Ian H.
Google
I visited Crumble & Flake with my wife on a cold but sunny Saturday morning. The café is located in Gillman Village and offers both outdoor seating—which is quite pleasant on a nice day—and indoor seating.
Unfortunately, the indoor experience was underwhelming. The décor inside feels a bit too dark and subdued, almost heavy, and that atmosphere seems to carry over into the service. From the cashier to the staff working behind the counter, most people had poker faces and didn’t make much effort to greet or engage with customers. Staff appeared more focused on talking among themselves than welcoming guests, which made it feel like they were doing customers a favor by being there rather than genuinely wanting to serve. At one point, one person was sitting in the kitchen area while others walked around casually—overall, it didn’t give a professional or hospitable vibe.
That said—and this is important—the pastries themselves were excellent.
I tried a cream puff, and it was outstanding: the crust was fresh and crunchy, and the cream inside had a perfect balance of sweetness and vanilla, light and not heavy at all. We also tried the pistachio lemon tart, which was equally impressive. The dough was fresh and crisp, and the flavor combination was spot on. The pastry chef clearly knows what they’re doing—both the creativity and execution are truly professional.
It’s a shame that such high-quality pastry is being overshadowed by poor service and a low-energy atmosphere. If the same care, pride, and attention that goes into the pastries were applied to customer service, this place could be truly amazing.
It’s especially noticeable when compared to the bakery directly across the way, where the owner works alongside the team. There, the vibe is completely different: staff are happy, attentive, welcoming, and engaged. The atmosphere is bright, and the tables are consistently full.
Crumble & Flake has the talent in the kitchen to be exceptional. I genuinely hope the leadership takes this feedback seriously, because the pastries deserve a better front-of-house experience.