Friday, May 21, 2010

Overview / Wifi


Just a overview of my review: Basically to get a $1.50 from 2 customers in her business using free wifi, the owner ( I will get a name ) was rude, bitchy, and totally unprofessional. So now that everyone will see this review, was the $1.50 worth it? Now you know why Starbucks is successful, and you aren't.

My review from today 5/21/10

Had a meeting with a client this morning. He chose to meet at a coffee shop. I figured it might be a Starbucks or something but...it was the Bucktown Beanery ( Buck Town (buck-town)- Chicago, IL)

I got to my meeting a bit late, because there was some traffic, but the client wasn't too upset about it.

In any case got my laptop open and the sign outside said Free WIFI... I tried to connect initially, but had some troubles...I politely asked someone is there free wifi here, she replied yes, and told me what the name was I should connect to.

After about 10 min. the same woman asked if we would like anything, we both replied no thanks. She then said we would need to purchase something to use free WIFI. I thought she was kidding at first, but she wasn't. She said we needed to purchase something or leave. This being said when the printed menu says "FREE WIFI" on it.

I might have purchased something later, but now of course I didn't want to. She explained that the tables were full and she needed them for paying customers. I looked around and saw at least 3 open tables, and a bunch of chairs open.

I was a little irritated by this woman at this point, so I said what if I connect to the free wifi that's available that's not yours. She told me Karma would get me. She still said we would need to leave if we didn't buy anything.. so my client bought a coffee.

I then asked if she was the owner...I assumed at this point she was. She said yes, and I wanted to tell her how to run her business, but decided to control myself.

In any case...what I do for a living website marketing....so I will give this a lot of juice, and watch it climb to the top. Maybe the owner will learn how to treat people that come into her business next time.

Bucktown Beanery is @
2158 N. Damen Ave., Chicago
Tel: (773) 278-4200


Some yelp reviews: from www.yelp.com



Los Angeles, CA
1 star rating
1/23/2008

The people that work here are. so. slow. And there were little fruit flies buzzing around as I waited and waited and waited for my Americano. I think one of the baristas just walked off in the middle of making my drink. The owner-type guy finished my order, but did not apologize for the wait.
(Or the bugs.)

Boo.

Was this review …?

* Useful (1)
* Funny
* Cool



* Add owner comment
* Bookmark
* Send to a Friend
* Link to This Review

Photo of Andy A.



1

12

Andy A.

Chicago, IL
1 star rating
3/29/2008

AWFULL DRINKS!!! Only go here if your gonna order something with a bunch of syrup and flavoring that will cover up the terrible barista skills.

Don't be fooled by the name, this is much more a food establishment than a coffee shop.

If you do find yourself there for coffee, I would suggest only getting drip coffee; as it is Metropolis and it's hard to screw up drip coffee made with good beans.

Went in just to see what it was like. My friends ordered a Cappuccino and a Latte. So I proceeded to order a double macchiatto (a common shortening of "double espresso macchiatto" in the coffee world, which is simply two shots of espresso "marked" with a small amount of steamed milk/foam. A VERY COMMON AND SIMPLE DRINK) and I was told "We don't make those here." WHAT?!?!?! How can you run a "Coffee" establishment and not serve one of the most common bar drinks. To top it off, the cap and latte were garbage, nasty dry starbucks style foam, and similarly way to hot, with grossly under-extracted espresso pulled from a machine that clearly had been neglected its daily maintenance and cleaning. Come on...

The brownies were good though.

I would give it no stars or half a star if I could.

Was this review …?

* Useful (4)
* Funny (1)
* Cool



* Add owner comment
* Bookmark
* Send to a Friend
* Link to This Review

Photo of sam k.



90

66

sam k.

Chicago, IL
1 star rating
5/22/2008

New owners are truly mean. I was sitting in drinking coffee the other day and the man was screaming at a young barista.

Was this review …?

* Useful
* Funny (1)
* Cool



* Add owner comment
* Bookmark
* Send to a Friend
* Link to This Review

Photo of Anne D.



0

13

Anne D.

IL
1 star rating
11/11/2008

I've tried and tried to have a positive experience here....to no avail. I have visited over 10 times and frequently get a mixed-up drink order (i.e. milk instead of soy in my soy latte). The baristas are cooler than thou; typical of some really unique coffee shops, which this isn't. A slice of suburbia in the city. I'd forgive most of the above if the coffee was good. It isn't!

Was this review …?

* Useful (2)
* Funny
* Cool



* Add owner comment
* Bookmark
* Send to a Friend
* Link to This Review

Photo of D F.



