Roggenart European Bakery, Bistro & Cafe — Restaurant in Towson

Establisment has an unwelcoming aura. I haven't had an occasion to dine at this establishment (considering the food reviews, I won't be) but, being a delivery person, I have entered the eatery on four separate instances, in the past two months. Today, May 21, 2024, 9AM, I entered the establishment with a good morning, as I always have (no good morning in return) and stood in the place where it says pick-up. There are no customers, other than myself in the store and it is not busy with incoming or outgoing orders. There was an older woman and two younger women working in the store, chit-chatting, ignoring my presence, this went on for three to four minutes. My delivery order had not been started and when it was finished, the young woman who prepared the meal, put the food on the shelf near the pick-up space, walked away and continued to have a conversation with the other young woman with no acknowledgment of me or an order being ready. Again, no other customers are in the store and they are not busy with incoming or outgoing orders. So, asking me what or who am I here for, as I'm standing in the pick-up space, would have been professional. I had to cut their conversation by saying, "Excuse me, I am here to pick up an order." The young woman who prepared the meal, asked me who was it for, I pointed to the shelf where she put the order, as I can see the delivery customers name. This was only half the order, I then had to wait for them (it took both young women to make the drinks) to complete the rest of the order while they continue their chit-chatting. As mentioned before, I have been here a few times before, each time it is the same. On the occassion there is a particular customer or a particular customer walks in, I have been looked over. I just read the reviews on this place, depicting this type of behavior towards certain groups. If I get an order to this store again, I will decline it, which will make the order even later and cold for the delivery customer. It's 2024 people, keep your biases and passive aggressive behavior to yourself and offer decent customer service to everyone. FYI I dress professionally and neat and I am always polite. No one would assume I'm their delivery person. Never judge a book...

Update 3: Decided to give this location one last chance and it failed again. I ordered a decaf coffee and pastry. Simple and quick, right? Wrong waited 15+ minutes only to find out that there is no decaf coffee. Cashier was not able process a refund for me without calling someone on the phone.

I regret to say, I will be taking my business elsewhere.

Update2: BEWARE and Check your receipt after paying for your service!!! This location is now charging a 3% Credit Card Surcharge. The fee is hidden and not disclosed until after you swipe or tap when you pay with a credit card. It doesn't show unless you print or text the receipt to yourself. Very sneaky practice. In Maryland the fee must be displayed on the menu in bold print, staff should verbally communicate the fee to the customer and be included in the receipt. Only one of these are happening and after the fact. I fully understand service fees in today's world and a businesses need to passing those fees onto their customers. However, as a customer I should know about the fees in advance .

Update 1: Service continues to decline under the new management. I wanted 20 minutes for a latte and croissant this morning because only one person was working. When I asked why, the explanation I was given is, the manager is cutting hours. There should be more than one person working during peak hours; for example breakfast at the store opening. The owner should know if it continues customers will go somewhere else.

I've been a customer since this location opened an enjoyed my experience. The food and coffee are always very good. The service after the recent change in management has gone down significantly. I have read some of the negative comments and agree with each of them. The new manager is rude to customers and staff alike. I have been the only customer on more than one occasion and had to wait 10-15 minutes or more for her finish yelling at someone before my order is even taken. The change in atmosphere is clear in the...

Atmosphere: The venue is aesthetically pleasing, offering a comfortable and stylish environment that is well-suited for enjoying time with family or friends. The space is meticulously maintained, contributing to a pleasant overall experience. Customer Service: Unfortunately, the service falls short of expectations. Despite the presence of four staff members, the level of professionalism was lacking. One diligent Hispanic employee appeared overwhelmed, frequently moving between tasks but not engaging with customers. Another staff member seemed preoccupied with rearranging pastries rather than addressing the needs of waiting patrons. The remaining staff members were notably inattentive, engaging in idle gossip rather than attending to customer service. Additionally, an order was forgotten, prompting a customer to remind the staff to fulfill their request.

Food: The culinary offerings are visually appealing but inconsistent in quality. The Boston Cream Danish was a highlight, meeting a satisfactory standard for Towson. However, the brownie and Dutch pretzel were notably disappointing. The brownie was excessively hard, and despite repeated attempts to soften it, it remained almost inedible. The Dutch pretzel also lacked freshness, suggesting that these items were not recently baked. In my professional opinion, these products were far from the standard expected in a European-style pastry establishment.

In conclusion, while the ambiance and appearance of the pastries might be promising, the service and food quality do not meet the mark. This establishment, though currently the sole option in Towson for European-style pastries, would benefit from significant improvements in both service and product freshness to enhance the overall...