41 North Coffee Co — Restaurant in Wendell

Sure, we can be more understanding that supplies ran out and people were training. As paying customers who wanted some family time at a local spot and felt disappointed by the outcome, I would have appreciated a more thoughtful response back from the owner. Truly disappointed by this. Own the outcome: This visit was not good and improvements can be made. Reviews are here for that reason. Pointing out improvements is not complaining or being rude. As a customer, I value good quality food, professional staff, and time management and I will find businesses that align with those standards. Genuinely hope you can find some empathy for others.

Update: After the owner responded to my original post, 3 weeks later, I will be taking my review down from 2 stars to 1. I am appalled a business owner would respond that way to a customer. The passive aggressiveness is completely unprofessional.

Owner-“I do think that based on the many items that you were unhappy about I’m not sure that we would’ve been able to satisfy you with anything that day. But please don't get me wrong , nothing should be served not up to our standards!”

Stating nothing could have pleased me is wild when I very clearly provided positive feedback for the refund and decor. Good quality food, professional staff, and time management are not high standards.

Owner “The biscuits and gravy you received should have never been served!! According to the barista that dropped it, she said ‘I’m sorry for the watery gravy’.”

And in regards to the “meat looks funky.” I was present during that interaction not the owner. And that was definitely what was told to me and my husband.

You’re asking me to be understanding about several things as a customer when you aren’t providing me with the same empathy for anything in regard to my visit. Sympathy vs empathy are two very different things. Saying “don’t get me wrong” is a passive way of trying to excuse your rudeness.

3 weeks prior: Very disappointed for Sunday breakfast

We arrived 2 hours after opening around 10:00am. The restaurant was out of almost everything we wanted- cookie butter, home fries, yogurt. Cashier didn’t offer any apology.

After we ordered, we had to clear off our own table. Crumbs were everywhere.

While waiting, the restaurant received a Walmart order with several items in the front of the store. We found this a bit odd.

All the employees seemed to moving slowly and inefficiently.

My cold brew was filled to the top so when I placed my straw in the lid, the drink sprayed everywhere.

We had our toddler with us so tried to order yogurt (out of stock) so we ordered a danish from the case, thinking it would come out first. 20 mins later, it came out with the rest of our food..

Once our food arrives, the server tells us (regarding the biscuits and gravy) “Sorry the MEAT LOOKS FUNKY.” There was ground meat in a very watery substance which was supposed to be the gravy. What we were served did not match previous pictures of the same dish. The $4 side of bacon we ordered appeared to be the microwaveable Oscar Meyer bacon that was ordered from Walmart. Eggs Benedict- muffin was not toasted, eggs were cold.

We immediately requested a refund for this $40 meal.

I gave two stars because the restaurant had potential with the decor & we got a refund...

Second edit: I edited my original review when YOU replied weeks later. To say that my review of your business is what's wrong with the world and what's causing senseless death is absolutely asinine.

Edit to add: it is clear by the owner's response that my review was spot on. Immediate deflection. I was not curt or rude. I said exactly what I felt after waiting 30 minutes for counter service food and then sitting in a hot coffee shop. Your inattentiveness to your guests warranted my tone. You are in the business of serving people. It is not my job to play nice when I'm spending my hard earned money. Notice that I mentioned we left a $7.13 tip for COUNTER SERVICE. If I am a long time customer and the VERY first time I make a complaint, you dismiss my complaint because YOU don't think it's plausible someone could be unhappy with their food- you deserve every bit of my attitude. I said "no refund" because I don't need the money back. You lost hundreds if not thousands of my dollars just by this one visit. You can keep the money. It was never about the money. It's about the fact I willingly showed up to your business, spent my money and you got defensive because you cannot handle being a business owner. I have a feeling your coffee shop will be gone within 5 years or sold off.

Original review: I have been coming to 41 North for almost 5 years now. Which is only 2 years after they opened. I have watched renovations and new menus and staff change like the seasons. The ownership is clearly "this is our business- like it or leave." After waiting roughly 30 minutes for a grilled cheese, and a warmed up cinnamon roll and jalepeno pretzel- my partner and I were excited to eat. I took a bite of the grilled cheese and it was like biting into a a solid block of cheese. No flavor other than melted cheese. It was way too much and the bread was smashed down so thin there was no texture other than melted cheese. It was disgusting. I waited a few minutes, and decided for $11.20 I shouldn't be repulsed by this. A simple fix would've been to offer to remake it. However the female owner looked at me like I was crazy for suggesting the sandwich wasn't good. I then mentioned that the front of the restaurant- near the windows- it was stifling hot. They have one small fan that does not circulate air efficiently. She looked at me and said "well it's almost 100° degrees outside"...sure, but are we outside? A simple offer of "I'm sorry it's uncomfortable- we'll see what we can do" would have been sufficient. It's truly sad when a small business has no desire to take care of their long time customers. I will never recommend 41 North to anyone again. It's just not worth our hard earned money. $40 for 2 drinks, a grilled cheese, pretzel, and cinnamon roll. Plus the $7.13 tip we left....

Yikes...I LOVE supporting local coffee shops (previously have worked as a barista for 5+ years across town, so I can say I completely understand the issues I'm about to reference) I work from home with a new baby, so this morning was one of the few moments I was able to venture out to work, and chose 41 North for an inviting enviornment, and of course a good cup of coffee (and the worship music is also a plus). I was seated at a 2-top table, however, when the people seated at the larger, farmhouse style table, got up and left, I moved to be in the quieter, back corner of the shop. Also, as a preference I sit in corners, to not have my back to anyone/thing, this is a comfort thing for safety. But also, because it was close to outlets (which I have since learned are not for "public use"). The (who I'm assuming is the owner) approached me telling me this table was for "3 or more people" and to "remember that next time I come in". Mind you, there are a good 5 other tables plus both couch sections open for use. If a larger party came in, I (a) wouldn't mind sharing the table, as every other coffee shop I've ever been in does, or (b) moving! And when I said that to her, she seemed as if she was expecting me to move and offended that I didn't offer...Also mentioning to her I sat here so I could use the outlets when my computer was low-power, and was so passively told the outlets weren't for "public use", with plastic child-proof clips to prevent people in them. I am just as much of a paying patron as anyone else in the shop, and with all due respect, I felt very uncomfortable with the way that all went down. If it was bustling, I may have taken it differently, however again as mentioned earlier there was plenty of open seats. Coming from working at a (much busier) coffee shop for years, this just didn't seem the way to handle this type of situation. I frequent here often enough, and have enough common sense to know that larger parties would require the larger table. Overall, just very off put from this interaction.

The coffee was delish though (so 3 starts...