Elijah's Artisan Breadhouse — Restaurant in Sydney

I’m a local and I come 4-5 times a week. I’ve come probably over 100 times in the last 6 months so I feel like I’ve got enough data points to have a good handle on what aspects are great and what could be improved.

Firstly food is great. 5 stars. Crackling pork banhmi is awesome, pies are good, coffee is I think best in Ed square. It’s a tad expensive but everywhere is expensive now a days. I haven’t tried the bread but if it’s the bread they use in some of their meals then the bread is good too.

Now a few things to work on. Firstly, they are always always understaffed. Put more staff on! It’s regular to have to wait 5-10 mins in a line at 8.30 am just to order a coffee because the same person is making food, making coffee, doing stuff out the back and taking orders. Please arrange to Put more staff on at busy times (perhaps less staff at less busy times?)

Secondly, even if you’re understaffed; I think they need to work on their customer service. Frequently no one will acknowledge you even exist if you are waiting in line for 10 minutes. A simple “won’t be long” lets people know they aren’t just cattle with money.

Thirdly, and this is simple, can you put prices on ALL your menu items, including coffee! It should be obvious how much a coffee is - people shouldn’t have to ask staff members (after waiting for 10 minutes ) how much a large cappuccino is.

So overall, good quality products, but could improve on...

Bad customer service again. 3rd time now with the same staff (she was working on Sunday 22nd May 4.40pm when we were served by her). There was another staff making coffee but only she was working at the cash register(taking orders). Not sure if there is racial discrimination but this is the 3rd visit she has ignored me in the queue (although I was clearly waiting behind the group she was serving). She clearly didn't acknowledge us, looked at another group (not Asians) who was waiting behind me and was going to serve them before me. Thankfully, this group told her that I was next in line, then she reluctantly served me, I ordered my sourdough and paid for it. However, she proceeded to serve the group behind me and didn't get my sourdough until after serving that group first. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME SHE HAS DONE EXACTLY THE SAME RUDE CUSTOMER SERVICE. I haven't experienced this from the other staff but this must be the way she treats Asian customers, if you read their other Google review, it sounds like other Asian customers are being served sub-par customer service too.

Also, my friends (also Asian) and myself have ordered their banh mi (Vietnamese pork roll) on several occasions and there will always be certain ingredients missing.

We love Shepherds products, unfortunately this is our local store and this is the service you receive when they think there is no other competitor around or perhaps this is towards...

Shepherds is located in the internal foodcourt area of ED. One thing I dislike when walking into any cafe or bakery is the lack of pricing shown for each product. Either you ask them, don’t care about price? Or when you pay you’re like what? The bakery has quite a large tenancy space, half of the shop is taken up by the counter which I think they could have simplified and provided more tables and seats instead. I have tried the banh mi, it’s just okay but not delicious and for $9.5 all you get is crackling and not much meat. The almond croissant are reasonably priced but doesn’t taste fresh. The caramel eclair is nice but very expensive. And lastly the coffee, I personally would not purchase one from a bakery. From experience coffee never taste good from any bakery because it’s not their specialty. At the end of the day, they have boxes on the counter of all the unsold pastries for a small discounted price. They could be making too many, or they might not be selling well. ED is not a busy centre during the day, the main people going there would be residents and community nearby. If there isn’t 50% off the pastries by COB, it will be unlikely anyone would be interested and people will just...