Proving Ground Coffee Roaster & Café — Restaurant in Columbia

This was the worst experience I’ve ever had with a restaurant manager. My family and I were in town for a wedding on June 8th, and my in-laws treated us to breakfast here. I had been to this coffee shop back when it was Mokka several years ago and had a good experience then.

I ordered (copy/pasting from the current menu): "Apples & Cream French Toast Traditional french toast topped with apples, maple syrup, crème anglaise, and granola – $13.00"

This sounded great; I prefer maple syrup over other syrups, and I’m a sucker for crème anglaise. You don’t often see it on menus in the U.S. and I love pourable custards/creams. I also ordered an Americano. My husband and daughter ordered pancakes. The Americano was fine; slightly bitter, but decent with cream. My husband’s drip coffee was also okay.

When the food came, I thought they had forgotten the crème anglaise and wondered why the French toast was covered in a thick, caramel-like sauce. I went to the counter to ask, and was told the cream is “cooked in with the maple syrup.” I suggested they clarify that on the menu, and they said, “We’ll pass that along.”

The pancakes were dry, overly thick, and tough; neither my husband nor my daughter enjoyed theirs.

I tried to eat the French toast, but it was just cloyingly sweet. I went back up and politely asked if there was anything they could do, explaining that I wouldn’t have ordered it if the description had been accurate. They asked if I wanted to speak to the manager. I said yes.

When the manager came out, I explained again that the sauce was basically a caramel and didn’t match what was described. She responded, “That’s not how you make caramel. You make caramel with cream.” (Reader, refer to the menu description above.) She told me I was wrong for expecting the ingredients to be distinct and said it’s a “very popular item that’s been on the menu for years and everyone loves it.” Then she told me it was my fault for not knowing that “everything in the sweet section of our menu is very sweet”; even though I’d already told her I was from out of town and hadn’t eaten there before.

Finally, she said, “This conversation is over and not getting anywhere. I’m not refunding your food.” I told her I hadn’t asked for a refund; I just wanted some acknowledgment that the menu was misleading and some gesture to make it right. I asked, “What can you do to make this right?” Her response: “Nothing.” I asked, “What about something from the case?” “No.” “A coffee?” (Begrudgingly) “What kind?” “Just drip is fine.” She poured me a coffee. By then, the table had been cleared, my in-laws were upset, and we left.

I stayed calm, polite, and firm throughout. If the manager had simply said, “Yes, I can see where you’re coming from. I’m so sorry for the miscommunication; how can we make this right?” I would’ve walked away satisfied. But instead, I was treated like I should sit down, shut up, eat their misunderstood culinary brilliance, and leave.

The only thing Proving Ground proved to me is that they do not care one iota about customer service, and their reply to my review confirms this. I will get breakfast in Columbia at Cafe...

Over-priced and poorly staffed. Even a basic breakfast item takes 30 minutes during non-peak hours. Employees that do work are blasé about your order and with the inflated margins on everything from the under-roasted coffee beans to the typical American breakfast, it's more than one can handle for the price to eat there. How this establishment had 4.5 stars is another mystery altogether. I've tried it a few times hoping each time that the last was just an off day but I am regularly disappointed. Save your money and go to Starbucks (or anywhere else for that matter). At least when you over pay there the coffee is decent. And I have spoken to the "manager" but still understaffed. Regarding under-roasted beans, it means your coffee is light in appearance and flavor. Drinking it black may be one's only hope. It fits into my budget just fine, however, it's a value thing. Regarding your prices, as mentioned by others who left a rating, I can get my food faster (and hotter), for the same $$ or less. I'm sorry you take offense to honest review but you would be better served to take action and improve your business than debate your shortfalls with your customers. Maybe that's why complaining to a manager wasn't enough to spark an improvement. If my review wasn't valid, I would be the only one including these criticisms but even in the other reviews, these same points are mentioned. Intelligence or not, I am stating what others around me have complained about but haven't taken the time to write. Lastly, if one poor review "harms"your business, you may consider taking corrective action rather than time spent replying to paying customers who disagree with you. It's poor form on your behalf to insult a customer who is sharing a very...

Friendly staff and excellent food! The setup is a little confusing. I noticed that most people entering had to be told where to order and what not. When you first walk in you don't know if you should wait to be seated or counter order. You get the feeling it could be both because it isn't exactly clear.

But for those wondering...when you walk in, grab a menu from the counter, step to your right to order, pick up you drinks on the far left, take a huge playing card table number stand and have a seat. They'll bring your food. But you have to get utensils and napkins at the counter.

French toast comes smothered in syrup, but its the biggest slices of bread I've ever seen. My mom got three pancakes thinking they would be small or average sized. No. The were the size of dinner plates and looked like golden, fluffy perfection. You can also tell that the sausage isn't frozen patties.

I took half of my french toast home, because it was too good to waste. To me, something like that isn't normally good reheated, but it sure was good cold :) I ate every bit :)

Oh...you also have to take your dishes to a bus station, not leave them on the table. Refills have to be asked for or poured yourself from the counter.

The food and atmosphere were great. We declined to leave a tip though. Servers earn tips, and this establishment doesn't...