School Specialty Coffee — Restaurant in Burlington

I’ve visited School Specialty Coffee a few times and really enjoyed their Nutella Latte. I also tried the Spanish Latte hot and was excited to come back and try it iced this time.

While waiting in line, I noticed several flies hovering around — and actually landing on — the baked pastry items behind the counter. This wasn’t just one fly; there were several, and it immediately made me question the cleanliness of the place.

It was enough for us to walk out without ordering, which was a shame because I had enjoyed the drinks in the past (though they are quite pricey). I appreciated the change from the usual coffee chains, but after seeing that, I’m not sure I’ll be back. Cleanliness is essential — especially when you’re serving food.

In response:

While I understand fruit flies are attracted to fresh produce, the presence of multiple flies landing directly on pastries in a food establishment is a hygiene issue, not just an inconvenience. Many of us use fruits and vegetables daily, but that doesn’t mean we accept flies crawling on our food.

Fruit flies are known to carry bacteria and pathogens picked up from garbage, drains, or other contaminated surfaces. When they land on ready-to-eat food like baked goods, there’s a risk of cross-contamination. According to health and food safety experts, the presence of fruit flies, especially around uncovered food, is considered a sanitation concern and can lead to failed health inspections if not addressed properly.

This wasn’t a single fly that wandered in. There were several, hovering and landing directly on the pastries. That’s enough to raise legitimate concerns. Cleanliness in any food service setting isn’t just about visible surfaces, it includes pest prevention, especially around exposed food.

My review was an honest account of what I witnessed. As a customer, I have every right to express concern when basic food safety appears to be...

First off, i want to say the young lady who welcomed me in, complimented my daughters dress and said Happy birthday to me... this review doesnt apply! If she wants to find a workplace that respects her, she needs to start looking elsewhere. There were 3 people working today, the sweet dark hair lady with a beautiful accent was treated so poorly by the other two employees in front of the customers to the point where we were uncomfortable. She took our order and others... the gentleman interrupted her recommendation to recommend his own. He heard our order as he suggested and all we thought was well. Until orders after were pooring out. His glares and eye rolles to the other lady were awful. All the sudden the 3rd employee says sorry the lady who took your order didnt give the barista your cups so we are starting your order now. This was another attack on the newer employee. They all heard our order, we all discussed it before it got busy. The barista interrupted and recommended... how does he not know to start making them? They blamed her for everything and it was an awful atmosphere because of it. So much so we almost said forget it! To the first lady i met i wish i knew her name, thank you and i hope you leave and find somewhere that...

Absolutely love this place! School Specialty Coffee has quickly become one of my favourite spots in Burlington. Their coffee and matcha are next level. I order their matcha often, and the quality and flavour are just so, so good. I also love that they offer macadamia milk (such a nice touch!) and their baked goods are genuinely delicious, especially the butter tarts and almond croissants.

We order from them a lot through Uber Eats, and they always include the cutest handwritten notes, which adds such a warm personal touch that you rarely see from coffee shops anymore. It’s those little things that really make a difference.

The whole vibe is cozy and welcoming, and you can tell they truly care about quality. Honestly, I’m really sorry to say it because I do enjoy Starbucks, but School Specialty Coffee is far superior. If you want delicious drinks and treats made with care, this is the spot. Highly...