Choukette — Restaurant in Melbourne

I’ve been coming to Choukette since they opened and have always loved the charm, food, and atmosphere. I’ve brought many friends and family over the years and recommended it to others. But a recent visit left me feeling disappointed and unsure if I’ll return.

It was a busy Sunday morning and I had my baby in a pram, on my own. The café is small and crowded, which made it difficult to move around. There’s no table service, so you have to order at the counter. But I couldn’t check if there was space in the back room without squeezing past the queue, which wasn’t possible with a pram.

When I reached the counter, the owner was crouched down and didn’t acknowledge me for a while. I waited patiently, but even a quick “I’ll be with you shortly” would have helped. When he stood up and said, “How can I help?” I began ordering: “I'll have the beef pie, please…” intending to continue. He interrupted with, “Takeaway or eat in?” I said “eat in,” and he asked, “Where are you sitting?”

I replied lightly, “Wherever we fit!” and explained I’d try the back, but might take a front table if needed. Before I could finish, he cut in sharply: “Well, I need to know where you are sitting!” It felt impatient and condescending, like I should know better than to try to order without having a table first.

I tried to explain I hadn’t been able to check due to the pram, but he didn’t really listen. He came out from behind the counter and moved chairs with a kind of urgency that made me feel scolded. He pointed to a table and said, “Will this do?” I had already said I preferred the back if there was space, but I didn’t want to argue.

I did say, “What’s with the attitude?” as I felt overwhelmed by his abruptness and pushiness. The barista quietly apologised and said they were just busy, but the owner responded defensively, repeating that he needed to know where I was sitting. In response to my explanation about the pram, he suggested that I leave the pram in the kitchen, which any parent (or anyone with empathy or common sense) knows isn’t a reasonable option.

He came back to the counter and asked if I wanted a side salad with the pie, in a rushed tone that suggested the order was over. I said I had more to order: the salad, hot chocolate, and a babycino. As I paid, I said, “I’ve been coming here a long time and have never experienced this level of impatience and rudeness.” The barista tried to smooth things over, but the owner replied, “I’m not impatient. I’ve been running this place for 16 years.” I said, “Yes, and I’ve been coming here that long.” He didn’t want to acknowledge his behaviour or apologise for it.

As I was about to sit down, I noticed the back room actually did have space. I let them know I was moving and said, “If you’d waited a few seconds, I could have seen that, but you pressured me into a table I didn’t want.” I was obviously annoyed by then.

I felt really embarrassed about causing a scene but at the same time was just really taken by surprise by the owner's attitude from the start, and felt like I was just responding the best I could to both explain the situation and to call out his rude behaviour.

When the food came, it was placed on the table without a word by a really surly waiter. I said thank you, but he just gave me a greasy look like he'd smelled something awful. The side salad was tiny, barely a spoonful, which felt like a punishment for being a difficult customer.

I left feeling rattled and unvalued, which really stung after years of loyalty. I still love many things about Choukette, and I hope this was just an off day. But, I get the feeling the place has gone down hill a bit from a number of years ago. They just don't seem to care about their customers anymore. They've gotten very popular so now I guess they can just be rude to customers and there will always be more.

Edit: The owner's reply takes no accountability for his actions, makes excuses and shifts blame further onto me. He's done the same with other reviewers when they criticise him. The arrogance is unbearable. I won't be returning...

Amazing cafe - makes everything they sell themselves. Conserves, bakery items like bread, cakes and varities of croissants along with their own ice cream, soups of the day, pie varities like duck and rabbit and staples like lunch rolls and coffee. French and authentic - I scored a choccie croissant ($4) and a brilliant sourdough loaf ($6.50? I think it was) that are the best or second best I've had since last being in France. The chocolate croissant was a little burnt in my opinion but still took me back to my memories of Paris and Dordogne. The sourdough loaf is amazing - perhaps a little pricey for regular purchase but definitely worth it for a scrumptious lunch once in a while. Keen to check out their home made ice cream, jam and pies! Two or three years ago when first moving to the area (it has taken me this long to finally get in here but it was worth the wait) I noticed they did a reasonably priced breakfast menu but sadly this did not seem to be the case on my visit yesterday. Here's hoping it makes a return (hard to find a decent 'big breakfast' for under $15 on Sydney Rd these days, which is getting far too expensive and gentrified for my own liking). I didn't even mention the cakes.. gluten free, nut free and vegan options are...

• • Delicious croissants, cakes and pastries; wide choice of meals; fabulous coffee options incuding cafe ai lait; friendly staff, etc.

Room for improvement, but no a big deal Charge customers the special price when they order the combo cake + coffee Serve cake and coffee together Serve the orders timely (I had to go back to the counter when all other customers were served to remind them that I was waiting for a cake long after I had finished the coffee) Maybe you can delay the cleaning of the inner windows to a more appropriate time when there are fewer customers (today the windows were cleaned at lunch with a strong-smelling detergent while customers were sitting in the warmth having their coffee)

• • Something that should not happen again the cake was placed on the plate by the lady who was actually cleaning the windows WITHOUT washing her hands between claening and serving; When I asked her to use a cake server she replied that it was safe to pick it with the paper under the cake. NO, I DON'T THINK SO. It was simply a violation of the correct...