Tribeca Coffee Co. — Restaurant in Oakville

Okay I am the bad customer because I didn't go back and let them make it right. I just don't see how it could work out positively at this point, but that's my problem not the shop's. However this is my experience and how you can avoid it.

Desire: regular coffee with a bit of time with my book, maybe a cookie or something.

Time: Friday morning at 9:30am in summer

Experience: It seemed a nice lively atmosphere where people are reading and doing business, not too loud but not a library. No long line. Decor feels natural not trying too hard.

I felt a bit judged for ordering just a large medium roast, maybe that's all in my head but it was there. I could not afford a coffee and any baked good together because I wanted to use cash and I only had $6 on me - again that's my problem but a useful fyi.

I asked for here but maybe she had 20/20 foresight because she gave me a to go cup. I put in my milk and tried to grab the correct lid, it was obviously wrong because it LOOKS like it fit but it did not. I did NOT overfill it but I filled it 95% because I did ask for room for milk but it was 90% full and there was no pour off spot. I tried to ask the employee who was dusting about the cup lids but I guess he didn't hear my 'excuse me' and I let it go.

There were no seats I could see available. All tables were full and all the bar seats were taken. There was a small room with glass wall and open door that looked like it was for employees but maybe it wasn't? There was a laptop there anyways. So disappointed that I wanted to spend $4 for 30 minutes at a coffee shop and instead I spent $4 for a coffee. I left out the back.

The coffee: It's not to my taste, the roast is too strong and so it leaves an acrid flavour. But the real problem was the cup. I guess I DID have the wrong lid size ( again I didn't see any labeling between the white and blue lids) and so my cup started to leak a bit but no big deal, but then if I put any pressure on the cup one direction or another it made a bunch more leak out. So now I stand in light rain with a coffee I don't like and more depressing missing out on the experience I didn't get to have because I don't have more money in the budget for discretionary for the day, nor more ability to consume caffeine for several hours.

How to avoid this: a) Know that their coffee is a strong roast even on the medium b) Be louder when asking for assistance? Or more persistent? I wasn't persistent enough c) bring more money - my expectations weren't realistic to the current financial needs of a coffee shop d) come later in the day or properly scope out the available seats before ordering ( I thought I saw two free but they had jackets over them) e) give the owner a chance to make it better before you give up like a sad sack.

Tribeca can better label...

Tribeca has all the right makings for a great coffee spot... especially out in the 905 burbs. I would just be jumping up and down if a spot like this was in Mississauga. When walking in, we spotted Pilot and Propeller coffee beans (Toronto roasters) and Sloane on the walls. The good stuff you'd want to see in a coffee spot.

When you first walk in, I noticed how large and spacious it was beyond the barista place. The aesthetics is a chill, modern, and comfortable place. Cozy would be another good word to describe this place. Lots of natural light is found with the skylights. It does have a lot of tables available. Some are larger tables in their coffee tasting or lesson room and others are elevated bar seating. On a Weekend morning, it was busy ... all the tables were taken and unlike Toronto, the tables weren't crowded by laptops. It was just filled with people enjoying conversations.

Service here is friendly ... but slow and maybe a bit confused too. We were greeted nicely and first in line but we noticed after our order, the line up grew to 4 people behind us and stayed that way for quite some time. Unlike Toronto spots, I don't think they started on our drinks for at least another 4 minutes and then they forgot the 2nd drink.

As for their menu, it's a large one with many interesting seasonal choices. They had butter coffee, bombproof matcha which I learned is matcha version of butter coffee, and other interesting drinks. We ordered up our favourite espresso based drink, flat white, and also their seasonal option of the salted caramel flat white.

Flat White - I'm not sure this drink was off because it was the one that she forgot to make the first time we waited for drinks. More akin to a cappuccino and latte, this drink was frothy and had more milk to water down the already weak espresso shot. It felt like we were drinking warmed milk. 2/5

Salted Caramel Flat White - Faring a little better because of the addition of the Torani caramel sauce. The first sips was like the other flat white. Over frothed instead of micro foam and really light in flavour. It just had a mild sweetness at first. Unlike other commercial syrups, they usually mix in naturally as you place the espresso and milk into the cup. This caramel sauce just sat at the bottom of the cup and made it undrinkable for the last 30%. It was just too much thick sweetness at the end. 2.5/5

The quality of drinks unfortunately reminded us a bit of Starbucks with its drink being mild and weak in the espresso shot. Maybe an off day with the barista and feeling overwhelmed with the long line up? I'm not sure but unfortunately not a spot I could say it was good...

Hands down love Tribeca Coffee. The espresso's and mocha's are on point. My wife and I have made it destination for us every time we go to Oakville. After looking at the reviews below, I went through the trouble of checking other reviews by the same poster. If you want an experience then "SLOW THE FCK down and take your time. This isn't Tim hortons where the staff are on a time watch to get you in and out. When was the last time you went into a restaurant for a great meal and the food showed up in 2 minutes?

Selena Lalani if the milk tasted like it was expired, did you tell someone? Did they offer to make you another one? Why not let the restaurant know? And this sounds like to me you were more concerned about the price than you were about the taste since you posted $6 for a coffee. And here's a little wake up call. A Starbucks Grande and Venti costs more. Next time go to Tim Hortons or wait for McDonal'ds $1 coffee days. I'm sure you'll brag about how much you saved rather than how much you spent even if it was cold. I'm sure paying for a martini at $12 is no issue but a $6 coffee is a problem?

Dave Oh. You gave them a 1 Star and then gave Starbucks a 1 Star and Harveys a 4 Star? This should say something about your character. You don't like to wait for great service. And you are obviously anti-social since you energy in the workplace is a problem for you. Definitely not the place for you budd. Time to think before you go. And to say its bad coffee? So now you're a coffee expert? And I guess Starbucks must really suck when there is one at every block and people are willing to pay for the experience and the great staff. Or better yet check their stock value.

Moral of the story above. If you think its okay to knock a small business, imagine if someone could do the same about your work ethic. Imagine your employer posting about you texting at work, or coming in late, or making excuses, calling in sick so you could take a day off or doing a bad job. And then the rest of the world sees the posts and thinks "I AIN'T HIRING THAT INDIVIDUAL". So reflect back on your character and ask what you could do differently. Let's be positive people. I'm sure there's flaws in all of us. But focus on the positives.

And to the owners of Tribeca. Continue promoting conversation in the work place. And a positive energy within the staff. If they had to stand around like robots all day you may as well get self check out lane. I enjoy going into a small business where staff interact and don't PUSH you to hurry up with your order. Makes me feel like we are...