While the bakery products themselves are decent enough - I have purchased their bread, cakes an pastries over time - the service here is at best haphazard. When I wanted to order a birthday cake my name and number were taken and I was told that someone would call me back. Three days later (and 3 days before the birthday) I had not heard back. As this is the only bakery in town, I persisted and after a couple more phone calls, finally talked to someone who could actually take my order and give me information about their cakes. I was told there was a one week advance notice for special order cakes which I found distressing as had they phoned me back the day I originally tried to place my order, I was within the 7 days. Turned out that they would only do a basic Happy Birthday and a couple of roses and decoration which was all I had wanted to begin with. The cake was very good, but I never understood the need to tell me I was too late to order a "specialty" cake or, indeed what such a thing might be. I have visited the bakery to meet friends for coffee or lunch on a number of occasions (but I was by no measure what could be called a "regular") and from time to time have found dirty tables that I have cleared myself so that we could sit down.
The straw that broke the camel's back occurred this past Friday when I stopped by to buy a loaf of bread. I had an appointment across the street and had about 10 minutes so I went to the bakery to see if I could pick up the bread first. There were customers in the seats, drinking their coffee but there wasn't a lineup at the counter, as a matter of fact I was the only customer at the counter. A young man was absorbed with the espresso machine, his back to the counter/service area; a young woman was talking to him when I approached but she went behind the glass pastry counter and began putting pastries in a box. The owner stood at the back of the bakeshop talking to two staff there. I looked over the wares and decided what I wanted and stood there for about 8 minutes (I checked the time, so as not to be late for my appointment). The gal packing goodies peeked out through the glass case a couple of times. The owner looked my way a couple of times, but nary a word, not even as much as a "Good morning, I'll be with you in a moment" was spoken. I left, as my time had run out. When I was finished my appointment, I went back and told the person at the counter of my earlier experience. I was told that they couldn't be expected to serve me if they were busy doing something else. Not a particularly satisfactory response imo.
Needless to say, I shan't be patronizing this place again. read more