Spot Coffee — Restaurant in City of Saratoga Springs

Recently, I ate at Spot Coffee with friends. I ordered and picked up my salad above the sign “Dirty Dishes” which struck me as a bit unappetizing. But, I let that go because I was excited to go to a new cafe in the neighborhood I used to live before I moved to Boston. Unfortunately I didn’t have a good experience. Don't know which was worse, my spinach & fruit salad or the treatment I received after I reported problems with my salad.

Spoke to the woman behind the register regarding my the limp discolored spinach leaves with the mushy slimy blackish green things as I showed her my salad and dangled one of the mush things in front of her. She did say they try to pick them out. Well she missed a few. It was obvious she didn’t care about me or that I was dissatisfied with the salad.

At first I started putting the limp discolored spinach leaves and the bits of green mushy goop aside and continued to eat my salad as my friends and I spoke to each other, not wanted to make a big deal about it. But soon I was pushing more bad salad aside than good salad.

All I wanted the woman to say, “I’m sorry for your bad experience. I understand why that makes you feel unhappy. How can I make you feel better, to refund your money or make you a new salad and make sure it’s the best salad you’ve ever eaten?” Nothing. When I told her I wouldn’t be coming back, she rolled her eyes at me and said nothing. At that point, I asked to speak to the manager and after she whispered something to her I was connected. The manager was not much better, although she did say that they get fresh spinach daily, but basically acted as if what I experience was of no consequence to her. She did offer to make a new salad which I passed on partly because I didn’t want to have a salad made from the same “fresh” spinach and also I need to drive back to Boston. A money back option would have been nice. But, better than that, "I'm so sorry for your experience...."

A young person standing next to the manager, obviously working at Spot Coffee listening to the whole thing said to me with respect, empathy, and like he genuinely cared (the first person up until now), said, I’ll make you a new salad that will be good. I could tell he would have put his heart into it and I am certain it would have been great. That’s what I was looking for, someone who heard me, cared about my bad experience and wanted to make it better. That’s all I was looking for. Unfortunately, I had no appetite anymore and besides I needed to take off for Boston. But, he is a jewel and should be a role model for customer service attitude and skills.

When I returned to my friends sitting at the outside table a man who evidently been waiting in line to order came up to me and said, “She really didn’t treat you very well.” So you see, it wasn't just from my prospective. Is this the kind of experience you want people to have at the Spot Coffee,...

I had bought three lattes that were not cheap and each and every one of them was watered down and tasted like bitter espresso. I had alerted a very nice lady working there that this had happened and I really wanted to continue to go to Spot Coffee, but also wanted a good cappuccino or latte. She had said she would leave a note at the front desk for a free latte. My son went in because I am disabled to get the free latte, but the manager told him no and said there was no such note and that she would have to speak with the owners and get back to me (via telephone when I called her). She offered me a drip coffee. I told her I spent over $15 there for lattes I couldn't drink. I told her I was disabled and hard to get out and that is why my son goes in and grabs the drinks for me. I always give a place a few chances. I also let her know that if she or one of her employees did not get back to me as promised within a week I would be writing a review. It has been over a week and not one person from Spot coffee has called me. I understand that she has to follow policy, but the customer service is just horrible along with their lattes. I cannot stand Yelp, but will be writing on that website next. From now on, will have to stick with wonderful espresso from Healthy Living Market and Cafe. Best cappuccino in town. A little far away, but no other choice...

I have never left a negative review and I truly don’t enjoy doing this, but I feel compelled to share this experience as it has happened on more than one occasion. I’m a regular customer and truly enjoy Spot—I frequent both locations and especially love the Turkey Cajun Wrap.

However, during my last two visits over the past couple of months, I encountered a disappointing situation. I’m currently six months pregnant and, as a precaution, I kindly asked that the turkey be heated before preparing the wrap, which helps reduce the risk of listeria.

On both visits, a staff member with pink hair reacted by coming around the counter to visibly look at me, presumably to confirm my pregnancy. She then made several loud, unsolicited comments about how pregnant women shouldn’t eat deli meat at all and how she personally avoided it during her own pregnancy. She seemed to be very irritated that I would ask them to heat up the turkey

While I understand she may have meant well, the comments were inappropriate and made me feel uncomfortable and judged. I believe personal health choices—especially those discussed privately and respectfully—should not be subject to public commentary. I’m sharing this in hopes of encouraging more mindful and respectful customer interactions...