Breizh Cafe — Restaurant in District of Canberra Central

Hmmm ... I'm conflicted.

I adore this cafe and the food provided. The food is still as wonderful as other times I have been.

However, the atmosphere has changed for the worse and makes me reluctant to return.

I don't know if management or ownership has changed, but (some of) the staff behaviour was lacking.

The staff behind the counter were wonderful, and the barista gently delivered his beautifully created flat white to my table with a smile.

However, the food, cutlery box, and (requested) salt and pepper grinders were dropped on the table by another young waiter with such force that both my companion and I jumped. I did ask the young waiter to please place items down a little more gently, and I enquired whether they were new to working in hospitality - they apologized for their behaviour (and bizzarely later delivered an unwrapped single Easter egg to the table as way of an apology - sincere if a little misguided) and said that they had been working there for a while.

Later, as we dined, the manager stood in the middle of the outdoor dining area and loudly conversed with a friend, and then loudly spoke to someone via speakerphone on their smart watch. I wouldn't appreciate such behaviour from another customer, let alone a staff member.

I decided to provide some formal feedback before I left, and approached the counter, where the manager and barista were standing. I first stated that the food and coffee were delicious, but that I have some feedback.

I recounted that the young waiter, whilst sincere, may be a little naive about customer service matters and require a little training, and recounted our experience. The manager was very receptive to this feedback, and emphatically stated they would address the issue.

However, when I also stated we also did not appreciate his own behaviour, his demeanor completely changed, and he stated alternatively and dismissively that "it's fine", and that he doesn't have good reception on his phone etc etc. I then stated that it really wasn't "fine" and (as above), wouldn't expect such behaviour from another customer, let alone staff member, and perhaps such social interactions and speaker phone calls shouldn't occur whilst at work, or at least not amongst paying customers. I even stated it reduced the atmosphere from that of a beautiful french cafe to one of a rough fish and chip shop.

Again, the attitude was dismissive and borderline aggressive.

As I said ... Conflicted. I love this cafe and the food ... And until now, the staff. If this customer service and atmospheric change is due to management / ownership change, I think some introspection is required. If this is just due to a couple of new staff / manager, then I hope they are appropriately trained to improve...

We drove across town to get to this café for a small lunch celebration and it was one of my daughter’s favourite cafés in Canberra. I rarely am able to eat out as I have numerous serious food intolerances and specific dietary needs. She had checked the menu repeatedly, and rung twice to check ingredients and to ask if certain dishes could be modified, and named one or two, and was told “impossible”. When we got there, we checked if would be ok for us all to eat there, otherwise the others would have gotten takeaway, but we were told there was no problem with me eating what I’d prepared, and I was bought a plate. We got drinks and waited for their food to arrive. When it was brought out by I presume the owner , he looked at my plate was with disgust and then glared at me, and said that what I’d done was unacceptable. We explained we’d rung up to check ingredients, and asked twice about one person bringing their own. He ruined the happy mood although we turned the conversation back to what we were talking to. One salad was disappointingly slimy, another dry and tasteless. When he came back to clear the table, he again glared at me, and repeated how what we had done was unacceptable, and we again explained that his staff had repeatedly told us they couldn’t cater for me, and that I could bring my own plate of food. He said he was a chef, and could make anything with enough notice, and blamed us for not asking to talk to the owner or chef when making a special request, not the staff. We again politely explained how and why we reached the situation, but he walked off. The tip we were about to leave was not left, and my daughter went inside and returned the specialty foods she’d just bought as gifts, and sought out the owner to request he apologise for both his behaviour and for ruining what was meant to be a celebratory special meal. He avoided her. I appreciate he wasn’t aware of what transpired over me eating my own meal on his premises, but I totally and utterly despise businesses who blame their customers and...

OPEN FROM 9AM TO 3PM, WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY.

At the Ainslie shop in a corner next to the Chemist is a French 🇫🇷 restaurant specialising in French food 😋 from Brittany.

They opened the doors 🚪 over 9 years ago (2014), and last year, the new owners 😀 came to the restaurant (2022) and kept it a French restaurant.

I recommend this quaint and cosy France restaurant 😀, French 🇫🇷 people love to cook in butter 🧈, and Breizh Cafe gets 😋 the butter 🧈 comes from Brittany.

The wonderful staff was so helpful, showing me the table 😀, and the service is excellent, Breizh Cafe has a wonderful atmosphere 😀.

Every week they have special meals that you must try, so delicious come and try the delicious special food's.

Winter is here. They make hot 🔥 soups 🍲. Every week, there is new soup 🍲 on the menu. Come get there, hot 🔥 soups off the week, it will warm you 😉 😀 👍.

I had a French 🇫🇷 breakfast - toasted Brioche 😋, a warm Croissant 😋 and a fresh Baguette slice with Beurre Breton (butter from Brittany), strawberry jam, Nutella or Organic honey and a cappuccino.

Wow 👌, I had the best breakfast just now it melted in your mouth 😋 🙃, that is, mushroom 🍄 crepes, with gruyere, mushrooms, and potatoes 🥔 sauteed in parsley with Garlic Butter and Baby Spinach.

The last time I had potatoes 🥔 for my breakfast when I was younger, my mum asked what you would like for breakfast, and I said POTATOES 🥔! Come have the Mushroom Crepes, I believe you will love that meal 😋.

We had breakfast, smoked salmon, with Gruyere, tomato, hard Boiled Egg 🥚, capers Sour Cream 😋 and a Wedge of Lemon. Prawns with Gruyere in a Cream Leek, compile and fresh Asparagus 😋, topped with chilli 🌶 flakes. Strawberry 🍓 with Nutella and icecream 🍦, (or Jam, Leatherwood Honey 🍯, or Maple 🍁 Syrup.

You can take a coffee ☕️ or tea 🍵 with some cakes and cupcakes 🧁,...