Cafe Sosta — Restaurant in District of Canberra Central

We went to Cafe Sosta today. Great location with lovely views across the lake. It was really nice sitting out on the balcony on a hot day, and there was a lovely breeze. For first time visitors, its location is not well signposted. Most of the patrons on Friday were noticably in their 70s, I suppose being a function of retirement. The staff were really excellent, and very professional and responsive to our needs. My companion had the smoked salmon on sourdough, and she was happy with it. I had the chicken cotoletta on a panini, and I must say it was very diaappointing. The panini was large and tough, definitely not freshly baked, the chicken breast was a big indelicate lump, not nicely flattened or crispy, and which had gristle in it. A huge scoop of too finely grated pickled carrot was slopped on the bottom layer of panini, the sauce had a nice flavour but nothing to get particularly excited about. The whole thing was very coarsely and indelicately constructed. Im fairly sure the person who threw it together was not experienced in the kitchen. The fries were crisp but I think twice cooked. I will probably go back, but will steer well clear of the chicken. The San Pellegrino Aranciata Rossa was served with ice and a straw and was very refreshing...

First time visiting. I went in to buy a fresh juice w/ginger today, take-away. ~$13 including surcharge.. which is fair enough.. until I saw the cup they gave it to me in.

I’m going to be brutally honest - 33years on this planet and I’ve never seen a juice given in a little coffee cup before.

It wasn’t just that.. I opened the cup lid and there was 5-6 ice-cubes filling half of the volume of this tiny cup, AND to add insult to injury… this tiny cup (half ice) was only filled 3/4 of the way to the top?! Are you joking.

I took 3 sips in front of my friend group, shook the ice, and then discarded it while my group laughed and said “was that it?!”

The barista who handed it to me said “oh we only have these cups” If these aren’t your usual cups.. and I was receiving the juice-equivalent of a “baby-cino”, maybe that should’ve been mentioned before charging the customer $13 for a cup of ice.

If there was a lack of cups, you should’ve filled two cups… but something tells me that wasn’t the case, considering that the only cup I got was 3/4 full (and half ice)

Looking at previous reviews that aren’t “5 star” this is not a one-off. Not much more to be said, I think you guys know you’re not being honest, you’re just trying to get...

Let me start with the positive (it’s never going to go well when you have to start a review with that..)… the venue is beautiful and free and easy parking is a bonus. It is so great to have a cafe on this part of the lake. Another positive is that feedback has been listened to and it is now table service (rather than line up and take a number that it was originally ). It is a venue and cafe that is table service worthy!

However you really need to sort out the service and management. The young wait staff (of which there are many) are lovely but they are young and new to hospitality. There does not appear to be a manager or leader or anyone with coordination oversight in place at all. Orders got mixed up (twice) and they didn’t quite know how to handle it. We had to ask to be served (multiple times). There was a lack of coordination and multiple people looking unsure near the entrance (wanting to be seated, to order, to pay) and no one focussed on front of house.

One piece of cold sourdough with a scraping of peanut butter and no butter for $9 was a bit measly too.

It’s such a shame but man you really need leadership and someone to care. Views and location will only carry you...