Beans & Leaves — Restaurant in County Westmeath

First off, having to order ourselves on an app of by the kiosk is fine, but you could literally see other people in the cafe being frustrated by trying to do this. Also, a tip is added by default and it's a hassle on the site to remove it. I really don't see why a tip should even be given when you consider the lack of involvement of the staff in your order, and the low quality of the food.

When the shakshuka arrived the plate was absolutely boiling hot and burned my partner, and there was no warning given by the staff at all that the plate was hot

As for how overpriced the food was, it would cost an additional €3.50 if you want to replace the eggs with your fry with scrambled eggs...

Another 3.50 for a side of hallumi which tasted of nothing but salt

€12.99 for a fry (I asked for no beans) that looks like this (toast not pictured)

Bacon was so tough when I tried to cut it a bit few off the plate entirely, and the sausages were the dryest I've ever had in my life In total it cost €45 for a mini fry, side of fries, shakshuka with a side of hallumi, 2 soft drinks and a smoothie. This is the most overpriced and unwhelming breakfast we have ever had in Athlone and we've been living here over 8 years...

While we were there someone obviously had food go down the wrong way and was having a coughing fit, so her friend asked for a glass of water, and they were changed for a bottle as they "don't have tap water"...

It seems like they are overcharging and then instead of spending their money on good ingredients, or better chefs, they are wasting money on seemingly useless headsets for their staff and self-order kiosks, which don't even seem needed because the place is tiny.

When my partner had finished eating someone came over to try to take both of our plates while I had food almost in my mouth. Then a few minutes later someone came over again and asked if we had any plates to clear while the only plates on the table were mine, and again, I had food almost in my mouth. It's like they were trying to get us out as soon as possible because we'd already paid...

My partner literally said he would have kicked himself had he tipped ahead of time because of how terrible the experience...

Went here twice had horrible experience here both times. Staff are barely staff as they make the consumer do all the work on your phone, might as well ordered from a delivery app.

First time i went i was having a really personal conversation with a friend and the staff interrupted our conversation three times to ask us how we found the food. Furthermore even though i wasn't finished my food they kept insisting they needed to take my plate despite the fact i will still using it. I said no, they then asked me again 3 minutes later when i was obviously still esting.

Second experience was worse as despite doing everything on the phone correctly and ordering, the staff decided to give my friend chai tea as opposed to a chai latte then said if she wanted what she had already ordered and paid for she would have to order and pay again to cover the cost of the businesses mistake! Furthermore after my friend pointed out the error the staff person she was taljing to said "let me go see what happened" and left for 25mins and had different staff member come out to tell my friend she would need to pay extra. Extremely disrespectful of the waitress to leave and not even bother coming back after the mistake herslef. Also when we asked the staff questions about the food e.g how many pieces of bacon does this meal have they told us an incorrect amount, causing us to order and pay for extra bacon on the website (because staff don't take orders) then we had much more bafon than the amount the staff said we would have. Causing the food to be wasted.

Staff once again insisted on taking my plate as i was using it and actively eating.

After ordering on the website the website asks u to leave a tip by default. However why should i tip a waiter/waitress for taking my order when I'm ordering the food myself on my own personal Internet data connection.

Will never...

We had come here about 4 years ago and popped in today for the first time since.

The staff were really nice but their new ordering system is such a pain.

You have to order everything through a QR code, including drinks, and you have to pay as you order. My wife decided she'd just have water so we had put our order in, asked the waitress for water for the table and they said they can only give bottled water and it can only be ordered through the app.

The app also has a tip included by default, which is not the norm in Ireland to begin with, but it's also not totally clear on how to remove it.

Paying for your food in advance in a sit-down restaurant situation also isn't the norm, but also tipping ahead before you've even got your food? Your only experience so far has been, being seated. They're not even taking your order.

Food was fine, but expensive for what you get.

The staff serving us were lovely and I can't speak for them but I get the feeling they don't love the...