***RANT ALERT*** - tldr; Bewley s Grafton Street h...

***RANT ALERT*** - tldr; Bewley s Grafton Street has an overpriced, mostly-disappointing breakfast

I put aside visiting Bewley s for food until last Tuesday, treating myself to breakfast. The surroundings are lovely, the tree, all of it has been lovingly restored. But it was one of the most shambolic experiences I ve had - and I ve had breakfasts all over town.

So many staff, so many tablets, no bleeding clue. I order my breakfast, get someone back to me 5 minutes later asking if I wanted scrambled or poached eggs. Fair enough. They turn up with this after 10 minutes - a distinctly-lukewarm as opposed to hot breakfast. Toast that was basically warm bread. The ingredients themselves were fine, the sausages and eggs were great but the rasher was chewy and cheap-tasting. Tea was not included and was tiny.

I wanted to bring all this to someone s attention but at that stage I just wanted to get back to my office, but trying to pry the chatting staff away from each other and their busy work proved near impossible; when I did finally get someone s attention, the job of bringing me my bill was delegated - twice.

Having got the bill, I pay by card and go to leave but no, I must wait until the payment cleared (the display kept saying searching for coverage ). At that stage, the employee handed me a receipt, I went to leave but was loudly told my card was DECLINED . Sure enough, it was - though more likely due to a coverage issue as once he tried again nearer the terminal, it went through instantly.

It took me a good ten minutes (therefore no time to complain in person) to pay 17.80 (an outrageous price) for a substandard breakfast, served by underemployed, somewhat clueless staff, when I could pay half that for a superior breakfast in half a dozen places within 3 minutes walk.

I won t be back until Bewley s get real.