of the staff were overwhelmed by how busy things had become. Unfortunately, that frustration seemed to spill over into some customer interactions, and a few employees came across as less than warm or welcoming. It may simply have been a difficult morning, but it definitely affected our experience.
The bright spot was having the opportunity to speak with the manager on shift, Ms. Charisma.
She was professional, empathetic, and genuinely listened to my concerns. She did not make excuses or try to justify what happened. She offered to compensate us for our meal, which we declined, but I truly appreciated the gesture.
I wasn't looking for a free meal. I wanted another great experience that would make me excited to come back.
Before this visit, I had been to the downtown location twice, and both experiences were fantastic. I had actually considered it one of the best cafes I'd found in San Antonio so far. That's why this visit was especially disappointing. I was excited to introduce a friend to a place I enjoyed so much, only to have a very different experience.
Maybe it is location-dependent. Maybe it was simply the time of day or an especially difficult Saturday morning.
What makes it frustrating is that the food itself was outstanding--a perfect 10/10. I was completely satisfied with my meal, but the service experience made it difficult to fully enjoy it.
The location is also great, in a newer shopping center near La Cantera Resort and Six Flags. Parking wasn't terrible, although weekends can be challenging. I imagine it would be much easier during the week.
Overall:
Food: 5/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Service: Needs improvement
Overall: 3/5
Thank you, Ms. Charisma, for taking the time to listen and for handling the situation with professionalism and empathy. Because of that interaction, I am willing to give this location another chance.
