Society Royale — Restaurant in Sydney

Went to have coffee at this place around midday with a friend. Sat down at a table outside when the waitress came and asked us to sit somewhere else as that table was reserved for guests having lunch. We then asked if we can move to an adjacent table, which just became available as the guests left. She said it was fine and cleaned up the table. Got our orders and were about 10 minutes or so into our coffees when first the waitress then the manager (or owner) came out telling us that that particular table was reserved for a couple, who were now waiting to get seated. We then told him that they should have told us about it when we were seated and would now just prefer to finish our coffees than moving again. Besides there was another table available behind us but apparently the couple preferred our table as it was sunny. The manager was very argumentative and rude talking to us as well, which I was surprised at. I appreciate he priotises patrons who have lunch in these difficult times but just because we only had a coffee this time, we could have had lunch there another time if the service is nice. A good example of how to lose customers when you focus on short term profit. My friend and I have been locals for 20 years now and have never come across this treatment. The place deserves a star though as the coffee was pretty good and they serve sparkling water.

UPDATE: responding to owner. First of all, the checking in was not the issue here. (Note we did check in. If a patron doesn't check in, it is your responsibility to enforce that they check in before you serve them. ) Other parts of the response are just not true. When we sat down at a table and were told that it's reserved for patrons having lunch, we moved immediately. We asked the waitress about the adjacent table, which was indeed being vacated, and she said sure. She didn't have any problems with us moving there and she didn't say anything about it being reserved contrary what the owner states. Then when the owner came to ask us to move again, we said we were just about to finish anyway and expressed our disappointment at how paying guests are being handled. By the way, why couldn't the guests just be seated at the other empty table? It was the exact same table just a meter behind. How would they have reserved exactly the one we were sitting at? Also, two of our friends have also complained that they got served their coffees in takeaway cups despite sitting at a table. Apparently the owner said they might have to move if somebody walks in for food service. Honestly, what kind of customer service is this?? There are multiple complaints about customer service in the reviews here so if I were the owner, I'd seriously have a think rather than trying to come up...

Royale Specialty used to be my favorite coffee shop, and I used to recommend it to all my friends around. Even though I haven't been coming here frequently due to work, every visit has been delightful, especially because of their chicken tartine, which I highly recommend.

Recently, I heard they moved to a new location, and I was excited about it. So, I made time to drive over for breakfast. However, I was taken aback when an employee approached me right after I sat down to ask what coffee I wanted. I was busy tying my shoelaces at that moment, and it was quite awkward. I managed to request a large ice latte, emphasizing its size to avoid any misunderstandings. I also ordered my beloved chicken tartine, but they didn't double-check my order.

When they brought me a small cup of ice latte, I was surprised and reminded them that I asked for a large one. The staff seemed confused but didn't apologize. My mood was already affected. Later, when my chicken tartine arrived, my disappointment deepened. The dish was too dry and lacked the rich flavors it used to have. I could also detect a strong unpleasant odor from the chicken. It was the first time I felt so let down after visiting this place multiple times.

The experience I had this morning was genuine, and I thought you should know, so I'm leaving...

A great little corner coffee shop in Crown Street, Surry Hills. It’s everyone friendly, bring you dog, your kid and dare I say it even your mother. With a menu to suit any diner and a comfortable environment with outdoor seating that suits bringing your puppy for your morning brunch. The vibe here is cool, watch the passers by whilst you chat.

The staff are super friendly and relaxed and they offered us a coffee on a stool out front whilst we waited for our table.

The coffee here is excellent, batch brew, milk based, espresso and even cascara. They also roast their own beans. We really liked the coffee, in began with a batch brew and latte. We also like the sustainable focus, using biodegradable coffee cups if you’re grabbing a take out.

A good selection of food on the menu and the prices are very reasonable. Pastries on the counter and the menu sporting Bircher, sweet potato Rosti and a variety of sandwiches / focaccia. The breakfast plate was a good choice, served with manoosh, boiled egg, avo, fetta and house made pickles.

The Egg Royale seemed to be a popular choice with diners, the focaccia was filled with a cheese frittata, leg ham, fetta & served with a side of relish.

An all round great experience and we’ll...