Steele Creek Cafe — Restaurant in Charlotte

Steel Creek Cafe. A Disappointing Experience with Unequal Service

This morning, I went to Steel Creek Cafe for breakfast with my partner, mi Poeta. The food itself wasn’t bad, the portions were decent, and the prices were reasonable. However, the experience was overshadowed by something far more troubling: the blatant disparity in service based on the perceived ethnicity of the customers.

When we entered, we placed our order at the counter, sat down, and waited. At first, I was unsure whether they would call our number or bring the food to our table. A few minutes later, I heard them call “Number 44” over the microphone, and a Hispanic woman got up to retrieve her order. When our number was called, we also went up to get our food.

What caught my attention was how customers of different ethnic backgrounds were treated. For instance, a Caucasian couple seated next to us had their food personally delivered to their table by the cashier, even though their number was never called. Shortly after, another group of three Caucasian came in, ordered, and received the same preferential treatment, food brought to their table along with personalized service, such as fetching ketchup upon request.

Meanwhile, all Hispanic customers, including us, had to listen for our numbers, get up, and pick up our own food. The contrast was too obvious to ignore.

I don’t usually focus on such things, but this experience left a bad taste in my mouth. It felt disrespectful and discriminatory. It’s disappointing to witness service that clearly prioritizes one group over another, especially in a diverse community. Every customer walks in with the same color of money (green) and should be treated with equal respect and care.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this establishment to others. Steel Creek Cafe needs to reflect on its practices and ensure that all customers, regardless of background, receive fair treatment. Until then, I won’t be returning. My...

Prices are high - If I order an egg sandwich, by the time I get to work (less than 3-5 minutes away), my reasonably priced sandwich is soggy. When I mentioned it, I was told that I would have to get my eggs fried hard instead of scrambled because scrambled eggs are moist. Ummmm, okay.....

So to prevent that from happening I orded an egg sandwich but asked if they could keep it separate and I would put the sandwich together when I got to work. When I asked the lady why my bill was over $4 she said because I have to charge you separately. They charged me separately for EVERYTHING, each egg (2), cheese, toast and the standard carry out fee.

When I expressed my fustration, she agreed that it was a rip off but she had to follow the rules because the boss would take it from her pay if not. She even told me to call the owner/boss and let him know and hopefully he would change it. I just paid for my food and left. When I got to work I had finally had enough of this establishment. My bread was old/stale tasting. The bread was beyond greasy food. It's like they dipped my bread in butter.

On top of that, the original lady is no longer there which is SAD. She was SOOOOOOO friendly and efficient. She made sure that the cook made EVERY order right. Now they have two young ladies in there. One is the original lady's daughter.

On the days where I don't make breakfast at home, I got to the life savers across the street:...

Visited this place during lunch since it’s close to my office. The part owner who is the wife is always nice and personable. On the hand the husband is racist against black people he literally shakes his head in disgust of black folks visiting this restaurant and mumbles as he moves around the table you are sitting at and does the exact opposite to individuals of another race(s). As I said I was a regular here and strategically took special note to confirm what I was seeing. I take care of writing reviews especially the negative ones but I think being in business one should treat anyone that comes into your establishment to do business and comes in to do so in a legal and civilized manner with the respect and service that’s worthy of their dollars. I’d prefer for you to post that certain individuals are not welcomed rather than receive hard earned funds and provide subpar services.

I will not ever visit here again and trust that others who receive this level of treatment not...