IKE Box Café — Restaurant in Salem

Disappointing experience for my first time going back to Ike Box after moving back to Salem, the customer service was not it. The woman taking our drinks was short, black straught hair, and black lipliner. I ordered 2 drinks and a cookie, and tipped 15% on top of that. Our drinks came out, and 5 minutes went by and I wondered if they had forgotten the $4 cookie, as she asked me if I wanted it warmed when i ordered it and I clearly said no. Waited in line again and spoke to a different employee who was tall, blonde with a beard and bigger, and asked if it was forgotten because its something that happens now and then. After he asked the woman who took my order he said she didn't forget, she just has other food to make. One minute later she yelled out in a snarky tone that it was at the counter, and threw it down onto the counter; no eye contact or friendliness to be found. Wasn't warmed either. Maybe the way they give out unharmed precooked cookies isn't as simple at Ike Box, Cafe Yumm has a good method of storing them in a cookie jar by the register so it only takes one quick minute to pull one out and get that order done and out of the way. Wasn't super excited to come in and show my partner the cafe I grew up going to, but it seems the standard of service has changed in a way I'm not sure is sustainable for keeping it a friendly, warm, welcoming environment. Drinks are amazing, Atmosphere is amazing, but service seems to not be held to the same...

I have to say I have grown less impressed with IKE Box as time has gone on. The one exception is that they finally got a couple of nice baristas; I wasn't coming here for the longest time because of the surly baristas with bad attitudes and lack of helpfulness, and they only get 2 stars today because of the improved baristaness. They refuse to correct their published hours online, and I've gone there planning to work for 2-3 hours, only to be told that they're closing at 8:00 tonight, or in half an hour because of some unannounced "private event". I can't tell if it's the baristas wanting to fruit off early or what, but it's not "okay" to just toss off an airy, oh, we're closing, we pasted up a piece of paper on the front door half an hour ago saying so when people have invested time, gas, energy, bus fare, whatever coming to the place with a plan to settle in & work, study or meet. I can't agree with the reviews here; the food is okay, some of the baristas are now aware of a concept called "customer service", but refusal to publish, or constantly changing hours of operation...

We visited Salem for a tournament and went to IKE Box for 3 days straight, brining more friends each time. The coffee was phenomenal (the new brown sugar dulce one) as was their new London Fog. I’d asked if it had lavender in it or if I needed to add syrup to it. The gentleman (owner’s son) said it was a newer item and they wanted to make sure it wasn’t too sweet so he asked if I’d try it regular and he’d add lavender if I wanted it. I was also getting a small so it could easily be too sweet. I took his suggestion and alone it was great. I was dying to lavender so he added a half pump and it was perfection. He shared about the organization and history of the building, which was super cool. We were so impressed not just by the quality of food and beverage, but by the quality of people working there. Their organization is helping at risk youth and helping to strengthen to next generation. Fantastic vibes all around. If you’re in Salem, do yourself a favor and stop in. Don’t be in a rush, not because service is slow (they’re very quick) but because you’ll want to sit and enjoy...