Barista Lounge — Restaurant in Waverley

Dear Manager of Barista Lounge. I've recently moved to the local area. The great reviews and pics drew me in to visit. That being said I hate to be the bearer of bad feedback as my experience was surprisingly quite the opposite. Upon entrance, the young lady at the counter who served me (Jess) may have not been having such a great day. Caveating that it was my first visit, I asked whether there was seating upstairs, and her response was you'll have to check upstairs (i.e. yes there is seating also upstairs if any available). I also asked whether it would be possible to have the coffee after the lunch. The response was yes of course whatever you like. The coffee arrived before the lunch. Another lady who served was kind enough to remove it and would bring another after. At the same time the table number was removed. Jess was nearby and with my ignorance I mentioned that the table number had been removed just in case they weren't aware. Her reaction was certainly felt to have attitude and to make me feel awkward for flagging this. 20 mins after another lady popped up to see if I'd like the coffee now and I asked whether it would be possible to have the lunch first that I ordered. 25mins in, the chef brought over lunch and was apologetic for the delay and confusion. I decided to take out coffee given the awkward atmosphere. Whilst waiting, I observed another customer asking Jess to wipe the table she was sat at. Couldn't help but notice how Jess addressed this with a friendly smile. Although the chef and the other lovely lady who served were polite, the overall experience left me feeling not welcomed. I very rarely give negative feedback and hope that the lady who served me was simply having a bad day with me getting the brunt of it and that the experience doesn't lead me to wonder...

An experience I'll never forget, and by which all others will be rated. Lots of staff, too 'busy' to acknowledge me on arrival. Paid up front, including being presented with the gratuity screen! Thinks 'you haven't done anything yet apart from ignore me'. Waited way too long for a pot of tea. Tea had mostly gone cold when, after half an hour, I had to ask a member of the uncommunicative and sullen staff where the food was. No feedback, but some time later the food arrived with a barely bothered apology for the long wait. Chilly, mashed avocado on a stingily thin slice of sourdough toast, gone cold, on a cold plate, topped with a tiny lukewarm over-poached gone hard egg. The warmest and tastiest bits were the grilled / fried baby tomatoes. To eat this I had to get up and get my own cutlery as the staff seemed to have done their job! Nicely presented plate but for nearly a tenner on the 'lunch' menu it was dissatisfying. The tea was stone cold by then. One slice of cake with two forks, for my partner and I (who had a toastie, equally late / forgotten) and another half hearted apology arrived. If the place wasn't so crowded and had we not sunk so much time already I would have addressed at least the delay, service and food quality issues directly. The off-putting staff attitude and general atmosphere was rather off-putting though and another matter entirely. And for this, a gratuity...

Been in before and not impressed but just asked for two brown bread bacon and egg sandwiches - stated as £5.25 each which is mental anyway - charged 5.80 for some reason they told they had no brown bread so got a very small bit of baguette - had been toasted because it was obviously stale and was really wet for some reason and burnt and then told there were no eggs so not sure what I was charged extra for or why I didn't get what I ordered in anyway - no big deal as it's only