I've previously written about Vinaka Cafe, so this is an edit to my last review on another platform. I've come to this cafe lots of times since then, and had nothing but good reviews to give, however, I need to share my experience what has happened this morning.
I need to let everyone know reading this, that the customer service at this place is, at best, unpredictable. You will have stellar service, which was the case during the early days of coming here, and then you will have such awful service that it'll dampen your morning. This morning was one of those, and it's been a sad trend lately with a particular person.
I really loved coming to this cafe. Especially early mornings before the crowd comes in, when I can get time for good peaceful studying.
So it's quiet in the cafe this morning, put my books down, and I go up to the counter like other times and the red-haired woman with the initials CAT at the register looks me with a blank look (maybe her coffee hadn't hit her yet) and I ask about the different coffees, and considering getting breakfast.
She doesn't answer, but just says, 'Well, what do you want', not smiling, and absolutely not selling breakfast or any of the other products. No helpfulness, no suggestions. So I got a simple serve-yourself coffee, and I didn't even have the heart to ask her for some almond milk. One of the other girls got it for me.
A few minutes later, I ordered a plain toasted bagel - a very simple thing - from the same woman, in hopes that it was just a fluke, that she'll actually smile this time. Of course it didn't happen, and the bagel sat there 'still warmed' on the bottom of the toaster oven - for 15 minutes. She never called my name to say it was ready, she didn't prepare it so I can pick it up, but it sat there until I came up to the counter to ask for it, at which time she casually told one of the girls to get it for me. Didn't even care about the length of time it took to get my bagel. She actually left the cafe for a time after the bagel was finished toasting, and she didn't inform any of the other girls to get it for me before she left. Not a care, she came dancing back in the cafe after a few minutes, and still ignored my order.
I waited to see how long it would take for her to fill my order, and coming up to the counter to remind them was very hard thing for me to do. I really wanted to like this cafe and to like being here this morning, but
I got my $2.70 back (nearly $1 more than what Starbucks charges for the same product, with far better service for being much busier).
At the time, still this place was not busy, only a few people at this point started coming in for breakfast. Definitely not enough to warrant being ignored by this woman, and sadly, it can take only one person that you must to do business with, to change your smile upside-down.
It turns out she was actually managing the shift (Sun. Sept. 27th), and this kind of treatment is a trend with this same person. She only had one job : To take your order with a smile, and get it right. Give a smile, and don't let a bagel sit for too long. It was an absolute Fail.
The other girls there were helpful as always, and the difference between them and her, was that they gave the courtesy of a smile and a little helpfulness - and I didn't require a whole lot.
*Everyone* - all it takes is a simple smile and a little friendliness to make your experience a good one, even if the product is not good, a friendly smile is all it takes to have a good morning. I've gotten nice customer service from this cafe, and I was happy to frequent here, however, the service from this woman was such a sad state today, that it feels like a little slap to have to change your mind.
Sadly it'll be a while - if ever again - that I'll return, either alone, or bring my friends and family here anymore. read more