CafeBouffon — Restaurant in Stratford

We have frequented CafeBouffon every time we came to Stratford. Sometimes even brought our friends. The food is good BUT the service is always a tad snooty. Today, as we walked in and were greeted with a cold stare then a look-away from the man and woman behind the bar (instead of a friendly, welcoming hello) we had enough of the snooty inhospitable French-wannabe attitude!

We promptly went to the pizza place down the stairs (another restaurant) where we were welcomed and acknowledged as any restaurant patrons should be! With warmth!l

CafeBouffon has seen the back of our heads for the last time. They count on the good quality food for returns but there’s more to dining out than food! Service matters! And these guys are greatly lacking in that dept!

P. S. I appreciate the prompt response and acknowledgment of my post by CafeBouffon! Thank you for providing context for the circumstances of that day!

While I empathize greatly with the situation, and offer my condolences for your loss, patrons have no way of knowing what is happening behind the scenes. It’s better to close for business and hold an intimate event rather than make others feel unwelcome. My reaction, and subsequent frustration, which led to this review, is not due to this one occasion only. It is as a result of other visits when the sentiment was similar.

From being curtly told I should not take a seat from another table for one of our guests, while the terrace was completely empty at opening time, “in case other customers arrive” to noticing the glacial reception every time we walked inside …the consistent lack of warmth and hospitality strikes me as an element of the restaurant’s culture more than an one-off.

Nonetheless, the food, location, and unique charm of your design will undoubtedly ensure your ongoing success. The loss of a few patrons won’t be noticed, I’m sure. However, taking into consideration first impressions makes a critical difference to every hospitality business and I hope this feedback will serve you, and other...

Went here on a Sunday around 11:00 AM and it was already pretty busy. We didn’t have a reservation but luckily only had to wait ~5 mins for an outdoor table (inside looked mostly booked up). If you want one of the nice tables indoors with art, chandeliers, and a cozy ambiance, I’d recommend reserving. The space itself is beautiful.

Staff were kind overall, though a bit mixed: • the woman at the bar was super helpful explaining both menus (their restaurant + the pizza place downstairs) since we weren’t sure at first • the guy who found us seating seemed a bit rushed, but it was peak time so understandable • our waitress who took the order was friendly and attentive • the person who dropped off our food seemed a little new or unsure (forgot cutlery, asked about salt/pepper right away), but was still polite

Food came out really quickly (about 5 mins). We got: • Smoked salmon eggs Benedict + fries (me): fries were tasty and crispy. Eggs were breaded/fried which gave them a nice crunch, and the muffins were good. Salmon was fresh but a bit on the salty side, and the hollandaise was so light/mild that it got absorbed into the muffin instead of standing out. • Soufflé w/ potatoes, bravas sauce + greens (friend): one side was a little overcooked and the flavor overall was pretty mild, but the lemony greens were a nice touch.

Prices are on the higher side. Not unreasonable given the atmosphere and quality of ingredients, but with a few small misses in the dishes it did feel a little steep.

Overall: Gorgeous café with a really lovely ambiance (especially indoors if you reserve), quick service, and friendly staff even if a bit inconsistent. Food was a mix — some things stood out, others less so. I’d consider coming back to try...

A disappointing dining experience.

We came here for a pre-theatre lunch, right after driving from Toronto. We had trouble finding the restaurant as the name is written in a smaller font under the pizzeria name, which occupies the basement of the same building. During the meal, we found that the portions of our mains were really small given the price (you could find a much better value at similar brunch restaurants even in Toronto). I ordered a salmon crepe, and I would have been barely half-full if not for the fries as a side (which cost $8 extra!).

The combination of flavours was also strange. The salmon crepe was salty, which was expected, but it came with sour sauce inside the crepe, a salty/sour topping, as well as a sour-ish sauce for the fries! There was no balance of flavours at all, and it just seemed like the chef wanted the dish to be as sour/salty as possible. I had to ask for ketchup to make up for it.

Talking about asking for ketchup, it took me a while to flag down a server to ask to it…In general, the service was poor. We never had any water refills during the meal, nor did anyone come to ask how our meal was. When the server brought out the mains for my two friends, she looked confused without saying anything or telling us what the dishes were, and we had to almost direct her on what to do… Overall, the restaurant has poor value, which is a pity given its beautiful interior, and I would not...