Cacao & More — Restaurant in Medina Province

I’ve been a semi-regular customer at this restaurant, often spending well over 150 -200 SAR per visit, and I’ve proudly brought friends, family, and even international visitors here because I believed in the quality of both the food and the atmosphere. Unfortunately, my most recent experience was extremely disappointing.

This time, I brought elderly guests, one of whom has high blood pressure and diabetes. She needed sugar-free syrup for her pancakes and decaf coffee. When we asked for a simple coffee pot with water, the request was refused. Instead, we were given just a cup of hot water that quickly became cold, leaving the coffee undrinkable. As for the syrup, we were given a hard time about using sugar-free syrup from outside—even though the restaurant itself had no alternatives to offer.

What made the situation worse was the way we were treated: staff seemed to be monitoring us as if we were trying to sneak food in, which was very distasteful, especially considering how often I visit and how much I spend here. The head manager stuck “by the book” instead of showing flexibility or trying to find a solution for a unique situation. Even when I mentioned that I was a teacher who often brings colleagues from different schools and universities, including Madac, no effort was made to make an exception or accommodate us.

This is disheartening because the restaurant itself is lovely, and I have always valued it as a place to gather. But customer service is what grows a restaurant, and this time it fell far short of...

A Disappointing Experience Despite the Beautiful Setting.

Me and my wife visited this restaurant in Madinah after seeing the positive reviews and beautiful aesthetics on Google, thinking that an intercontinental menu would ensure a satisfying meal. There's no doubt that the place is visually stunning.

We ordered the steak omelette and the veggie omelette, with a side of chipotle mayo to add some extra flavor. Unfortunately, both omelettes were overly salty due to the excessive American cheese. This made them the saltiest dishes we've had in Madinah so far. The chipotle mayo (4SAR side order) helped a bit, but not enough. The steak in my omelette was also quite chewy, and I would suggest cooking it a little less next time.

The biggest disappointment came with the "karak chai." As a Pakistani, this drink is a staple of my culture. Upon receiving it, I noticed powdered milk, which was already a red flag. The chai was overly sweet, so I requested one without sugar. The staff member argued that this is how they make their chai, and even suggested I make my own tea with Red Label. He repeatedly mentioned that the chai had already been served and I would be charged for it, despite me stating that I had no problem paying, but just wanted one without sugar. His frustration was evident, and he seemed angry throughout our interaction, which was very disappointing.

In the end, we paid the bill and left, feeling that while they got the aesthetics right, they completely missed the mark on customer service and the quality...

Awesome service and wonderful American breakfast.

If you are in Madeenah and you need a diner style American breakfast, Cocoa and More is your best option. Yes, there are several other restaurants in Madeenah that serve the same. I’ve tried many, if not all of them. None of them can hold a candle to Cocoa and More.

The service from the time we entered until we left was given with a smile and just the right amount of attention (you can tell if someone is smiling even with a mask). Virg was the waiter and he was very good. The manager, whose name I cannot say or spell, tall, handsome, Phillipino dude, was also very attentive.

The food was “the bomb” and ample portions were served. The American breakfast with two of everything was excellent! The crazy thing is that this is the first time my plate looked better than the menu picture. The Big Steak omelette was equally as wonderful. These guys did not miss a beat. Everything was well prepared and seasoned perfectly. The coffee was good, too.

The prices were competitive or better. This might be the first 5 I’ve given in a while.

Well done,...