Caffe Fantastico

Vibrant coffee house in the Quadra Village area. Coffee and the food is very good, imo. I really like that they are a local company as I try to support local businesses as much as I can. They have a pretty big seating area, with a few outdoor tables as well , which I really like. Service is usually pretty friendly, but not always, really depends on who you get.

The staff there refused to warm up the food for me, stating that they were closing at 6:30 PM on Saturday, even though Google Maps shows their closing time as 9:00 PM. When I was ready to leave, they were playing "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People, and the lyrics "You better run, better run, faster than my bullet" seemed like a message directed at me. They were good at implying things. Anyone who reads this should check their 1 star or 2 stars comments, and you will start to agree with me. Also, look at their “code of conduct” on the website, which is very interesting, yet unwelcoming to guests, and reflects their big egos.

Went here with two friends and we all ordered drinks and snacks and sat down at a table. We had our laptops out to try and get some work done, however within 20 minutes the lady who served us came by and zeroed in on me specifically, asking if I was going to order anything (I already had, I just finished my food faster than my friends). I explained this to her and yet she came by another two times mentioning how busy it is, how they want a quick turnover rate, and emphasizing how I did not have food in front of me. She then proceeded to stare at me repeatedly, to the point where I was getting very uncomfortable. I completely understand, especially when it is busy, to not want someone to sit for hours on end and take up space without buying much. However this was not the case here, it had been barely 20 minutes since we sat down, also she was only talking to me even though both of my friends were still eating and drinking, so even if I did leave immediately the table would still be taken by my friends. Also as a note the wifi did not work, so our laptops would be no different to reading books or talking. I definitely over explained, however it was just a very uncomfortable and unpleasant experience, especially to be singled out and stared at. I also work in customer service so it takes a lot for me to be treated badly enough to write a review, but the price of the decent food is not worth the unpleasant and rude customer service.

First off all of the food here is really good. The breakfast sandwich is amazing and actually nicely filling. The chicken sandwich equally as great. The drip coffee here seems to rotate on a daily basis so its a new flavor everytime. They sell the coffee beans that they make the coffee with so you might find a new favourite flavor. The staff are all polite and are working hard here. Seems like a community oriented place with lots of events and activities going on pretty frequently. Its a busy place and the seating often fills up so most of the time theres nowhere to sit, which isnt a problem for me because i take everything to go. Overall a nice coffee shop that seems to be a step above the rest in terms of quality.

Thought I would buy a breakfast sandwich and a small coffee at a local shop instead of going to Tim Horton’s. The sandwich was good with avocado and lettuce, but the price was 3x what it would have been at TH. We’re encouraged to buy local, but do they really have to charge that much?

Very rude staff. I was there for a school meeting, and we had laptops to use for discussion topics in our meeting. We purchased 1-2 drinks of the most acidic coffee known to man (it'll curdle your milk the moment the milk touches it), and food. Despite being engaged in conversation away from our laptops, a staff member came by and quite rudely asked us to leave due to their "laptop policy". Haven't been back since, and there's many other options available for better customer service.

If you're looking for a relaxed, welcoming environment, this may not be the place. As a local and regular customer, I was surprised when staff asked my friends and I to leave after an hour, despite vacant tables. Other reviews suggest this is standard practice, which the owners justify as essential to their business model. To me, alienating regular customers and discouraging repeat visits seems like a poor strategy. Edit: None of us has computers, also my name is not Lachlan.

Surprised to see any negative reviews about this place.. Just grabbed some lunch and a beer here and the place is fantastic, everything tastes great and super fresh, and the service was fast and friendly! Will definitely be back.