Paisley Coffeehouse & Eatery — Restaurant in Hamilton

Part 1 of 2 All good things must come to an end.

I never thought I'd be leaving this review, but In a way I knew this day would come.

This coffee shop used to be known as My Dog Joe. It was a great place to relax, work, and interact with people.

This coffee shop used to be full of love - you really felt at home when you walked through the door.

About a year and a half ago, the shop was sold to a new owner. And as with many new owners- this one decided to change almost everything. Soon enough, the shop was totally "refreshed" and given an entirely new name, renovation, and vibe.

Shortly after this renovation, this new owner decided to throw in the towel and hand it off to yet another new owner.

As the months began to go by, more and more would change in this shop.

It started with the layout (including the removal of 2 bathrooms and much of the cozier seating). Then came the menu changes and the price increases.

Then came the staff changes - most of their long time staff quit. Then came the idea of putting "no laptop" signs on 50% of the tables.

More and more this place started to feel less and less welcoming, and more focused on net profit and pushing people out the door as quickly as possible.

Now let me explain a little bit about myself and my relationship with this establishment.

I have been coming here for almost 5 years now.

I actually started my online business in this coffee shop after I had dropped out of university. I still operate this business to this day, and many times I go to this shop to get work done.

I've played a couple of gigs at this shop as well. I've brought many friends here - and I even met my previous girlfriend here as well.

I'm friendly with many of the regulars who come here as well, and I've probably spent more money on food and coffee here than a person ever should spend at a coffee shop.

A few months ago is when I really started to notice that this place was slowly descending into a kind of proverbial hell so to speak.

I went in there with a friend and we were both sitting at one of their group tables working away on our laptops. A woman, who was the new owner apparently, asked us to move to a smaller cramped table in the corner, as she wanted the table free for the impending lunch rush.

The lunch rush never came, and there's always been a courtesy among patrons of this place to make room for larger parties if they require the space. There were also other individuals sitting alone at group tables whom she did not ask to move - only the two of us.

I thought it was because she didn’t like men, but I didn’t say anything.

Part 2 Continued...

I've come here for a couple years now and I'm sad to say I've noticed a decline in service as well as overall quality, though I will say I still experience some good days.

Prices: On the pricey side which I didn't mind when it was high quality, becoming increasingly less worth it when the items are not fresh, disappointing, and given in smaller and smaller portions.

Staff: I usually have a good experience with staff but recently I've felt some hostility the last couple of times I've visited. I've also had to correct my order with staff the last couple of times I've visited (or remind them of a missing item in my order. I'm a pretty non-confrontational person so sometimes I've just accepted the wrong order, also due to their the busy time means I'd be waiting much longer as well for the correct item(s)).

Drinks: Same with the drinks. Usually when I order a hot drink with coffee it's pretty much always a disappointing experience. I don't think I've ever been satisfied with a coffee based drink. Today I received a very tasteless and flavourless cappuccino that was not at all as described on the menu (no trace of the flavour syrup)... Their strength is in their cold and matcha drinks, I've never been disappointed with those.

Food: The breakfast menu items are always consistent but today I received a very cold hard breakfast bagel. Their baked goods have also been hit or miss for me, sometimes you can tell it's fresh and other times... you can tell it was a bad batch or was sitting there for a couple of days. Recommend their cookies but not donuts –not optimal to scrape up the glaze off the paper bags they're given in.

Atmosphere: The atmosphere is cozy, but it is always crowded and the set-up is so that if you're taking out your order, you're squished in an area that can barely accommodate 3 people (so it is almost always crowded).

There is also some serious disorganization for giving out orders as well. If you're dining in, staff will not bother to call out orders so you're both left waiting and unsure if an order is yours. They should also implement labelling (at least during peak times). Can't name how many times someone has gone up for my order and vice versa.

Today was my breaking point. May have to stop going to stop...

I went here last week and ordered their summer's Lavender Matcha with Oat milk. Once I saw my order was ready i asked if it had oat milk and the barista said "no. did you ask?" and i politely said yes, and she remade it. The reason i ask for oat milk is because i have an anaphylactic allergy to dairy. Moreover she gave me my "remade" drink, and i drank it confidently a few sips, until i had an allergic reaction within 5 minutes and had to throw up in the subway beside it because i was afraid of going back in there. i ended up in the hospital. i had my brother sip the drink and he is familiar with the taste of oat milk and said it did not taste like oat milk - meaning the barista either just poured in the old drink or just gave me dairy... twice. i was in the hospital for 4 hours because of this "mistake". i usually am very understanding and know that being a barista is a difficult and overwhelming job!! much respect for baristas - but i lost my respect after i asked the drink to be remade, and still ended up in the hospital. i know its up to me to mention any allergens at time of order, but i also just wanted to have my lavender matcha. i just wanted my drink to be made properly if not the first, the second time. so i could enjoy it on my lunch break. just really disappointed and the lack of respect from the barista that made my drink makes me fear to go back inside. idk what to tell you but please, if someone asks for something to be done a certain way, its for a reason. please...