Brick Lane Espresso — Restaurant in Sydney

Update: Most of the feedback given in my previous review (below) has since been addressed. Good to see! They have a newly printed and revised menu, cleaner dining areas, covid-safe practices, improved meals, and reduced noise from barista staff. Staff are working hard and standards have lifted. Well done Brick Lane 👍

-----Previous review-----

It's an alright cafe, nothing outstanding. It is sometimes quite busy, but predominantly due to a lack of competition and consumer choice at this location. Been a few times so here's my honest opinion...

Some waitstaff don't seem to have had any training or experience in customer service - not their fault but certainly room for improvement. Indoor tables are sometimes sticky and unclean - and the flies love it that way. Barista staff are sometimes noisy and you hear everything they say if eating indoor. They also sometimes play music too loud (likely a strategy to get rid of customers near closing times, but not a great look when walking past). Outdoor area is prefered by most for these reasons.

'Specials' menus are printed on the same old paper as when the place first opened, so you get a sense that they not special (perhaps antiques) and that the menu doesn't change. Specials should really be built around seasonal and discounted produce rather than just some add-ons thought up after the menu was printed several years ago.

Food is sometimes hit and miss which suggests inconsistencies with kitchen staff, but they do some things well.

New covid recommendations and requirements are inconsistently met.

I think a lot of work went into setting this cafe up, but they really seem to be resting on the fact that there is little consumer choice at the location (driving false costumer loyalty) and the standards are...

After waiting 10 minutes in line for a takeaway coffee, someone pushed I front of several people who were all waiting. A man then pushed to the front of the queue, I informed the gentlemen that there was a long queue, and he obviously ignored me - the CSR, assured me that I would receive my coffee before as the man had evidently pushed in.

We made a comment to the man, after paying for our coffee that it was proper etiquette to wait in line to be served. The owner of the cafe and barista at the time, rudely interjected, berating me and my family. He informed us that the man whom had pushed in was he’s uncle, and that he didn’t matter that he had pushed in. It was ok for both the owner of the cafe and his uncle to treat us inappropriately, berating us in front of other customers - but not ok for us voice our opinion.

We asked for our money back and the owner laughed at us as he told us to get a coffee down the road. We did, and the service at the other cafe was exceptional.

Overall, regardless of how coffee tastes, customer service is always a deciding factor in my dining choices and this is the rudest cafe that I have been to in a very long time, I would not recommend it and I will be sharing my experience with my local community networks.

Image: showing us getting our money back after being treated disgustingly by the owner...

We usually frequent this place, but unfortunately, our recent experiences with the lady named Lisa have been quite unpleasant. She displays an abnoxious attitude towards us and other customers. On one occasion, when we offered a bread crumb to our dog in the outdoor area, she publicly berated us, claiming it was rude to do so while other dogs were tied under the chairs. She even insulted us, calling us clumsy.

Today, she crossed all limits of decency after receiving a warning from us last time, despite our polite approach. While we were sitting outside, a big fly fell into my coffee, and I expressed my concern to Lisa. Instead of offering a solution or apology, she responded rudely by saying that she couldn't do anything about it but could give me a spoon to remove the fly and drink the coffee. When I asked her if she would drink it herself, she replied that she would if a fly fell into her coffee. This response was incredibly rude and unacceptable.

I want to advise others not to patronize this establishment because of its terrible service and hospitality. I will never return to this...