08/27/08

Awful Service; Not so clean

by rvwr

Each time I've tried this place the service was slow and awful and my order gets screwed up. They correct the order after another long wait and unapologetically at that. The manager seems spaced out and unhelpful when it comes to correcting employees and I think that is half the problem. The employees are sullen, unfriendly, and sloppy and i think with some decent management the place could be great. Not that I'm sticking around to find out.

05/08/08

Come here if you want to feel unwelcome and in the way!

by matchdmd

I used to go here almost once a week for two years until today. I went early with a friend and got breakfast and coffee and studied (for a medical board exam) for 3 hours until the owner came up to our table and asked us to leave saying he needed the tables for his busy lunch hour. (He came up to us at 12:30 by the way.) We were shocked because there were 6 empty tables open, 2 long tables open and 2 people in line waiting for food! I called and spoke with the owner after that because I was shocked that he would ask (especially with so many open spots!) a regular paying customer to leave and his response was very non-chalant... as if he didn't really care how he treated us nor that we would never go back. He also commented that we should use the library for studying because he couldn't understand how someone could study there. Must be nice to be such a "successful" business owner that you could careless if you turn a regular customer away for good. Then again, I am sure he is so successful that my negative word of mouth recommendation doesn't bother him either.

04/20/06

Great desserts and bread; Inconsistent service may knock off a star next time

by skacleve

It's a few months later than the review date shows, but I couldn't figure out how to add to my brief April review and revise the date. I still like the food there, but I recently had unusually bad service, at least for that place. I think the young woman was new, as I don't remember seeing her there before. First, I've never had someone not understand my order so badly in that place before. Actually, their salespeople are usually quite accurate and efficient, but this one has a lot to learn. I had to keep repeating myself, and she kept getting it wrong to the end. I can look past mistakes (we all make them), but what made it worse was her robotic, unapologetic demeanor. She corrected the mistakes, but she could have been nicer about it. So you don't think I caused her attitude, I tried to be nice to her about it (a good salesperson should be able to squeeze a better attitude out for even a difficult customer). After reading matchdmd's review, and my own experiences in the past with their mostly (but not all) humorless staff, I can see why service is their weak spot -- attitude comes from the top. Some cashiers there are friendly, especially the young men, and I put a tip in the jar each visit in appreciation, but the rest could be friendlier. Their desserts and bread are the only things keeping my rating above average and making me return there. They still have the best Russian Tea Cakes in town, and many other desserts are amazing. There are very few, if any, disappointments in the dessert case. And the bread is terrific. Although I like their sandwiches, I wish they would offer a bigger variety of cold-cut sandwiches (it gets a little boring eating the same three over and over). You should definitely go for the food and nice room, but don't expect friendly service every time.

• Pros: Great desserts, Ample parking, nice place for lunch
• Cons: Bland service, small sandwich and soup selection

07/05/02

DELICIOUS SLICE OF LIFE

by nohogwash

The Stone Oven is a marvelous place for morning coffee (locally produced City Roast Coffee), light eclectic lunch selections, or as an evening dessert stop after a visit to Cain Park or the Cedar-Lee theatre in Cleveland Heights.

While nothing here is cheap, the quality is uniformly high and counter service is always good.

I would highly recommend it. Cafe style street side seating when the weather permits it. A great way to pass the time watching the locals and enjoy a great cup of coffee!

• Pros: Great Atmosphere, Good Pastries, Great Coffee

06/06/02

comfort food in a complex world

by reproj2

The Stone Oven is great. Open from 7-10 weekdays, 8-11 Saturdays and 9-10 Sundays, it is a wonderful stop for any meal of the day, plus pastry, fairly traded and wonderful coffee and espresso. The soup goddess makes two soups each day, sandwiches and salads are available for a song. The pastry is made by amazing pastry chefs each day. Several types of bread are for sale, baked fresh each day. The servers are smart and congenial. It's a great and affordable meal in a beautiful and relaxed setting. Al fresco dining weather permitting.

• Pros: inexpensive, good parking, great people