To think if you put your style choices above customer comfort your business is going to fail?

[BluthsFrozenBananas]

It’s a tough market right now, so why do new businesses, especially restaurants and cafes, do this?

I went to a new cafe in town yesterday with DH and DD. It’s been open a couple of weeks and what I assume where the owners were in there, three rather earnest hipsterish blokes. The food was pretty good and a decent price, but the style choices that had been made ensured I’d probably never go back.

All hot drinks were served in tin mugs, my tea caused the mug to heat up so much the handle was too hot to hold and the rim burnt my lips. I asked for a china mug, to be told they only had tin ones, but they’d make me another tea. So I got a second tea pot full of Luke warm water, which wasn’t hot enough to actually brew the tea properly.

Alongside this the tables were very small and designed with legs shaped liked an inverted v. This meant that the tops of the table legs dug into the thighs of any adult sitting at them. I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t got the thinnest of legs, but looking around the cafe I could see most of the adults were either sitting awkwardly far from the tables or had pulled their chairs around to the corner of the table so they could sit in comfort.

On the way out one of the earnest hipsters asked me if I’d be coming back, I told him I would if they got some china mugs, he gave me a look. I’m not going to take to trip advisor and slag the place off, but I probably won’t bother to go back either.

It was the similar with the posh burger place which opened up near me, and recently closed. Although with them it was the menu which was the issue. They had lots of fancy pants and frankly odd burgers on their menu, but not a single plain one. The plainest was bacon and cheese, and the only way to get a plain burger was to ask for bacon and cheese without the bacon and cheese, but you were still paying for them.

TLDR, hipsterish notions aren’t great for long term business success.

Bloomcounty Tue 13-Nov-18 08:46:02
I'm now at the stage of saying, when I order, that I want my food on a plate. Not a basket, not a slate. A plate. I also say I will send it back if it doesn't come on the asked for plate. Pubs with their wanky brioche buns for burgers can also fuck themselves.

Brioche buns aren't that bad actually. When we do burgers at home we get bagels now, brioche is 2nd choice then nice rolls after that.

Ha ha bloomcounty I am right there with you about brioche buns! They disintegrate to nothing if you're lucky enough to get a hot burger and it's just wrong! Also loving the Victoria Woodesque asking for a burger and no bun.

Oh god I hate it when hot drinks come in a completely useless cup. I once had my tea brought to me in a glass with no handle, like you'd use for squash . And it's not just artisan places that piss me off with their cups. I really loathe the tea cups at Costa. They're too chunky and awkward-shaped. It's like trying to drink out of the bathroom sink. And a cup that size needs a proper handle, not that stupid little loop you can only get one finger through.

I probably should start taking my own mug everywhere with me.

I’m at the swings, imagine the havoc a child or two would cause. Mine is nearly 11 but I know she wouldn’t be able to resist swinging, even with a tether it would be a disaster.

This has reminded me of a cafe I took DD into in London. They had old cinema seats as chairs, far too low for the tables and I had to tell DD not to keep bouncing up and down on them. People want plates, china mugs and comfy, practical chairs.

costacoffeecup how did you guess ?

Not just cafes that can get their core customers badly wrong. In my town, our football club moved and replaced their "beer and pie" fans bar with a bistro selling wild boar steaks!! Just what were they thinking?

There’s a place near me that does amazing food and brilliant cocktails.

The way it’s set up means that when the place is open these huge doors at the back have to be left fully open

OK in the summer, but bloody freezing in the winter - I refuse to wear my coat and scarf when I’m eating dinner and the food gets cold before you’ve had a chance to pick your knife and fork up

It looks fab, and in the summer the place is packed, but on a freezing November night when it’s pissing down with rain it’s empty

There are loads and loads of reviews all complaining about the same thing

Ooohhh this is a pet peeve of mine too. I hate hipster cafes.

I went to one a while ago where they only served drinks out of jars. They made you pay a deposit for the jar in case it broke. I don't want a jar, I want a normal fucking inexpensive glass.

Crates instead of chairs. With manky cushions on them that don't get washed.

Chunky salt in an open pot in the middle of the table. I don't want to put chunks of salt in my food that people have been sticking their fingers in. What's wrong with a salt shaker?!

I refuse now to eat anywhere that looks remotely wanky.

I have come to agree with this.

