Chocolate Company Café — Local services in Deventer

How I felt about the younger female staff's reaction this morning almost ended my visit in that place straight, if not for the sake of my friends. I ordered three drinks (ice cappuccino, ice latte, matcha latte). I usually receive cookies standardly next to those drinks, and once even in another choco chain cafe. They are not expensive at all. This time, there were no cookie. When I hesitated, I waited to ask and saw they were very busy with just two. There were plenty of unwashed cups and dishes piling here and there on one table in the middle right where customers could see them immediately after the entrance.

Maybe I should have waited longer before I took action. When I turned one glass jar of cookies around, I wasn't thinking much but definitely wasn't mean to transgress their space. I was stopped abruptly with a short and harsh call. My hands were implied to be unclean and very bad for touching those cookies. But I haven't touched anything in the jar and the suspicion was already embedded in the voice that sounded nervous. I would be cooler with a gentler reminder to my likely inappropriate act. I stopped and requested for cookies with an apologetic look as I wanted to be proactive, not rude.

I wished that I could have one cookie for each drink. When I was communicating, words were pushed back to my chest with some troubles orientating. I heard that either this type of biscuit or that type of choco cookie, and only two. And "no" to any further discussions. I got the point but I didn't even remember if I was having eye contact with a person who worked as a waitress- a job that I chose before. I hurried up and withdrew from the conversation as I stood there alone unnecessarily long. Cookies are not that important and I could give up the extra. My friends were seated and watching me from time to time so I brought the drinks and joined them quickly.

I accepted whatever I could get. Yes, a clip was used when cookies were taken out of the jar, however, I saw them directly being left on that black tray. Imagine, I was just confronted that using hands to take cookies wasn't clean and decent and now, was witnessing the food laying on the tray. How often do the trays get cleaned like kitchenwares in restaurants? I doubt after a single use based on my experience in Horeca. Anyway, I ate the cookies with just the bare hands. So did my friend. I shouldn't care that much. There weren't plastic bags or spoons for that little things. The cafe isn't high dining so it was casual anyway.

I wanted to explain things but at that moment, considering all the other orders she had to take and the "gezelligheid" for my own group, I let go the needs to defend and went back to focus on enjoying a morning to the book market. Usually, I leave tips but this time, none.

The lesson for me is that small interaction with people really matters, and even more concerning the value of hospitality. I appreciate if people take this seriously but not too personally. I don't mean to blame anyone.

Drinks...

Extremely bad service and very overprized! Skip this place, it will be disapointing. We made a reservation for a vegan high tea as we found them through a website for high tea in Holland, great website btw! The employee told me on the phone there was no chocolate, as according to her, that is not vegan but no problem to do the high tea. Once arrived, the place was empty but still very noisy. They told me there are a lot of things not possible and started telling me what I couldn't eat (I am perfectly aware of that, thats why I call ahead). The high tea came with chocolate (just some pieces, not even special) and a soggy white slice of bread with some hummus, that's it! While explaining what was on the plate, the owner/waitress started talking to another customer. They charged us a lot higher than on the site and after telling them our experience, she blamed everyone but herself. She has no idea what customer service is, same goes for her employees, clearly instructed not to be accommodating. I will never go...

A bit of a strange experience.

I touched the "hot chocolate block" I wanted to buy. I was then told snappishly that I wasn't allowed to touch it (again: I touched what I bought myself 10 seconds later). The tone was very unfriendly and I was somehow surprised at how this person spoke to me. Sure, everything is stressful there, but somehow a little decency and "general education/style" is not too much to ask for, When you have to pay €30 for 2 pieces of cake and 4 coffees.

Nevertheless, you have to be fair, of course: The café is very expensive, but it's okay and the cake tastes really good. The other waitresses were also quite nice. Only this one lady at the front seemed a bit undereducated, but maybe the café was looking for staff from a less educated background, which is actually a good thing. Furthermore, you should not judge because of one person that is working there.

But this girl was so weired... I had to write this review, maybe someone can...