Cafe Brio
| Address: | 791 G St, Arcata, CA 95521, USA |
| Phone: | +1 707-822-5922 |
| Site: | cafebrioarcata.com |
| Rating: | 4.2 |
| Working: | 7AM–5PM 7AM–5PM 7AM–5PM 7AM–5PM 7AM–5PM 8AM–4PM 8AM–4PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 8
CH
Chris Bingham
Ive been here many times over the last few years and its not a terrible experience when they get your order right. After a few visits I would have rated this 4 or 5 stars easily. I seem to have more frustrating experiences than pleasant ones anymore. Ive read many reviews of people waiting too long for their food and that has happened to me as well. Ive seen people get angry and dump their plate of food in the garbage when trying to deal with the cashiers - who are already swamped with a line to the door. Today was the tipping point for me where I dont think ill even bother going back. Ive had a few experiences when ordering their Ham and Cheese Croissants. Ive been handed a bag with a cold croissant when it was requested to be heated up. Ive ordered two croissants to go and received one in a bag, one on a plate to eat there (easy fix luckily). Today I ordered the croissant and a coffee. After 15 minutes I had finished my coffee and there was no croissant in sight. They were busy (as always) so I just wanted to check on the order. I talk to the cashier and she asks how long Ive been waiting. She disappears into the back to go check. I sit back down and wait another 15 minutes before going back to the counter. This time Im told that they lost the ticket with my order and asked if i wanted anything out of the case in addition to my croissant. At least they offered that. I was then handed a bag with a cold croissant in it. At this point my friends were ready to go and I didnt want to bother reminding them that it was ordered to be heated up. I ended up taking it home and cooking it in the oven, telling my friends that it was just a plate of disappointment. I wish this had been the first time I went through this at Cafe Brio. Their coffee and food is good, their service is not. I understand being overwhelmingly busy but it doesnt make it ok to lose orders and forget about your customers on a seemingly regular basis. It bums me out that I wont be going back there because I do like the atmosphere and the food/coffee.
TA
Tammy Wik
I am a biased reviewer of this establishment, as my sister is the pastry chef here and has been working here for a decade. I love the concept of Brio, and from my most un-biased perspective, I think they have a great dedication to the locavore spirit. As I have heard from behind the counter, many of the fruits and vegetables are purchased fresh and locally from small growers. I also happen to be a vegan, and (perhaps partially) thanks to my influence, they now have a seasonal vegan cupcake option. If its "in season", the peanut butter cupcake is incredible. I do wish that there were a few more vegan breakfast options, but if the local consumers ask for it, Im sure Brio will deliver. Brio also has wonderful coffee. Im the type of customer who typically wont bother ordering something if it isnt good, and I have had their soymilk lattes repeatedly (add the caramel -- its coincidentally vegan and house made!) Definitely a gem of a cafe with a great location and a wonderful spirit.
A
A Private User
Great food, TERRIBLE service. Ive been here a few times; I love the pastries and they have best coffee outside of Phils. I dont frequent this place because the waitstaff? order takers? suck. On one occasion, the drink order never even made it to the coffee bar, so I had to go ask what was up. The owner? seemed concerned, but not about the inefficacy of her employees, rather that I wasnt lying about having paid for my order. Once confirmed that I had, in fact, placed an order, she nodded to the barista that I had indeed paid- thanks, how flattering. Another time, the employee at the register was so engrossed in conversation at tables that the owner? had to call her BACK to the register, where a line of customers had been patiently waiting. However, she ignored him until he literally had to WHISTLE to get her attention. Seriously, whats the deal with incompetent workers? Id rate this much better if I felt the premium price reflected premium ingredients AND service.
A
A Private User
Brio Cafe has some of the best pastries this side of the Atlantic. Ive traveled around the country a fair bit, and their croissants and bread are at the very top of my list. Their pastries and sweets are also pretty impressive. The lunch and breakfast food is fairly priced, healthy, and tasty. Im not a huge fan of their poached eggs, but thats a personal preference thing. I think the most impressive thing about Brio is the ingredients. The owner goes to great lengths to acquire organic and local foodstuffs for his operation. He uses free-range eggs, Strauss organic butter (expensive), organic flour, and organic raw sugar, just to name a few. So, the prices have to reflect the premium ingredients. And, after double checking "Les Halles" menu, the prices are almost identical--cheaper pastries, more expensive food items over there. The bottom line: Brio is top-notch, and the quality of ingredients is uncompromising.
A
A Private User
okay - I am a good enough person to admit that the pastries, bread, everything here is really good. Even the coffee is good, and I am the snobbiest coffee snob I know. However, the prices are ridiculous and the atmosphere is pretentious without being at all unique or particularly impressive. Back to the prices, I was checking out the menu for the famous Les Halles Brasserie in New York City - of Anthony Bourdain fame - and their breakfast menu was almost exactly that of Cafe Brio. However, their prices were far more reasonable. Though I do like the product, I just dont want to play (pay) into the exaggerated sense of self importance that Cafe Brio and its proprietor has hoisted upon Arcata.
GR
Gregory Gehr
The food at Brio is excellent, the coffee is better. You better be patient, it takes a long time, even if you just order a cup of coffee and nothing else. They hand drip each cup and you can tell, so it is usually worth a wait. The staff however can be very hit and miss, the service is their biggest downfall. In fact, I dont think they even know what customer service is. The front dining area is not cleaned enough, and the flys are disturbing. I occasionally go for the coffee and to remind myself how disappointed in the service I am. I wish they would hire someone to teach them quality customer service to match their excellent baking and coffee skills.
YE
Yeni Aravia
I came in with my boyfriend and ordered 2 ham and cheese croissants for "here". I recieved my order in a bag and took a couple of steps away from the counter to sit down when I noticed the crossiants (I payed $15 plus tip) were cold. I asked the lady if she could please heat them up for me and they refused to heat them up. She said it was against policy and said "how would you like it if someone came to your house and asked if they could heat something up?" My boyfriend and I were shocked. I didnt leave the store nor took the croissants out from the bag for them to say something like that to me. TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE.
CA
Carol Pridgeon
Well, I was disappointed. I saw on the web site that Cafe Brio closed at 4:00 on Sunday. It was just shortly after 3 and I live only 10 miles away, so I rushed over. Only to be told by a server as I stood looking over the menu, that they were closed. He said they closed at 3:00. When I told him the web site said 4:00 he countered with, I dont think that is so. But here it is on the website. Closes at 4:00. Thats ok....I ended up at Northcoast Coffee... had organic food and a delecious mocha. Namaste
