Balzac's Reference Library — Restaurant in Toronto

UPDATE: Balzac's reached out to me via email to resolve the customer service experience. They had a regional director visit the store and try to understand the situation, ensured employees would know how to handle said situation in the future, and also provided me with a response acknowledging a valid complaint, while sharing their perspective. I am impressed with Balzac's management/leadership here to make the extra effort to respond to me and my girlfriend's issue. I'm changing the review given just how much care the company has showed. Thank you Balzac's!

Old Review Below:

Be wary of the customer service at this location. Me and my girlfriend had a horrible experience - and this is coming from fans of Balzac's. My office goes for Balzac's runs and she studied at Balzac's through her schooling.

My girlfriend's phone battery had died and she remembered that some Balzac's locations offered chargers to patrons. We walked in and asked the cashier if they had a spare charger for customers we could borrow. The cashier asked "Apple or Android?" - We said "Android." They unplugged a charger from an outlet behind them examined the port, and put it down in front of us. We thanked them and expressed how grateful we were to get the charger.

We ordered a drink and tipped generously for the help. When I went to get a seat, my girlfriend ordered and went to grab the charger, but this cashier stopped her and took the charger away from her. They then grinned at my girlfriend and proceeded to help the next customer.

We proceeded to go ask for a manager to share our experience and were told "we don't have management here" and "that's not how we operate." We then proceeded to voice our concerns to the employees that would listen. They were just as confused by our story.

What was bad was these other employees had to apologize on their behalf, and the employee who was the source of the problem stood there listening to all of it - did not bother to say anything.

We wanted to share this feedback because we enjoy Balzac's but be leery of the customer service at this...

I'm usually hesitant to leave negative reviews based on one experience, but I'm inclined to believe that this is typical. I came to the library, and decided to get a latte while I'm here. I made the unfortunate decision to get the Golden Latte. I hate payment terminals that nag you to tip; I picked up my own order, what am I tipping for? Pay your workers better! Anyways, with a modest tip, this tiny portion (350mL?) came out to over $8! I had to ask to make sure they gave me the large size that I asked for (they did). Now, onto the drink itself. DO NOT get the Golden Latte. I really doubt anyone would actually like this thing, at least not the way it was prepared for me. It is downright disgusting and not drinkable. If you've ever had raw Tumeric, this was basically a good latte with a ton of raw tumeric dumped in. It was so bitter and unappetizing. It's possible that the barista accidentally put too much Tumeric in my drink, but I don't have any reason to suspect that

The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars, despite being served an $8 drink that I couldn't take more than a few sips out of, is the friendly staff, the nice seating, and...

I've had no better coffee anywhere. When I read about coffee in a book, maybe hear a podcast about a soldier shivering with coffee in a canteen, a salior somewhere in the forbbiden lands of the antarctic, hands down Balzac's coffee if what I imagine the human race drinks. Or should drink. Of will drink?

Look, its great. I can't make you taste it with words. If I could I'd be some flavour magician and that's just wierd. So go find it and taste it.

As my most trusted firend say of The Farmers blend, "It's like drinking a cup of chocolate." Only just ealier today she stated: "Also running super low on coffee. Need to get some tomorrow.... Luv my new coffee." This was for followed (within the time is takes for a taste magic particle mixed with caffeine to near instantaneously declare "Don't by [Redacted] at all anymore"

Also, the reference library in TO is kitty corner to my office. It's made my commute much more delicious and awesome.

Go Canada and Southern Ontario! Please open one in Brantford!!!!! Pretty please! I can bake and make wikced pickles.

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