kar.ma COFFEE — Restaurant in Lalitpur Metropolitan City

Buckle up because this is a long one. I really don’t like writing negative reviews and honestly this is first I’ve ever written but I had an unsettling experience at this place today. Ive been a regular at this place for a few months now. Ive tried many of the things on the menu but occasionally when I am running low on cash I will just order milk coffee, which the menu you can pay what you want for it. So because I’m low on money I’ll usually pay a few rupees. I didn’t think I was doing anything bad, especially since at this point I’ve invested probably the Nepali rupee equivalent to $500 American dollars into this place, but the owner approached me today and said her “girls have been watching me” and they don’t appreciate how much money I put inside the chicken for the milk coffee. Fearing that I had offended her I immediately pull out 20 rupees and tried to give it to her so she could put it inside the chicken because I was rushing to leave (I had to teach a lesson upstairs in less than five minutes and I genuinely did not have time for this)She snipped at me and said “No! I don’t want you to pay me. I want to ask you why you only pay what you pay?” She did this in front of my co-workers and I was SO embarrassed. I felt that if it was really a problem how much money I (or anyone else) was putting in the chicken for the coffee that she could put a sign on the chicken that said something like “We appreciate you supporting our business, but please no less than ten rupees for our coffee” and be done with it. But interrogating a customer in front of her co-workers and letting her know that your employees spy on her when she has been a paying customer every weekend for months now......it’s just not great business practice. I’m honestly...

I recently visited Karma Coffee for the first time (besides once when I went there to buy coffee grounds) and unfortunately, my experience was far from pleasant. While the cold brew was enjoyable, the unprofessional behavior exhibited by the waiting staff left a lasting negative impression.

Upon entering the establishment, there were no visible signs indicating that it was a non-smoking area. Unaware of this policy, my companions and I unintentionally violated it. Instead of politely informing us about the rule, the lady serving us responded with an unnecessary level of arrogance and aggression. Her shouting remark,

"Tapai haru jabarjasti kina garira no vaping ho yahan thaa chaina tapai haru lai? Vape ni garna mildaina yeta, pahilo choti aaunu bha ho ra?"

was completely uncalled for and highly unprofessional.

I believe that as customers, we deserve to be treated with respect and understanding. Even if we were unaware of the non-smoking policy, a calm and polite explanation would have sufficed. This incident left us feeling embarrassed and unwelcome, completely overshadowing the otherwise good cold brew we enjoyed.

I hope that the management takes this review as constructive feedback and addresses the issue of unprofessional behavior from...

Perhaps I came on a day where they were lacking on good karma to spread? If you've found yourself a table outside (because inside space is limited and workers seem to be watching YouTube videos on the available seats) and you're waiting for someone to come take your order - it's probably not going to happen. It's (apparently?)* self-service, and you order from the menu written in chalk above the stove which can be a nightmare for near-sighted folks.

*They weren't very attentive and didn't feel the need to let us know it was a self service until I had to go back inside - after 15 mins wait - and make eye contact with the employee I first saw as I walked to my table outside. If there was a sign, I couldn't find it... When asked, the employee said "order here, pay now and come back to get your order".

Banana muffin was good and the beetroot coffee was interesting. They also sell eco-friendly products like reusable straws and menstrual cups. (Bought my first bamboo toothbrush so I am excited about that. 500 rps. Hope it's worth it.)

TLDR; not the vibes I would expect from a place called Karma Coffee....