Lying to customers is permitted here, apparently. If you don't have an item in stock, just say so instead of subbing something. We caught a barista doing air quotes while saying a particular ingredient was in a drink. She didn't know we were already in store waiting as we saw and heard the whole thing. Absolutely appalling.
Service: 1
16oz hazelnut latte, iced, with a dash of cinnamon, but hold the employee attitude.
Burgies at Southgate is a generally well designed coffee shop with some patio furniture inside for a soupçon of (ironic?) low budget chic. There are too many large tables and only a few single or double spaces. Coffee ranges from passable to above average quality depending on who is in charge of the pucks that day. There’s a young man that does all of the “this makes me a viral tiktok barista” unnecessary aesthetic flourishes and flashy tricks when pulling shots and always ends up pouring a gram of awful tiger stripe silt into every cup. Employees stare at their phones and talk about customers in derisive tones within earshot. They will stand around in groups staring at customers waiting at the register because “the person assigned to the POS” is apparently the only person that can operate the complex mathematics and touch screen wizardry involved in ringing up an order; and that person may be away from the desk on break, or in the bathroom, or perhaps out to lunch. Many of them can’t even explain the menu or a basic history of the company, like it’s en vogue to not know or be ignorant while representing the business. It’s never a good look to (barely) explain the flavor profile of a coffee blend by reading the bag in front of the customer asking. Professionalism and work ethic pick up when the owner is on site, but it shouldn’t require his presence to do that. I have enjoyed the coffee here for almost a decade, especially the years when Luke was pulling shots, but those days are gone and the customer service has taken a notable hit since then. Order something to go and enjoy it somewhere away from The Plastics behind the counter.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 3
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 4
We tried the red london fog and the eggnog latte and LOVED them. Their social media is great which led us to come in! The atmosphere is definitely awkward as the drink pick up area is not in the best location. Also wish there was more seating.
Service
Take out
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 2
Best coffee shop in Ames! Great tasting coffee, reasonably priced and good service.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5