I would suggest maybe all the negative reviewers on here turn the mirror on themselves. Since I moved to Boston two years ago Cafe Fixe has been nothing but a community focal point. I bring my profoundly autistic non-verbal son here and he’s treated with nothing but kindness and compassion. He loves it there. I’m a NY coffee snob and the coffee is top tier. If you go to a Michelin star restaurant its ok for the chef to have a certain decorum about their craft but not ok for people who are passionate about coffee to feel the same way? If you want an iced mocha frappe, a hug and a coupon go to Dunkin. If you want real coffee, made by real people in a real community then come here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Susan Edwards
Just stopped in for the second time to grab a quick latte and try a scone. I gave the older gray haired gentleman my order and he responded with “you need to buy the whole scone“- ?? I responded with confusion- “what do you mean? I ordered one scone?” But the fact that I said “try a scone “ he thought that that somehow meant I just wanted a nibble of it? Really rude and not surprising reading other reviews, confirming this. Never going back and don’t recommend. Absolutely unnecessary interaction and response from him.
Allison
If you're under the age of 40 or in a tax bracket below *snob*, I highly recommend going elsewhere. Every time I go here, I have a pleasant interaction ordering with the cashier until the barista feels the need to interrupt with a snarky comment/correction for either me or the cashier. I cannot fathom what motivates the barista to create such a rancid atmosphere, but it will be the last time I stop in. To be treated well in Cafe Fixe, you'll need to make a clear display of belonging to a class he deems worthy of being treated with decency.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Graham Myhill
I’ve tried going to Fixe a few times now. The first time I was quickly disappointed. The following times, I was just reminded of what an unwelcoming space this is. You can thank the barista for that. What compels him to speak to people how he does alludes me. It’s condescending and often unwarranted. On multiple visits he would jump between me and the cashier to add snide comments, attempting to correct either myself or the cashier on something HE misheard. I tried to give this place the benefit of the doubt, but after multiple visits, it’s the barista that ruins it every time. It seems I’m not alone in this feeling based off the other reviews. It says something when the most common reason for a 1 star rating is the barista.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Rebecca M
I’m a little bit stunned that I have to write this review… It was my first time in and I ordered a hot chai latte with a shot of espresso. The woman waiting on me told me that they don’t put espresso into the chai. I thought it was a little odd, but I said OK. I asked her why they don’t put the espresso into the chai and she said that it was because it wasn’t the vision of the owner. Again, I thought it was odd, but told her I would pour the espresso in myself. She made the espresso and set it on the counter, and I was waiting for my chai to come out. She said to me, “the owner would prefer if you drank the espresso now and not pour it in to your chai”. I calmly said, “i don’t want the espresso by itself. I will pour it into my chai.” And then, in a stunning turn of events, she said, “ If you pour the espresso into your chai, we will ask that you don’t return.” She said that they have enough business and they would be just fine if I don’t return. Shocking that they would be so invested in how I consume the beverage that I paid for! I highly suggest that you stay away from this arrogant place.
Service: 1
James Collins
The atmosphere is pretty and the coffee is good but one of the baristas is a huge jerk. Once I asked him if they had any natural wash coffees and he talked to me like I was an idiot for calling a natural coffee a wash, when it was a slip of the tongue. Then today I asked if it was a day where they were serving to go cups (asked if they were “doing to go cups”) and he lectured me about using do in the sentence and also calling them to go cups instead of disposable. Look I get that I technically didn’t use perfect grammar both times, but I had honest and nonoffensive questions. I just don’t think it’s acceptable to talk to customers this way. And the fact that this has been a repeat occurrence here is awful. I really wish they would fix the service issues because I love their coffee but I can’t go to place that I feel like an idiot when I leave. Whoever the owner is, I sincerely hope you will take the time to talk to your staff about how they treat customers.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
Tal Sagi
I don’t really understand why people were complaining about this place. The coffee was great and the ambience lovely. We even bought some coffee beans to take home. The only thing missing was a heater for the pastries.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Lesley
Really wanted to keep supporting a local cafe, but after too many disappointments it’s now unbearable.
I was there this Sat morning - sounds like around the same time as the reviewer below who wrote about ordering an almond milk latte and americano. The worker was incredibly unpleasant and obnoxious! I’ve also seen her multiple times being insanely rude to customers. Never seems to care how absurd she’s being. Similar behavior as the owner, birds of a feather flock together.
Abnormal has become the normal here. Everyone I know from the neighborhood have stopped going there. A shame, since it used to be a pretty convenient spot in town.
D D
Café Fixe needs to be fixed. How can such a simple thing – serve a good coffee, be courteous and welcoming to your clientele – be messed up so badly. The staff are arrogant and pretentious, acting as though they are the only ones with the ability to understand how how a coffee or tea should be ordered. What a bizarre experience.
