NEO COFFEE BAR BAY X COLLEGE — Restaurant in Toronto

I’ve been coming to the Bay and College location for years, and never have I been as disappointed in their staff’s behaviour as I am right now. There’s a gentleman employed at this location who I see that many other people have complained about (white dude, glasses, painfully millennial haircut with a quiff, no personality and is very rude).

My partner and I (both young, people of colour) were rudely approached by this gentleman, saying they don’t allow outside food on TWO different occasions. The first time, my food was brought from home. The second time was when I was merely holding food in my hand and not actively eating it. I had paid for my drink and a cookie (which was indelibly stale, but I’ll save my comments on the quality of their food for another time). Therefore, having “outside” food on me was not depriving them of any sales. God forbid that I eat something more than the pastries that they serve at Neo. I think this “issue” could’ve been handled in a respectful manner, yet his attitude was very condescending and rude. I feel targeted as a young, person of colour, because I have never had any other staff member speak to me this way.

In the past, I’ve never had an issue with staff, they’ve always been very kind and accommodating, even when addressing issues. As someone who also works in customer service, I wouldn’t dare speak to my customers the way he spoke to me. I’m disappointed to see that as many people that have complained in the very recent past, nothing has been done. It looks really bad on Neo’s brand to blatantly ignore other customers' comments and to continue on as if nothing happened. I would be embarrassed to have this man be the face of my company and I hope one day they can come to their senses and hire polite, dignified employees.

I don’t care if he’s management, if he is, he should be a lot more concerned with how he comes off to his patrons. If he’s forgetting, the people that come to your store are the people that are keeping it open. It genuinely pays to be kind to people. I will be avoiding this location as his harassment has completely put me off. It seems as if he’s more concerned with going on a power trip than he is with providing good customer service. I know you guys won’t mourn the loss of what you perceive to be one customer, but as I’ve brought countless friends here throughout the years, I will now be going elsewhere to ensure I give my business to a company that actually values their customers’ experiences.

I’ve lost faith in anyone doing anything about this man, but I’m writing this here to warn everyone else about him. If he’s miserable and hates dealing with the general public, maybe he should stop working in customer service,...

I was genuinely hoping Neo Coffee Bar could be one of those cozy spots I come back to often. There aren’t many cafés in the area that stay open past 6 or 7, so I was excited to find one that looked promising.

But then I saw the sign—something like “leave the work behind”—and found out they don’t allow laptops or tablets after 5 p.m.

Honestly, what’s the point? The place was almost empty, and yet they’re enforcing this rule like it’s some hyper-busy café in downtown San Francisco. I understand wanting to create a certain atmosphere, but at the end of the day, you’re a coffee shop. People come in to relax, get things done, or just exist in peace. Making that harder for no good reason is just… disappointing.

Even if I wanted to go back casually, this left a bad taste. Feels like a place that’s more focused on appearances than actually serving the people who walk through the door.

Edit in response to the owners’ reply: Thanks for the reply, but honestly, the idea of creating a “vibrant and interactive space” kind of falls flat when the place is empty. I get the intention, but in practice, it feels more like a restriction than a community-builder—especially when people like me are just looking for a welcoming spot to work or unwind.

If I’d walked into a packed café full of people chatting, I might’ve understood. But enforcing that rule in a nearly empty space just made the whole experience feel performative. I’d love to support local cafés, but this policy just doesn’t make sense...

I've been to this location many times the last 3 years. I have to say the quality of food and drinks has gotten better. It is a Japanese style cafe. They offer matcha lattes, roll cakes, cheesecakes, pastries, and lunch options. I usually stop by for a quick drink and pastry.

During the pandemic, I felt that the espresso based drinks were watery and pastries were stale. But after 2 visits in the last 30 days, I can say that the quality has improved significantly. I had a decaf latte, and the espresso was full-bodied and aromatic. I ordered a croissant, and it was soft, buttery, and fresh. I observed that their pastries were made in-house because I saw two bakers actively working away. I'm glad they have worked on their products, and it is reflected in their quality.

My total for a latte and croissant came up to $10, which is going to be pricey for some, but it is the norm for downtown coffeeshops. They have narrow bench style seating along the cafe and a community table. It can become busy and crowded, and the entrance area can be packed. Making it difficult to find seating or figure out which line to stand in to place an order.

On the bonus side, they have a "Happy hour" of their own for house made drinks. You get 50% off the same drink that you ordered earlier in the day. You just have to have your copy of the...