The Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf - SM Megamall — Restaurant in Mandaluyong

ANOTHER UPDATE: During my 3rd visit, the restroom was out of service. I ordered Fries and Dip and received potato chips. When I asked the server why he was giving me chips, he asked if the person who took my order informed me that they were out of fries. Obviously not. Informed or not, potato chips ARE NOT an appropriate substitute for fries. He asked me if I would accept the chips, I said no, and he left with the chips without offering an alternative. I waited a few minutes to give him a chance to offer something else, but he didn't. I asked another server if they were going to offer me something else, but she didn't understand that I wanted something comparable to Fries and Dip, and proceeded to offer me everything on the menu. I gave up and just ordered Avocado and Egg from another server.

Part of the problem here is that I'm a pescatarian and their menu offers very little AFFORDABLE pescatarian options. Everything that I can eat is over 350 pesos! Not cool. I eventually spoke to their manager, Thellie, and suggested that they add more affordable pescatarian, vegan, and vegetarian options. I also asked her to find a way to label out-of-stock items on their menu (eg: Fries and Dip and Apricot Ceylon tea, which has been out of stock since Aug/Sep 2022). It was a fruitful discussion. Thellie was very understanding and professional.

Overall, this branch needs to improve in every category (food, service, and atmosphere), but they aren't that bad. There are worse places in the Philippines. I just wish that something as fancy and expensive as CBTL Kitchen can justify their higher prices by providing excellent customer service and a more comfortable atmosphere.

UPDATE: I have visited this branch two more times since my first review and my experience and their service has improved. The morning crew is a little more sluggish than the afternoon crew, but overall, they were both more attentive and quicker than before. The napkin issue is still present. I guess they're trying to save trees? I don't know.

Biggest question: when is Apricot Ceylon coming back? 😭

FIRST REVIEW: I arrived at 10am. The cashiers and wait staff must not be morning people, because it took them a while to acknowledge my presence in front of the counter and they couldn't crack a smile. They bagged my Baked Eggs with Spinach & Salmon with no utensils and no napkins. I didn't realize this until I opened the box at the cinema, so I had to get my hands dirty to eat it. Before the barista bagged my coffee, I asked him to include a couple of napkins in the bag, but he didn't. Again, I didn't realize this until I was already sitting on my seat at the cinema.

Unpleasant first-time experience at this location, though I'll give them a chance to do better if/when I visit again. I'll update this review if...

Unfortunately a really bad branch. I love cbtl and I’ve had such amazing service from different branches but this branch felt very discriminatory. I came here a while back in my pjs because I live nearby to dine in but no one acknowledged me despite a lot of the service members being free. They were clumping near the kitchen area and it didn’t seem like they were busy considering that there were not many people that day.

Other branches would usually give an estimate of cooking time which is not really an obligation but has always been appreciated; with this branch, they took my order and went about their day I think. I don’t know what happened but I waited around 40 to 50 minutes for what was supposedly a quick snack. I needed to follow-up for some water and was not served any of the drinks I ordered. I saw a number of tables that came after me got their food which were a lot more than what I have ordered. With the amount of time I waited, it felt like they forgot my order and only put it in when I followed up.

I don’t know if there was some discrimination because of how I was dressed but even if what was assumed was right, no one deserves to be treated the way this branch may have been treating other customers on the same boat.

Please do better. I don’t have a review for the foods and drinks because I wasn’t really served mine but I’ve read some reviews here say that some products were not on par with other branches.

Hopefully, this branch studies the standard of other branches and apply it. Hope to never experience this incident again. Please do better and please improve policies on servicing without discrimination. Maybe please try implementing following up if there will be any delays as...

WORST CBTL BRANCH EVER. Went here for dinner last night (July 9th, around 9pm) and ordered pizza and carbonara, but our orders were NEVER PROCESSED. The lady who took our orders forgot about us even after she laid out the utensils and water, then after almost an hour we are suprised that we are waiting for nothing because THEY DIDN'T PROCESS OUR ORDERS! We asked for the same lady (she's the one with light brown hair with a ponytail, walking around with no mask at all) what happened and she seemed confused at all even though she's the one who served us drinks. She even had the audacity to ask if we're going to cancel the orders, (in a very rude manner, NO APOLOGIES AT ALL), but we just decided to leave as they've already made us wait for too damn long for our food.

Take note that we even had breakfast at the same day and went back for dinner but got the worst customer service ever. I will file a formal complaint via email later.

I will never go back to this branch!! Again, this is the CBTL Megamall branch facing...