The only person that tried to be nice was one nice young employee. When he tried to help a customer, he was interrupted and “put in his place“ by the barista. She said “you have only been here one month… You should be quiet and focus on your work.“ And then she went on to rudely and arrogantly patronize the customer.
It is such a strange place, it’s like being on the Truman Show - but where everyone is rude and arrogant.
Stay away, this place needs new ownership.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Alvin Samuel Jeyachander
I went to this shop just a few minutes ago . The lady taking order clearly has a hearing problem . I asked her for a latte with almond milk . I was very clear with the order .when picking it up I again asked if it’s almond milk then they are telling “oh we don’t have almond milk “ then why hell did they not tell me before ordering it. I did not want to create a scene so I asked for a Americano then she is charging me for it !! A cafe cannot be more shitty than this. I just left the place ..
Negative experience all around, I wish I had listened to all the reviews especially about concerning interactions with the owner. Maybe helpful to note, though, while I was there I saw a book on the bar with the cafe’s stamp on it, like they did with the newspaper stack. The title was something about mental health treatment… perhaps all the concerns raised finally encouraged him to start getting help.
Kate
I liked buying my espresso beans here but after today, I won’t be back. The owner is SO weird (which all other negative reviews point to) and for what?? If a flat white is a “latte” (according to this establishment), then there’s no reason to passive aggressively correct me while I order. It’s unfortunate, but every time I leave this spot, I wish I hadn’t gone - my interaction with the owner is always off. Coffee and food are good but the service is not normal.
Ted Offner
One day a week they won’t serve you unless you bring your own cup. They have them, but just refuse to give them out. How you might have known that ahead of time was apparently not considered.
Nice idea but a poor implementation and bad experience. No alternatives or option provided, other than going to the chain across the street instead - which is of course what I did, and probably will from now on. Not a very nice reward for trying to support a local businesses.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Lisa
Amazingly rude and pretentious service. They just lost the business of our family and our local friends (although I doubt they care).
Service: 1
Luke Farrer
Coffee like this should have a 5 star rating. Come on, it's not rocket science - treat your customers with respect, stop thinking that being pretentious or branding yourself on rudeness is cool (it's not) and watch your ratings reach the level they deserve. All the other coffee shops at least make you feel welcome and believe it or not and I know this might come as somewhat of a shock to the owner - that matters. A bit of European austerity is one thing but this is ridiculous.
I would suggest maybe all the negative reviewers on here turn the mirror on themselves. Since I moved to Boston two years ago Cafe Fixe has been nothing but a community focal point. I bring my profoundly autistic non-verbal son here and he’s treated with nothing but kindness and compassion. He loves it there. I’m a NY coffee snob and the coffee is top tier. If you go to a Michelin star restaurant its ok for the chef to have a certain decorum about their craft but not ok for people who are passionate about coffee to feel the same way? If you want an iced mocha frappe, a hug and a coupon go to Dunkin. If you want real coffee, made by real people in a real community then come here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Just stopped in for the second time to grab a quick latte and try a scone. I gave the older gray haired gentleman my order and he responded with “you need to buy the whole scone“- ?? I responded with confusion- “what do you mean? I ordered one scone?” But the fact that I said “try a scone “ he thought that that somehow meant I just wanted a nibble of it? Really rude and not surprising reading other reviews, confirming this. Never going back and don’t recommend. Absolutely unnecessary interaction and response from him.
If you're under the age of 40 or in a tax bracket below *snob*, I highly recommend going elsewhere. Every time I go here, I have a pleasant interaction ordering with the cashier until the barista feels the need to interrupt with a snarky comment/correction for either me or the cashier. I cannot fathom what motivates the barista to create such a rancid atmosphere, but it will be the last time I stop in.
To be treated well in Cafe Fixe, you'll need to make a clear display of belonging to a class he deems worthy of being treated with decency.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
I’ve tried going to Fixe a few times now. The first time I was quickly disappointed. The following times, I was just reminded of what an unwelcoming space this is. You can thank the barista for that.
What compels him to speak to people how he does alludes me. It’s condescending and often unwarranted. On multiple visits he would jump between me and the cashier to add snide comments, attempting to correct either myself or the cashier on something HE misheard.
