Wow. I was not aware that a cold sandwich could be THIS good. Simple yet beautiful ingredients. The star of the show is the bread. Freshly baked, soft, and flavorful. You must go. It's criminal that this is anything less than 4.5 stars. I've heard people had issues with the "service." I have had no such problem, but even if I did, come off it - just accept that culinary geniuses can be unstable. Once you realize that you'll enjoy lunch (and life) a lot more. read more

Fluffy Duck Cafe - Rustic Turkey Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

This bakery is INCREDIBLE!!! Hands down the best croissant I've ever had. It's clear the baker here is committed and well seasoned. A simple ham and cheese croissant became a life changing experience. Somehow crunchy, flakey and soft all at the same time. The ham had a touch of sweetness, combine that with the tang of the cheese and the rich, buttery croissant...just STELLAR!!! I will never look at a croissant the same again. This has set the standard. Coffee was hot, strong and smooth through the last sip. The service was quick, pleasant and full of smiles and suggestion! The front of the business is nearly all windows. Tons of natural light and simplicity in design made the space feel relaxed and comfortable for working or just taking in the sunlight. Highly recommend the pastry, out of this world! read more

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There's a grocery store (Provisions) that carries their bread. The bread is uncommonly amazing. It's on another level of quality. I had to visit the actual store to try other items because it's hard to find quality bread. But.... I read a lot of negative reviews about this place that seemed to have a common theme... poor service. Considering I already experienced their product, I knew these people were SERIOUS about their CRAFT, and people like them want RESPECT for what they consider an art form. These men at craftsmen, not baristas! So I went in with a clear expectation. If you're looking for a typical "cafe" (Starbucks) experience... don't go. You will leave with your feelings hurt. There won't be smiley faces on your coffee cup and service with a smile while selling you inferior products. Go with the understanding you're there to pay respect to the art. The art is the experience. You'll likely need to leave the country to find better... barely and maybe. I had a ham sandwich that tasted like it needs its own chapter in the Bible. Bottom line... go... don't just order coffee... be excited about their art... and like magic... they'll give that energy back. If they don't... it's ok... just enjoy your food and understand this place is a living passion for them, and the intent is to make you smile with great food. read more

This place really has such an opportunity to actually be life-changing for people as it's right across the street from a hospital... tragically, the staff prefer to kick patrons out of their *empty* cafe who have just spent nearly $40 on coffee and pastries instead of providing a safe and welcoming place for customers to recharge. The croissant was one of the best I've ever had -- enjoyed on the sidewalk as the owner refused us seats inside -- which is what saved this review from 1 star. We all got drinks, we bought pastries, a family member was on an all-liquid diet having treatment and was grateful to have a hot coffee but we were told to get out; I can't stomach ever going back to this angry establishment. read more

I'll start by saying the chicken salad croissant was great- the croissant was obviously fresh and the chicken salad had beets (I think?) which I loved. Now for the rest... service was just not it. Worker telling people to go to a coffee shop if they want coffee, even though they have coffee on their menu. My honey latte had way too much honey. I also picked this place because maps said free wifi was available, I get there and see multiple wifi networks named fluffy duck, all locked. I asked the not so friendly cashier for the wifi password and he said "we don't have wifi." read more

Fluffy Duck Cafe - Honey latte - wayyy too sweet - Cafes Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Before visiting, I noticed the reviews weren't very high and wondered why. My husband stopped by the bakery this morning, and we were pleasantly surprised. The owner, was incredibly kind, the pastries were delicious, and even the coffee was excellent. Honestly, we're still not sure why this place has a low rating--we will definitely be coming back. Thank you, Mr. Bill! read more

Fluffy Duck Cafe - Chicken Salad Croissant - Cafes Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Zero stars on customer service. Never had such a negative experience with customer service before. Early afternoon and the place was completely empty. Stepped up to the counter because the only beverage menu was on the counter next to the cash register. The barista was very gruff and mumbled with his greeting. I couldn't understand what he said but responded that I just needed a minute to decide what I wanted and allow my husband to join me to tell him what he wanted. He was not too pleased and walked away. Another couple came in after and I motioned to them that they could go ahead since I wasn't ready to order. They also needed a bit to look over the menu. Once I stepped back up to the counter the barista came right over and took my order. I asked if they had dairy free options and only could pick out "oat", which was fine because that's my preferred option anyways. Immediately after he put my order in the screen to pay popped up and the barista started on the drink before my husband even had a moment to say he was ordering a drink too. While we waited for my drink we went over to the window and pulled out the bar stool and before even sitting down the barista loudly says "this is carry out, you can't stay." So, ok, guess we can't sit in a coffee shop with our coffee like any other coffee shop. I ordered a latte and anticipated it hot because that is the usual for lattes, unless iced is requested or asked by the barista. My order came iced, oh well, it's hot out. As we walked out, my husband said goodbye very politely, regardless of how we were treated and I don't believe he even acknowledged him. I noticed the couple behind us had a plate with a croissant on it and were about to sit. I guess they ordered the correct item to stay for a minute to enjoy. I took a sip before writing this, and it's good, but nothing that I can't get at any other coffee shop where I at least feel like I can sit and enjoy the atmosphere (which personally is the only reason I can justify spending the amount it costs for a latte at a coffee shop instead of just making it at home.) I regret stepping in this coffee shop. read more

