Cafe Bella — Restaurant in Antigua

I had the worst experience of my life at this Cafe. I am a student of the American University of Antigua and have given this place 4 tries. All 4 times I have received horrible service from this place. However being that I like to give everyone a fair shot I went again recently. When I got there, I was met with the same poor service that I am used to getting from this place. This time, I saw the owner and I very politely went up to her and wanted to inform her of the poor service that I have been receiving. I thought as a buisness owner she would want to know that her employee has been rude on four different occasions. However, to my surprise the owner was so much worse than the cashier. Immediately the owner shot me down and in her exact words said that "I have run a successful business for over 10 years and don't need you telling me what to do". When she was rudely going off on me, I walked away to my friends and told them that I did not want to eat from there and as I was explaining why the owner walked behind me and said "Oh grow up". Never have I seen customer service like this. I ended up leaving the resturant and told her I would share the review with everyone at my school to which she responded and said "Oh go ahead, I could care less". Highly unprofessional and I do not recommend this place to anyone. I've only ever written two bad reviews of places in my life because I am a huge believer in supporting local business. However, this place does not deserve support.

Even after I wrote a review on facebook, the owner responded and instead of apologizing for her unprofessional behavior further tried to defend her poor service as to why she was right and even made up lies.This alone should tell you what type of...

One of the best beef burger in town (in addition to Garden Grille near La Busola). They cook their own beef patties! Surprisingly no french fries. But that's okay. Their hash brown is even better.

No Starbucks or Coffee Bean on the island??! No problem. Cafe Bella is the second best thing. I've tried their iced coffee and cappuccino. Both were absolutely delicious.

Chocolate cake was not so good, though, as it lacked the chocolate essence to it. It tasted more like a diet chocolate cake. Might as well enjoy a tiny one from Epicurean (grocery store). Chicken soup flavor was decent, but a tad salty.

Don't expect too much from their customer service. There are good days and bad days. Regardless, this is the closest Starbucks-like joint you'll get on the island with surprisingly great meals. The only downside, they close 4 PM daily and all day Sundays. Cafe Bella is near Epicurean (grocery store), movie theater, Harpers (office supplies), Home Depot -like store (next door) and more.

Menu images taken June 3rd, 2017 (breakfast image a little blurry). They have daily specials, i.e. shrimp plate. My friend who loves shrimp enjoyed hers.

You can call to order ahead only. No deliveries, even through QuickServe (you can check them out on Facebook or download the app (less restaurant options through the app). Cash and credit...

What had the potential to be a great cafe for digital nomads (due to the location, accessibile wifi and layout) has left a sour taste in my mouth on each subsequent visit I would make.

It has become quite comical to me, at multiple establishments on the island that the delusional fair-skinned low wage hourly workers, truly think that they are somehow privileged and superior, and show disdain to locals.

The abhorrent service from the older clear woman with locs and blue eyeshadow (lol) and her staff is so blatantly preferential to pale-skinned customers, (they light up and smile, etc..) that a local Antiguan uniformed worker started to speak up about the treatment, and stating how this business is here because local (Black) Antiguans support it, yet we are treated like animals.

The root of the issue is that the self-deprecating/hating colonial mindset is embedded deep into every interaction within hospitality, where pale skinned customers are served and greeted first with preferential treatment, and those perceived as locals are treated with disdain, indifference.

I would NOT recommend this cafe to any locals, and will not be returning on my subsequent visits...