Balzac's Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Staff need to know what they are selling otherwise patrons can become ill and bring a lawsuit.

I was here in the early evening on August 8, 2025 and I asked the female hostess if there was a cold beverage without sugar. She said there was and it was a tonic water mixed with lemon juice. My drink was ready in a flash and it tasted a bit tart at first. I added half a pack of Splenda that I brought from home and it improved the taste. This seemed like a good alternative beverage for a diabetic or so I thought.

At home I went to my grocery store intending to buy tonic water and guess what? Its regular water has 34 grams of sugar in a 355ml can. It's diet version contains aspartame which I am allergic to.

Back in Toronto, my spouse and I visited a Balzac's café near the St Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto a few days later and I ordered the tonic water & lemon juice. I was met with disbelief from two staff members telling me they do not offer such a drink. They explained that they had a cold lemonade beverage made with lemonade mixed with two syrups, both contain sugar. That made me wonder what I actually had in NOL.

For God's sake get your female employee off the pot in NOL and tell her she is mistaken; your store does not sell anything sugar-free. Your employee put my life at risk, I could of had an allergic reaction to the sugar and aspartame and ended up in the hospital plus it would be...

My first time at a Balzac's in Ontario. They have one of the prettiest takeaway cups. I was drawn to that on the streets with people holding the cups and asked them where that came from.

Was the first customer in the morning around 7.08am on Tues Aug 27.

The staff didn't seem very enthusiastic and looked rather annoyed when I walked in. They also didn't greet me when I walked in though they seem to greet the following customers that came after me.

Not sure why.

Coffee was good and carrot cake wasn't too bad.

A little pricey in my opinion, but I don't mind paying if the service and quality of food are on par with what they are charging.

Overall a pleasant experience except the staff could improve on their service. Plus, they seem more interested in watching videos on their phones and chatting/laughing loudly amongst themselves when not serving customers, and the vids were also pretty loud. Not a good ambience for a branded cafe.

I don't see Starbucks staff chatting loudly amongst themselves behind the counters when they are on shift and watching vids on phones while at work. Maybe Balzac's MO is different and staff culture is more relaxed. But it can be rather distracting for customers who want some quiet at a cafe in...

Stepping into Balzac's Coffee Roasters, I was immediately drawn in by its charming and picturesque aesthetic. It's the kind of place that just begs you to come inside! I later realized it seemed to be a franchise, which actually speaks to its consistent appeal.

Now, for a quick, inside chuckle for my fellow Koreans: the name "Balzac" sounds exactly like "발작" in Korean, which instantly brings to mind the popular Korean meme, "발작버튼 눌렸냐?" (Did someone push your seizure button?). Most international readers won't get it, but any Korean spotting this review will surely get a little giggle out of it!

Memes aside, the cafe itself is genuinely beautiful and quaint, offering a cozy atmosphere. More importantly, the coffee and treats were delicious – the perfect complement to the lovely surroundings.

If you find yourself wandering through the delightful town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, I highly recommend popping into Balzac's. It's a wonderful spot to relax and enjoy a quality brew in a...