The Coffee Club Smithfield — Restaurant in Queensland

The Coffee Club Smithfield Updated on 16/7/2022

After a good work out, walking for hours in the Cains Botanic Gardens, it is time for a big work out for our stomachs. Unlike our visit, the Cafe is busy, almost half full.

I see on the front window notice about staff vacancy. That explains why some reviewers complained about slow service. Is it fair or justified to "blame" on the young and inexperienced staff? I was young once and inexperienced, and under normal circumstances, the company should the blame. Unfortunately, COVID-19 turns the world topsy-turvy and unless the staff is rude, I always give them a chance to learn and Improve.

In face it is true that it takes more than half an hour for our meal to arrive, and the same order like previous visit, the Burgers look and taste totally different, except the plate arrangement and chips are the same.

Today, the Burger has very "juicy" bacon, but no tomato.The bun has sesame on top too. Despite that, it still tastes very good and chips are very crispy. This is what the order should be, not the previous occasion's.

A bit careless of the staff not to supply a saucer with the tea. A little mistake like this is a markdown on ranking.

After my simple but satisfying meal, I stack up the plates, cutlery and cups so that the staff can just put them on a tray more quickly. I ask her whether they are short staff, to that she replies there is one on training in the kitchen.

I am a very strong coffee drinker. The latte is too weak for me.

Visited on 12/7/2022

It is more like a late afternoon tea / snack. There are only two more customers in the Cafe. In fact, the whole shopping centre is silent like a grave.

There is only young staff working at the front. We place our order. It seems the computer system is not that user-friendly friendly for the staff to process the special offer.

There is quite a good size Cafe, and clean. Like most The Coffee Club, it has a display cake/pastry cabinet.

On the wall of the dining area, there is a caption "Where will I meet you?" However, the "r" is missing from the caption on the counter? Is this a game to spot the error? Will I get a prize for mentioning it in my review?

The Burger looks great and tastes good. The bun has a smooth brown crust. The chips are golden brown and crispy. Overall the quality is better than many "burgery".

Despite short staff, the young staff handles the...

Myself and two others had the displeasure of dining at Coffee Club Smithfield on Wednesday at 1155. We could accept the mix up of a short black with a pot of black tea but it was unfortunate we had to remind the staff 10 minutes later we still hadn’t received the tea. We were disappointed that the fish and salad had slimy pieces of lettuce and the fish was a heated-up piece of frozen fish. We were surprised we had to remind the staff that after 50 minutes the first meal ordered, a chicken Caesar burger, had not yet been received. The waitress had been reminded of this 15 minutes prior when the other two meals were delivered to the table. We were really let down at the quality of the burger when it finally arrived 55 mins after being ordered. Two small, shrivelled, overcooked pieces of chicken sitting on a packaged cheese slice and wilted lettuce encased in a rock-hard bun. Go back to cookery school – Caesar is not cheese and lettuce. When this was returned to the counter and the manager was requested, there was no urgency and among the snickering of two staff members making coffee she eventually came to the counter. I had to ask if she was the manager as she did not identify herself and felt when asked for her name she couldn’t disclose this. The inexperience of this manager was evident, from her presentation to lack of any care or accountability. The excuse of the rock-hard bun was it was toasted – mmm maybe two days ago. When asked why their service had dropped in quality the excuse was, they were so busy because of the reopening of the nearby department store. Looking about the café at this claim, it was almost empty so I’d hate to see them if they were busy. The lack of a simple ‘sorry, this isn’t good enough and I will be sure to rectify for the future’ was dismally absent. When suggesting she as the manager should have oversight on all dishes that left the kitchen, I was taken aback that she advised she herself had put the burger together. For a manager to think that was okay is appalling. I had to ask for a refund, maybe one could have been forthcoming but at the time it had to be demanded. Coffee Club Smithfield franchisees you need to seriously up your game, provide proper training to your staff especially at the management level as this one with her lack of care and zero accountability is going...

Caught up with a friend for coffee and cake on Sunday. Ordered 2 cappuccino and a piece of banana cake and the other a date cake. In short the place was dirty, service was poor and slow, staff was extremely rude and confrontational.

If there was a zero rating that is what I would rate this coffee shop. The specific details I write below. The person taking the order was obviously new and we had to repeat ourselves and explain and clarify the basics of our coffee order. That was okay we all have to start somewhere in a job. We sat at a table where food was just mashed into the carpet. And just avoided making it worse but moving around it. Nobody cleaned it up. We waited over 30 minutes before I went back to the counter to find our coffees sitting on the counter. I enquired about the 2 slices of cake and the staff angrily replied its being toasted. I waited a couple of minutes at the counter but went back to sit down at the table. My friend went to get a teaspoon and sugar. My friend returned and said I feel like I am stealing their sugar, I had to explain that I had coffee at the table. We waited another 20 minutes or so. Our coffee had finished and I went back to the counter. I said to the staff, I am still waiting on the cake, what's happening. Again the lady in an angry tone says you should've waited. I replied I am at the table here how long do we have to wait. The lady turned and picked up the cakes and literally threw it onto the counter towards me. I said listen you might want to serve your customers nicely and as I returned to the table said to my friend. This is the last time I'm coming here. As I was taking my seat the lady comes over yells at me stating you got anything to say, say it to my face. I yelled back at her and told her this is the last time I'll be coming here. The staff said I have lots of coffees to make and I retorted not my problem, I spoke to you good way and you want to be rude. Staff went back behind the counter. The table near us the young fella turned and said my Mum's been waiting a while and she is rude. I noticed they got up and asked for their coffee to go takeaway and left. I would have to agree with my friend's statement she totally ruined...