So how this place was suggested to us when visiting Stratford and from a distance it looked reputable… from the outside at least.
This very very quickly changed upon entering, staff members all gathering around the bar like a group of thugs ignoring customers. We waited an amount of time just to he acknowledged and when we did it, we were stared at like we had interrupted the most important conversation of their life.
The Indian waitress (pictured) could not have seemed less interested in her job as if she had been forced to work here for the last 20 years. - Stuck us on the dirtiest closest table possible when we suggested the nice sofa in the corners it was like we had asked for her yearly salary. Absolutely diabolically rude and muttering under her breath. Threw the menus on the table, walked away. And no one came back to us for 15 minutes, long after we had chosen and attempted to make eye contact. We had to ask at the counter ourselves. - To which they tried to charge us a service charge! The floor was soaking with water over the floor next to our table (pictured), no wet floor sign and no care to clean it- literally some tissue, mop would have done it.
Later they brought the drinks, shaking the table and spilling it all over the side of the cup in front of us, no cleaning tissues provided or apologies. To which they then said the drink they had just sold me 10 minutes ago is actually not available and then walked off? I had to approach them again and remind them I had already bought it! Where's the solution given?!.
The smoothie was sour and bitter tasting, the coffee nothing different from a Costa or Nero (which I would highly suggest going to over here)
The waitress then sat in her phone the entire time we were there and clearly was not her break time.
Overall, a really dreadful experience, this place is like a pile of rubbish wrapped up nicely in fake flowers. The contents is still the...
Read moreCafe Concerto Review
During our visit to Cafe Concerto today, we faced several challenges that significantly detracted from our dining experience, primarily related to staffing, hygiene, and overall cleanliness.
Upon arrival, we were informed that the children's menu is only available Monday to Friday, which we found odd given that it was lunchtime and we had specifically asked at the entrance if they had a high chair for our little one. Despite this, we proceeded with our order.
The food arrived promptly, but our initial satisfaction quickly turned to disappointment when we discovered a hair on top of our chips. The staff apologized and replaced the chips, but the incident had already affected our appetite. My wife, in particular, found another hair in her meal and was so dissatisfied that she could not eat much of her food.
When I informed the staff that I was unwilling to pay for a meal contaminated with hair, I was ready to cover the cost of the rest of our order. The staff appeared unsure and consulted with the manager, who never approached us to apologize or address our concerns directly.
Additionally, the general cleanliness of the cafe was below standard. We were seated next to the bar, and the shelf between us and the bar was littered with crumbs and debris, which was quite off-putting and indicated a lack of attention to hygiene.
Regrettably, I will not be returning to Cafe Concerto. The food was average at best, and the service was extremely poor. The absence of basic hygiene practices and the manager's failure to engage with us during our ordeal have ensured that this will be our last visit. I certainly do not look forward to finding hair in...
Read moreI have had mixed experiences at this branch. Every other time i have (reluctantly) visited i have had very poor customer service and the food is just okay.
The last time i visited, i actually had a nice experience. The food was really good and the customer service was okay too.
We visited during the heatwave and sat inside thinking it would be cooler but my god it was like a greenhouse. I dont think they have air conditioning.
It took a long time to get waiters attention so we could leave and pay but aside from that the staff were pleasant.
Edit following weekday visit: I was seated prromptly but for some reason the waitress ignored me when it came to both orrdering and getting the bill. She took orders from 3 other tables who arrived after me, before i physically had to call her over. The same thing happened with the bill, i asked for it but for some reason the other tables were served before my table was? I had to physically go to the till point to pay for my food and found my waitress flirting with the owner at a table.
Furthermore the menu prices and bill prices are different -so make sure you check what you are pating for. E.g. the dish i had waa advertised as £16.95 but the price on the bill was £20.95. That and they charge service for ignoring you. If you ask them to check the bill, they fumble around then offer you a 30% discount -clearly they know wgat they are doing.
Side note - Almost everyone i know who is not white/european and has eaten here, has told me that this particular branch has ignored mistreated them. I honestly hate playing the race card but feel i...
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