1

12

D F.

Chicago, IL
1 star rating
12/9/2008

I really, really want this place to be good since there are no other independent coffee houses in the immediate vicinity. I give it a shot every few months just to see if they will get any better and here are my experiences so far:

Visit 1:
A medium latte. Tasted of skim milk and some vaguely dunkin-dougnut-esque brown water.

Visit 2:
Looking for a quick lunch, I stopped in for a BLT and a cup of coffee. Take the BLT back to my place only to have half of it crumble into my lap. The BLT was made with bacon bits. FAIL.

Visit 3:
Maybe they just make a good cup of coffee? Order a medium coffee and am rewarded by a lukewarm cup that I'm pretty sure came from IHOP.

Maybe at some point they will hire someone who actually knows how to make coffee and get them to train their staff. Until then, avoid it like the plague.

Was this review …?

* Useful
* Funny
* Cool



* Add owner comment
* Bookmark
* Send to a Friend
* Link to This Review

Photo of Bronwen W.



0

3

Bronwen W.

Chicago, IL
1 star rating
10/7/2009

I have given up on this place more often than not, but always try to head back when there is new management. I stopped in today (10/7/09) for lunch because it is the closest eatery near my work place. I was very skeptical, but ordered anyway, hoping that my experience would be different. All of my previous annoyances were "fulfilled" yet again:

1. Unhappy-looking workers - the young lady who helped me never smiled, barely spoke at a normal volume, and moved at a snail's pace. Of the three other people lounging around, two of them were workers.

2. Strange music - just because the music is not on the radio it doesn't make it "cool" for other patrons. I could barely sit for 15 minutes before going crazy listening to the strangest sounds and lyrics.

3. SLOW service - on average, it takes 15 minutes to wait for a sandwich that has deli meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and pesto. On top of that, it was a cold sandwich. It should not have taken more then 5 minutes, tops, especially because I was the only person waiting for food.

4. Food - the food is so-so to terrible. The caprese salad I ordered there before was absolutely disgusting - I don't think they knew what the actual concept of this salad was. I ended up throwing it away but didn't order anything else because it took the worker 20 minutes to make the sandwich in the first place, leaving me no time to wait for anything else. You get a piece of fruit or chips with each order, but the fruit is on its last leg and the chip selection is small.

The ambiance is ok and it is clean, but the workers are very hard to get a hold of because they are usually behind the very tall counters or in the back room. I have had to walk around the counter and flag people down before.

I am so surprised that this place has a better rating and that some people LOVE this place. I am convinced that the good ratings are either the workers, the owners/managers, or friends of these people who were asked to write nice things to bring up the low ratings.

I hate reading long yelp responses, but I hope this helps someone to stay away from the place.

Was this review …?

* Useful (1)
* Funny (1)
* Cool (1)



* Add owner comment
* Bookmark
* Send to a Friend
* Link to This Review

Photo of R P.



3

25

R P.

Chicago, IL
1 star rating
Updated - 10/7/2009

Save yourself the aggrevation. New management does NOT make it better. They still have sloooooooooowest and most unattentive service, blah tasting food, and watery beverages. Not sure why people are so excited about them staying open until 6pm. It's because it takes them 45 minutes to make a sandwich! And seriously, they must be bribing their friends and family to give them good ratings. They surely don't deserve it!

I don't want to even give them a star, but the review won't go through, so that's why they get a star.

Was this review …?

* Useful
* Funny (1)
* Cool


1 Previous Review: Show all »

*
1 star rating
3/4/2009

I've given this coffeehouse so many chances, but unfortunately they just can't get it right! I work… Read more »

* Add owner comment
* Bookmark
* Send to a Friend
* Link to This Review

Photo of Nicky C.



0

6

Nicky C.

