Standing Room Coffee - Fitzroy North — Restaurant in Melbourne

I've come here a few times and I have always enjoyed the food and coffee here. This morning, I came with my Swiss Shepherd for brekky and then the poor thing vomited outside. He was obviously having a bout of stomach issues. Since he did it in front of another customer's table, I kindly told the staff about it so they could help clean it up and not impact the other customers. The poor thing then vomited a bit more afterwards in front of our table - it didn't bother me so I thought the staff would see it after we've paid and left. After I've paid, the waiter who cleaned up his vomit told me he felt like it is not the staff's responsibility to clean up a dog's vomit and that I should have offered to clean it up. First of all, if this staff had an issue with cleaning up the vomit, he could have given me the cleaning items and asked me help cuz he's so busy right now. Secondly, it's not my fault my pup vomited - vomit happens. Thirdly, the cafe should be clear about its cleaning policy. I wondered, if a child vomited on premise, would the waiter asked the customer to clean up after the child? Overall, this was not a pleasant experience and I will not be coming back to Standing Room in the future. I'll stick with the friendly Picnic cafe next door. Customers with ill pups be warned...be expected to clean up...

Look, I know that style is style - you either have it or you don't... and let's be real... i probably... don't. But i gotta say, as one non-partisan to another, i would like to see more plants (more color) in the room. i mean, all that room to stand, but i can only see white. minimalism... ok, sure. but could you at least install a mural? i'm giving you 5 stars because the coffee is pretty good and this is really a broader discussion about VISION. but i dunno, it doesn't sit well with me that u guys exercise increasing hegemony over the fitzroy north cafe scene, and there's nothing really happening in terms of mural or plants or aged timber or soup cans with the cutlery in it. cleanliness is next to godliness... sure, i get it. you are clean and capable - you are capable of anything. i get it, seriously. so this is a broader discussion about dirt and cleaning. you are team clean. i am team dirt....

The coffee is great, the staff are lovely, and the food is good despite being on the steep side for what you get, but the soaring popularity of the place has sadly diminished the atmosphere in the months since it opened. The line for takeaways regularly extends out the door, with no clarity as to whether the line is for takeout only or also for those waiting on a table. More than once I’ve seen this result in customers waiting for a table only for someone else to bypass the line, swoop in and take the spot. There also now seems to be a priority placed on getting people out quickly, once they’ve finished their meals. Recently, one of the servers literally pushed the bill across the table at my friend and I as we were taking the last sips of our coffee, as if to say, clearly “Time’s up”. The high turnover of staff also makes the experience of dining here feel less familiar and friendly...