Such rude service! The older gentleman who served was exceptionally rude for no reason. Went into order coffees as one does at "CAFE'S" and he was very unhappy that we seemed to be spending our money there. I will say the pastry and sandwiches looked delicious but now I will never know. We ended up at the Crepes N' Crisps for lunch. That was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend their Belgian fries with Smack sauce. Staff is also very friendly. read more

Fluffy Duck Cafe - Maybe the owners don't understand the meaning of Cafe. Owners please see above. - Cafes Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Please do yourself a favor and eat here. I had the best turkey sandwich on rustic oat bread I've ever eaten--hands down. We were so impressed, we went back four days in a row, and every time the sandwiches were consistently exceptional. It wasn't just good--it was memorable. One day, I was lucky enough to grab the last date and walnut scone. In my 64 years, I've never had a better scone. Perfectly balanced, not too sweet, and incredibly fresh. Some other reviewers have commented on the service, but I'd urge folks to consider what it means to have just two people working hard to bake fresh bread and serve a steady flow of customers. We found them focused and clearly passionate about what they do. To top it off, they thoughtfully packed our sandwiches to go so we could have real, nourishing food during a road trip home from the Cleveland Clinic. That extra care really stuck with me. I was so impressed--and deeply grateful. read more

The customer service was horrific. Stopped in after a busy day of volunteering for a drink and refreshments. Despite each of our group purchasing something we were told we couldn't sit down, while others who came behind us were allowed to. I guess we didn't spend enough money for him. It was a real shame and an embarrassment. read more

Stopped in for an iced coffee and ended up getting the best croissant! The place was pretty busy when I popped in, with hospital workers but the service was great and they processed everyone pretty quickly. I couldn't even tell you if there was anywhere to sit because I wasn't in the store long enough to notice if there was a dining area anywhere. Only downside was, not being very familiar with the area, I wasn't sure of where to park. I ended up paying for parking behind the building then walking all the way around. read more

Fluffy Duck Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Terrible experience here yesterday. Was staying at nearby hotel and stopped in for a coffee. The employee scoffed, told me " We sale food here. That's what we do." I said, ok but you have a coffee menu and I see a coffee machine so I thought you do coffee. He says yeah, we do then walks away. Literally wouldn't talk to me or serve me. WTF? I happened to have flown in the day before from the west coast. It was my birthday. And I was on the way to visit my sister at the hospital across the street. She was undergoing emergency open heart surgery that morning. I just wanted a wake me up coffee and was planning on coming back to pick up some treats for the rest of my family at the hospital. If you open a cafe across the street from a hospital that is literally performing life-saving operations every day, you should perhaps consider what your walk-in customers might be going through. What should have been a nice morning pick-me up to offer me a bit of joy on my birthday turned into an upsetting experience on an already emotionally charged day. read more

