Bella K.
Yelp
I am disappointed with Pavement for a few very important reasons.
A few months ago I would have definitely told you that this is my favorite place to get coffee, literally ever. I frequent multiple locations multiple times a week. I am a latte coneisseur and would never, ever, drink a latte from sbux or DD. I am not easily impressed by appearances and run a forum on coffee at a popular magazine (posting under an alias for privacy reasons).
Usually the Newbury location is very crowded and the staff can be quite rude, but I suck it up because the almondmilk latte is so creamy and non-acidic. I suppose that was just the great work of one barista (I am pretty sure is a male), and the rest of the employees make it EXTREMELY acidic. It tasted like burnt apple cider vinegar and I had to throw it out.
I am also very sad that they changed their pastry supplier.
Their old pastries were very 'niche' - a cute vegan banana muffin, the best choc chip cookie in Boston hands down, and amazing poppyseed muffin. Now the pastries are stale, dry, and look like something that has been sitting out to long at an embassy suites breakfast.
Pavement needs a reality check and as attested to by other reviewers, the staff needs to lose the attitude. I encountered one or 2 new employees at Newbury that were actually kind but the OG rotation is snarky and mean, even when you accept your order with a warm smile and a genuine "thank you so much." Having good energy, a good culture, is everything to me and every as bit as important as the coffee.
I am all about second chances but the acidity of the coffee and inconsistency is a repeated issue. I just find myself *hoping* that my favorite barista is working when I walk in. They are all so mean though that if I even complimented him I am sure I would be met with an eye-roll. It is hard to want to be forgiving and keep supporting Pavement when they give me absolutely no incentive to do so.