Balzac's

If customer service had a bottom level, Balzac’s dug a basement and started renting rooms down there. I spelled my name out slowly like I was auditioning for Sesame Street and they still butchered it. I’m convinced they collect wrong names like hockey cards. They also ignored my sister so hard she basically didn’t exist. I don’t know if their staff only sees every second customer or if acknowledging people is extra, but the energy was “NPC glitching in the corner of a video game.” Then came the bill: $30 for a lifeless egg and cheese sandwich, a water bottle that looked like it came from a hotel minibar, and coffee that tasted like it lost a dare. I’ve had better coffee from a gas station machine labeled “Out of Order.” Honestly, Balzac’s is proof that vibes alone can’t save a place. Spend your money somewhere else like literally anywhere with functioning taste buds and human decency.

This morning was my first flight out of Billy Bishop Airport, and I was a little as I didn’t know my way around. The team at Balzac’s is cheerful, caring and genuinely amazing! I feel like I was treated like a queen here! My menopausal brain can’t remember the name of the amazing person who made my drink for me, but I know from my heart that she made it with love! I’m happy I got a picture with her

What can I say about Billy Bishop’s Balzac? Sure, it’s name is probably the best thing about it - but that is a pretty high bar. Don’t really understand why it’s rated so low. Not loads of veggie options, but the salad and tomato soup was tasty (if a little small - it’s soup, please sir, I want some more!). For an airport, pretty good! The staff were friendly and helpful. Can see the information board from the seating.

Not overly friendly. Didn’t offer to heat up pastry. The pastry is good, not great but I’m sure it would be better heated up. Balzac’s is a great coffee place. But my flat white is only warm not hot. The airport is great. I ordered a flat white and a chocolate croissant. My drink was placed but no one indicated it was for me until I asked if it was indeed a flat white. I would still recommend this place because Balzac’s is a quality coffee location.

Very rude. Ordered a flat white which only exists in the larger size column in the pricing menu. Asked politely if this small they gave me was the right size and the woman yelled “only one size” while walking away from me… would have been nice if she just spoke to me nicely.

Terrible coffee ordered a flat white, milk was burnt you can see in pic, and also no foam in a flat white? Please see train staff! Crazy to pay that much for a coffee to get it burnt.

Don’t order the baguette. Saddest $16 breakfast sandwich in the world.

My view of Balzac was something different before today’s experience. I ordered a plain croissant and a latte. The croissant was nothing but a piece of chewy bread. In fact a good bread would have been better than the croissant. The cafe latte was already cold when I got. This is topped with a long line up and a rude person taking the order. The problem is that low rating may not mean much because they are practically the only place available. However, another option to make a difference is that on the next trip I would factor time to do this prior to getting to the airport. This was I would avoid this negative experience in the morning.