Yesterday I went to Barista Coffee Bar in Vasant Vihar for a rendezvous meeting with a consultant. I needed seating for 4 people. On the ground floor there was seating only for 2 or a single person. We decided to go to the upper floor of the establishment for a suitable table only to discover that it was a lounge, with sofas and no tables. Disappointed we headed in their open air seating, we found that the cosy warmth of the interiors was gone, and we had to brace the cold air blowing outside. Barista had even economized on lighting, such that the natural light that could filter from the soft top was all we had to make do with, with all the lamps switched off. I had a presentation to read, and I could not do that. So much for the ambience for which I was being charged over 300% of the actual cost of the product I had ordered.
I expected the coffee latte to redeem my dampened spirits. I received the coffee, which was served in the most mundane 200 ml MUG with a teaspoon in the mug and no plate! This for the menu price of Rs.100/-, with VAT and service tax extra The waiter hurriedly dumped what we had ordered and turning his back to us, started watching the TV hanging on the wall! I called the waiter to point this out, and he did not respond. I yelled, still no response. A person sitting on the next table in full sympathy with the waiter, retorted that the poor fellow cannot hear or speak! I asked him if he was the manager! No, he responded!
I thought let me drink the coffee as it is, as I had other work to do. It was cold, and just seemed as if half a teaspoon of instant coffee coffee stirred in, with the spoon left there!
I went down to meet the manager and told him that not only was the latte coffee badly made, it was cold, and HORRIBLY presented in a cheap mug, with the management having the audacity to pamper their so called "differently abled" staff at the expense of the customer. He told me that this is how it is served! He had no answer as to where I should place the spoon after stirring in the sugar!
If Barista Coffee Bar wants to do charity, it is welcome, but has no right to pass on their constraints to the paying customer. I had been billed over Rs.100/- and my colleagues Rs.400/- totaling over Rs.600/- after taxes in all! I have had much better coffee served in a south Indian restaurant, or even in Lemon Tree Hotel, for about the same price, served with a cookie thrown.
I was so put off, that we had to go to the neighboring restaurant, Costa Coffee to finish our rendezvous.