inked cup — Restaurant in Melbourne

WOW!!! ROLE MODELS for RESTAURANTEURS!!!

This morning I attended INKED CUP as a fellow Restaurant Owner to make an equipment purchase.

While in the venue, I was treated to an experience that has wowed me and inspired me.

I was able to observe and experience their set-up and operations from an end-user perspective - and I am so impressed that I feel compelled to write this review.

The very moment I walked in the door I was greeted with warm, personable and engaging customer service. The team is all pro! Thank You to the team for making me feel welcome and valued.

The restaurant set up and interior is inviting, visually stimulating, and comfortable. Information is well sign posted, clean, clear and helpful.

The products - both Culinary and Retail - are beautifully presented and look delicious. INKED CUP has a broad offering that will appeal to all tastes in food and beverages, including alcohol and tea and coffee. The dishes themselves are unique and exciting! The prices are appropriate and en pointe - definitely right in the pocket and affordable for all discerning customers.

It's clear that the INKED CUP team understands the challenges of Hospitality in a post-Covid world. They have integrated ordering via multiple Platforms: Online At Counter Digital at Table

Their Online + At Table ordering is via MRYUM. I spent a lot of time studying their Menu - as well as the MRYUM platform.

As a comparison, my venue is very progressive and, therefore, also uses all three platforms - but INKED CUP does it FAR BETTER than my Venue!!!

As an aside for customers: Digital Ordering is an existential necessity for any venue serious about surviving in this challenging economy. Digital Ordering produces BETTER, SUPERIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. Do you remember ROTARY PHONES? Do you recall the world before ATMS? Do you remember a planet before Internet? Well, just like those advancements, Digital Menus offer you greater Convenience, Speed as well as Quality of Service + Cheaper Prices! You don't need a restaurant to provide Data Entry services anymore - if you know how to send an SMS or surf the internet, you can and should enjoy the freedom of creating your own food order. In doing that, you let restaurants do what they do best - make fantastic food, efficiently and at great prices!

Thank You INKED CUP for being Fantastic Role Models...

Went here on Mother's day with wife and my only two family members in Australia, a mother and son. Got a call 6 minutes after my reservation started asking if I was still coming. I was LITERALLY around the corner and there is a 10 minute grace period. I was within that, don't call me! I could have been driving or parking. Otherwise it's fair game, it was obviously busy, hence my reservation. I understand they'd need to give the table away AFTER 10 mins and a call.

Entrance was blocked by people and kids, we had to walk on the tall sidewalk and not all of us are mobile like that. My cousin is 60 and physically disabled, as am I. The kids barely moved, the parents barely tried. Please make a better way for customers to wait in line that doesn't block the way of those with reservations or disabilities.

The drinks were genuinely great, but the service was nonexistent. Staff was kind, don't worry! Just never paid any attention to us at all.

There were no menus on the table, only QR codes. Just what I want to do when I see folks I haven't seen in months; go on our phones in a restaurant. Absolute vibe killer, and it relies on the customer having their own data plan, which my cousin doesn't. I refused to use it and had to grab 4 menus off the counter. This didn't leave many for others. There were no serviettes on the table either, also had to grab them from the counter where people were ordering.

The cookie we got with our drinks was as small as a rabbit's poo. Tasted good though! Just a pathetic amount. Smaller than a bite. Felt like an insult tbh. I'd rather no cookie then if you can't afford to give me one.

3/4 of us ordered hot drinks, one a milkshake. The milkshake came a decent amount of time later, which was disappointing.

We were approached twice with food and drinks that weren't ours while we had drinks on the table, and we were there for less than an hour.

Only good thing for us was the great drinks and the $6 oat milk latte (which they call a café latte. Confusing when there's several other items simply called iced, hazelnut, and vanilla latte. Coffee is weird lol)

We did...

Thanks to my parents that told me about this place. Very nice cafe with Aussie and Asian fusion food near my hood. Its a go to place for a coffee when I'm free. Already been here a couple of times but I forgot to leave one of my light hearted and constructive review.

The food: Never disappoint period. The pasta the Asian breakfast the mee goreng jaffle are chief kiss. I wouldn't mind my cause of death is OD on the food here. My brother enjoyed the long black and I like it ice always there. Amazing.

Service: very consistent overall and service very professional especially busy period. There was one time (my recent visit actually with my wife) I was put off by one worker I think she was wearing glasses and making coffee. Maybe I'm nitpicking but I didnt like her attitude. No eye contact when greeted and when I walked into the narrow area to the toilet, I noticed she was in the way (probably getting some supplies) and I said excuse me, she didnt even react and gave a negative vibe. It reminded me a character the movie monsters inc. That big slug with that serious glasses face look. That's the look she had which i cant deal people showing that kind of face. I'll brush it off. She probably wasn't in a mood but it's not on to to put your negative emotions on to others. Other than her, the other lads at the encounter were awesome.

The atmosphere: This is tricky. When it's not busy it's a nice place to chill and chat comfortably. However when it's extremely busy, the noise is unbearable. Can't even hear or chat with my wife over a coffee with the crowd. There were times when it's not so busy, there groups of people (not gonna mention what nationality of people) but this group always speak so loud and it's unnecessary. I recommend putting a sign or something to watch their tone. Other than the noise love the great set up and so clean 👍

I definitely will come back and recommend this place but for dining in during a crowd I would order a take away. Keep up the great...