La Colombe Coffee Workshop — Restaurant in New York

I’d like to share my recent visit to La Colombe at the Soho location to shed light on the impact it had on me. From my experience, I like to read reviews and find out for myself what others have encountered, and I’ve noticed that folks tend to discuss a really good experience, or a really bad one. In my case, it was the latter. Often times, we are motivated to share experiences because of how we felt, and the words which describe my experience on 05/18/24 are discriminated, judged, and unloving. Such strong words for your run-of-the-mill coffee run that turned a supporter to an ex patron. I’m uncertain and can’t comment on how it is at La Colombe, but where I am coming from, our work culture thrives on empowering others to be the best version of themselves and leaving people better than when we found them, and the Soho location on Lafayette St. didn’t set me up for success anymore. Speaking about my recent visit, I discovered new seasonal flavors offered, and the strawberry mocha piqued my interest. So I asked for that and wanted vanilla, since I always ask for that, and oat milk as usual. Apparently, it was “a lot going on” with smirk exchanges and giggling between the two baristas. The one who made my order held the cup up to eye level, said there’s even oat milk in there, and just put it on a top shelf and shrugged her shoulders and the other barista passed a smile and commented that they’ll save it for later to try or something and mind you, this exchange was happening right in front of my face as I was waiting for my order and not once did these two acknowledge it was my order, apologize, or communicate that something was amiss and were creating a new cup for me. Instead, they laughed in front of my face, and started making orders for other customers who came in after me and then made my order after two others after me got their drinks before me, and when mine was made, I said thank you and they didn’t bother saying anything back or me bother providing feedback in the moment because I didn’t want to be late for work, and because I wanted to lead conversation with my mind instead of my heart. I felt terrible standing there, excited for what it was going to taste like, just to be made fun of in front of my face, and having to carry that emotion in my heart for the rest of the day and letting it affect me. Could I have perceived this differently? Perhaps I was reading into it too closely; perhaps mockery in a mean girls vibe with smirks and laughter with detached attitude could be that had no confidence in creating an order the way it was ordered, and they were genuinely curious and were just having a good time. It doesn’t explain the recreation of a new order or anything after that, so my positive intent only goes so far for these two. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to tell them all day. I even went into work, mood soiled and in tears. La Colombe didn’t taste the same after that. I relayed my experience with my coworkers and asked for their advice after they saw how upset I was, and guys, I’d like to believe that the way others view me as a fun and outgoing person could paint a picture of who I wasn’t that morning. I take a lot of crap and heat from upset customers every day, and in customer facing roles, I understand that at the end of the day, it wasn’t about me, but instead it comes from a place of frustration. I don’t know what happened that morning, but I didn’t take any frustration out on anybody, but instead I got judged on what I ordered, and it felt horrible to hold those emotions inside. I wanted to understand where I could’ve gone wrong, but to all that I spoke to, we aligned on the fact that no one deserves to be treated that way. I felt discriminated because I was an Asian person who got their drink after others. I felt judged because I wanted to try a new offering and add my own favorite flavor, but it wasn’t left at that. I felt unloved because I didn’t do anything except grab my favorite fix for coffee and pastry and met unkindness. Do better please. TL,DR; bad service,...

La Colombe is my favorite coffee shop, I came in with my friend this Saturday afternoon to use a gift card I had. First, the employees were out loud saying they wanted the customers to leave, 30 minutes before closing. The worst part was the woman who took my order, when I asked nicely for an iced latte with Chocolate, she stated with a strong attitude “so a mocha???”, caught me and my friend off guard. Of course not everyone has your menu memorized by heart, be more patient and respectful when customers are ordering. Proceeded to be passive aggressive with me taking my order for no reason. I know everyone wants to go home after a long shift, but your job is customer service, be nice to the people that come in and buy the overpriced coffee that pays your bills. Long story short, the unnecessary attitude, side eye, and passive aggressiveness over a COFFEE was crazy. The rest of the reviews don’t lie, horrible...

I take my coffee seriously. This place roasts really delicious coffee, the cafes are clean, cute and very popular. As coffee shops go, it’s well known, growing rapidly and consistent. I’ve gone for years before they were well known and packaged offerings hit stores.

I used to go out of my way to make sure I passed them since I enjoyed their offerings so much and they felt more independent.

With growth and price increases over recent years, I’m finding myself going less frequently and less interested overall. I’d like to see them successful, but find the pricing higher than I’d like for cafes that increasingly feel like Starbucks in different clothing. I feel the same way about blue bottle. It’s been a slow death for me as I really have many fond memories but increasingly don’t recognize in present experiences what drew...