Felice Cafe — Restaurant in Central Core

As a resident of the building next to Felice I was really excited to have the convenience of a modern and innovative cafe next to me with dog friendly patios.

While I have had a few good experiences there (hence the review not being all bad) I do have a few small complaints.

The drinks are quite underwhelming with a lot of them having muted flavours. I have liked one out of the three drinks I've tried but for the price drink quality should be much better than what it is.

They have frequently gotten my order wrong when I've asked for my london fog extra sweet and they have gotten my order wrong before as well.

The snacks and desserts are pretty good. A wider selection would be nice to see but it looks like that is coming.

They frequently forget to ask for loyalty information so I do miss out on points sometimes but I think that just comes with longer training.

Finally, the last time I was in I was turned off by what I presumed was their manager? One of their regular customers allows his dog in the cafe off leash to order his drink and then grab it to take it home. I had brought my leashed dogs inside as I was in a hurry and just wanted to order a drink. Wait outside to get it and then make my way back home. The manager quickly ran out from behind the counter (who often sees this other dog come in and does not complain) and very rudely told me "we are not pet friendly". As a frequent customer at this point she knew that I was well aware of this policy as she had seen my pets a multitude of times so I responded that I would just be grabbing my drink and leaving. We waited outside for our items but she continued to be very huffy and watched us making me quite uncomfortable and a tad embarrassing especially knowing that I was a frequent customer and that they have allowed other dogs OFF LEASH in the cafe to do the same thing I did. One of my dogs while having separation anxiety, is also my registered E.S.A and typically most cafes and restaurants I have been to have been extremely understanding of this but that last experience at Felice completely turned me off of the cafe for good. I don't think I'll be visiting again or quite at least not for a very long time (I haven't gone in 3 weeks due to this disappointing experience) and I can no longer give Felice the really positive review I had...

Edit: In response to the owner's response to my review--can't wait to see Felice continue to evolve. I will certainly update this review as this change for the better!

Original review: My rating is actually 3.5, but Google doesn't allow that so I've rounded up.

I'm conflicted about Felice: it's SUCH a cool place with a beautiful interior/patio, but I feel like it's yet to hit its potential. I think that's to be expected with such a new business. The coffee is good (but not quite great) and the service has been excellent both times that I've been. Because of the way they do food, you could choose something really great or really middling, which I suppose is the downside of sourcing food from different local businesses. The coffee and food are generally overpriced as well, but again that's what you have to expect with small-batch food sold in someone else's storefront. Still, if you happen on something tasty and get a good cup of coffee, you're going to have a nice time here with its relaxed but modern vibe.

The main reason why I think it's yet to hit its potential is that the space feels like it could be so much more--with a larger menu and the addition of alcoholic beverages, it could be such a cool community hangout spot. I'm not sure if that's the direction that the owners want to go in, but it feels like the building is perfect for that.

Still, with an expanded menu and alcohol comes more expenses and licenses, so I wouldn't be surprised if it just stays as a cafe. Still... just imagine! Having a cold beer and hot finger foods before walking a couple blocks away to catch a soccer match or a football game? Amazing.

While I still haven't been blown away by Felice, I will continue to come here to support this cool business in the hopes that it will hit its potential one day--lord knows that this area could use more cool...

I visited this café for the first time and was disappointed by the lack of clear labeling for vegan items. When I asked a staff member for clarification, they were unsure, and I had to ask the baker directly (he’s an outsider, doesn’t work for this business).

I later provided the owner with feedback, suggesting that labeling vegan options would make it easier for both customers and staff. Instead of acknowledging the issue, they justified their choice by saying that labeling vegan products hurts sales. That reasoning is disappointing—if a business chooses to sell vegan items, they should stand behind them instead of hiding the fact that they’re vegan.

On top of that, the responsibility was placed on me, the customer, to seek out multiple staff members for clarification. That’s not a great experience for anyone, especially when the solution is as simple as a label. Worse, if I had been asking about a specific ingredient due to an allergy, this lack of knowledge could have been dangerous. Knowing exactly what you’re selling isn’t just about convenience—it’s about safety.

If you don’t mind asking around to figure out what you’re actually buying, this café might be fine for you. But personally, I prefer to support places that take pride in what they offer and make things easier for their...