A Tale of Two Cafes
01/04/2011 08:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
izmeinaSince the demise of the quirky and quaint Village Cafe last April, the serpent has been searching for a suitable new lurking ground
There's plenty of coffee shops around but so few of them have the certain something
So when a local foodie magazine came out with a list of quirky little cafes in the city centre, decided that it would be interesting to plod through the list to see if there is anything special
There's plenty of franchises out there but most of them are boring and soulless - the worst offender being Gloria Jeans. How can you convince people you take coffee seriously if you serve the dine in coffee in paper cups?
Dome is OK. The decor is nice - wooden floors and old fashioned chairs and tables plus reasonably priced coffees. They always have lots of free water and most have toilets too which is most important for serious coffee and water drinking
They are also often quite well located near trains and other public transport and some of the locations are particularly gorgeous. But they are still sort of all similar and not really special.
Today decided to try one of the new kids on the block - a mob called "The Coffee Club"
It was all glass and minimalist and not a very inspiring sort of place. But it was airconditioned which did come in handy on a 30 something day.
Ordered the coffee and cake 'special' which at $$7.90 was no big deal at all. Paid up front at the counter, was given a number and slinked off to find a spot in the corner
But the serpent ended up with more than we bargained for. As well as the coffee and cake, the waitress brought a big plate of burger and chips. Could have been greedy and just grabbed and gobbled it. Instead told her that the coffee and cake was in the order but the burger was not. She brought it back and looked a bit confused and then returned again with the meal and demanded to see the receipt
Replied that we did not have one but that it was definitely not in the order. In the meantime some poor starving bugger is sitting and waiting for their meal
It would have been no big deal but for the fact that the serpent wanted to read the paper and get a glass of water.
The papers and water jug and glasses were in the same location but the single solitary jug was empty. But next to it was a picture frame and a certificate of sorts proclaiming The Vision and The Mission of this paragon of caffeinated virtue. Read this ridiculous bit of rubbish and managed to avoid giggling hysterically. It has got to be some sort of sick and sad April Fools Joke
Oh but no. It was dead serious
We got enough of this stupid sizzle and spin nonsense at work without having to tolerate it on our days off.
And just like the evil goblins that the serpent works for - when a company proclaims just how much it listens and it cares you can be sure that it definitely does not give a damn
The decisively unfriendly and accusatory tone that the waitress used when asking to see our receipt when they were the ones who stuffed up the order, the complete ordinariness of the coffee and cake and the fact that it took more than 30 minutes for them to notice that the single solitary water jug was empty all proved that they were truly worthy of such a magnificent proclamation of values
So here is a snippet of the unadulterated silliness
OUR VISION
To be a global leader in retail food, coffee and franchising.
OUR MISSION
We provide:
Good Food, Great Service & Excellent Coffee
A welcoming relaxed meeting place enriching contemporary lifestyle
The answer to "Where will I meet you?"
OUR CORE VALUES
:: Customer Service
Our focus is our customers, both internal and external. Everything we do revolves around ensuring that all our Customers have positive and productive contact with us.
:: Teamwork
We encourage and support each other to achieve our best at all times in a safe, fun and relaxed environment.
:: Accountability
We accept responsibility for our actions and are accountable for the results achieved.
:: Positive Relationships
We actively promote a positive and satisfying work environment and represent The Coffee Club positively at all times.
:: Continual Improvement
We constantly re-evaluate our services and actively elicit, listen and act upon information for continuous improvement, actively promoting innovative practice in all that we do and are involved with.
Now if this nonsense had been prominently displayed near the entrance, would not have dreamed of darkening the door.
So it was a pleasant change to find the very quirky and retro Toast Cafe down by the cove with lots of retro furniture and bits and pieces and not a mission statement in sight
They didn't have to proclaim their passion for coffee. You could feel it from the relaxed and friendly atmosphere that this one off quirky cafe is a labour of love as well as a business
Asked them if they had a loyalty card to which the waitress said that they don't but they do have a sort of business card. She produced one and it simply said "Toast - the best thing since sliced bread" It had contact details and on the back it said that it could be redeemed for a free cup of coffee
There were toilets and several bottles of water - all in crazy French bottles - not wine bottles but sort of oversized potions bottles
Didn't even have to go and get some. The waitress brought a bottle and glass to Izzies's table
The place was full of old fifties furniture and French posters for all sorts of strange products and holiday destinations.
It had a gorgeous view over the water and lots of tables and chairs outside. Sat just inside as it was still a bit hot. There was a very pretty curtain of mother of pearl discs marking the boundary between inside and outside which made a delicate sound when the breeze passed through
This was no nanny cafe closing at 4pm. So there was no mad rush to grab a cup and finish. Ended up drinking 3 coffees and staying just short of two hours.
It is also very near the Cat bus, the gorgeous Victoria Gardens and the old historical graveyard which makes it just the perfect nanowrimo cafe. Got lots of letters written and started folding stacks of pages for the next serpent hand made book.
The 7pm closing and its location on the east side of the river with an unobstructed view to the west too means that it is just perfect for watching sunsets and moon rises.
