KIKI KAFÉ — Restaurant in Clinton Township

Beware: This café is not very friendly to students!

What started as a relaxing Sunday afternoon coffee study date with my three sisters quickly turned into a disappointing experience that left a bitter taste in our mouths. After checking out several spots, we chose this café because it looked decent and seemed like a good place to grab coffee and study.

When we arrived, the place was packed, so our first instinct was to find a table before ordering, otherwise, we’d have to leave. We managed to get the only open table and started settling in. I usually like to set up my laptop before ordering, but we soon realized there were no outlets nearby. One of my sisters had to sit at another table to charge her laptop, and I had to charge mine through my other sister’s. Not the end of the world. Not every café is designed with practicality in mind (or maybe that’s intentional). I suppose making a café functional for the people who keep it in business wasn’t part of the aesthetic.

Before ordering, I got an urgent email that needed my attention. I spent about 20 minutes responding, and not even 30 minutes after we’d entered, a manager came over asking if we were waiting for someone, then told us we needed to make a purchase as per store policy. We smiled politely and explained we were just getting settled and planning to order. One of my sisters at another table had already bought coffee and a pastry, but we didn’t mention that since we were too baffled by how accusatory the interaction felt.

As someone who frequents coffee shops regularly, I’ve never been approached like that before. It felt unnecessarily rude. Still, I brushed it off, rushed through my email, and opened the menu on my phone only to see coffee prices starting at $9. Normally, I’d splurge, but after that exchange, I wasn’t exactly eager to spend money there. However, my philosophy is always to make a purchase anywhere I sit; it’s a fair exchange for the space they provide (and plus, I never hold back when it comes to coffee). So the intent was always to order. To assume that a party of four girls had just shown up to freeload was honestly a little insane to me. Mind you, when we were approached the cafe was half empty, so we were not holding up space for potential customers.

Just as I was convincing myself to order anyway, another manager came back 10 minutes later, repeating that we needed to make a purchase. I told him we were planning to, but it was frustrating to be approached twice when we hadn’t even been sitting that long. He pointed out there was a sign at the door saying customers should order before sitting down, something we hadn’t noticed since the place was crowded when we entered. Now, if that rule had been mentioned nicely the first time, I would’ve understood. But the way it was handled felt incredibly uninviting.

I get that businesses have the right to set their own policies, but there’s a big difference between enforcing a rule politely and making paying customers feel unwelcome. The manager’s tone came off as greedy and ungracious, as if we were trying to take advantage of the space. Ironically, one of us had already ordered, so if they were paying that much attention, they should’ve known that.

I genuinely wanted to try their menu and maybe come back, but after that experience, I have no interest in returning. Customer service is an art and this café hasn’t even begun to master it. In a city full of options, some generic décor and overpriced coffee won’t cut it. What makes people return is warmth and hospitality something this place clearly lacks. Assuming the worst of your customers, especially students (who are a major part of any café’s clientele), is not a winning strategy.

Bottom line: overpriced coffee, poor manners, and a complete lack of hospitality. I won’t be coming back, and I wouldn’t recommend it to...

Food & coffee was average, nothing too special and it feels like you’re spending so much on coffee/desserts (I get pricing by ‘quality of ingredient’ but c’mon bro) just for whatever ‘ambiance’ you get from the overpriced decorating budget. Not saying it’s not cute, or worth it if you’re into that for like studying or something, just not worth it to me.

I wasn’t going to say anything, or leave a review, but while I was in the shop I saw who I assume was a manager, a dude big enough to give me some pause when I watched as he jostled some small (peace and love) girl’s chair right out from under her feet while she was just trying to stretch out. Definitely felt a little watched myself since the customer and I were in similar garb (laundry day clothes lol) so we didn’t ’match the vibe.’ Definitely left quickly after that.

I wasn’t even going to review after seeing THAT, until I decided to check the reviews while I was bored before work, and what I read 🤨 had me a little perturbed. I saw a lot of shallow 4 and 5 star reviews with generic ‘thanks!’, but on the reviews that offered criticism… Well, if you read those and their replies, you can see whoever runs their google page has gone buck wild defending themselves while absolutely ignoring their own faults in the situation… Not every one or every establishment is perfect, I work retail so I get that, and I understand wild customers who deserve a side eye, but when replies on valid concerns and/or criticism give the same vibe as Colleen Ballinger pulling out her ukulele… I guess I just felt motivated to speak up. If you want to keep up clientele (and actually last after this boom of new visits just because you’ve just opened), I fear you should work on your...

Dang, what a shame it ended that way dude. Out of respect for your customer, maybe approach guests more one on one before you call them out in front of the whole cafe? I understand I JUST put my feet up on your chair— I was actually thinking “this isn’t very kind, people sit here and the chair is nice, maybe just for a second” I have chronic hip and back issues it’s nice to meet you, sir.

Not that you cared to chat, and out of respect I liked the interior it’s why I decided to spend my money and time at your cafe.

Really enjoyed hearing you and the other lady, owners both of you I assume, talk about decorating the place more. Nice 20 foot stone counter. Maybe accessible regular water too? Fruit tasted weird.

Anyway, I heard what you said the first time, I just wanted to hear you say it again. I have a voice too as your customer, not just you towards me.

Mid dessert, Farhat Desserts 9 minutes away much better and it’s a lovely family owned business!

Beautiful interior design, but an unfortunate heart

REPLY: A simple request with a terrible delivery to put it simply. The way you approached me at a distance, gaining attention of your NEW clientele, and continuing to engage with my “disrespectful” people skills shows me how you’ll handle more of your customers. Children, dirt, and even other people’s physical conditions (hygiene) cannot be controlled. This a cafe not a museum. Report me if this hurts. Agree to disagree, but I was only greeted with hello the SECOND time I came in, by you. I don’t care about your cafe enough to feel small by someone taller than me. Have a great business! I was just trying to...