My PHOTOS are at the bottom of this review. Scroll down to find them. 1/5 stars for horrible customer service. 4/5 for their delicious Kouign Amman pastry. I first visited in March 2019 but I did not order anything because as soon as I entered, I was told that they only had ramen soup for sale. It was apparently a POP-UP ramen day and I sadly drove all the way here without knowing. The only notice that was given, to my knowledge, was a sign in front of the door that said "POP UP RAMEN SHOP". I was very disappointed after seeing that sign because I wouldn't have driven all the way there if I knew that they were closed. The ramen was $16 and I didn't want to pay that much money for a medium-size bowl of ramen noodles. I think I checked the website that day too and it didn't say anything about a pop-up ramen only shop. HOURS -- The business hours of operation are very inconsistent. I remember visiting on Saturday mornings in 2019 and early 2020 but they were always closed. This is very disrespectful to the customer especially when their website lists the hours they are supposed to be open. The website listed that they were open on Saturdays. Till this day, they have not updated their hours on their website or Instagram page. I visited the cafe again in July 2020 and January 2021 to be told that they open around 7am or 8am and that they close around 3pm on weekdays but those hours depend on customer foot traffic. As a small business, it can be hard nowadays to stay open but having consistent hours helps with customer service. The Yelp business page also does not have updated hours and I am unsure if the business has actually taken over their Yelp business page. CUSTOMER SERVICE -- Terrible. They hardly answer their phone and they have never responded to my email inquiries asking about their business hours. During my first visit, I was not greeted as I walked in. A gentleman behind the counter was preparing baked goods and did not even acknowledge me until I said "hello". It was a bit strange and not friendly at all. I was actually quite shocked. PASTRIES -- If you read most of the Yelp reviews, everyone loves their pastries. I agree. The KOUIGN AMANN pastry ($3.25 was the price in year 2020) is what this bakery is known for. Of course, it is delicious. The crusty sugary top combined with the doughy center is amazing. This was a little dry at the bottom though. I have not tried any of their breads or other pastries. Also, the price of the Kouign Amann is now showing as $5 on Yelp but who knows if that is accurate. To summarize: - Inconsistent hours of operation. Correct hours are still not posted on their website. - Terrible customer service - Pop-Up ramen shop in March 2019 (no notice given, shop closed except for selling ramen) - Not opened on Saturdays in January 2020. - As of July 2020, when I visited the cafe, I was told that they are open 8am to 3pm on weekdays only. - As of January 2021, when I visited, I was told that they are open 7am to 3pm, depending on foot traffic. Overall, I won't be back here until the owner changes his attitude and updates their website. If you live 5-10 minutes away, then maybe you can support this business but if you live far away, make sure they are OPEN before you drive all the way here. I drove almost 30 minutes from the west side of Cleveland to the east side of Cleveland a few times to find them closed when their website showed that they were supposed to be opened. Customer service is a key part of any business. **** - 2/150 total reviews in 2022 - 480 total overall Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 8 January 2022 read more

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Great little cafe across the street from the Health Education Campus. Visited with a couple friends after class. All three of us ordered a ham and cheese croissant. I got the last one, and the owner threw in a chocolate croissant for free since the ham and cheese was "a little small" !!!!! Totally made my day. The croissants were delicious and flaky. I've heard from my friends that the owner likes when you order food (he gets grumpy if you order just coffee), so maybe order a croissant with your coffee to put him in a better mood. I will most definitely be back! read more

Fluffy Duck Cafe - Chocolate Croissant - Cafes Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Believe the reviews about the terrible attitude from the grumpy guy behind the counter. I'll spare the details but I don't care how good your sandwiches are I'd you're a jerk. Oh and coffee is takeout only now. read more

Great independent bakery serving tasty sandwiches and croissants close to the Cleveland Clinic campus. It is such a great antidote to the slow and impersonal service of Panera and Starbucks in the hospital. Well worth the two block walk off of the main campus people. And you will save time in the process! Highly recommended great source for breakfast and lunch. read more

All the reviews are true. Horrible customer service. The old guy that people mention said we couldn't sit there, he didn't want to serve us coffee. Will never go back. read more

Food : I've been to the cafe a few times already and noticed many students and workers at the nearby hospital frequently come here for breakfast or lunch. The pastries are absolutely amazing. The baker I swear must've lived in France and learned it his skills there because I discovered my favorite pastry in this bakery, Kouign-amann. I've not/rarely seen it in any of the other bakeries in the U.S before. In addition, the baker makes some of the fluffiest chocolate croissants I've ever taste. Drinks : I've only gotten two of their drinks before, the chai latte and hot chocolate and I was really satisfied with both of them. The chai latte especially was very unique. It was very strong and bold, with a strong spice taste in it. Service : I won't lie and say I wasn't a bit intimidated at first by the owner, but he was so nice! When I left, the owner gave me 2 pastries since he was closing. Ambiance : The duck decorations and the yellow wall color definitely catches your eye as soon as you walk in. The windows are high and when the sunlight is shining directly through the windows, the natural light is perfect if you want to take pictures of your food. All in all I would definitely recommend coming here! read more

Fluffy Duck Cafe - Chocolate Croissant - Cafes Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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The owner and cashier wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Every day. I enjoy their coffee but don't expect any good customer service here.