When out and about I often discount places before I go in now as a "TripAdvisor" place!

SisterFrances, yes I used to give them the benefit of the doubt but no more!

I have found my people! All of this annoys me (particularly getting a scolding hot drink in a glass with no handle) but the absolute WORST is shitty reclaimed wooden tables (reclaimed from a skip most likely) that are too low underneath for you to cross your legs. My local pub has these in the dining room and I have been known to table hop until I find one with decent room underneath.

Mind you, they also have an open kitchen which means the fluorescent lighting bleeds into the room, and they play radio 1 type music really loudly so you'll be there eating your dinner listening to like... Calvin Harris

There was a cafe near me (recently closed down) where I ordered a bacon sandwich and I was waiting so long I genuinely thought they had forgotten, so I went to the counter to check and got a lecture about how they cook everything fresh so of course it takes a while.
Fine, except as I live 5 minutes from the town centre I could literally have gone to the butcher for some bacon, to the baker for a loaf and gone home and cooked it in less time (which is what I should have done).
There was really no need for a lecture. A simple 'it's on its way' would have done.

@costacoffeecup and @BluthsFrozenBananas whereabouts in TW? I might have to go along for a nosy

@BluthsFrozenBananasHa ha, when you said it was pancakes and waffles I thought it sounded like the new place that's opened on Camden road 😂 I've not been there yet but been meaning to go, not keen on the tin tea cups though!

@catinboots9 I think it's on Camden Road

Where Sankeys used to be I think

I'm a cafe owner.

It may look slightly wanky (industrial style as its on an industrial estate) but it's sooooooo not!

Coffee costs no more than £2.10 (and that's your flavoured bugger)

Tea is £1. Served in a Mug. Tea bag left in, sort yourself out!

All food is home cooked, including chips and pies and all desserts, and (tooting my own!) is served lightning fast. ON PLATES.

Meat from the butcher, veggie and vegan meals available every day.

I am in competition with 15 other cafes. I am the busiest. To be fair, it is what I would want from a cafe but even if it wasn't, it works for the customers so it's a no-brainier!

I'd love to have the guts to go into one of the hipster deconstructed food places and pay with a £20 in two halves.

Don't go to these places. If it's unavoidable, ask for a plate and a proper wine glass.

I was served wine in a scratched Duraglit toothmug and told it's what the French have. No it's not and neither do they sit on rickety chairs reclaimed from a skip with the horsehair poking into your bum.

After a grumble I got a reasonably okay glass but they couldn't do me another chair.

I did not tip (unusual for me) and did not return.

We visited a hipster wanky cafe on the Isle of Wight this summer. I knew there'd be trouble when I ordered red bush tea and the waiter asked "have you drunk tea with us before?"

Tea duly arrived with 3 egg timers so I could time the brew to perfection. I didn't have the heart to tell him I just wait until it looks dark enough!

I agree with too much hipster wankery.

Nowadays it is such a find to get a decent pot of tea WITH a pot of hot water to make an extra cup. It is like hitting the jackpot!

I refuse to go to places that don't take bookings.

Well, that's not true. I go to places that don't take bookings that say when I walk in: 'Hello Limited. Thank you for waiting in that bar round the corner until we texted you that your table was available.

'We need to clean it but just wait there and you'll be seated next.'

It's a lie but I'm a regular who tips well.

We ordered coffee after an excellent meal at a favourite restaurant and were quite perplexed when the waitress came and sat down at the table with us to give a lecture on the coffee and their brewing concept. I zoned out slightly (the wine was fab too!) but it took a good 5 minutes before she was done pouring hot water over the grounds into the massive conical flask. She was very earnest but it tasted no different to my beloved nespresso at home 😂 No handle on the coffee cup, of course!

Cait and Costa yep, the place on Camden road. Try it, the food was good. Actually I think that’s what annoyed me most, it was so close to being a place I’d go to again, especially if I wanted to treat DD who loves waffles, but it was such a bloody uncomfortable experience the decent food wasn’t enough. It’ll have to be Creams instead for waffles, who at least have got comfortable booths. Although the combination of glitter wallpaper and screeching children on sugar highs is only marginally better than numb legs and burnt lips.

Graphista I will be a regular.

I don't eat breakfast so I can't think of any a nicer treat than a proper all-day breakfast when I fancy one.

And whoever said about the Costa mugs - I agree.