Against The Grind — Restaurant in Sydney

Terrible experience Ive been there so many times for coffee and breakfast before and have never encounter such rude employees. was there change of owners? Im never coming back or recommend it to anyone.

I went in on Sunday 28 lunch I asked for a table for 2 and as usual I sit near the window comfy benches and it was empty - why not because me and my wife have back problems love to sit there but the hostess barista said I couldn't I did mention I have sit there before and I wanted to sit there she denied the table and gave a weird look and still no from her I the said can I have a table for 4 she didn't even said anything and walked away, I just sat down at my regular table it took for ever to be served and even to get my coffee to exact 13 minutes. when I was ready to order they said they can take my order unless your other part of the group arrives technically they wanted to move me and they did at the end to a smaller table where my back was going to suffer from those chairs that they have. THERE IS WAYS TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU CANT SIT THERE- HEY WE GET VERY BUSY ETC WE RECOMMEND A SMALLER TABLE BUT GIVING ME THE WEIRD LOOK LIKE I WASN'T WELCOME.

My terrible experience was not done yet, once I order and got my food my order that I usually get: the fried rice with egg- delicious but the portions are smaller then usual for 22$ not worth my money anymore and to finish I had a hair on my food which they gave me a cookie to kinda keep me happy and said they would remake it . Im a restaurant manager and Ive never had turn down customers where they want to sit I get it if its busy but not when its not busy. I think you need new staff that actually love customer service in my opinion. I was a regular customer.

giving 1 star cause i...

Service was literally chaotic! One staff told us one thing ("Wait here and I will find you a table"...never came back for us) and a different staff told us something else ("Please wait over at the other entrance to be seated")...We were very confused at this point 😕 As we were heading towards the other entrance, another staff directed us to a table inside. We followed her in but then she got distracted talking to other customers. So we end up showing ourselves to a table! Then a second round of table...Just trying to get someone's attention here was not an easy task. Once our orders were taken, the same staff from before told us that she will bring us back some water...never seen our water. Once again we are trying to get someone's attention for some water. He asked us - "You want more water?" (No one brought us any water to begin with). If this was based on service alone...I would give this place 3 stars for service. The only thing that saved this place and for me to give them a four star review is the food and coffee but that's about it. I definitely recommend their homemade chicken liver pate. It's very delicious! But I'm still not sure if I will be coming back again though...service is also important to...

This place is absolutely buzzing on the weekend, and it seems to constantly teeter on the edge of comfortable full capacity and too many customers for the staff to possibly service and cater for.

However, we didn’t have to wait too long to be served and given a table. With the more flexible mention options, I think this is perhaps the cheapest avocado on toast I’ve seen in North Sydney! About $8! There’s also a deli inside, toward the back of the cafe.

I think I’d want to come back again and try this place on a weekday, when it’s quieter. It was absolute madness when we were there, staff rushing back and forth and bumping into your chair, due to the narrow gaps between tables and the wall. They were out of the main coffee beans that they were advertising at the front window display, and they initially didn’t know what coffee was being displayed. It took a little while to get cutlery. Staff were absolutely flying around the place, as it was so busy. But the food was delicious, the Brickfields bread was wonderful, as was the avocado, the lemon and the oil sprinkled on top of the sourdough. It was really delicious food and I will definitely be back to try it again, at a...