Vanessa’s Coffee Shop — Restaurant in Saint Cloud

It is difficult to write reviews that are less than favorable because I am fully aware of the challenges that small business owners face in order to keep things afloat. Vanessa's coffee shop offers a very serene environment with great food that is not mass produced. So what made my experience less than favorable? 1) no prices on the menu. I was forced to use a QR code in order to see the prices. This is annoying to me but at least I know how to do it, but I know for a fact that anyone my senior in my family would have walked away. I believe that establishments should not make the assumption that customers have a smart phone (or if they do, that they know how to use it). 2) The second item of discontent has to do with all the little add-ons that are charged additionally. For example: the St. Cloud sandwich could be ordered with your choice of meat: Ham, bacon, turkey, or sausage; however, if turkey is chosen, there's an up-charge ($1.25) which once again is not evident on the paper menu. Then there's the issue of the 3.5% credit card surcharge which is perfectly legal but once again by this point I'm already annoyed by the turkey surcharge. Then the grand finale was a 5% service charge which apparently isn't optional (I asked). I would gladly pay it if the order would have been taken at the table and the food delivered, but since I ordered standing at the register and then had to go get the food myself at the counter, what service is it exactly that I am paying 5% for? (and you obviously must take the dirty dishes to the area by the doors and place them on top of the trash bins) So now we have a 3.5% surcharge for using the credit card (I would have paid cash had I known) plus a 5% service charge (not optional) plus the 7.5% sales tax for a total of 16% and this isn't Europe. I want to reiterate that I support local businesses and that I can see things from the business owner's perspective, I know it is difficult to compete with giants such as Starbucks with corporate deep pockets, reason why I chose to come here today. I am taking the time to express my concerns hoping that this will help. It is about the overall experience, by the time I got the food I was already annoyed by all the little surprises described above, and that is not good...

Ive been going to Vanessa since they opened. Theres a lot of things I like but more that I don't. Food for the most part is good. But over the years Vanessa’s has become a popular spot and apart from expanding their store I feel like not much has been done to improve service according to demand. Its not a big restaurant so I think they should have a food runner atleast. It’s kind of annoying having to get up to get the coffee then again for the food, then again for utensils ect. Also we order for pick up a lot and 3 times in one month we’ve gone there to pick up an order and for some reason they cant find the order and then they do? Maybe the employees need more training or they need a better system? Not sure what the issue is but I find it odd that they cant find it we have to wait, show them the email the employees seem lost and then all of a sudden “ oh we found it” Thats not as big as a deal as when I called to place an order because the website was not loading and the girl told me that they dont take orders over the phone. That seems ridiculous to me. She said try the website again in 10 minutes. I was like ok never mind. And then final straw. Yesterday I was at the lake nona location and ordered a hazelnut iced coffee. When I pick it up it’s literally black coffee with ice. I asked her if it had milk and she said “ no, you ordered an iced coffee” and I said well I assume it had milk. Everywhere else you go (starbucks, dunkin) an iced coffee comes with milk unless otherwise stated by the customer. In fact they ask you what kind of milk you want. Anyways I was polite and said I’d like to change it then. And she says “ well we charge for milk , we can do it this time but for future reference an iced coffee has no milk” I almost wanted to laugh. So yea I’m contemplating just not...

Today is my daughter’s birthday and I thought I would bring her to Vanessa’s for breakfast since I love this place! But today was less than what I expected! The Classic French toasts was burn to the bottom and less presentable! Bacon was burned! After addressing the issue, the Chef Manager came back out and said he is replacing ONLY 1 toast and bacon! Left the food sitting on counter- I addressed it with the young lady who took our order, she said, I should have taken it to the table while it was there, I was explaining what he said m, but didn’t know to take it with me; and she walked away with the plate while I was speaking, I waited till she came back and told her she was rude, she apologized and just disregarded what I was saying and said I will refund you, and the Chef said he will not redo!!! 🤔 one of the Parties was left without breakfast!!! This was an unexpected attitude, the owners where not there- I am truly sorry, because this was a place that I recommended to everyone that visited or family and friends! Young lady, on the cash morning of 3/28/23, you need a customer service training when dealing with food and services! I traveled the world, and have never experienced this shuffling of food before with an attitude!!! Is inexcusable and unacceptable! I also noticed a turnaround of employees, not sure if is that! But definitely, the Chef and front has to be evaluated…..

So sorry, for this day that was my daughter’s birthday 🎂 and decided to bring her here!

God...