Cafe Baffico - Sourdough Doughnuts + Pizza — Restaurant in Hamilton

I was there couple of hours ago, I usually enjoy this place. The interior design is cute, and it's clean. Unfortunately, one thing that bothers me a lot about here is the lady taking orders. I mean, I don't want to be harsh and I can feel like she wasn't intentionally rude, I guess that's just how she is... However, she wasn't kind, caring, and welcoming at all. She can at least try to be more open to communicating? She didn't even give any instructions, not even a single thing: where are the cutlery, napkins, etc.? And just before we left, we saw the "dishes here please" sign, and went back to our table and brought our dishes. And she saw me, she was looking at us, but she again didn't say anything! Girl, c'mon, at least say thank you or just interact with your customers in any way you prefer. It was just weird and I felt like a judging teacher was watching us :s Some people aren't meant to be for service industry and she is one of them, I believe. She is also the hostess of the company, right? Welcoming people, the very first impression, and I think it's very important. No one prefers to be welcomed by someone who makes them feel like they're unwanted. I think she needs to be back-of-house staff, like behind the scenes. And the guy, he served our coffee, must be front-of-house staff. He was super welcoming and kind, and nicely yet shortly (which is actually a good thing) talkative. He shortly looked both of ours face while serving the coffees, and this kind of small gestures are super important in service industry, even human communication in general. Because at the end of day, it's the feeling that sticks with us after we visited a restaurant or any place. And if it's a nice feeling, people choose to come back to a place again and again. Anyways... Other than this, I always like their dishware; they also go really well with the interior design or the entire theme of the place. We got the lemon poppyseed and blueberry lemon donuts. I like the first one, the second one was okay, couldn't taste the blueberry flavor much. But the dough is def really really good. Never tried their pizza, but if the dough for the donuts is this much of a quality, probably, the pizzas would be...

Me and my partner decided to check out this cafe because it has good reviews. I have to say, I'm not sure what the hype is about.

Upon entering, I noticed that people were lining up directly beside the donuts for sale. I don't think this is the most sanitary set up, especially considering it was a rainy day and people's jackets were dripping wet. The donuts could easily be touched, knocked over, tampered with, coughed and sneezed on by anyone in the line or just walkig by -- so, I opted out of the donuts.

Instead, both of us bought a cortado with a ham and cheese croissaint to go. The croissant was fine. There wasn't as much ham or cheese in it as I expected. It would have also been nice to have it warmed up.

The cortados seemed to take a very long time to make. It felt like 10 minutes or more. It seemed like all the drinks were made one at a time, queued in the same way as ordered. This by itself is fine, but I suggest considering looking for ways to expedite the process, like queueing steps that can overlap (steaming milk while the expresso shots for the next drink are being pulled, etc.). You could even considering expediting drinks for the people who ordered to-go because my while my partner and I stood there waiting for our drinks, we got in the way of servers, people walking into the cafe, people ordering, and people throwing out their waste/leaving their plates. The bar where we had to wait is awkwardly in front of the coffee bar, the front door/exit, the cashier, and the tray for cups/plates. It felt awkward and messy.

In short: the food was okay and the envionment is generally welcoming. I suggest rethinking the front layout of the cafe and expediting the drink process.

Note: I haven't tried the coveted pizze yet, but I will be trying it over the weekend and...

Café Baffico is an absolute gem in Hamilton’s east end! I came here for both the pizza and the donuts, and both were fantastic. The sourdough pizza crust is light but still chewy, and you can taste the quality in the ingredients. I tried the Roni Supreme and the Summer Garden Party — the balance of flavors and the option to add a drizzle of hot honey really put it over the top. Easily some of the best pizza I’ve had in the city.

The donuts are just as impressive. They’re made with sourdough, which gives them a unique texture and flavor that sets them apart from the usual. I had the Apple Fritter and a Mango Chili Cruller, and they were fresh, creative, and not overly sweet. Definitely the kind of donuts you tell friends about.

The café itself has a warm, cozy vibe with friendly staff who clearly care about what they’re serving. Everything feels thoughtfully prepared and the space is well maintained. It’s the kind of spot where you can grab a quick coffee and pastry or sit down for a pizza night and feel at home either way.

If you’re in Hamilton, you need to check this place out — whether it’s for a box of donuts in the morning or pizza in the evening, Café Baffico...