It is so so nice to have found such a wonderful creative space to lurk. But had so many coffees that old Izzie might have ended up with a caffeine overdose. Feeling a bit dopy and dizzy so will not be sitting outside in the garden tonight sipping a glass or two of red
There's plenty of coffee shops around but so few of them have the certain something
So when a local foodie magazine came out with a list of quirky little cafes in the city centre, decided that it would be interesting to plod through the list to see if there is anything special
There's plenty of franchises out there but most of them are boring and soulless - the worst offender being Gloria Jeans. How can you convince people you take coffee seriously if you serve the dine in coffee in paper cups?
Dome is OK. The decor is nice - wooden floors and old fashioned chairs and tables plus reasonably priced coffees. They always have lots of free water and most have toilets too which is most important for serious coffee and water drinking
They are also often quite well located near trains and other public transport and some of the locations are particularly gorgeous. But they are still sort of all similar and not really special.
Today decided to try one of the new kids on the block - a mob called "The Coffee Club"
It was all glass and minimalist and not a very inspiring sort of place. But it was airconditioned which did come in handy on a 30 something day.
Ordered the coffee and cake 'special' which at $$7.90 was no big deal at all. Paid up front at the counter, was given a number and slinked off to find a spot in the corner
But the serpent ended up with more than we bargained for. As well as the coffee and cake, the waitress brought a big plate of burger and chips. Could have been greedy and just grabbed and gobbled it. Instead told her that the coffee and cake was in the order but the burger was not. She brought it back and looked a bit confused and then returned again with the meal and demanded to see the receipt
Replied that we did not have one but that it was definitely not in the order. In the meantime some poor starving bugger is sitting and waiting for their meal
It would have been no big deal but for the fact that the serpent wanted to read the paper and get a glass of water.
The papers and water jug and glasses were in the same location but the single solitary jug was empty. But next to it was a picture frame and a certificate of sorts proclaiming The Vision and The Mission of this paragon of caffeinated virtue. Read this ridiculous bit of rubbish and managed to avoid giggling hysterically. It has got to be some sort of sick and sad April Fools Joke
Oh but no. It was dead serious
We got enough of this stupid sizzle and spin nonsense at work without having to tolerate it on our days off.
And just like the evil goblins that the serpent works for - when a company proclaims just how much it listens and it cares you can be sure that it definitely does not give a damn
The decisively unfriendly and accusatory tone that the waitress used when asking to see our receipt when they were the ones who stuffed up the order, the complete ordinariness of the coffee and cake and the fact that it took more than 30 minutes for them to notice that the single solitary water jug was empty all proved that they were truly worthy of such a magnificent proclamation of values
So here is a snippet of the unadulterated silliness
OUR VISION
To be a global leader in retail food, coffee and franchising.
OUR MISSION
We provide:
Good Food, Great Service & Excellent Coffee
A welcoming relaxed meeting place enriching contemporary lifestyle
The answer to "Where will I meet you?"
OUR CORE VALUES
:: Customer Service
Our focus is our customers, both internal and external. Everything we do revolves around ensuring that all our Customers have positive and productive contact with us.
:: Teamwork
We encourage and support each other to achieve our best at all times in a safe, fun and relaxed environment.
:: Accountability
We accept responsibility for our actions and are accountable for the results achieved.
:: Positive Relationships
We actively promote a positive and satisfying work environment and represent The Coffee Club positively at all times.
:: Continual Improvement
We constantly re-evaluate our services and actively elicit, listen and act upon information for continuous improvement, actively promoting innovative practice in all that we do and are involved with.
Now if this nonsense had been prominently displayed near the entrance, would not have dreamed of darkening the door.
So it was a pleasant change to find the very quirky and retro Toast Cafe down by the cove with lots of retro furniture and bits and pieces and not a mission statement in sight
They didn't have to proclaim their passion for coffee. You could feel it from the relaxed and friendly atmosphere that this one off quirky cafe is a labour of love as well as a business
Asked them if they had a loyalty card to which the waitress said that they don't but they do have a sort of business card. She produced one and it simply said "Toast - the best thing since sliced bread" It had contact details and on the back it said that it could be redeemed for a free cup of coffee
There were toilets and several bottles of water - all in crazy French bottles - not wine bottles but sort of oversized potions bottles
Didn't even have to go and get some. The waitress brought a bottle and glass to Izzies's table
The place was full of old fifties furniture and French posters for all sorts of strange products and holiday destinations.
It had a gorgeous view over the water and lots of tables and chairs outside. Sat just inside as it was still a bit hot. There was a very pretty curtain of mother of pearl discs marking the boundary between inside and outside which made a delicate sound when the breeze passed through
This was no nanny cafe closing at 4pm. So there was no mad rush to grab a cup and finish. Ended up drinking 3 coffees and staying just short of two hours.
It is also very near the Cat bus, the gorgeous Victoria Gardens and the old historical graveyard which makes it just the perfect nanowrimo cafe. Got lots of letters written and started folding stacks of pages for the next serpent hand made book.
The 7pm closing and its location on the east side of the river with an unobstructed view to the west too means that it is just perfect for watching sunsets and moon rises.
It is so so nice to have found such a wonderful creative space to lurk. But had so many coffees that old Izzie might have ended up with a caffeine overdose. Feeling a bit dopy and dizzy so will not be sitting outside in the garden tonight sipping a glass or two of red
