Coffee & Chai — Restaurant in San Jose

Call the health department ASAP I seriously can’t understand how this place has so many good reviews. I stopped in with my husband on Sunday around 12:45. There were 2 customers exiting the shop as we walked in. We were specifically here to try Lavazza coffee. There was only one employee behind the counter who looked like he was working on crafting a drink. For several minutes as he worked, we were not greeted or acknowledged at all. I looked at the glass where they had their baked goods that they offer, none of which were baked before being put on the showcase which made them all look pale and uncooked. Definitely not what you want to do when you want to encourage customers to try your baked items (bagels, croissants, etc.). As you can see in the photos, there were several issues at bay here. In the front of the cafe, t appears that there’s words missing before the word “coffee” on the blue panels. There’s also some sort of electrical wires dangling out from under the blue panels. In the seating area, there’s holes and possibly glue on this large wall that look bad, their yellow sears in the seating area look worn and stained. The worst part here, which I’m sure is in violation of several health and safety codes, is the only functioning bathroom. The faucet leaks, the toilet seat is broken and coming off its hinges, the toilet doesn’t flush properly so your toilet paper comes back up, the PVC under the sink is literally on the ground, the sewage cap on the ground has been removed and there’s toilet seat covers stuffed in it. Overall would not return. If that’s how the bathroom looks, and it’s in plain view, what does their kitchen area and prep area look like?...

This cafe was recently re-branded to its current name, but it is by no means a new cafe. The original decor menu and even staff is retained. The space is quite small, but they have plenty of outdoor seating, which is nice on sunny day. I got the chai and honestly I was not expecting much because usually chai from machines don’t taste great, but this one was actually legit. I had the masala chai, and you could actually taste the masala.

Edit - revising the rating after couple of visits. The experience can vary greatly and is pretty inconsistent. Looks like they only have one person staffing the cafe at all time and the last time I went, I had to wait at the counter for over 10 minutes without anybody being around. Also, not sure about the hygiene practises. I ordered a cold brew, and the barista made the cold brew in front of me by pouring a bunch of liquids from what look like a bunch of other drink bottles into a jug, and then served me from the jug. Do they brew the coffee in these random bottles? Left me a...

I asked a refund after ordering Lemon Mojito. Do you know that the classical mojito contains mint, fresh lime/lemon slices, ice, cane sugar? I received some weird salty sparkling spicy substance. No fruits, sugar, mint, ice, just salt (why salt???) and sparkling water! Impossible to drink. If you do not know how to make it, do not make it please, or change the drink's name. It is not mojito.

UPD: How was I supposed to know it was lemon masala soda? I think many people, including me, have never heard of this drink before and certainly didn't know its ingredients. Passing it off as a normal mojito is dishonest and misleading...