Cafe Gaia — Restaurant in Melbourne

I’m a regular to Cafe Gaia and have been coming for years now. The food has always been consistent and the coffee is great!

Unfortunately yesterday we experienced poor customer service from one of the owners and I must share this review.

We were peacefully enjoying our meals and were seated on two joined tables. The lady then asked us rudely if we were using the table, we said yes and she looked at us confused and asked us again. I said our daughter is sitting on the chair and we need the table.

She continued on and started banging chairs down at the other table beside us to set up the table, she started talking again and said she needs the table as someone is coming in 30mins. She was very rude and I just said.. you know what don’t worry, just have the table. She moved the table and I grabbed a spare chair so my daughter could sit down. Then she said oh I guess they’re coming in 30mins there’s time.

Prior to this I also witnessed her talk down at her staff about serving a green smoothie to the wrong table. The poor young staff lady was so sorry and you could hear it in her voice. When the young lady approached us to take our finished plates, I said she was doing a good job and gave us great service.

Despite having beautiful consistent food.. customer service is such a big part of the whole experience. My husband said we’re never coming back here. I sadly feel the same.

When I went to pay I told the other owner about my experience and he looked at me confused, and when I pointed out it was his partner that gave us the bad service he was confused, acted like nothing happened and continued on making coffee.

Honestly.. I have no words really. I’m extremely disappointed and after all these years of being a loyal customer I’m sorry but I won’t be coming back and will be sharing this with others I know that come...

Service is extremely slow. The cafe is small, maximum 10 tables with 1 single waiter, apparently isn't capable to serve. After waiting 15 minutes we had to grab the waiters attention to order to which he replies "2 seconds" 5 minutes pass and he still hasn't served us. We were literally watching him stand at the counter doing nothing, seems as though he forgot about us. When we finally decided to serve us, he had absolutely no manners and a i'm over it attitude. Considering it's ANZAC day today and your more than likely getting penalties as well, your service could have been a lot better (thanks to the gentleman wearing glasses with long black hair) for your amazing service. Did I forget it took 5 minutes for 2 glasses of water? Not exaggerated either.

Food came, it was mediocre at best, I ordered the "special" truffle mushroom spaghetti with Salmon. I'm not sure what was so special since the pricing for it was exactly the same as the menu $26. We also got the chicken sandwich, it just fell apart upon contact with the knife and fork.

Total was $76+ give or take, not worth if you ask me. Much better cafes out there such as The Peacock for example.

But hey, go in for yourself and make your own...

One star for NOT STANDING UP FOR PATRONS

I chose Cafe Gaia to have a peaceful lunch with a friend, away from noisy Toorak Road. However, just after we ordered, a 30s woman sitting behind us pulled out her phone and proceeded to have a conversation on Face Time on loud speaker.

I politely asked her if she would turn the loud speaker off, but she refused, telling me rudely that "No, it was a public place and she could do as she liked." She reiterated this to the person she was loudly speaking to.

I asked a member of staff who told me she was 'Management' to ask this woman to talk quietly. However, she wouldn't, and instead suggested we move to a table outside.

If it wouldn't have ruined our lunch together, we would have left.

The woman continued her loud conversation despite the fact there were three other people sitting and eating close by.

This is not good enough! There are standards of behaviour that should be upheld in a restaurant. Our experience was not the quiet enjoyable one we expected, but a most unpleasant one! How about an explanation...