Rival Coffee Co. — Restaurant in Murrieta

Been here like 3 times already and the last 2 times were ok, no real bad experiences. But this time was different and I really don't like writing bad reviews but I'm doing this in hopes that management reads this and will make corrections or at least implement some improvements.

1. When I got to the ordering counter with my wife the lady taking our order didn't even smile or greet us with a "good morning". In fact I was the one who greeted her with "Hello, good morning." No smile no greeting at the ordering counter, her face was just expressionless and kinda felt unwelcome. It was just, "How can I help you?" If you're working the ordering counter it's almost an unwritten rule to just be out of yourself and make your patrons feel welcome. After all, we're giving you business.

2. They discontinued their French toast and pancakes. A little disappointed because their French toast was pretty spectacular. So we ordered their filled donuts instead.

3. Ordered my drink and but they forgot about my drink order, several customers after me got their drinks before me. Stood at the drink handoff counter for a few minutes and then I finally asked them where is my Americano after seeing 2 customers who came after me got their drinks first. The barista responded that he'll make it right now. Wish that they have more attention to details on the ordering process and ensure that no orders are lost.

4. Why the loud 90s club music on a Sunday morning?? I don't go to coffee establishment to dance. I go there to have a relaxing morning, eat a little breakfast and enjoy the coffee.  And when your baristas are calling out the names of the patrons to pick up their coffee how can you expect them to hear their names with that loud music you're playing. I'd prefer something soft and relaxing morning music like coffee jazz. Or the very least turn down the volume of your club/pop music.

5. Coffee at best was mediocre, wife didn't think her vanilla latte was that great. It was okay but she said she now prefers Starbucks vanilla latte over theirs. My Americano with oatmilk... ehh it was average.

Only giving them a 2 stars because their filled donuts were not bad. But we're still not...

I have had pretty good food and coffee here and the staff is extraordinarily friendly! Murrieta needed a large coffee house to meet, work and relax, and this fits the ticket. The complaint I have, and the reason I am turned off, is that the music video screen, which is a full wall’s size, was playing inappropriate music videos the full two hours I was there. I had driven through twice, but after dining in, I was not a happy customer. It is distasteful see women in bikinis, dancing provocatively at mid-morning in a coffee shop. People might want to have a casual business meeting or Bible study; maybe a girl wants a guy to take her on a coffee (not a club) date and have him look at her, not distracted by the images in the background. I have three boys, and I’m careful about what I expose them to. It’s disheartening to me that we can’t have any distinction between adult places of entertainment and a coffee shop. Whether they serve alcohol or not, a coffee shop in the daytime should be a place anyone can drop into and not be confronted with videos that are just in poor taste. Also, a changing table in the bathroom would be really helpful for guests with babies, like me and my friend who brought our infant daughters for a mom date. Thanks for considering a would-be customer’s hopefully helpful...

I don’t write reviews often, especially bad ones because I believe in supporting local businesses and understand the impact of reviews on them. However, customer service is everything. I do food delivery for all the services around here, and get orders from this shop most mornings. These employees haven’t ever greeted me any of the times I’ve come in, seemingly almost purposely ignoring me. I get being busy, as I’ve worked in customer service most of my life including restaurants and retail. But a quick, “hi, welcome, we’ll be with you in a sec” while you’re still carrying out your duties absolutely makes or breaks the vibes of a place. There are times when I’ve waited well over 5 minutes at the counter by myself, no lines or anything, for someone to come up and look at me like I’m burdening them. I always smile and say I’m picking up, always trying to put kindness into the world but my goodness I feel absolutely unwelcome here. I’ve never even ordered here for myself and definitely won’t be spending my money here. I’m only reviewing in hopes that the management steps it up in customer service training because the bad vibes are going to end up having an effect on their business. I’ve started skipping over orders simply to avoid the anxiety and icky feeling I get just...