Costello's Cafe and Bakery — Restaurant in Portland

I arrived before a friend in the evening around 5:30 PM and waited for her to order. I planned to get coffee (like usual) and study with my friend. We had brought outside food since it was late and Costellos does not offer food after 3 PM (there is a clear sign on the door that kitchen closes at 3) and we had been there before and had the experience of being hungry trying to study. We planned to eat our food in our cars or outside prior to beginning to study. My friend arrived and we began chatting for 1 min or so. A man arrived at our table aggressively stating that we could not eat outside food there and we needed to order something in order to stay. We explained that we planned to order coffee in a moment and study and planned to eat our food outside since they didn't have food. This man's tone and voice were aggressive and loud to say the least! Eventually, with a snotty attitude he told us we were wrong, they did have food, and he knew that because he was the owner! First of all, he was speaking extremely rude to us, didn't introduce himself as the owner to begin with and at this point, his voice and attitude was extremely aggressive and threatening. I calmly explained that I used to work at Costellos and understood we needed to buy something in order to stay and study. This person then mockingly said "oh you did?" squinting his face like he was mocking me for saying I used to work there? Extremely rude and disrespectful. After working for 15+ years in customer service, hospitality and healthcare I could NEVER imagine talking to a customer this way let alone another human being. After talking over our explanations and attempts to deescalate the situation, he left our table and walked to the other side of the restaurant, pacing around tables. At this point, everyone in the cafe is staring at us. He marched back to our table and stated "I do not like the way you are handling this situation. I do not appreciate being laughed at." First of all, nobody was laughing; as we both felt extremely uncomfortable and were already discussing leaving. Second of all, as a customer, WE handled the situation perfectly fine attempting to deescalate this man's CLEAR anger issues and his seemingly brewing mental breakdown of sorts. We again explained, we planned to purchase coffee and had been there less than 10 minutes. He finally exclaimed "FINE FORGET IT" as if he were a toddler and left the store entirely, never to be seen again. If I were the owner or employee of a cafe, I'd be extremely embarrassed by this person's behavior. After leaving his own cafe out of anger, the table behind us had to ask "are you two okay? He escalated quickly." That goes to show the unstable and angry nature of this person's behavior. Feeling extremely unsafe and uncomfortable, we quickly packed our things and left. We will never be returning again. Having worked at this cafe in the past with the Costello's themselves and subsequent owners, it is a huge loss that this cafe is no longer a fun and safe place to be. It is evident that these owners will either run the place into the ground or sell it after realizing they're not cut out for any position in which they must interact with other humans in a nice/polite way. I will not be returning unless this man is FAR FAR AWAY from this cafe. Definitely a shame. I would avoid this cafe at all costs in case this person happens to be there as you may be in for a surprising outburst or be on the receiving end of a humiliating,...

I can't say enough good things about Costello's Travel Caffe since the new owners took over! This place has truly become a hidden gem in the neighborhood. If you're looking for a cozy spot with delicious, handmade bakery items and an excellent selection of breakfast, lunch, and coffee shop treats, look no further.

The transformation is nothing short of remarkable. The commitment to making everything from scratch is evident in every bite. The aroma of freshly baked goods hits you as soon as you walk in, and it's hard to resist indulging in one (or more) of their delectable creations. From flaky pastries to mouthwatering sandwiches, Costello's offers a little something for every craving.

I must mention the baristas – they are top-notch! Their passion for coffee is apparent in every expertly crafted cup. Whether you're a coffee connoisseur or just looking for a quick caffeine fix, you'll be impressed by the quality and consistency.

The ambiance is cozy and inviting, making it an ideal place for a relaxing breakfast, a quick catch-up with friends over lunch, or some quiet time with your favorite book. The friendly and attentive staff only adds to the welcoming atmosphere.

Costello's Travel Caffe is a place where you'll find excellent food, great coffee, and warm hospitality. I highly recommend this cafe to anyone in search of a delightful dining experience. Kudos to the new owners for turning this into a true neighborhood treasure. I'll definitely be coming...

A barista has purchased this place from the owner. The owner did a very good job but I think the Barista is a lot more focused on hours productivity and selection. He is taking something that was very good and up to the next level hopefully. He really has a passion for what he's doing and I'm very happy to go here and enjoy. When I do my laundry over at spin, I come over here. Since they are open later I will come in as well because a lot of other coffee shops still don't have good hours. These people do so if you want to study and buy things and eat and drink this is the place you should come to in this part of town. I'm kind of dietarily restricted but I've had some of their things and they're all top quality. The soup quiche salad desserts. I always get a heavy cream latte quad shot and they do have the heavy cream. They won't try to squeeze you half and half. These people are really on it and they deserve our patronage because other people are not stepping up like these people are. I really appreciate a very switched on entrepreneur that listens to customers. A great experience keeping the travel theme alive. Music is really good and not overpowering. Clientele...