I tried to give this place the benefit of the doubt, but after multiple visits, it’s the barista that ruins it every time. It seems I’m not alone in this feeling based off the other reviews. It says something when the most common reason for a 1 star rating is the barista.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
I’m a little bit stunned that I have to write this review… It was my first time in and I ordered a hot chai latte with a shot of espresso. The woman waiting on me told me that they don’t put espresso into the chai. I thought it was a little odd, but I said OK. I asked her why they don’t put the espresso into the chai and she said that it was because it wasn’t the vision of the owner. Again, I thought it was odd, but told her I would pour the espresso in myself. She made the espresso and set it on the counter, and I was waiting for my chai to come out. She said to me, “the owner would prefer if you drank the espresso now and not pour it in to your chai”. I calmly said, “i don’t want the espresso by itself. I will pour it into my chai.” And then, in a stunning turn of events, she said, “ If you pour the espresso into your chai, we will ask that you don’t return.” She said that they have enough business and they would be just fine if I don’t return. Shocking that they would be so invested in how I consume the beverage that I paid for! I highly suggest that you stay away from this arrogant place.
Service: 1
The atmosphere is pretty and the coffee is good but one of the baristas is a huge jerk. Once I asked him if they had any natural wash coffees and he talked to me like I was an idiot for calling a natural coffee a wash, when it was a slip of the tongue. Then today I asked if it was a day where they were serving to go cups (asked if they were “doing to go cups”) and he lectured me about using do in the sentence and also calling them to go cups instead of disposable. Look I get that I technically didn’t use perfect grammar both times, but I had honest and nonoffensive questions. I just don’t think it’s acceptable to talk to customers this way. And the fact that this has been a repeat occurrence here is awful. I really wish they would fix the service issues because I love their coffee but I can’t go to place that I feel like an idiot when I leave. Whoever the owner is, I sincerely hope you will take the time to talk to your staff about how they treat customers.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
I don’t really understand why people were complaining about this place.
The coffee was great and the ambience lovely.
We even bought some coffee beans to take home.
The only thing missing was a heater for the pastries.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Really wanted to keep supporting a local cafe, but after too many disappointments it’s now unbearable.
I was there this Sat morning - sounds like around the same time as the reviewer below who wrote about ordering an almond milk latte and americano. The worker was incredibly unpleasant and obnoxious! I’ve also seen her multiple times being insanely rude to customers. Never seems to care how absurd she’s being. Similar behavior as the owner, birds of a feather flock together.
Abnormal has become the normal here. Everyone I know from the neighborhood have stopped going there. A shame, since it used to be a pretty convenient spot in town.
Café Fixe needs to be fixed. How can such a simple thing – serve a good coffee, be courteous and welcoming to your clientele – be messed up so badly. The staff are arrogant and pretentious, acting as though they are the only ones with the ability to understand how how a coffee or tea should be ordered. What a bizarre experience.
The only person that tried to be nice was one nice young employee. When he tried to help a customer, he was interrupted and “put in his place“ by the barista. She said “you have only been here one month… You should be quiet and focus on your work.“ And then she went on to rudely and arrogantly patronize the customer.
It is such a strange place, it’s like being on the Truman Show - but where everyone is rude and arrogant.
Stay away, this place needs new ownership.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I went to this shop just a few minutes ago . The lady taking order clearly has a hearing problem . I asked her for a latte with almond milk . I was very clear with the order .when picking it up I again asked if it’s almond milk then they are telling “oh we don’t have almond milk “ then why hell did they not tell me before ordering it.
I did not want to create a scene so I asked for a Americano then she is charging me for it !!
A cafe cannot be more shitty than this.
I just left the place ..
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Negative experience all around, I wish I had listened to all the reviews especially about concerning interactions with the owner. Maybe helpful to note, though, while I was there I saw a book on the bar with the cafe’s stamp on it, like they did with the newspaper stack. The title was something about mental health treatment… perhaps all the concerns raised finally encouraged him to start getting help.
I liked buying my espresso beans here but after today, I won’t be back. The owner is SO weird (which all other negative reviews point to) and for what?? If a flat white is a “latte” (according to this establishment), then there’s no reason to passive aggressively correct me while I order. It’s unfortunate, but every time I leave this spot, I wish I hadn’t gone - my interaction with the owner is always off. Coffee and food are good but the service is not normal.
One day a week they won’t serve you unless you bring your own cup. They have them, but just refuse to give them out. How you might have known that ahead of time was apparently not considered.
Nice idea but a poor implementation and bad experience. No alternatives or option provided, other than going to the chain across the street instead - which is of course what I did, and probably will from now on. Not a very nice reward for trying to support a local businesses.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Amazingly rude and pretentious service. They just lost the business of our family and our local friends (although I doubt they care).
Service: 1
Coffee like this should have a 5 star rating. Come on, it's not rocket science - treat your customers with respect, stop thinking that being pretentious or branding yourself on rudeness is cool (it's not) and watch your ratings reach the level they deserve. All the other coffee shops at least make you feel welcome and believe it or not and I know this might come as somewhat of a shock to the owner - that matters. A bit of European austerity is one thing but this is ridiculous.
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