Candelo Lounge — Restaurant in South Oxfordshire

I went here with my daughter yesterday (10/10/2023). We sat outside as we had our dog with us. I went inside to order for us both and I ordered a Large Soya Cappuccino, a large Soya Chai and 1 piece of Vegan Carrot Cake. They had no Chai tea, nor any Vegan Carrot Cake. So I had a water and took that outside with me and was told the Soya Cappuccino would be with us shortly. We waited and waited and waited. 15 minutes later, nothing. I went back inside, I asked about the Soya Cappuccino, “yes, yes, I will bring it out shortly”. I went outside and we waited and waited and waited, nothing. I went back inside and repeated the question, and got the same answer, so, out I went. We saw a waiter come out and leave 3 drinks on the table next to us. My daughter and I looked at each other with disbelief, so, off I went inside again. I repeated the question about our drink and was told by one of the waiters that I had already had my order. The waiter even contradicted me when I said I had not received anything. By this time, I was getting impatient. Basically he implied I was lying and that he had already served us. I had to make a stand that I hadn’t received my order. After convincing them that I hadn’t had my order, I told them that as my daughter and I had very little time left, we would like the drink to take-away. I was told they would bring the drink out. I went back outside to wait with my daughter who was was also getting tired of waiting. 10 minutes later, and nothing. I went back inside to find around 5 staff members all chatting. When I asked where my drink had got to, I was told they didn’t have any take-away cups left. Needless to say, I asked for a refund which was given.

So, all in all, my daughter, from Great Kingshill and myself from Northamptonshire, who met up literally for a couple of precious hours. I would say, the episode in the cafe wasted 40 mins of our time. We should have gone to Costa across the street at the start, and will do so if we meet in...

Pretty disappointing experience. Insides of the place look lovely and would be a great place to work if the rest was less disappointing. The service was kinda all over the place, although the general wait-staff seem nice and friendly, my GF partner went to the till to order for us explaining that I wanted a breakfast and he wanted a GF salmon breakfast. They asked if there was any allergens he said yes, him, but that I wanted the standard meal because I am not GF. Till guy goes okay two gluten free, my partner says…. no… just the one, he goes oh right okay. He explains again that I want a standard breakfast and he wants a gluten free breakfast. To cut a long story short this happens a few times, he finally seems to understand and runs it through confirming at the end “two gluten free breakfasts”, partner was dumbfounded and just a bit bewildered as we’re anything but difficult customers! He just sat down and we accepted defeat after explaining to him 3+ times. Mocha arrived which was not a mocha just a Luke warm latte with chocolate powder ontop. On the breakfast the bacon was good and luckily the gf bread wasn’t too horrible as I had it! but the coffee I was given was not a mocha, it was nasty and luke-warm. I had a feeling they just didn’t know how to make a mocha or they possibly reused the same shot, being a barista I couldn’t be bothered to explain to them how coffee is made because we were just after a relaxed breakfast so I just left my coffee. I should’ve mentioned that to a member of staff, but after my partners experience at the till it just felt pretty pointless. Charging premium price for bad coffee is pretty annoying. Don’t think I’ll be going back unfortunately, the one in Aylesbury is a lot more consistent especially...

It was a busy Saturday lunch time when I went with my family to the Candelo Lounge. For some context I have been to this chain's Witney restaurant and loved it. Whilst the Candelo Lounge is not at it's Abingdon branch level of crimes against dining ,it is pretty close. Poor customer service started when we arrived and were herded onto a "high table" despite my protestations that we wanted a table. From there we could observe people feeding their dogs they had brought in, the same dogs scratching themselves, see children throw food, hear patents wildly "gentle parenting" so their children's scream drowned out their "Now mate, don't do that". It was chaos and unhygienic. Thankfully, I was distracted by that time by my back cramping due to sitting 7 foot up in the air on a wonky stool. The food was the next unpleasant experience. As I said the Cosmo Lounge in Witney is fantastic,it's food is hot,fresh and tasty. Sadly at the Candelo it's more " warm, stale and like ashes in your mouth". Our fries were room temperature, the Korean burger was oily with a burnt taste and the Buddha bowl had a salad that was limp. How I would have loved to raise my concerns with the waiting staff but sadly I seemed to be sat in some offshoot of Love island with several of the staff were more interested in each other than the customers. I spoke to a Thame resident who said that the acrid food here is becoming common knowledge,if only I had had that inside knowledge, I would have steered...