Café Gío — Restaurant in Denver

I never thought I'd get a lecture from a security guard while getting ready for a quiet afternoon in a cafe with a friend.

Cafe Gio had become my go-to place for coffee meetings, and I'd been recommending it to friends for years. But after my experience yesterday (Saturday afternoon 5/18 at 2pm) that's over.

I was making a quick trip to the restroom (just down the hall past the reception desk, no ticket checker to go through or anything like that) before my friend arrived. A security guard called me back - shouted me back. I said I was going to the cafe and was I allowed to use the restroom? I've been a member for a few years. "How are we supposed to know that?" he shouted.

From my point of view, I was doing nothing wrong. I was a museum member and frequent visitor taking a quick bathroom break before paying another visit to the cafe (you read that right - a returning paying customer). From his point of view, I was some kind of vagrant.

On the way back to the cafe, he called me aside and told me the restrooms are not for members of the public, and next time I need to check in with the security guard.

Like several other museum cafes I've been to, you don't need to be a member to go to this one. But I guess you need to check in with a security guard now before you're allowed to have bodily functions.

I'm disappointed, because I thought I'd found MY cafe. But after finding a table, having to fetch a napkin to wipe off the drying mayonnaise-like smears on the table (not the first time I've had to do that), then noticing one of the baristas talking to the security guard and giving me a look, I'm going to have to find another cafe where I can simply enjoy a coffee with a friend in peace like I'd planned to without having to deai with negative false fantasies being...

Decent enough little place, was very crowded when we got there. We found a table in the back, of course it wasn't cleaned, covered with crumbs and was sticky. I went to the counter to get a wet cloth to clean it, since obviously the employees are too busy worrying about their tips. I ordered two coffee drinks (of course was prompted to tip. Tip for what? I have to stand in line to order, I had to clean my own table...).

While waiting for the coffee, I noticed they have an area with free water, which is cool. I went over to get a glass, and of course....it was empty. Again, they want tips, but aren't tip-worthy. I had to go to the counter and inform them of their job. Someone eventually came out and refilled the water station.

Eventually I got called up once again to retrieve my drinks. I thought it was odd there was no coffee art, just bah. No biggie. After we drank and were rested up, I got up to leave, and an employee pointed out to me a sign that asked me to "return all dirty dishes to the black bin". By the time I left, I felt like I should have been included in the distribution of tips, as I did more work than...

If I could give the service negative stars I would. The girl ignored us for 5 minutes when we first walked up because she was playing on her phone. Then they burned the overpriced grilled cheese because, again. The girls were just sitting there on their phones the only one I saw working was the one who left to get more to-go containers because they ran out which I'm betting contributed to the sandwich being burnt they just left it in there until she got back. This place feels like a prison and the staff will literally clean right under your feet. Decor? Horrible food? Mediocre? Service? Down right deplorable. Don't waste your money there's tens of hundreds of Cafe/restaurants that are better...