Food and coffee were good but got "kicked out" after 2 hours due to apparently "being there too long" while trying to work online even though I purchased both food and coffee. Will not be going back and don't recommend as you can't sit and work for longer than 2 hours. read more

My espresso macchiato was perfect and the turkey sandwich on fresh baked bread delicious! I love this place these guys are true bakery artisans!! read more

Service could definitely improve along with the quality of food and drink. My muffin was so subpar and my iced latte did not taste good. Weird ambiance and vibes read more

A rude older man seemed angry for no reason. The chai is super gross. The pastry was pretty good.

I went to med school across the street from this place for 4 years and always thought it looked cute from the outside. I only ate here once but can confirm it was cute on the inside too, with lots of light. Definitely makes for a good place to sit and study if you don't want to be inside the school itself. And the food was fine, I liked the dessert pastries more than anything but they had $5 pizza slices (not sure if they still do) which were pretty big and pretty good quality. I had a sandwich here once as well that was pretty good. Overall this is a nice little cafe, it's not a place I would necessarily seek out again but I liked it the once just fine :) read more

I never knew a place like this existed in Cleveland, until now! Fluffy Duck gives fresh a whole new meaning, with a spectacular layout of pastries in a bright, open setting. The owner is a true artisan baker with a passion for excellence and an eye for quality. There are a variety of freshly made delectable selections offered, from pastries and cookies to salads, breads, and sandwiches. I ordered the Rustic Turkey Sandwich, a chocolate croissant, and a small coffee. After waiting roughly 6 minutes my sandwich was ready, and let me tell you it was absolutely superb! The bread paired beautifully with slices of savory turkey, avocado, lettuce, and an herb aioli! The croissant was a flaky dream of savory bliss that reminded me of the ones I had in France and Montreal. The coffee was strong and definitely gave me the jolt that I needed to start my day. As a coffee connoisseur it was obvious that those were high quality beans. Fluffy duck is without question on another level when it comes to baked goods, and I can't say that about many places. Reviews may influence some and word of mouth gets around town. You cannot however put a price of quality, and based on my experiece, the taste speaks for itself. read more

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Perfect sandwich, pastry and coffee fix convenient to CC's main campus. It's an adorable cafe styled after its root - a baby chick! I even like how the bathrooms use Bath and Body Work's (Ohio born brand!) soap. I'm from PA where some small businesses often like to shun corporate brands, but it's nice to see a lot of small businesses like this adorable cafe around here respect local pride too. Perfect croissants and great chai and lattes, by the way! You don't come here just for coffee, but if that's what you want, there's a small bit efficient espresso menu. Outside of pastries and desserts, you can also grab a comfort and seasonable lunch! I don't get out this way too often, but I'd happily return when I do. read more

Incredibly rude customer service, barista was condescending and seemed annoyed that I had the audacity to order a coffee. He actually interrupted my drink order to ask "what about food?", like... i apologize my drink order isn't sufficient enough?? I then proceeded to order my espresso "incorrectly" which he was sure to point out. I left without my coffee, and no caffeine deprivation headache could've enticed me to go back and give them my money. I understand people have bad days, but this kind of behavior towards a customer is unacceptable. read more

Awesome little cafe - good for coffee drinks and baked goods! In order to get in here - I had to park in a "pay" parking lot in the rear of the building. Apparently - you can park for free for 30 minutes - but I was unsure how long I would be visiting - so I paid for a 2 hour hour parking time slot. You pay at a machine, select your parking spot number, and then display the parking stub in the windshield of your vehicle. I ordered a large cold brew - with room for cream. The drink was strong and tasty! Gave my brain cells the caffeine they needed to start firing! There are a number of tables to sit at inside! #FluffyDuckCafe read more

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Got a coffee and was quite actually yelled at, "we do not seat for coffee orders!" I wouldn't give them any money, the two dudes working there are deeply unhappy and would like you to also be miserable. The counters, display cases, windows, and employees were also dirty. read more

Small duck themed cafe with freshly-baked breads, pastries, sandwiches, and personal pizzas. Inside is very bare and there are not a lot of outlets around, but there is plenty of seating. I got a turkey sandwich and it was fantastic, especially the bread it was on. I also got a late and it was solid. Staff were all very friendly 8/10 read more

