Circus Circus — Restaurant in Albert-Eden

I never thought that I would write a negative review about this place; in fact, this is the very first time I've written a review. I was extremely disappointed with the service I received today, especially shocked by how the manager cannot handle any customer service communication. I felt like I was talking to a wall, honestly.

I am a regular here, having been one for over 4 years. Always have a soy latte when I visit this place, and today was the first time that the coffee was so bitter to the point I could not drink it. So I asked one of the staff (waiter) that I always have a soy latte here, and today the coffee is extremely bitter and I cannot even taste any soy in it, so I asked him if he could check if this was soy latte. He apologised and took the coffee, which I had only taken a sip of; soon after, they brought me a new one that was even more bitter than the first. The waiter was very kind; he was always really good.

The waiter asked how the coffee was as he walked past, and I told him it's even more bitter and it's still the same. And the manager came. From here, I felt that she was not listening to me AT ALL. I wasn't mad or anything before I started talking to the manager.

After I explained what happened, this was her response:

Manager: Sorry, but the milk is the same, the beans are the same, we have two baristas who work in shifts, so nothing has changed.

Me: First of all, I never asked for a second coffee, especially if the coffee is going to taste exactly the same as the one I raised an issue for. Secondly, it would have been much better if you had suggested some options before bringing me the exact same coffee. You could have done something to adjust the problem I mentioned (bitterness) by making the second coffee with a single shot instead of double, etc.

Manager: Just because the coffee is single shot doesn't make the drink less bitter.

Me: Yes, it does.

Manager: Oh... does it? Well, sorry, but we cannot give you a third drink.

Me: I don't need it either, but I am really unhappy about how you are dealing with the issue. I traveled all the way from North with my aged mum because we enjoy the coffee here. If the coffee taste is changed, that's fine because then I will just not come all the way here for coffee, but the way you are dealing with the problem is so disappointing that it ruins the whole visit.

From here, the manager kept repeating herself that nothing changed, there's nothing she can do, can't make the third coffee, etc. So I gave up on the conversation with her, returned the second coffee to the kitchen that I only had a spoon of taste to check the bitterness. And got my coffee from the Chapter across the road, which is one of my other cafes that I used to go to. Mum had a sip of their coffee and said, 'This is not bitter, and I can taste the soy.'

I am not going back to Circus Circus, never again. Not because of the staff or coffee, but the way the manager deals with the problem. She was not willing to listen to the customer's needs at all. She doesn't know how to view the problem from the customer's perspective, but instead keeps forcing her words on top of the customer's concern. I've never seen a manager who cannot communicate this bad. The waiter was so much better in communicating than the manager. It was a shocking experience. I've never had any experience like this that made me so upset. Never. As other reviews have also mentioned, the place is not the same as it used to be in the past. I miss the old staff...

What we ordered: Walnut brownie $6.9 Pistachio tan slice $6.9 White chocolate Oreo cheesecake $13.9 Tiramisu $13.9

I was very hesitant about this cafe cause the clown decor was terrifying but I was pleasantly surprised!

The walnut brownie was the biggest brownie I have ever bought, it was like a brick. The brownie was cut very large and it was so tall and thick that I knew I was going to get it no matter what. In saying that, it definitely wasn't the best brownie I've ever had, it was a bit too dense for my liking, kind of like baking a cake and not adding any baking powder. It was still pretty good though, I just wish it had been a bit softer and less heavy.

The pistachio tan slice was really nice, it was kind of like a caramel slice and that biscuit + caramel combo is just unbeatable. I would've preferred more pistachio and a slightly less crumbly base but it was still delicious.

The white chocolate Oreo cheesecake was definitely my favourite, which, apparently is a controversial opinion. For starters the slices were really really large, but the cheesecake was sweet and fluffy and I might just have the biggest sweet tooth but I love white chocolate flavoured desserts. It just brings a little buttery richness to things that I enjoy very much.

The last thing we ordered was a tiramisu and I absolutely love tiramisu, I order it whenever it's on the menu. Something I really liked about this tiramisu in particular though was that it had a boozy taste. It feels just a bit more mature, and you don't end up nauseous because of the decadence and trying hard not to throw up. I think the booze taste did a great job of creating a very eat-able dessert.

I'm not sure I'd go back for the actual dinner menu but I thought it was a great place...

Went to Circus Circus on 1 Feb 2021 with my partner, we both ordered the chockhouse burger (chicken burger) and the smoothie of the day. My partner finished his burger and begun eating his chips when he found a strand of hair stuck onto one of his chips. After telling the waitress about the discovery she offered to get him something else, disgusted and fearful that he would find something unpleasant he refused. She then called her manager who came over after about 5 - 10 mins and picked up the plate and took it away reassuring us that he'd sort something out for us. He came back to tell us that it wasn't the chief's hair and asked if I still wanted mine. Shocked at the denial and disgusted by the food in front of me I told the manager that I didn't want my food - I still had half a burger and untouched chips left. We got up to get my debit card that they kept during our meal and to pay. The lady at the counter offered to take the price of one of the smoothies off... I didn't want to make a scene so agreed to pay $54.70 for one smoothie, one that was half full, one burger with untouched chips, and a half-eaten burger with untouched chips... I definitely don't recommend Circus Circus! Small portions, overpriced, and...