The Cupping Room | Cafe Canberra — Restaurant in District of Canberra Central

Back in Canberra and thought I'd check this place out as it had such good reviews. I went in with high expectations and that was my 2nd mistake. The first was coming here.

I went at lunchtime so you have to expect some noise. I couldn't even hear myself think it was that noisy. Then there was the flies, I mean a LOT of flies buzzing around me. I may as well been outside, it was really off putting.

The young waiter who told me he'd only been there a week was pleasant and welcoming. I gave them a star for that. I told him it was my first time there and asked him to recommend something good from the menu. He recommended an ice coffee to start off with and a fish dish for mains. Lay it on me I said.

The iced coffee arrived, nice enough, nothing to write home about. Let's face it, if you can't get iced coffee right? Then came the main dish, and with it, more flies. It comprised of a few pieces of fish on a bed of half cook noodles, half of which were stuck together, all drowning in some sort of spicy broth. At least the green garnish on top looked good.

I ended up eating the fish and some of the noodles that were cooked and left the rest as the whole meal didn't make sense and the flavours were all over the place and not enjoyable at all. I was so disappointed, I just got up and left everything behind, including the iced coffee. The flies were welcomed to it.

I did make a point of relaying my first dining experience with the cashier on the way out whilst paying. He apologized and said he was sorry I hadn't enjoyed my dining experience. I gave them another star for that.

Guys, you need to improve on your food and fly controls, you've got a...

Caveat: I really REALLY want to love this place so much, I've only been once so hopefully I enjoy it more next time (and can update my review 😊). It was busy when I went, but not totally insane.

I waited outside next to the "please wait to be seated" sign for almost 15mins before staff spoke to me. I was the only one waiting. I tried to stop a waitresses after 10mins and they were kinda rude about it.. Maybe because I was there by myself, they subconsciously couldn't be bothered to seat me? I don't know.. I wasn't attended to until my date arrived

Once seated with my partner (running late), we each ordered a coffee. It was only 2 coffees and they got the order very mixed up.

I sat there for over 30mins watching the staff waste SO MUCH clean water filling up the table water jugs at the tap. It was honestly sickening, I got up several times to turn the tap off because I just could not stand it. It really put me off the whole date. I also saw at least one other patron do the same.

Anyway, everyone else raves about the place, so I will try again and hopefully enjoy it more so I can update my review.

I hope the owner or venue manager reads this and can do something about these issues (or at least the water issue). Please PLEASE ask the staff to just turn the bloody tap off. 🤬 Fill a bottle or 2 at a time, dont just let it run for 5-10mins wasting...

Recent Update: Wanted to be filled with coffee on a rainy day, so ordered full cream milk-based and almond milk-based coffee. Unfortunately, they didn't have almond milk (a shame), so we changed to oat milk and suddenly realised they use minor figures... This milk completely ruined the taste of the coffee and made the Maple Bean taste so sour and bitter. The flavours of Caramel, Biscuits, Nuts and Spices were all gone, and became a bitter melon soup:( The full cream one was still as nice as before, but we found out that the coffee prices went to an insane stage for the cupping room now. Two medium coffee (both with two shots) for $13.14 is unimaginable. It is not like what we cannot afford, it is just not worth it. The coffee was not bad but not matching the money we paid. And that was the reason we decided to downscale the stars from 5 to 2. Some Recommended Places and Milk for Coffee: East Row Specialty Coffee | Forrest Specialty Coffee for Ona Coffee Riverina Full Cream/Gold/Lite Milk Milklab Almond Milk A.D.C Oat Milk Bonsoy Soy Milk (Please stop trying other brands and ruin your coffee with those incorrectly-manufactured milk) Past Review: Missing ONA s coffee a lot, surprisingly the foods were unimaginably good and the fried chicken was too juicy to stay in my mouth for a little bit longer..so I can take...