Chanel O.
Yelp
Before: I've been to Lutie Café several times in the past and always enjoyed it enough to come back... but after today's visit, I won't be stepping foot in here again.
I ordered the "Garden Bagel," which comes with cream cheese and vegetables. I also asked to add pickled onion (an extra $1, which I was fine with), but when I got my food, there were maybe 5 tiny strands of pickled onion on the whole thing. It was honestly disappointing.
To make things worse, the amount of cream cheese was almost nonexistent--as you can see in the photo, it looked like something my 5-year-old cousin might've thrown together. For a $15 bagel, I expected something more than a thin smear of cream cheese and a couple slivers of veggies. It didn't look appealing at all.
To be fair, the *flavor* was decent, but it just didn't deliver in value, quality, or presentation. The only reason I ate it was because it was my first meal of the day and I had already paid for it.
Really bummed to say this, but this experience was enough to keep me from coming back.
After: After a disappointing visit earlier this week, I wasn't sure if I'd give Lutie Café another chance, but I'm so glad I did! Reza, the owner, reached out to personally apologize for my previous experience, and I really appreciated the sincerity and effort. He encouraged me to come back and promised to make things right, which I thought was a nice gesture.
So, I returned a few days later, and I'm happy to say my experience was completely transformed. The staff was incredibly welcoming, kind, and generous. They made me feel truly valued as a customer. To top it off, they refunded my previous meal and let me order anything on the house. I decided to try the same "Garden Bagel" again and was blown away. The presentation was on point, just like the photo shows and the taste was spot on! Everything was fresh, balanced, and delicious.
I also tried the banana matcha, which was phenomenal, and they even threw in a free pastry, which was a sweet surprise! The level of care and attention to detail from the staff, plus the quality of the food, definitely made up for my prior experience. I'm really glad I gave Lutie Café another chance, and I will absolutely be coming back! If I could give more than five stars, I WOULD!!!