Jewel Box Cafe — Restaurant in Seattle

Despite explaining special instructions multiple times, and even calling the restaurant TWICE, they still managed to not follow either of my (very simple) special instructions.

I was ordering from jewel box off of door dash and wasn’t able to add any special instructions, so before I actually placed my ordered, I called them to see if they could make these accommodations I was asking for. I order two blended bubble “teas”, but I actually didn’t want any tea added to either of the drinks, one with no boba, and one with boba on the side. They said this was no problem and they asked for my name so they knew when my order popped up. I ordered one for myself and one for my young son, so that’s why I didn’t want any tea, and boba on the side. I don’t let him have tea, and I don’t let him have much caffeine. I also wanted to control how much boba was in the drink, because he had never had them but wanted to try them, and I wanted to gradually add them if he felt he could handle them. They said this was no problem.

I asked my door dasher to verify that these instructions were followed. Then he sent me a picture of the two drinks, and my son’s had the bobas mixed in. The door dasher also told me that he reiterated the instructions to them and they IGNORED him. I wanted to cancel the order and try somewhere else, but it was too late to cancel it. I called because I was hoping they could remake them, because after I saw the boba I didn’t trust that they followed the instructions not to add the tea, but the door dasher refused to wait, and the woman on the phone assured me that there was no tea, and the only reason she added the boba is because “there was nothing on the note about boba on the side”. When it got here I tried both of them (again, if they couldn’t handle putting boba on the side, I don’t think they could handle not adding tea), and sure enough BOTH OF THEM TASTED HEAVILY OF TEA.

I don’t usually ask for refunds, if something tastes bad I usually just take it as a loss, but I was so upset and so was my son. I called to make sure they could accommodate BEFORE I even placed the order, they assured they could, I tried MULTIPLE times to make sure the order was correct, and both the restaurant and the door dasher failed. But, and most of the blame is on these restaurant employees, but it’s still disappointing that I made these instructions (very very very simple instructions, unless you just don’t care about your costumers) crystal clear, multiple times, and still, this restaurant failed. When I called about the bobas being in the order when my dasher sent me the picture the woman on the phone (who I’m 100% sure was the same one that answered the phone the first time promising to be able to make my order) claimed that it wasn’t written down and she said “sorry” but you could tell she didn’t really mean it and didn’t think it was a big deal, and she kept assuring me there was no tea in them. So...when the drinks got here and BOTH had tea, I was so angry I didn’t even call the restaurant, because clearly they didn’t care about anything I said to them the first two times I called, and I was so upset that I knew I would be extremely rude to them. I also not only wanted the drinks refunded, I wanted the entire total (drinks+taxes+fees) refunded. So, I called door dash directly to explain the situation and make a complaint and try to get my money back. Because I asked if they could make special accommodations before I ordered, I don’t think I should have to pay for all the extra taxes and fees, considering I wouldn’t have ordered from them if they had been honest about what they are capable of. Thankfully, door dash understood where I was coming from and refunded me everything except the tip, and I gave my honest review rating when they asked.

I honestly couldn’t even tell you that they were good drinks. I didn’t want tea in them, but that aside, they just didn’t taste good. It was just an unnecessary exchange and I will not be ordering from them every again. How can you care so little about possible dietary...

I have been a long-time fan and promoter of Jewel Box Cafe. I spend a TON of money there rather than making my coffee at home because I wanted to support this local business, especially during COVID, and it's conveniently downstairs. The Joe app made it great so I could order ahead and be notified when it's ready, pop down, get it, and enjoy their great drinks and food.

Today I ordered and it was a nightmare. I went to the Subway app and changed my mind for the breakfast order and decided to try their breakfast crepe. I'm "allergic" to mushrooms and removed them from the ingredients and then also made a special note, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO mushrooms".

It was supposed to be ready by 7:52 AM and I kept waiting and waiting and waiting. Finally at 8:05 I dropped down and it was waiting on the counter. I told the employee that made it to remember in the future to mark when it's ready since I was waiting for the notification. Fine, no biggies.

I took it back up to my apartment checked it before starting eating it, thank goodness. Immediately at the corner I found a mushroom. At this point I don't have time for them to make it again, let alone eat it. I take it back downstairs and tell them. When the employees asks the manager how to refund they said I need to contact Joe Coffee directly.

I had a discussion with the manager about the situation explained that I would understand if I made and error or didn't put it TWO places. The manager said it's a training issue. Which I said, "No it's a reading issue." I put it in TWO places. They said they are doing the best they can and to use their system directly because they don't know how to always read the system. Their receipt itself says "No Mushrooms".

The manager showed no empathy, no understanding, offered to re-make it only, nothing on their end or taking any responsibility. They have a punch card system and didn't offer even for next drink free. NOTHING. At one point I even said you're just patronizing me because of the words she was saying. She then asked me to move so she could help the next customer.

Again, I LOVE this place and went down just wanting a refund and maybe something showing they cared. Instead, I got the opposite with excuses and "we are down five people and doing the best we can" when I know the person that made my order has been there for some time. If anything, adding mushroom took more time than not. The manager is what turned me away from wanting to go back. I will only go there now when Joe has a special and to use my punch card with my six free drinks that I just held onto, never turned in. Back to...

The ineffiency is mind-boggling. The staff wander around with looks on their faces like they're shocked that they're awake, let alone working. Literally the only time I felt that I had the attention of any employee is when they were making sure I entered a tip when paying for my 15-minute-wait lukewarm coffee and sloppy-layers-of-sugar crepe (you receive no service for the tip, you pay ahead at the till and then have to go up to collect your items, and there are multiple hand-made signs around the place saying to bus your own table). No matter how simple your order is or how empty the cafe is, you will be waiting minimum ten minutes for a coffee, and at least double that for food. And you'll have had to repeat yourself at least three times to have maybe had the order put in, but you may as well not even bother trying if you need have your food or drink modified in any way. Having been twice recently, I'd say the first crepe I had was fine, but the crepe I had today was disgustingly overcooked to the point of essentially being a stiff, dry sponge and did not appear to have either ingredient that was supposed to be inside, just more layers of dry sponge instead.

I was super disappointed by these two recent experiences because I used to love coming to the Jewel Box cafe, but the place has turned into an absolute joke in recent years. And shockingly overpriced for what you eventually get. Management needs to take a serious look at how their business is being nose-dived...