Coffee Cartel

User Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

I took my family to Coffee Cartel last weekend, as part of our Central West End Art Fair and Taste experience. After a long wait and a lack of service by the staff, I made a constructive suggestion (to fix the problem) and was confronted by the owner "Dennis" who told us (me, wife, child, in-laws) to take our business elsewhere. If you're a Seinfeld fan, think "Soup Nazi". The poor service, which I've encountered before at this place but not to this degree, and intolerance to (polite, constructive) feedback is sad. If you want to be a continuing customer, don't think of complaining, unless you want to be banned by Dennis Gorg -- aka the "Coffee Nazi".

Details: We waited over 10 minutes in line, though the place was not yet too busy. There were plenty of staff, but they didn't seem to notice the line of waiting customers. One staff person sauntered by talking on a cell phone, in a personal conversation: holding the cell phone to her ear with one hand while trying to cut a mini-pizza with the other.
A family behind ours finally gives up and leaves. At last a staff person tells me (and the rest of the waiting people) to come to the cashier, as they don't take orders from the counter at which we were all gathered. This counter is where you naturally arrive when entering the restaurant from the main entrance, and has the ice cream -- which many customers were wanting on this hot day. So I suggest (calmly, mind you, no shouting or offensive content) to the staff person that the staff should be checking the line at the counter, to avoid backlog, customers leaving the restaurant, etc. She seems to brush this off. I get our food, we are eating and this casually dressed man approaches our table saying, "I'm Dennis, what's your name?" As I don't know him, but suspect he's a salesman, I tell him my name is "unlisted." This clearly annoys him: "so you're not going to tell me your name?" In the ensuing conversation, I learn he is the store owner, I tell him what I've observed. I notice at some point he has a staff person with him, and he ultimately makes clear that what he's doing is showing her how to tell problem customers to get lost. As he is doing so, more customers enter the store, and wait awhile at the counter. And...then turn around and walk out! He seems oblivious to this event, even though I had just told him about the same situation earlier. My guess is that he is more interested in being the boss/owner, and doing what he pleases, than about running a cafe/restaurant. This is not uncommon with small business owners, but is hardly a boon for the Central West End.

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User Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

I used to go to Coffee Cartel when I was in high school and it was a cool place to see and be seen, but over the years the staff has gotten worse and worse. They act like you are not cool enough to be in there unless you are sporting a vintage messenger bag, facial piercings and an anti-authority t-shirt. Back in high school and college, that was pretty much me, but over the years I have grown up and become a professional working in the Central West End. I have been back to give them chance after chance, but each time I go back there, I get treated badly by the rude staff. I can just imagine them thinking to themselves, "What a conformist." I don't appreciate going somewhere and being made to feel like I am not enough of a hipster to even be there anymore. Also it stinks because of the smoking area.

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User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Very Nice place. I like it a lot and go all the time. The staff is freindly and the food is really good which surprised me. Of course the people watching is great too. Try the nachos, they are awsome. I liked the coffee and my friend had tea and coffee cake. They could do more "espresso art", but as busy as they are, I see that not being possible that's for sure. And they're open 24 hours.

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