Kaffe O - Belfast

The rye tempeh flatbread sandwich is one of the best dishes I've had in a long time. My wife ordered the stew, and while she thought it was good, it wasn’t anyt... read more The rye tempeh flatbread sandwich is one of the best dishes I've had in a long time. My wife ordered the stew, and while she thought it was good, it wasn’t anything extraordinary.

I must emphasize that the atmosphere of this café is nearly perfect and will appeal to most people. The coffee is delightful, and the food is excellent. Be sure... read more I must emphasize that the atmosphere of this café is nearly perfect and will appeal to most people. The coffee is delightful, and the food is excellent. Be sure to try the caramel dessert; it's truly a standout!

I'm pleased to report that today's experience was completely different. There was a clear sign indicating that customers should wait to be seated, which helped... read more I'm pleased to report that today's experience was completely different. There was a clear sign indicating that customers should wait to be seated, which helped things run smoothly. When I asked for the Wi-Fi password, it was given to me immediately. I ordered a vegan lentil and root vegetable stew with crusty bread, and it was delicious. They always have vegetarian and sometimes vegan options for their dishes. The establishment sources local ingredients and uses Vegware packaging made from recycled and renewable waste, which can be recycled along with food waste. I'm quite impressed! They also serve Ecuadorian dark hot chocolate, which is vegan. I had mine with almond milk, and it was fantastic. They offer both almond and soy milk. The gentleman who served me was helpful, advising me on which items were vegan and checking the ingredients. My only criticism is that it feels pricey; a small bowl of vegetable stew with a piece of bread, a glass of fruit juice, and a hot chocolate cost £11.45! I find it frustrating that they charge extra for soy and almond milk, which has become a trend in several cafes lately. Additionally, I’m not a fan of the layout and design of the cafe—it's quite small and not very comfortable for sitting. Overall, my experience was much better than my previous visit. While I might return, it'll likely be on a day when I feel like splurging, as I consider the menu to be quite overpriced. However, both the food and drinks were of high quality, and the cafe stays open until 9 PM from Monday to Thursday, which is a definite plus. Reflecting on my previous review from April 2015, I had wanted to try Coffee O for ages, but there were never any free tables when I passed by. I finally managed to grab a spot today with a friend. My last experience was rather strange. After being seated, we had to attract a waitress's attention just to clarify if there was table service, as no one approached us. Once we confirmed it was table service, we got menus but were then forgotten again, leading to a long wait before our food orders were taken. I ordered a strong black coffee while my friend had a latte and toast with almond butter and jam. I also requested the Wi-Fi password, and the waitress promised to write it down and bring it to me. After a while, she returned to check our order, thinking she might have mixed it up. We experienced another long wait, with my friend receiving her food but no coffee in sight. As time went on, we reminded a waiter about our coffee order, and he assured us it was on the way. Eventually, as my friend ate half of her meal, our coffee arrived along with an apology; unfortunately, our order had been misplaced. Both male and female staff members asked if everything was alright and apologized for the delays. While I have to say the coffee was good, my friend thought it was nice but somewhat overpriced. I noticed other patrons enjoying delicious-looking salads and desserts. The seating at Coffee O is limited, making it feel cramped and somewhat uncomfortable. After my most recent visit, I have my doubts about returning. It felt like a series of mishaps, and I never did receive the Wi-Fi password! I wavered between giving Coffee O a rating of 2 or 3 out of 5 but decided on a 3, hoping that my earlier experience was just an off day for them and that their service is usually better.