Berdena's at the Fred — Restaurant in Phoenix

Really excited for a fancy new coffee shop a few doors down from me at the Fredrick called Berdena's.

First the positives. It is close by. The shop is cute, comfortable, good vibe, nice inside and outside spaces. For some people they might enjoy the fact they rotate their beans from a variety of shops. Their current coffee is from Touchy coffee in N.Y.  They also have a nice selection of pastries.

For me the negatives outweigh the positives and I don't think I will be back. First, the hours are terrible. Second the shop is so loud it is out of control. Third, not a lot of personal space and would be a terrible place to work or even have a conversation, unless you are outside. Next, they don't have vegan pastries or vegan options. Last, the main reason you go out for coffee is well...for the coffee.  I order the same thing when I go to a coffee shop--every time. It allows me to compare my favorite drink--a cappuccino for here. My first cup was in an 8 oz cup and had way too much milk. When the barrista walked by I asked how many ounces this cup was and he said 8 oz but they normally use a six ounce cup for cappuccinos. However, I learned the store was shipped only two 6 oz cups and they were waiting for more. He asked if I wanted him to remake it and I was pleased he did. Honestly this is mistake #1. A cappuccino is six ounces not 8. I might as well have ordered a latte. Mistake #2 the second cup which was in the correct 6 ounce cup was luke warm at best and the espresso was weak.  Overall I didn't enjoy my cup.

With competition like Moxie and Provision in the area it is highly unlikely that I will be back. It is a step above Starbucks but nowhere close to the competition in the area. Perhaps if you like lattes or iced drinks it is...

I really wanted to love Berdenas—it’s in my neighborhood, I appreciated that they serve macadamia nut milk, and I liked that it isn’t packed like some other spots. But the customer service has made it hard to keep coming back. Despite coming in regularly, I’m rarely greeted or acknowledged. My name comes up every time with the rewards program, yet no one makes an effort to say it, remember me, or even offer a basic “thank you.” It’s incredibly off-putting. The person at the register often takes the order with no eye contact or simple courtesy like “I’ll get that started for you.” They just turn away from you. What’s especially frustrating is that it seemed to get worse once I started wearing my MAHA hat or shirt. I can’t say for sure, but it does make me wonder if personal bias plays a role in how certain customers are treated. If that’s the case, it’s disappointing—and not something I’d expect from a neighborhood coffee shop. A coffee shop should be a space for everyone, no matter their personal views. A barista shouldn’t make you feel uncomfortable or act coldly toward you because of what you’re wearing. And considering this is a tipping environment, the lack of basic courtesy is even more confusing. It’s strange to be in a service setting where tips are expected but regulars are ignored. If anything, you’d think the staff would go out of their way to make loyal customers feel welcome. I really hope management takes this seriously. Regulars should feel appreciated, not judged or dismissed. Kindness, warmth, and a little effort go a long way—and right now, those qualities seem to be...

4.5 stars. Pros: friendly staff, very quaint and will laid out interior with plenty of places to seat inside and out. The ham and cheese croissant was delicious and the coffee was excellent; which is refreshing when you're coming to an actual coffee shop. So many of them don't make the coffee strong enough. Cons: 1. They gave me my ham and cheese croissant cold out of the case. Yes, they did warm it up when I asked but I shouldn't have to ask, they should always give me that option. Customer service 101. The sugar choices are limited to stevia and Sugar in the Raw. I don't know why coffee shops serve sugar in the raw. It is not healthier than white, refined sugar. It's the exact same chemical composition but it does do one thing horribly... It does not mix in drinks. If you have cold drink it just sits at the bottom and takes an eternity to actually melt. Does better in a hot drink but still requires tons of stirring and patience. For goodness sakes, just go back to white...