Local Bean Cafe & Patisserie — Restaurant in Melbourne

We had a disappointing experience today. Firstly it clearly states outside no smoking on a sign above the outside dining. When questioned about this they had no idea what I was talking about and that smoking was allowed. Wrong! Illegal! If I had known this wouldn't have even ordered. One worker then piped up to say "we put the food in take away container so it's your choice" .... All the while our order hadn't even been started??

Secondly we ordered two simple focaccias that were already made up in the window to be toasted. 25 minutes later I had to go inside and query what's going on. They had forgotten our food order!

When we said we wanted a refund they tried to blame us as the customer for requesting avocado on the focaccia saying "that's why we don't do extras"

I told them not to bother heating up the focaccias and they offered a $12 CASH refund for our $32 order! (Two focaccia and two soft drink) . The fact that we had to explain what we had ordered and how much we had paid whilst being blamed for the whole ordeal is disgusting. Dodgy they didn't refund back into the debit card and had to stand my ground for a $22...

Their spanakopita is amazing! Nice staff. Only disappointment is that they still allow people to smoke out the front... I get the 'old school vibe' but it's illegal in outdoor areas at hospitality and food venues during the times food is available. It's such a narrow pathway, you can't avoid breathing in or being covered in smoke at times. Kids, families, whoever, are walking through there all the time.

Regulars are a joke here. They talk over you to the staff while you're placing your order as they feel entitled, and stare at you (or if you're a woman, your chest) when you're walking through the smoke clouds....

Forget customer loyalty at this place, food is ok (when you actually get any) but customer service is the pits. Don’t bother ordering via Uber as they don’t take any responsibility for it. I ordered food I didn’t get then was told they packed it personally yet there were items I hadn’t ordered in the bag?? Very rude & had absolutely no interest in sorting it out, $50 down the drain but at least I got two dipping sauces I didn’t order & a cake for dinner!! (That was the total of what I got with a tough luck for...