Laurent — Restaurant in Melbourne

We have been here many times and surprisingly I didn't give my review. So here it goes.

Service & Ambience [3] Many times when we are here, it's always difficult to find a table. This time, we spotted at a corner an empty table that sits three - just nice. Outside, I saw a family of four with a baby pram were squeezed into a single round table. No doubt, this is a busy place and at times you will find tables not cleared but credit to some staff we did their rounds to ensure tables are available. When we were finished, quickly a couple dash over.

I was reading the newest feedback and was disturbed by a reviewer sharing her observation of a particular staff who seems to discriminate customer of certain ethics. Laurent has a great spread of desserts and pastries, and by the time you reached the counter, one might forgotten what the name of the pastries is called. And agreed with the reviewer, some names are just not easy to pronounce. So what do you do, you have to walk back to where the pastries is located and point that to the staff. Will the staff follow you? Might not, so they depends on the name. And this is where the situation where you might get embarrassed trying to pronounce. Perhaps suggest to snap a picture and show to the staff at the counter and say "This one". No embarrassment and no mistakes!

Food [3]. The score varies. Why? This time we were not ask if we want our pastries to be warm. So they are served cold. A few occasions we were asked. Their coffee were good. However one comment on their Long Black. As Long Black is usually hotter than others coffee, it is served in a bowl with no handle. You either have a thick skin finger to lift the bowl or just wait to cool off.

Whenever we are in Chadstone, it's either Laurent or Little Sparrows. Both are...

I've been to Laurent at Chadstone a few times now, hoping for a consistently good experience, but unfortunately, each visit has left me more disappointed than the last.

My first negative experience was back in January when I ordered a birthday cake and was mistakenly given a working cake instead. While the team responded to our email and provided a voucher, which I appreciated, it was still upsetting given that it was for a special occasion.

The second time, we visited for a late breakfast. We were really hungry and ordered coffees and a ham baguette. Instead, we were served a roasted vegetable item. While they corrected the order eventually, the delay was frustrating, especially since we were already waiting quite a while.

Today, I visited again for a simple coffee and cake date. The cakes and danish were served on time, but the coffees took nearly 20 minutes to arrive. I had to go up twice to ask what was happening. The staff mentioned their printer was broken which I completely understand, things happen but we were never informed about the issue until I asked. Meanwhile, the table next to us said they had waited 35 minutes for their coffee.

What’s most disappointing is not just the delays, but the lack of communication and diminishing sense of professionalism. I used to enjoy coming here, but the service experience is making it harder to justify returning.

I hope the management takes this feedback seriously, as Laurent has the potential to offer a great experience it just hasn’t lived up to...

We've been going to this bakery for years and we've noticed the clear decline in quality and service to a point that confirms - we'll never go again nor recommend this bakery. I always forgave the decline in the past thinking maybe it was an off day. We ordered coffee and pastries. The cappuccino was watery and was really just a flat white in disguise. The pastries were old stale and flavorless. I complained and was told all food was fresh daily and my almond croissant was stale because it was exposed to the air on the top shelf. The pain au chocolate which was in the lower cabinet was even more stale. I won't even mention the bland and dry maple pecan torte. Given their insane prices for such tiny morsels you'd think that Laurent would back it up with quality, but sadly that's no longer the case. I've eaten better in just about any cheap take away Cafe in Melbourne. The staff might as well be robots for all the personality they displayed. It's clear there is a disdain for customers and the smiles are as fake as a $3 note if your lucky to get one. It's sad because Laurent was always our little oasis but now it's just a rip-off. Save yourself the hassle and money. Go anywhere else . We're done with this ...