Sidetrack: A Wortley Café — Restaurant in Ontario

Not bad. VERY cramped quarters with many spots taken up by a large chest freezer and folks on laptops (how do they make money?) who upon one visit had 2 people who kinda took up too much room on the bench that could easily have accommodated 3-4 bodies. Decent tea and coffee blends and a nice, albeit smallish selection of sweet pastries to accommodate those with various diets and allergies. They also serve scones, quiche and wraps if you have a hankering for a light meal. I like that the teas are hand bagged...one of the tastier blends comes via the Tea Haus. On warmish days there's window service for folks on the go. Service is business friendly and quick (regulars will chat the team up during lulls), but I don't like how I can't add my own sweetener as the barrista's hand is a bit heavy with it. They don't have spoons to squeeze out tea bags so I used a fork instead (gotta remember to pack my own...)...

I am so deeply disappointed with the way I was treated at Sidetrack the other day. I have supported this small business since they opened and most devotedly during the pandemic. I would sometimes make the 45-minute drive there just to buy a latte. I often brought friends and family to their walk-up window to introduce them to Sidetrack's offerings.

My loyalty was completely disregarded on Tuesday when I was refused service for not wearing a mask even though the provincial mandate has been lifted. I am still reeling from the unexpected interaction as I stood in line and made to feel like an outcast. I foolishly thought the staff would be happy to see my smiling face in their cafe. Boy was I wrong. :-(

I immediately left and visited another cafe nearby, where the experience was positive and reaffirming.

Support is a two-way street, and I will take my business elsewhere now, where I am warmly welcomed and...

Visited on April 25th with my 84 year old mom. We ordered at the window and wanted to sit inside. The man taking our order was impatient and not polite when my mom asked for a cookie after we put in our initial order. He expressed impatience and was rude. He did say we could sit inside, but they had blocked off half the restaurant for what I can only assume was restocking, and another employee had taken up the counter where the stools were so he could restock. He didn't offer us the stools, nor did anyone help us get another stool for another table. I went behind the barrier to get it myself. Then when we asked for my mom's scone to be heated, the employee said "give me a minute". It was not a pleasant experience. Nobody tried to help and we were made to feel like we were inconveniencing the staff. We won't be back, even if they're the only coffee...