iPress — Restaurant in Albert-Eden

I’ve visited iPress Mt Eden three times in the last month. I like the layout with different seating areas for working, and while the food and service on my first two visits were just okay, the vibe kept me coming back. Unfortunately, today’s experience was extremely disappointing and has completely changed my view of this café. When I arrived, I waited almost 7-10 minutes before anyone came to take my order. Eventually, a staff member (Asian lady wearing Chanel glasses) took it. I ordered an Iced Matcha and Smashed Avo. The café was busy, so I was patient and didn’t mind the wait. The problem started when the Iced Matcha arrived. It had been blended like a smoothie. Many cafés that don’t prepare matcha the traditional whisked way either note it on the menu or mention it when you order, so customers know what to expect. Here, nothing was mentioned. I politely asked another staff member (a white lady, not the one who took my order) if I could replace it with a large flat white instead. She agreed right away, and I appreciated that. 5 minutes later, however, she returned saying they couldn’t replace it because I had “already ordered it.” I calmly explained that if it had been made clear on the menu or by the staff that the matcha was blended, I wouldn’t have ordered it in the first place. She seemed unsure what to do, so I asked if I could speak to the manager. She said yes and went downstairs. I waited for 10–15 minutes at my table without any update, which was frustrating. Finally, I went downstairs myself to follow up. As I was heading downstairs, she was coming up and carrying a large flat white for me. She asked if she should take the matcha, I said yes, thanked her, and thought the issue was resolved. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. While I was still eating (around 12:30pm, nowhere near closing time), the first staff member (the Asian lady with Chanel glasses) brought the bill. To my surprise, I had been charged for the Iced Matcha, not the large flat white I was actually drinking. Even though the difference was only $2 on a $33 bill (which is nothing in itself) I felt the need to speak up, because being charged for something I had returned felt dishonest. When I raised this, instead of communicating like a kind adult or fixing it, she (the Asian lady with Chanel glasses) became loud and dismissive, speaking over me in a way that drew other customers’ attention. She insisted that I had been given a “free coffee,” which was never communicated to me when the flat white was brought to me. I told her clearly: I don’t want a free coffee, I want to pay for the drink I actually had, not for the one I returned. She continued interrupting me, saying I was “the first customer to complain” and that blending matcha is “the right way.” I stayed calm and asked her to please let me finish before she responded. Once she did, I explained again that I wasn’t saying their way was wrong; only that it’s not the traditional way, and if they serve something on their menu in a non-traditional way, that should be specified on the menu or mentioned upfront when placing the order. She brushed me off, told me I could talk to the manager. I said, yes please I would like to talk to the manager. She then tells me the manager is not here today and I can email the manager (without giving me any timeframe for a response). I then asked if I could speak to the manager on the phone, only then did she add that the manager was overseas. I asked who was in charge of the café today in his absence, and she said “no one.” At this point it felt like I was going in circles, being treated with unnecessary attitude while simply asking for a fair resolution. Finally, she turned to the other staff member (the white lady) and told her to deal with me because I wasn’t understanding. I explained everything again calmly, and she eventually adjusted the bill correctly- removing the matcha and charging me for the large flat white. The issue lasted longer than my meal, and being spoken to loudly in front of other customers ruined my experience.

Lacked...

Most appalling experience ever!!!

I came in to have a quick lunch which didn't turn out to be quick at all.

My partner ordered a full meal and all I wanted was cabinet food. After being seated at a dirty table we had our waitress take our order. We then had 3 more waitresses over the next 40 minutes who didn't get anything right.

After waiting a long time the full meal arrived. We continued to wait for my cabinet food so we could eat together however it never came, so my partners food went cold.

I asked 3 times where my food was and they said they were too busy making coffee to get it for me. Not even bothering to follow up about my complaint and serve me.

My partner then ate his cold food alone. He wasn't able to enjoy it because I was being completely overlooked.

It had been over 40 minutes and everyone who ordered around us got their full blown meals before me.

The waitress serving another table then spilled coffee everywhere.

After complaining and another long period of waiting we left without me eating anything.

It was disgraceful. Never...

What a disappointing breakfast. I must say that I have been to this place before and remember it for having a large gluten free range of options and great valued breakfasts. Unfortunately I was let down this morning, I haven’t been here in 6 months or so and was sad to see they didn’t have what I used to order on the menu anymore. After just tossing up between gluten free eggs bene and a gluten free salmon bagel I opted for the bagel. We didn’t have to wait to long for our food to arrive but when I did I must say I was shocked. The gluten free option for the bagel was some gluten free bread. With one piece was burnt and the other being barely cooked and soggy, I feel like I should have been told the gluten free option was going to be toast not a bagel. I must say I was let down not only with the unsatisfactory gf “bagel” but also with the scratching of cream cheese and the small amount of salmon. Did I mention it was $19? I complete rip off...