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I decided to take a fourty minute walk back and forth from where I was staying and to Fluffy Duck Cafe. While the walking adventure was fine and dandy, the end goal of good food was not met. The interior motif of ducks were certainty cute though. I had the kouign amann. Every time I took a bite, I wondered why it was so salty. Maybe because the kouign amann looked like it was borderline about to burn. Cut down on the salt. The service wasn't good either. When I walked up to the counter I received zero acknowledgement. I heard the man nearby talking and I thought he was greeting me. But it turns out that he was just talking to the girl further at the back. Poor communication skills are a strike. I waited for a while to be helped at the register, and the girl who ended up helping me looked as though being at the register with me was a chore. However, when an older woman walked into the cafe, an employee manning the coffee machine practically jumped to help her. Perhaps she's a regular. But I find it amazing I was treated indifferently when the cafe is underneath an apartment that holds mostly university students that attend the new dental school across the street. Parking shouldn't be problematic. However, some construction is underway at that area. So be careful when you're driving. Also read the towing signs carefully because there are a ton of businesses with their carefully relegated parking spaces. read more

Fluffy Duck Cafe - Kouign Amann - Cafes Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

I called to ask about pricing to place an order. The gentleman on the phone said that prices were online an then he hung up on me. Very pour customer service. I will not be placing the order. read more

The best croissant I have ever had! The chicken salad sandwich is fresh, generous, and basically craveable! Highly recommend this place!!

First time, last time. Went there for an informal business meeting. Ordered an espresso and a croissant and the older gentleman was annoyed that I had ordered anything. Has "Duck Guest WIFI" available but when I asked for the password was told "No. We aren't a coffee shop." I hope you have a good pastry catering business, because the retail side won't provide anything with that garbage customer service. And the dining area has the ambiance of a hospital waiting room. Sometimes you just miss when you go small and local. read more

We come here every time we visit Cleveland. The quality of the food is top notch and the baked items are exceptional. A gem to visit. In the years visiting I have yet to be disappointed. read more

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First time, last time. Ordered a coffee and the older gentleman seemed annoyed that I ordered one. Has "Duck Guest WiFi" but when I asked for the password the response was "no. we're not a coffee shop." Hope you have a good pastry catering business, because the retail business will suffer from that garbage customer service. And the dining area has the ambiance of a hospital waiting room. read more

Pretty good almond croissant for around four bucks. The winner here from the five or so total choices in baked goods is the impossible to spell puffy pastry pronounced "queen ahman" which is basically a buttery croissant in the shape of a bun with sweet layers atop each other. It is not ground breaking but definitely the shining star amongst a scanty selection today at around 1230pm. No to go items otherwise. read more

Fluffy Duck Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

So, I am in Cleveland for just 2 weeks, and needed a coffee shop where I can sit and read my book while sipping on some coffee or munching on some pastries. So, while walking to Starbucks, I bumped into Fluffy Duck Coffee Shop, and I thought I should give it a try. Although I witnessed poor customer service (Older guy behind the counter being rude to customers), and despite the coffee shop not having wifi, I fell in love with the atmosphere (Less people, less noisy). For about a week, I would go to this coffee shop from 8 am to 12 pm, buy coffee and chocolate croissant and read my book. At 11:30 am, I would buy Rustic Turkey, a sandwich which is really good! I spent about $25 each day. Problem: Today, I was told that I was no longer welcome to sit for more than an hour in the coffee shop. I was told this in a very rude tone as if I was a "free loader". Maybe I was! Lol. But in my mind, there was no traffic in the shop and I was spending money too! Ohh, more background too: This older gentlement, in one of my conversations with him on the first day, told me that the coffee shop was going out of business. He said that due to the effects of Covid-19, they have been experiencing less traffic. He also said that they are having problems with the landlord. Now that I think about this, Covid-19 or their landlord aren't the problem! Here me out: - Fluffy Duck is at the heart of the medical school, the hospital, and a dental school among others. It's the only coffee shop within a 1.5 mile radius where a student can sit, sip coffee and complete an assignment. The owners have failed to take advantage of this location. I hope Starbucks will rent this location when Fluffy Duck is gone. read more

I went in today to grab a quick coffee since I was in the area. The owner refused to give me a coffee if I was not going to get food. He said "this is what we do here, we sell breakfast and lunch not just coffee". He may have forgotten that it is called a café !!! I always liked stopping by Fluffy Duck whenever I would be in the area, you know, to support local businesses. Lately, the owner has been complaining every time I go in that they are not getting much traffic. No surprise given that attitude. Never going there again. read more

Beautiful, clean Spartan interior. Great service. Espresso from MadCap, perfect caffe' crema (crema rich espresso) Delicious, delicate croissants made right on site. Per my server, the recipe has been revised "at least 100 times!" read more