Dineen Coffee Co. — Restaurant in Toronto

I don't like giving businesses bad or mediocre reviews, but I am making exception this time, as I hope my review can contribute to some changes. Dineen used to be an awesome place, but my last visit there was very disappointing. I don't even know where to start. The countertop display was half empty, even though it was just before the lunch time. The place sells sandwiches but doesn't have a toaster oven to heat them (which is like a basic service in much smaller and less splendid establishments). I was told in another downtown Dineen location that they didn't have enough space - I didn't get any explanation this time, there was definitely enough space not for one but two toasters ovens. Lots of tables were just messy - crumbs, spilled coffee, used napkins, empty cups. there were 4 or 5 employees milling behind the counter, mostly chatting and checking their phones, but it didn't occur to any of them to walk from behind the counter and tidy up the place. I think it is just poor training and zero supervision, the staff was totally disengaged with their workplace. or maybe they have a pick up scheduled for like once every few hours. anyways, it was kind of sad. The same goes for the patio facing Temperance street. There were some bird droppings on the chairs, bench and even tables. nothing major that a piece of wet paper towel and a little bit of effort wouldn't remove. but again, it just seemed that nobody gave a toss or it just never crossed their minds to go out and give the place a bit of TLC. I probably sound like a grumpy old person who got their barista training a hundred years ago and I am just picking on younger Millenial/Gen Z staff. I mean they looked like they were nice people, I was greeted in a friendly manner and had a decent customer service experience. I just wished they cared a little more about the place, and little less about their phones (check out the picture of the busted faucet in the washroom) - talking about the washroom - its door doesn't lock. the toilet seat is quite far from the door, and you can't reach and hold the doorknob from there. So you just pray that nobody enters while you doing your business. Again, the staff looked like very nice and friendly bunch, but very poorly trained and totally unmotivated…. also, one of them was constantly touching their face, and scratching their neck and hair, which is a big no no in hospitality business especially for those who handle food (but maybe nobody cares any more?). The place has a big potential - it is a beautiful and spacious interior, and location is great. But it didn't feel very welcoming. lots of room for...

We honestly had a terrible experience here. We saw that Narcity mentioned it as a top coffee shop in the city and after visiting I couldn't disagree more. The place was very chaotic and the service was trash. We waited in line for 20 minutes to place the order, and waited another 30 minutes for our order. I understand the location was busy but it seemed like the staff were working at a glacial pace to be honest.

After waiting in line for so long there were three pastries left of the kind we wanted and since we were next in line we figured we'd get at least one. Only for a person way behind us to ask them to put those three aside for her. We complained and they said we should've done the same...like how would we know you could do that and what is the point of the line if you could just bypass the people in front of you like that (also all three? Like common at least give us one, sharing is caring). So we told her we'd get the other last pastry and the server took forever to put our order in. It was only two drinks as well straight from the menu, nothing extra or different so in that time the last pastry we wanted was taken from the other server who took two orders in the time our one was taken. It felt like we had to fight to get one of the last pastries of something. Plus our order for some reason went to the end of the que because people we saw at the end of the line getting their coffee and walking out way before us. We didn't mind waiting but it's a little ridiculous waiting so long and seeing people get ahead of you and not really waiting at all. When we asked the barista about it he said our order is coming soon and 3-4 people later we got ours....it was super odd and made me question their que process. Also my fiance paid for the medium cappuccino and got the small size...after all that we were so fed up that we didn't bother trying to get it corrected and waiting more.

Overall I was extremely disappointed by the bad service, huge wait times and disorganization...it's not worth the hype in our opinions. There's so many coffee shops downtown so we definitely wouldn't...

To the the owner/manager: If the place closes at 5pm, then I expect to see some food/pastries in the display if I walk in at 4:40. I went in yesterday and there was nothing. Then I understood it was not because they had run out of food, but because the staff had already cleaned.

I asked for a chocolate, I was told I could not get a regular cup, because, "We are about to close". Again, if the place closes at 5, you start washing cups after closing time. You don't give clients paper cups if they specifically ask for a regular cup when the place is still open. Sorry.

I paid full price for two products, plus regular 15% tip, we chose to sit down even if just for 15 minutes - we were told it would be closing, fine. Six other people were still there.

At 4:50pm, one of the employees starts spraying the empty tables and putting the chairs up. We were sitting there drinking with the chairs up around us. Again, if you close at 5:00pm, you put up the chairs after 5, something that requires 30 seconds. You don't make paying clients feel unwelcome.

Why did I pay full price, just like someone who came in at 3, tip included, then? Either you don't make people pay from 4:45, or at least tell them you don't want a tip. But if I pay, I want the full service, even if for the last 10 minutes.

I spoke to someone who was not the manager, she told me, "I will pass on your feedback". Feedback must be given to a dissatisfied customer on the spot and action must be taken promptly. If someone of the many employees behind the counter had at least apologized, I would not be writing this review. You need to react and express an opinion, not just stare at the customer and say, "I'll report this". Complaints must be dealt with.

It's one thing to remind customers the place will be closing soon, it's another thing to kick them out before closing time and be rude. Hope this review helps to refresh basic...