Second Cup Café — Restaurant in Edmonton

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY TO PUT DOOR CODES ON THE BATHROOM DOORS? TRUST ME, IT WILL BE WORTH IT: IT WILL BE MUCH BETTER FOR THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, AND YOU WILL MAKE MORE MONEY. LOOK AT IT AS AN INVESTMENT. YOU WILL MAKE UP THAT COST IN NO TIME! MONEY WELL SPENT.

Great place as far as feel goes - feels relaxed and very homely. I prefer it that way to many other big chain coffee shops. Good service. Good coffee.

My biggest and only concern is that a key is needed to use the bathroom. It is quite disgusting to have to handle a key that many have touched and not washed their hands after using the bathroom.

I understand why a key is used to get into the bathrooms, I respect that. But it is far from being ideal to have a key used to get into the bathrooms. After I wash my hands, I do not want to handle a key and bring it back to the counter. Also, I do not want the barista's to handle that key giving it to me and other patrons - that is in some ways even more disgusting. Because how could they possibly wash their hands after each and every time they handle the key before getting back to work handling food, coffee and washing dishes? A manager or owner should not expect that either, even though they should be doing that. This is not fair to the workers here.

For the most part after awhile the baristas were not just handing us the key but were walking over to the bathroom with the key to open the doors for patrons to use bathroom. I have chosen to go to other places many times because of this scenario. I didn't come here for a very long time bacause of this. And I may not come back for awhile yet again.

At this very moment, I want to use the bathroom again but I refuse to go ask for the key again. So I will just head home.

The solution to this problem is to do what Starbucks in the area does: Put in a password punch-in machine to get into bathrooms. All the patron has to do is ask for passcode from barista and then punch it in. Very simple fix that would strengthen the comfort and function of this Second Cup location.

I will come back once in awhile to check on this issue. If it doesn't change, this location will never be my regular place. And I live closer to here than any other place.

I will edit my review if...

Make sure you're really, really clear with your orders here. Second Cup is normally great, but if given the opportunity to misinterpret something, they will. You ask for to-go, they give you a plate and a ceramic mug. You ask for no napkins, they say "what?" four times and then give you double napkins. I asked for a sandwich, so they rang through an english muffin. I don't think I have ever gotten what I actually ordered here, not once. Well no, there was this one time they had these turmeric drinks and they did give me one when I ordered it, but the cup was literally 30% pure turmeric powder. The Indian girl I was on a date with balked at it. Again, the INDIAN GIRL thought it was more turmeric than you should be legally permitted to put in anything. That might have just been the drink though.

Edit: I just noticed what another reviewer said about staff speaking noise. 100% yes. If you take the staff out of the picture, this is actually an extremely quiet location. Not super scenic out the window, but that's not their fault. Decent seating for a small location. But the staff are loud. Not yelling, but they're 80% of the noise...

Let me tell you about my last 3 times at this location…keep in mind it’s not a complicated order at all.

The beginning of the end, day 1, service was slow with new staff that seemed very confused and not adequately trained. Took a long time to get my order. Too long. I watched as they stumbled around making drinks. It was not busy either.

Next day, same new staff, made my drink wrong. I go back in and say it’s wrong, she makes it again after I waited in line (again)… and guess what ! Wrong again. Clearly she had no idea what she was doing. I then just ask for my money back, which I had to again wait for. It was about a 20+ minute ordeal. Not acceptable.

Last shot, I was the first one in, gave my order and watched as everyone else behind me gets their drink first. Literally the last guy that ordered in that rush walked out right away with a drink. Unbelievable. I asked if mine was even going to be made, and she just looked at me like she had no clue what I was there for.

TERRIBLE. ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE LOCATION. Not even if I’m desperate will I ever go here...