The Reading Room — Restaurant in Decatur

Please be aware ‼️ This place was infested with small white spiders that got in my hair and gave me itchy little bites. I told the establishment. The manager with the blonde bob (very old looking in faces) came over and instead of making sure I was okay she asked where was I. I informed her that I sat outside (where I wasn’t even served or asked if I want anything). I watch them serve the table in front of me and when I went I went inside and grabbed a table the cashier didn’t even acknowledge me so that I could place an order. Because I’ve been in before I sat inside and waited because last time I was here I was asked what I wanted or if I was okay. This time that didn’t happen and I felt crawls all over me and instead of her addressing it she told me I didn’t pay for anything so I wasn’t supposed to be using the tables anyways. I told her I could pay she said “okay” with a blank face and then proceeded to tell me that “this is a place of business. I know it says reading room but this is a coffee shop” I told her that I was aware and that this place is gross she said “oh so we gave you a place to work and you say it’s gross” I said “ma'am I have a home I could work there” and she said “ well have a nice day and rolled her eyes and walked off”. I told her spiders were all on me and she turn it around and blamed me for not paying after I was never acknowledging. For the customers safety I warned them to Please be careful because this place has a bunch of tiny white spiders that you don’t see at first glance but it feels scary because they’re everywhere. She laughed and I left. I’m in my car panicking and crying because I’m itching all over and they could’ve gotten in my hair. I’m tremendously hurt and quite frankly offended that I was treated like this. I suffer severe mental illness and now I’m currently triggered sitting the car crying hysterically and I don’t have my medication on hand at the moment. I was fine until this. I just wanted to inform the place. I wasn’t trying to get free food or anything of that sort. I also suffer an eating disorder that prevents me from eating healthy excessively. When she told me customers have to order I kindly said okay because I thought I would be able to order a coffee but she kept saying smart remarks so I left and I’m sitting in my car unable to drive off because I’m severely triggered and I would pose a danger to operate my vehicle in this head space. I wish I could speak to someone but she was the manager. I was too afraid to ask for someone higher because she already made it clear to leave and I didn’t want her to retaliate against me because of that.

I had to physically knock one of the spiders off me several times. If the camera gets rolled back you’ll see me constant hitting my arms and getting out the chair and informing them. I didn’t say it loud or anything until she neglected the issue. I was being very kind. I’m a veteran and adjusting to civilian world is a challenge and I just wanted to be comfortable. I served for this country the least an American establishment can...

I’m very disappointed in my experience yesterday evening at The Reading Room.

I was incredibly excited by the addition of The Reading Room to the square—the first day I visited, I came back within the hour with my friend who lives nearby. It quickly became one of our favorite spots, and we have already invited several friends to join us. Yesterday, we visited during the Wine Bar service for the first time. My friend ordered earlier and I joined a bit later. I went to order and the owner/manager (not sure?) was talking to the baristas for three minutes about an issue with the pastry display case while I waited in line. I noted that she was passive aggressive and unkind with them.

I went to my table and talked with my friend for a long time, and we read on our computers. After less than 45 minutes, and as we had just discussed leaving at 7:00, the owner/manager(?) came by to tell us “At 5pm this is a wine bar, we stop the coffee and computer thing.” We were reading on our computers. It is the 21st century and I was reading a .pdf. Others had just sat down with warm drinks and computers but the owner said nothing to them. We thought she may have been there too long, but I was finishing up my drink and my friend’s plate was taken from the table maybe 5-10 minutes before. We were so stunned at the disrespect.

I felt completely unwelcome after visiting frequently enough for the barista to remember my name, and bringing several of my friends to visit. It was an incredibly rude and disrespectful comment. I hope the owner/manager will be more gracious to customers and employees. I have NEVER been treated like this. A suggestion on a more elegant way to speak to customers is to simply ask, “Would you like another round of your cocktail? What are you reading today?” Some kindness and curiosity would go a long way for her.

I had made plans to return this weekend with other friends. I quickly suggested another place. Perhaps I’ll return with a sufficient apology and change, but otherwise I’d like to be somewhere my business is...

As a local, I have been coming to the Reading Room since it opened. After a rocky start (and so many burned pastries), they’ve really come into their own. I’ve been here upwards of a dozen times and I always take guests from out of town here.

The menu is great; I personally love the food and pastry selection. Their coffee syrup selection, house coffee drinks, and drink specials are to die for. They keep me coming back. I do wish this was more of a “reading” room; there’s basically no emphasis on books except 5 old copies hidden on a shelf that people can read if they want… and there usually is a pretty long wait, even when they aren’t busy.

My feedback for the owners is that I do understand what the negative reviews are saying about an unwelcoming environment. It’s usually not the staff; it’s the owners. I’ve been treated OK when dressed up with a friend or group (I would not call the owners/management warm people just based on my limited interactions).

However, I’ve actively been treated poorly on an instance where I came in alone, dressed casually after a workout next door, to, ironically, READ while ordering food and drink. I had to hunt someone down to order, get my bill, etc. because they’d actively ignore me for extended periods of time. Even when I made eye contact or smiles with a wave. It felt like they wished I wasn’t there. I guess a sweatshirt and jeans wasn’t good enough for the “after 5PM crowd”? Lol. Despite sitting at the edge of the bar I was made to move to a table (of the server’s choice) for a larger group to sit at the bar after I had been served food, then was made to move to a smaller table for another group.

I’ve been back since and will continue to return, but I do think management has in their minds an “ideal” customer — I’m making no insinuations about what that customer looks like, but there are a large number of disheartening reviews — and, whether consciously or subconsciously, they are giving poor service to customers who do not match...