Cakebread Artisan Bakery & Hot Chocolates — Restaurant in Courtenay

Cake Bread and Hot Chocolate are a match made in heaven and are part of my weekly (sometimes daily??) routine. I'm not a regular review writer but this is one 'business' that I talk about often to petty much anyone who will listen. First of all the staff seem to be one happy family, so if it's not a great place to work they sure are good at faking it. They are always smiling and friendly and I often find myself talking to them and wishing there wasn't a person behind me so I could keep talking. The chocolates and hand packed ice cream on the Hot Chocolate side are exquisite and I have 5 or 6 must haves like the Berry Quartet and the Toffee Truffle. I find myself at the bakery every time I'm in town for a 'best ever' berry or chocolate berry scone - I would hate to know how many I have eaten. I can easily say that everything at the bakery is fabulous but their bread is the best - any where - including Europe. Ask someone how they came to be the amazing bread makers that they truly are. I tell every one what I think about their bread and they all enjoy it at our Christmas open house where among other things we cook a giant ham and serve it with a multitude of mustards and a dozen or more different loaves of Cake Bread bread - it's the best! I am reminded every season how much they look forward to the ham and bread. I'm sure there are other things they look forward too but I know the bread is really the draw. Check it out !! Sue...

The customer care here goes far above and beyond ! They all seem like amazing human beings ! The food is super fresh and tasty and aesthetic, I haven't had their desserts - but they look so divine ! The drinks though, that's the best part, they're so delicious, the baristas are attentive and the price is perfect.

BUT today my experience was really off. The whole vibe was different, which is going to happen, they were pretty busy. The weird thing though is my 20oz drink was put in what "looked" like a 160z cup ... When I asked the lady said "they changed their cups, the bottoms are now bigger"

Well two things; my drink the day before was a 16oz, and it's THE EXACT SAME SIZE as my "20oz" drink today's, I have the cup in my recycling... So then yesterday I was given a 20oz when asked for a 16... 🤔 ... (There was also too much foam and it didn't taste like it normally does)

Also their display sizes should be updated. 💁‍♀️ So then you don't have...

I live in Victoria and have bought chocolates for friends over the years when visiting family in Courtenay. I’ve always had good experiences there except the last time a few weeks ago. The man who served me was very rude and impatient. They were busy but not overly so. I asked for a box made up with all milk chocolate truffles. He took them out with his bare hands no gloves. While he handled the paper wrap holding the chocolate, one would think they would use gloves as standard sanitary practice to prevent contamination, especially during a pandemic. Then he sighed and rolled his eyes when I asked for a ribbon on the box like the ones on the shelf. In retrospect I should have left without buying them and called the health department. I asked for one of the little booklets telling the origin of the store, etc, and the young girl behind the counter slammed it on the counter l like it was an inconvenience. So rude!! I will never shop...