Chicago, IL
1 star rating
10/24/2009

If I could give this place ZERO stars, I would. I've tried to like it and TRIED very hard to ignore the crabby young female barista who is usually there in the early morning, but I just can't. SHE alone makes this a terrible experience. She mumbles, and when you CAN hear her, she's rude.
Great example: I walked in one morning and asked for a grande mocha. Pretty standard, no? She replied "a what?" And when I repeated my order, honestly thinking she didn't hear me because of the very loud music (it's BEFORE 7am, come on!) - she said "I don't know what that is". WTF? So I explained it to her. She said," we don't make those here". Again, WTF? I'd ordered this drink there a few times in the past AND it's one of the most popular coffee drinks anywhere how can they not make it??? Then I looked at the menu - it's right there! When I pointed this out to her she said - right, but we don't say "grande" here. Are you f-ing kidding me here? You're busting my balls (if I were a guy I'd have 'em) over using the word "grande"????? So with all the niceness I could muster up, I ordered a MEDIUM mocha. She FINALLY rang it up, and just POINTED to the total, without saying anything! Then after waiting for what seemed to be eternity, she finally gave me my coffee, with a scowl, slamming my coffee on the table saying "here". I took the coffee, and said "thanks, have a good day". She rolled her eyes at me and said nothing. WTF is her problem? She's always rude too. I've given her MULTIPLE chances. The other baristas could be the nicest people in the world, but she's ruined it for all of them. I will NEVER go back here. EVER!!! Their coffee isn't that great either and not at all consistent. I don't really like Starbucks' coffee but I'd go there any day over this place! It may not be the best coffee, but it's consistent. And unlike this place, you always know what you're getting. Not to mention, I've NEVER met a rude barista at Starbucks. I'd like to support local businesses, but not when they are as rude as it gets.

Was this review …?

* Useful (3)
* Funny (2)
* Cool



* Add owner comment
* Bookmark
* Send to a Friend
* Link to This Review

Photo of sandy j.



6

60

sandy j.

Chicago, IL
2 star rating
12/11/2007

would have given 4 or 5 stars based on first two trips here. especially #2 with super friendly barista and his foam art.

but that's all changed. i dont know what the deal is but the next two visits were awful. my simple beverage, vanilla soy latte, had turned chunky. how? no idea........... in the past, some coffee shops told me that happens when mixing flavor syrups (EXCEPT VANILLA) with soy milk. so i avoid any other flavor. so what happened?????

i'll give them another chance but not yet. not yet.

Was this review …?

* Useful
* Funny
* Cool



* Add owner comment
* Bookmark
* Send to a Friend
* Link to This Review

Photo of Andrew B.



0

18

Andrew B.

Chicago, IL
2 star rating
1/16/2008

Coffee is decent, prices are about standard, food is fresh.
Its never crowded and it has free wi-fi. I work from home and I'm always looking for a place to go to do work, but this place is too loud. The staff is nice, but they play the music way too loud, always. Sorry, but I'm not looking for a euro-dance party at 9am on a Tuesday.

I know, I sound like an old man ("turn down that music gosh darnit!") but seriously, i can't hear myself think in there sometimes.

Was this review …?

* Useful
* Funny
* Cool



* Add owner comment
* Bookmark
* Send to a Friend
* Link to This Review

Photo of Stacy F.



0

13

Stacy F.

Chicago, IL
2 star rating
4/7/2008

I'm giving this place two stars only because the barista was so friendly. My drink was awful. She offered to remake it but my confidence was low so she fixed it up a bit and we left. I tried to drink it because I am a caffeine junkie but ended up stopping to get a RedBull instead.

Was this review …?

* Useful
* Funny
* Cool



* Add owner comment
* Bookmark
* Send to a Friend
* Link to This Review

Photo of Denise P.

Elite '10

175

532

Denise P.

Chicago, IL
2 star rating
6/16/2008

Typical of way too many independent coffee shops, these guys have no idea how to make iced drinks. I ordered an iced latte with foam on top and I got a half-hot foam, half lukewarm "iced" latte mess. Mixing in some steamed milk with the foam melted the little ice that was in the latte and made it terrible enough to throw out at the next garbage can that I saw. It's unfortunate because they place is cute, bright and has free wi-fi. I'd give it another chance though and see if they can make an iced americano before putting it on the hate list.

Was this review …?

* Useful (1)
* Funny (2)
* Cool (1)



* Add owner comment
* Bookmark
* Send to a Friend
* Link to This Review

Photo of Nathan A.



3

10

Nathan A.

Chicago, IL
2 star rating
11/19/2008

I tried to give it a chance!
This is the closest place to my office for lunch and the sandwich menu LOOKS great.
Today I got the Turkey Burger.
As described on the menu, this has:
Avocado, onions, lettuce & tomato, touch of herb mayo and cheese.
Sounds like a nice burger, right?

What I got was a cold sub sandwich containing shredded lettuce, shredded onions, GUACAMOLE and a grilled turkey patty cut in half.

I would almost let it slide but putting "Avocado" on a sandwich menu and then putting guacamole in the sandwich is really inexcusable.

Anyone had better food experiences here?
I'd give it another shot if I knew there was something worth eating.