Home Cafe Ashgrove — Restaurant in Brisbane City

Feel pretty upset right now. I just went to my local .. Home Cafe .. I frequent there 2-3 times a week. It’s Anzac Day so it’s busy. I make my order and I’m asked where I’m sitting. I point to the vacant double table. The woman on the register says that might be reserved and looks at me to make a decision. I quickly dash over to the table and report that it has no reserve sign but acknowledge that because it’s a larger table I’d be happy for her to separate it. She looks at me again and says ‘it still might be reserved’ .. okay what? I then ask if she can check so I know where to sit… she seems flustered and looks to the younger girl for help. The younger girl opens the reservation book and says .. no it’s fine you can sit there. I reiterate to her that it is a large table and I’m happy for her to divide it. I also see another couple sitting at a double and suggest that perhaps this table can be divided and I can sit there to free up the larger table. The younger (and lovely) girl says it’s totally fine .. if she needs to divide this table at some point she’ll let me know. I’m sitting there for 5-10 .. coffee arrives and I’m enjoying this whilst I wait for my food. Next minute the Manager approaches me and says he has a larger group and needs my table. I say of course that’s no issue … I ask him if he wouldn’t mind dividing the other larger table that the couple are sitting at and I’ll sit there. He does this and shuffles me to this area. I know it’s a busy day so I’m happy to accomodate … I just want to sit now and have my breakfast. I start drinking my coffee again and oh no the manager is back .. this time he says he needs my single table for someone else (possibly the larger group are complaining that they’re too cramped?) … he says he has another table for me. I’m kind of reluctant to move again as I feel I’ve already been accommodating and I just want to relax and have my breakfast but he says that because im by myself I need to move to accomodate others. I’m not happy that he has basically said that as a single person I get bottom of the barrel regardless of the fact that I was there first and I’m also a paying customer AND I’m a local / regular. I get up and he starts shuffling me to the front of the cafe where it’s packed and points to a crowded window bench seat on a stool at the entrance … I say don’t worry about it I’ll have my food to take away. I’m pretty upset at this point and get the picture that because I’m by myself I don’t deserve a proper table when it’s busy. Whilst I’m having my food boxed and about to walk out, the Manager comes over and says he has another table for me. What the absolute hell .. I just want to get out of there at this point .. he’s already made me feel small and theres no way I’m going to enjoy my breakfast so I say .. don’t worry I’m getting take away. He says ‘we’re busy and I’m trying to accommodate everyone.’ I say that’s fine and I’ve also tried to be accommodating … I moved once to a single table but now you’re just taking the Mickey because I’m by myself. I get my food and leave. Truly rubbish and it’s made me feel like absolute crap. After 10 years of loyalty ill NEVER go back!

Edit: In response to the response: The entire reason I was moved was because I was by myself AND youre forgetting you actually verbally admitted this to me. Yes you made a mistake my moving me to a single table BUT your biggest mistake was allowing a solo person to sit down in the first place. Cashiers evasiveness now makes sense .. she was hoping I’d just have takeaway. You offered me the other table (which you now say was bigger) ONLY after trying to shuffle me onto the bench and AFTER my food was already boxed. Sure I could have taken the 3rd shuffle shut my mouth and been oh so grateful for the relaxing boxed breakfast but aside from the fact I was already clearly upset, who’s to say you wouldn’t have moved me as soon as the next group arrived!

Thanks for 10+years but no thanks …it’s not the local service I want … I’ll take my...

I’ve been to Home Cafe a number of times over the years, but it seems to have gone downhill. I wanted a light brunch and opted for the two eggs plus toast with sides of smoked salmon and Hollandaise. I asked for the eggs to be cooked ‘medium’ which means the yolks should be set. Although the service was quick, the poached eggs were served in a pool of water, which was seeping into the underside of side of the one slice of toast making it soggy and unappetising. On cutting into an egg, it became clear they were extremely runny, with all The yolk flowing out and mixing with the pool of water on the plate. Horrible. The smoked salmon was so salty it was virtually inedible and the ‘Home’ Hollandaise is obviously a packet mix which had a nasty processed taste. On the top they’d thrown some pea shoots, which were all stalks, hardly any leaves. So for one slice of soggy toast, runny egg yolks mixed with water (I don’t eat the white - one of the reasons for wanting set eggs) a small serve of extremely salty salmon and some tomato relish which I didn’t want but came with the dish anyway, I had the pleasure of shelling out over $27 (coffee included). Take my advice and make your brunch at home. It will be much tastier and better for your hip pocket. Did I mention the wind, the flies and the...

The only reason we go to this cafe is because it has a small, albeit dirty hovel of a children's play area. It's kind of a goldfish bowl type spot that is only good in the cooler months. A tiny door almost too small for an adult to get through, which is not great when children need supervising or care. And the room isn't airconditioned and seems to attract flys. The food here always disappoints. The window of salads is dismal, unappetising and while appears fresh, lacks style, appearance and flavour. The coffee, well it's typical Brisbane coffee. Weak, milky and poorly extracted. The floor is disgusting. Seriously I think they must just sweep this place once a day and that's it. It's red in colour but almost black with grime and dirt buildup. And not from walked in mud, I'm talking about built up heavy black grim that needs to be scrubbed. Not just mopped and swept. It's a lot of work but when you're running a food serving business people don't want to look at grim. Like the food in the window it's unappetising. I refuse to give business to places that just don't measure up. And this is one of them. I won't return until I see a change here or I'm forced to...