Gourmet Tart Co. — Restaurant in Galway

The owner and staff allow a persistent begger to accost every patron both entering and exiting whilst on the premises.

It is a shame that I find myself writing this poor review but after the flippant and patronizing reply I recieved from the owner it is a must. Firstly I shall start off by saying the food is good and reasonably priced. So much so that I have been frequenting this business for 11 years. As you can imagine, that alone is a considerable amount of money per person.

However,for the last five years or so, there has been a man who sits right beside the entrance sometimes with a coffee sometimes without who will literally ask EVERYONE that has to pass him to enter the cafe for money. He does this as people enter, he does this to the same people as they exit. He also does this to people simply passing the restaurant. Not only will he do it from Gourmet Tart tables whilst sat but he will also stand and approach people directly. To my amazement he also does this inside the cafe too. The staff do not mind this at all. Now, for anyone that has lived centrally in Galway city for over a decade you will have experienced the relentless and persistent beggers aswel as the organized begging gangs that plague the city. Your patience will dwindle towards these people after a while.

Back to this particular man. He has literally asked me hundreds of time. Worse still is the fact that this man is fully cared for by the state and is by no means destitute. Possible mental health issues aside, it does not give you free reign to habitually accost strangers relentlessly every day.

Two weeks ago I entered as usual for a coffee and this man again predictably asked me for money. I said no and then complained politely to the barista that this man begging was unacceptable. She basically shrugged her shoulders. Predictably as I left the same man followed me to my car asking again for money...

So today, I go in with my partner, and the man predictably asked us for money wo which I said no. As I went and bought my coffee, he queued behind me and ordered his coffee. To my amazement the barista said no charge. Enjoy. This man then takes up his usual seat by the front door.

As we drank our coffee, I observed as usual this man ask every single person entering for money. Whether that be the father and his three toddlers, the elderly woman, the young girl or student. He asked them all and all of them naturally looked uncomfortable and displeased.

Now to the point of this review. I decided I would email Gourmet Tart and raise awareness of this man by outlining all the above. To my astonishment, I recieved a reply from the owner who proceeded to explain to me in a thinly veiled patronizing way that indeed her staff have 'no problem' with this man and that he has coffees bought for him by others and that he is not threatening to the staff in anyway etc etc.

She continued to basically suggest he wasnt harming anyone and seemed perturbed that I would even raise this with her.

She also rather flippantly asked me was the point of my email to ask that he be banned? Or asked to stop begging?

Instead of recognizing that a customer for over a decade at her business was geuinely aggreived at what is clearly an unacceptable practice ongoing at one of her cafes, she revealed herself to be fully aware that this was happening and instead went on the defensive and offensive towards me.

Alas, I shall never return to the cafe. It is a shame for me but it is also a decision I must take...

The Gourmet Tart Co. at all their locations have consistently supported many charities actively contributing to a sense of community and well-being wherever they are located.

They recognise everyone for their individuality and I have always felt welcomed, recognised and more engaged with my fellow humankind after any visit there.

Their kindness shines through their staff and their actions on a daily basis.

Their genuine acknowledgment of the diversity of their customer base is laudable.

They support creativity, charity and “building people up”!! This extends to staff, customers and charities alike.

This can be with something as small as supporting someone’s art initiatives, animal welfare pursuits or helping them learn & navigate how to be part of a workplace that is kind, caring & patient.

They seem keenly aware of the struggles some people face within themselves and the wider world. I have seen them “pay it forward” with a kind word and a free coffee many a time and although it may not seem much at the time it’s obvious how much it means to that person who needed that humanity at that moment.

Gourmet Tart Company please continue being uniquely you, being authentic and most of all in a world where you can be anything continue to “Be Kind!”

Your coffee in the bright pink happy cups and your pain au raisin coupled with a quick chat with your baristas and staff are what makes us think that the world is still a happy, bright and...

Rocked down here this morning at 6.57am . Walked into the place and was told they're not open for another 5mins. Asked could I even just sit inside as it was raining for the 3 mins . Was told I couldn't. I've been a regular here for years and I've been inside on numerous occasions 5 or 10 mins with other locals earlier. . . Forget about the not serving me for the 3 mins but to be told to stand out in the rain was terrible. .Plenty of other cafés in town that will appreciate the business. ...