11/02/09

Good coffee & food, poor service

by Person

I like the food, coffee, and atmosphere, but those baristas are awfully grumpy (the cashier usually is friendlier). I asked them to turn down the music a little, and they responded that they would "just a bit". I noticed no difference. We were sitting right across from the speakers, because there were no other seats available, and we could barely hear one another.

• Pros: Great scones
• Cons: Poor customer service

08/19/09

Good cofee, unfriendly baristas

by jes7

The place itself it very cool, I love the way Solstice looks. The coffee is tasty and so is the food. Not a great study place because often the music is so loud it is hard to hold a conversation (and sometimes the music is just BAD). I used to go here often and the baristas are never rude, but just seem uninterested in people and kind of like they hate their job.

• Pros: Coffee is fabulous, awesome photography
• Cons: LOUD music, barista generally seem unfriendly

05/12/08

No longer the best...

by fighto78

Offering large tables with plenty of space and a soundtrack that never fails, the atmosphere of Solstice is unmatched. The grilled cheese and tomato soup are amazing along with their very tasty cookies and brownies. Espresso drinks are crafted by very skilled and friendly baristas.

Until recently, Solstice, Trabant and Zoka were neck and neck for the title of best cafe. As Trabant and Zoka are raising the bar of coffee standards in the U-District by implementing Clover machines, Solstice seems oblivious to the trend in its recent actions by deciding to no longer offer French Press as their standard $2 cup of coffee. It's been replaced by a drip coffee machine that brews coffee reminiscent of Tully's or Seattle's Best.

Without the quality coffee, I cannot get myself to give any more than a very unenthused recommendation. Please bring back the French Press, Solstice, I really thought you had achieved perfection in the cafe equation.

• Pros: Great music, atmoshpere, food
• Cons: Average Coffee