ESPRESSO D WORKS IKEBUKURO — Restaurant in Tokyo

Overall: Very poor service Went on Sunday, 1/7/2024 at 12:50

There were 8 available tables available (including outside tables) but refused to seat any customers.

We were finally seated at 14:20 (90 minute wait). The table was not properly cleaned and had bread crumbs from the previous group.

Water was self-service and had 2 pitchers, but did not refill it for over 30 minutes.

Food was good. Bread was hot and fluffy. The shrimp and pesto pasta was rich in flavor.

Service from make, front-of-house server うらwas poor. Appeared to walked around the restaurant doing nothing or talking with other staff, despite tables waiting to be cleared and lots of guests waiting in line. Other staff were okay, prompt in bringing food and fulfilling other requests such as water refills and bringing more bread. Other staff also assisted in families with their strollers going up and down the stairs. However, spent a lot of time having fun, talking and on their phones - appearing to do the bare minimum in customer service.

The one male server alone would have me question...

Disappointed!!! I never seen a restaurant with so many employees and so disorganized. One salad takes 30min to be served to your table. Both chief looks completely lost and team disoriented. Orders are coming and the staff is doing nothing to speed the service. Chicken salad is not a chicken salad. Three poor pieces of chicken cut after being taking out from a plastic bag. No taste at all. The second salad took more than 40min to be served, what a shame. All you can eat bread but some pieces are not fresh at all. What a shame!! Pancakes are fine. Really really disappointed because the restaurant is nice but the rest no. Paying JPY 1,700 for a salad of this type is non sense. Pasta are fine but price is high, you can eat better pasta for less at the Tulys just in front of. It is written that you have a formula with coffee included but at the end I paid more. It is not a place to go, I am sure there are better restaurants...

unlimited bread sampling for lunch???? with house whipped butter????? this is like heaven.

i couldn’t finish a lunch set and a pancake set, so i settled with lunch and having to go back. i didn’t know it included a bread sample menu and i’m so carbed out.

i had the squash cream and bacon pasta and i was so tempted to get dessert too— but i was holding out hope to get pancakes with a drink after my meal but not when they’re handing you multiple samples of IN HOUSE BAKED BREAD.

possibly one of the best places i’ve eaten in japan and i’m 200% coming back and telling anyone who would sit still for 2 minutes about this place!!!

the price is also extremely reasonable for how much i’m eating. i feel like i’m robbing them.

i am OVERJOYED at this place and i can’t believe i haven’t been coming here...