Chocolati Café — Restaurant in Seattle

This is a 5-star coffee and chocolate shop, but significant ongoing WiFi issues have forced me to look elsewhere for a favorite study spot.

The coffee is great, the homemade chocolate sauce (in three different cocoa intensities!!!) is the highlight for espresso drinks. Service is really warm and friendly, they take their time with each customer and of course the chocolates are phenomenal (try the Seattle Gold in dark chocolate, or a chocolate fig). There's not much substantial to eat, a few expensive sandwiches and quiche, but unless you're staying all day it's not an issue. Overall, I am absolutely in love with this place and its people, and have been since we chose it for a study spot several years ago.

HOWEVER, for several months this location has been having internet problems and I can't come here to study anymore. The staff can't help (they're coffee wizards, not IT specialists) and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do to my computer as it works everywhere else, including their other locations. Because I live wayyyy north, I'd only ever come down here to meet a friend to study, and if I can't study I have no reason to come down all this way.

Like I said, this is a 5-star coffee and chocolate shop, but that's not sufficient for a "third place." I miss you, Chocolati, why does it have to...

Based on my experience I'd probably rate this 1 star, see below for extra star reason.

Wasn't at all impressed by the quality of the drinking chocolate, given the name of the place, a very bad sign. I dumped the last of it (yes I dumped CHOCOLATE, those of you who know me, this IS a portent of doom: Hide in the basement). My wife's chai was ok, but not very good.

Chocolate Necessities in Bellingham does better vastly better...

The gal on the register, while chipper, was not very bright. I'll skip details.

So the extra star: All things we didn't use. Food (sandwiches) in case are a good idea. Rest room looked good, handy to the counter for quick in and out. The rooms where folks were sitting were comfy looking. And I assume given the use it was getting the WiFi is probably good.

So other than the drinks and the...

I haven't been to this location in a long time.

I watched the line get medium-long while I waited for my friend to find parking and meet me here before ordering. I watched the line move very slow with two people working behind the bar.

Then I watched my drink being very slowly made as the younger employee chatted someone who was at the bar who had just finished her sandwich and drink. They chatted casually for a long while and the barista didn't seem concerned with stalling to chat and to get caught up about furbies. He could not multi task.

I hope he learns how to chatter and work simultaneously because I need to get some real food and it took me over 25 minutes to get my drink because of this. I know I sound entitled, but I am also in the service industry with a lot of pressure to...