08/28/09

Excellent coffee, great pastries, best breakfast

by Kitty Cat

I think the breakfast sandwich is the best deal in town. It is tasty and filling. I love the coffee and the pastries (danish and almond twist)

• Pros: best breakfast sandwich in town, Absolutely love the staff
• Cons: Breakfast sandwiches are made to order, so take some time

06/25/08

Most improffesional buisness I've ever been to...

by Artylady

Victor's actual coffee is pretty good, but not really worth it. I don't go there anymore because of the way the owner treats the employees and customers. You should see the looks on these kids faces when he's there. They are all scrambling to do their best while he yells and grabs things out of their hands. Isn't that abusive? Aren't there laws about that? I wish I could scoop them all up and open a new shop! My friends and I don't go back there anymore, he's kicked some of us out on several occasions. Bad ownership, but great employees!

• Pros: Great employees
• Cons: WALTER

11/11/07

Owner intimidating a young petite young woman he thought was alone.

by wblack

I was just at Victors with a friend. We ordered our coffee, and I walked to the restroom just in time to hear the owner go to my female friend and a little abrasively tell her that he has a time limit and she needed to leave. I went on my way knowing that my friend would clear up his mistake since we had just ordered. When I came back from the restroom about a minute to two minutes later. I saw my friend walk up and tell him "We had just ordered, but that was extremely uncalled for so we wont be comming back". She walked out and he followed her out screaming at her! He caught up and blocked her car door while he continued to scream at this 110 lbs female. She couldnt open the door and get in the car until I got there and drew his attention away. Intimidating a petite young woman who he thought was alone is unacceptable. What a bully! I will never go back.

• Pros: Close to my house
• Cons: A nasty owner that will try to bully women when he thinks they are alone

08/10/07

Owner offensive - stopped going for at least a year

by erszialex

I used to go here up to three mornings a week before work, grab a beautiful coffee read a chapter. It was my way of dedicating a bit of time to reading something for me before heading of to work. One morning I needed to do some prep for work, popped out my laptop and did some work while having my coffee. Same treatment as others have described, Walter came and told me I was out of time - laptops were limited to one hour. A group that meets there often had sat there for longer chatting and were not told to move along, just me. And there were empty tables!. Now I go to Kirkland Kahili Coffee. They welcome you and your laptops and your friends (plugins and wireless!) and there coffee is even better. Victor's? Why bother! I have gone back when Walter is not there, and found it very pleasant.

• Pros: Nice cofee - not that automated Starbuck's hooey
• Cons: Walter - does he know how offensive he is?

08/02/07

Good coffee, but the owner barked at me for no reason. See ya.

by clusterfox

I was a loyal Victor's customer until last weekend. I strolled in on a Saturday afternoon to get some coffee - the usual routine. The shop was less than half full. There was no line at the counter. I ordered a tall Americano. So, I am patiently holding my 16 month old son (I can't set him down, or else he would bother other customers), and it is taking like 10 minutes to make the Americano (not sure why - it's like a 20 second drink to prepare, but that's another story). Since my arms were getting tired, I leaned on a nearby table. The owner barked at me, telling me that the table was for people to sit and eat, and that "I was going to break it". Come on, man. That's weak. It's back to Peet's for me.

• Pros: Good coffee
• Cons: The owner

04/25/07

They might as well put meters on the table....

by mrsmorgan

I was a loyal Victors patron. Well, that is until ownership changed and Walter took over. Usually the word "Hurry" doesn't apply to my visions of cute neighborhood coffee shops. These days; however, Walter watches over the tables like a hawk to ensure that his dollar/minute ratio stays in his favor. