Brisas Bakery & Restaurant — Restaurant in Elizabeth

This goes out to the bakery in particular. I've had nothing but love for Brisas over the years. But I placed an order for pick up days ago. They mistakenly gave me fried chicken instead of grilled and I didn't realize til I had gone back to my university. My class was about to start and I hadn't eaten all day, but called to get it fixed. The lady assured me that I could get a proper order remade that instant if I came back with the food. But I had a three hour class and wouldn't be out til 715. She said not to worry and to notify her the next time that I ordered food whether it be that night or another. I asked her what to do with the food. I obliged to return it after my class although it would have been cold and a waste. But she insisted that I eat it and come back some other time to get a remake on the house. That was three days ago. This isn't the only time this occurred they had mistaken french fries for plantains once and told me similarly to call ahead and notify them to get a replacement on my choosing, that was months ago and not worth bringing up. My point is this was, it was relatively recent. So I called ahead and placed the order, I tries to explain the situation over the phone to the lady taking my order who I realized must have been someone different. She didn't hear me properly so I tried explaining the situation again. All she heard was the food when brought up and asked me what food I wanted to order, didn't care to listen to my explanation. So I ordered. Then came time to pay and I reexplained the situation, she understood. Great! So time to go on with my night and my food, but I just wanted to make sure I don't have to pay.. so I repeat I don't have to pay? And she seems befuddled as if she didn't just say that a minute ago (I wanted reassurance). Now she calls over the other worker who tells me off by saying I should have brought the food back even though their coworker, who claimed to be the manager, insisted on me eating it. Even though I tried to be precautious and explain the situation over the phone beforehand. Great! I asked them to call her to verify and they demote her and claim that it was just a coworker not a manager, how kind and that they won't be calling anyone to investigate or take my word for it. Me, a loyal customer to both bakery and restaurant. But they won't trust me. How sad! Really made me extra sad because I'm left with two choices: to pay for food that was promised to be free or walk out and get food elsewhere. I was reluctant to walk out since I skipped lunch to work on my assignments, but the tone in the coworkers voice then being tag teamed was disrespectful and me feel distraught. Now the food goes to waste or in their stomachs. And my words were not heard they were ignored, my hunger ignored. But one place I can not be silenced is here.. and for that very reason I decided to share my story. I am truly saddened by this, because although the gentleman, the coworker, who told me off seemingly politely... I too am Colombian, and could here the scolding attitude and felt undermined and...

I don’t really like to leave negative reviews but I feel like I needed to share this as a non-Spanish speaker. I went here last night with my family for a birthday dinner. The restaurant was really pretty and we were kindly welcomed in. Our server was fantastic and the food was delicious also. He recommended for us to go check out their bakery next door afterwards, so we did. My sister and I walked in and the man behind the counter asked us something in Spanish which I assumed was “what would you like”. I then responded with what is good/recommended here in English because I assumed sometimes we get confused as Hispanic or Mexican. As that statement left my mouth, the man started to look annoyed/upset and just blatantly ignored us. My sister and I were taken aback and felt humiliated as he continued to help another customer. We ended up just looking around the bakery and everyone was just staring at us. Another worker ended up helping us after about 10 minutes us of just trying to search up all the baked goods in google so we would know what’s inside of the pastries/desserts. Keep in mind it’s our first time in a Colombian bakery/restaurant and I would’ve used google translate if we were still being entertained by the first worker. The second worker was very nice and was probably making up for his coworker’s attitude, but when we got to the cashier she was also very snappy towards us probably because she saw the interaction with the first coworker and she said the total in Spanish very fast and I didn’t catch it right away and I had to ask again. I understand one might feel guarded or protective when a foreigner comes to their place of business but I am also an immigrant and if someone came in to my place of business I wouldn’t just expect them to speak my language if they wanted to be served. I do hope this was an isolated experience as I did enjoy their breads and the restaurant, and if it wasn’t for the rudeness of the two bakery workers, I definitely would’ve...

Food is not bad if you wanna wait 2 hrs to get in, but what i judge is the attitude you get from the employees specially in the bakery .... you make an order of $60 + and if you use your credit card you get charged tax ... like really ? whats the difference ? ... plus we were going to take 10 pandebonos and the lady there said no take 12 for $15 its the special and since people are in a rush you are most likely to accept it cuz its always crowded. But in reality when you think about it its no special because each pandebono is $1.25 times 12 its $15 bucks so whats the gimmick ? I was going to pay for 3 empanadas the other day and paid with a ten and she was trying to rip me off saying i gave her a $5 dollar bill .... employees like this are very harmful for the business. They are either not concentrated on the job or are trying to rip you off ... and deff its a rip off because how do you offer a customer a special when its not no special, only for you to take 2 more. Its sad that the same Colombians are trying to rip off their own people. Prob not coming here again .... they ruined the bakery ... pandebonos are no longer big and empanadas have no meat inside its all air and space. shameful because it was good, but fortunately its not the only colombian...