The Dusty Knuckle Harringay — Restaurant in London

I live locally, my partner and I thought we'd try this new place. First time I visited the Dusty Knuckle Haringey, it was busy but we managed to get a two-seater table (though wobbly) and poor service (mainly because the staff are not attentive and avoid customer interaction/eye contact) but we really enjoyed the egg focaccia sandwich and did not let the bad service spoil our overall experience there.

Today we decided to go there again at 12:30 for an early lunch. When we visited the bakery, there were a few tables available but as our last experience involved waiting at the front before being seated, we stood by the baked goods section for a good 5 mins. During this time there were plenty of staff walking up and down (not looking up or aware of their surroundings). My partner decided to walk up to a table as he realised we won't be seated any time soon. As he was walking up a waiter approached us and asked me how many of us there were, I said two and he said you can sit on this two-seater table, I said we're taking the window seat as its empty (this was a four-seater table). He said ok, you can sit there but I will have to move you if four people walk in. I found this comment strange as there were two empty four-seater tables, another four-seater table had been taken up by a couple so his comment seemed unnecessary. With our experience of the tables wobbling on the two-seaters before, we did not want to sit on those again.

We almost had to make eye contact or put our hands up to get the attention of a waiter/waitress, it was not a busy time as it is a weekday and I am not sure how their service works, but I do not expect 5* service from a bakery but I do expect attentiveness and acknowledgement of the customer, which is something that lacked the last two times we have visited this place. There were a lot of mistakes made today by the staff and I now think they are not trained perhaps, I cannot fault the food and baked goods as I am happy with that but my experiences have left me feeling not welcomed, avoided and not as important as other customers.

I wanted to give three stars but your waitress ended up spilling some of my partners food on my coat, she apologised and walked off but I thought the food had spilled on the floor, but when I wanted to wear my coat, I saw the grease and food that had been spilled on it, for that reason I don't think I can leave a better review but be honest and tell you of the highlights that made my experience at your bakery, a...

Have been coming to this place since it’s opened. I don’t mind the waits, love the bread and the coffee, and the service has been always very friendly and welcoming. Well, until today.

The behaviour of the new member of staff was more than appalling when he laughed to his colleague about me after I got my coffee. When he was confronted about it he said that my request for additional milk was not acceptable as the barista is trained and knows how to make the coffee. Weirdly I never disputed that, I only asked for more milk in my latte as this is how I drink it, here in the dusty knuckle, all the time and the coffee was a bit less milky than usual.

To say the least, I would have hoped that the staff was more accepting of the fact that a customer, being an experienced coffee drinker, knows best how they like their coffee, and that the coffees, even in the dusty knuckle, come out differently depending on who is making them. Getting upset about me asking for more milk in my half full cup, as it happened with the new barrister, who suggested I should go for a flat white (wouldn’t this be even stronger?) or white coffee, without thinking that I might have already sussed out over the years what I actually like, and then for the other staff member being rude and making fun of me while I was walking away, and then being defensive about the behaviour, without apologising, was very immature and not in the spirit of the dusty knuckle community, but most of all, it was a disturbing and unpleasant experience that I would not wish to anyone. I understand the new stuff might feel insecure in the new place, or even in life, who knows? But taking it out on a customer is not a way to go about it. Especially, that the coffee with a tiny bit of extra milk was really good, as usual, which was communicated clearly to the barista making coffee.

Hopefully, next time when someone asks for less or more milk, less or more hot, you can lose the ego...

The food is undeniably fantastic here. The pastries are all delicious. The sandwiches too, although the porchetta one could have had more meat in it considering it cost £10.50. But that's nitpicking.

The problem we've had is the service the couple times we've been. The blonde lady at the till when we went last weekend was grumpy, not friendly and clearly didn't want to be there or help the customers. We asked really simple things such as when certain items would be ready, how long the wait would be for a sandwich and we were met with a shrug of the shoulders, no effort to find out and I believe she muttered that she 'didn't care'.

We were also surprised at half 11 that they didn't have any sausage or veggie rolls ready, when it's surely a best seller. The server didn't seem to know why and just told us it depend on when the chef feels like doing it.

Waiting time for a sandwich is also a bit ridiculous. Last weekend it was a 20 minute wait when the place wasn't even that busy. The previous time it was a 30 minute wait. If that's how long it's going to take, surely let us know when we're ordering.

We're surprised about the service, because the ladies who went out on the milk float were always super lovely and friendly. It's a shame we didn't get the same experience in...