SOHO Coffee The Strand — Restaurant in London

It's a nice slightly upmarket cafe/coffee shop. Drinks are all good quality (coffee and some fairly imaginative fruit juice combinations) and the sandwiches are also very good. It also has the most amazing view right out on to a zebra crossing leading up to the Royal Courts of Justice. It's the sort of view tourists might have in their head when they arrive in London and it gives the place a great atmosphere.

If I had to criticise anything it would be that it tries a bit too hard to be trendy at times. For instance, some of the guys behind the counter seem to be making a point of being kooky/entertaining and, while in some ways I think that's refreshing, I also can't really be bothered with it when I'm just coming in on a Monday morning wanting to drown my sorrows at the window with some caffeine. I feel bad criticising them for that, but most of the time I would prefer low-key politeness to a standup...

Staff are totally incompetent. Takes 2-3 rounds of getting the food order right on the till then another 2-3 rounds with the person making it. No communication. Didn't tell me they'd run out of something I'd asked and paid for as extra until I noticed after I was given the food, causing further delay. You expect to order, get your food and leave but that process takes 15-20 mins without a queue of people. They also tried to pass off cold mayo chicken with some bottled sauce drizzled over it on a jacket potato as chipotle chicken,...

Food is Just like any other coffee shop. Nothing special. Service is terrible. A guy with an Italian ascent, in front of his manager (or perhaps the shop owner) treated me like with a such disdain that I almost cancelled my order. Apparently the place don't take cash, but the guy didn't tell me nor a clear sign says so. Instead of saying, the attendant just put the machine in front of me and walked away. Coffee itself absolutely nothing special. Could be a nice shop, but with employees alike I question if this business will...