Carmelito Café — Restaurant in Ottawa

Went for afternoon high tea, pictured is the premium ($45) high tea. Beware long review.

Positives: Ambiance was very nice and it is a beautiful, spacious cafe. The people who work there are very nice! I could see myself coming here to buy a drink and study or catch up with friends. Nice outdoor space as well. The tableware was pretty. We had a good time despite the negatives! If I had come for the regular cafe, I would have given four stars at least, depending on what I would have had.

Negatives: for four people, it was near $200 for high tea. For that price, we kind of expected higher quality food. Some of the food was alright, but several of the desserts were bland and stale. The eclair in particular tasted like it was a few days old. I almost couldn't finish it. The scones...were not good. For high tea, they give you a selection of commercial teabags and you can only take one. You get One Teabag for a $40 pretax/tip high tea. There were paper sugar packets on the table and we had to ask for milk. The people are very nice, but we kind of felt like we'd been forgotten. We ran out of hot water several times and had to wait ~30 minutes before anyone came over. One of my friends had to go up to the staff to ask. Online menu was different from what we were served. Tea options were completely different. Unfortunate, because black signature and Earl Grey were kind of what I was hoping for. Oh well.

Conclusion: I think the cafe itself is quite nice, but I can't recommend the high tea. It's vastly overpriced for unfortunately mediocre food and nonexistent service. This is unfortunate because it is a great way to spend time with friends and I was really looking forward to a lovely experience. I am usually quite generous with my reviews but I left feeling honestly scammed, so two stars only :(

Improvement suggestions: The cafe should emphasize improving service, or even just add a keg of hot water for self-service. Place a much, much higher emphasis on the tea. Consider allowing 3 tea bags per person, I'm sure it would set you back maybe two dollars and would vastly improve the experience. Consider even getting higher quality looseleaf tea! And maybe even one (1) English style tea rather than generic "tropical, jasmine" mixes. I would have loved a simple, high quality earl gray. Maybe get sugar cubes and put them in a fancy little container instead of sugar packets. Don't make your customers ask for milk. They're here for British inspired afternoon tea. You should give them milk. Also, please don't serve your customers stale food. Finally, update your online menu so that it actually reflects the served food and tea. With these suggestions followed, I could perhaps see it being $40 per person, although even so it's still a stretch without several more improvements to the food. As of right now, I would think a fair price would be...

My recent visit to Carmelito Café was an unforgettable dive into a world where coffee is not just a beverage but a carefully crafted experience. This café impressively fuses an inviting ambiance with an excellent selection of beverages and pastries, earning it a top spot in my list of must-visit coffee shops.

The moment I walked into Carmelito Café, I was greeted by the aromatic allure of freshly brewed coffee, mingling with a faint hint of baked goods. The café's interior is beautifully designed, exuding a cozy charm that invites you to sit, relax, and enjoy.

What really sets Carmelito Café apart, though, is their coffee. Each cup I tried showcased the team's deep understanding and appreciation of coffee. The richness of the flavors, the quality of the beans, and the precision in preparation - all of it culminated in a stellar coffee experience. Whether you're a fan of classic espresso or more adventurous brews, Carmelito Café has something that will tickle your taste buds.

Complementing their coffee is a delightful array of pastries and light meals, each as delicious and well-crafted as their brews. Every bite was a testament to freshness and quality, further enhancing the overall café experience.

Above all, the staff at Carmelito Café truly added to the experience. Their warm, friendly service, coupled with their knowledge of the menu, made each interaction pleasant and personalized.

In conclusion, Carmelito Café is a haven for coffee lovers, offering a warm environment, exceptional coffee, delicious food, and outstanding service. It's a place that caters to the senses and provides a delightful escape in the midst of a bustling day. I eagerly look forward to returning and recommend it to anyone seeking a superior...

On March 11th 2021 my friends and I walked into the carmelito cafe expecting to enjoy a nice lunch and coffee. We asked for a panini that does NOT include bacon but was given a panini that did in fact include bacon so we simply went up to the counter and reminded the employee that we asked for no bacon, what happened next was horrifying. The manager came up to us so defensive and started to question and blame us for not being clear when we actually asked for no bacon, we have videos of her arguing with us and being very passive aggressive while smirking the entire time, she did not handle the situation professionally at all. All we wanted was a chicken salad panini that did not include bacon. What the owner should have done was just a knowledge the mistake on their part and fixed it for us instead of making the situation uncomfortable for us and everyone else inside the cafe. I have never experienced service like this in any restaurant or cafe in ottawa. In fact, we ended up leaving that cafe because of how uncomfortable the owner made us and went to cafe cristal (also located in barrhaven) and have been going to for years where we were treated with 5 star service and the workers look like they are happy to work there. I will also mention before this incident the workers looked miserable taking orders and always on their phones not attentive at all. I am shocked, disappointed and will never recommend this establishment to any of my friends or family. It is as if simple customer service is not in the manager’s training. If I could give this cafe zero...