Where should I start? I visited this place because they have amazing photos on instagram and full of good reviews. So, I was very hopeful and geared up for a good breakfast. Boy It came crashing very fast!!!
As a start, the place is severely understaffed and had limited sitting area. So, if you want to seat outside (because the weather is nice), they make you place your order at the counter and carry your stuff (coffee, pasties, etc) to your table! I understand this is the way the do things, but then why on earth do they ask you to add "service" to your bill. What the F are you talking about? So, this place works as a regular restaurant only in the top floor, but in the rest of the place is just a Starbucks-like place with more offerings, better food and coffee. So, keep that on mind when visiting this place. For me, the lack of "restauran service" is a big no, especially for what they are charging on the food.
Now, the staff is friendly, but not really trained. Only the captain behaves like a professional server. The rest just looks "hipstery", but not really know what to do, when a customer does not liked the food.
We tried the famous copy of the New York roll, filled with chocolate (the called roulette here). This place is so trendy on instagram because of it. We were very disappointed when they handed our piece cold, and soggy. They said it was baked that mourning, but I highly doubt that. The filling was cold (almost refrigerated), and did not tasted chocolate as expected.
Then the food. My wife ordered a Quiche Porcini. The pastry base was perfect, very savory and the filling well done. Unfortunately, we were forced to ask the waiters to reheated it again because it was served barely warm. My guess is that it was premade ahead of time and then just microwave it before served.
I ordered an omelette with spinach, ham and cheese filling. First they forgot the ham, so I returned it. Then they add the ham, but instead of making another one, the open the first one, added the ham and served it again. I think they tried to reheated the omelette on the pan, but they ended up burning the egg, barely warming the fillings and changing the texture to rubber (keep in mind they charged 215 pesos for it). What a disappointing experience.
To be fare this place offers a wide variety of high end pastries, which we didn't try. But the other patrons seems to enjoy. The coffee was the only thing that was served flawlessly and tasted superb, hence the two stars.
In summary, if you want to have breakfast, brunch or lunch, there are way better options in the area. Unless you don't care much about the food. But if you just want coffee and pasties, or pickup pastries to go, this is and ok place.
You have been warned!! read more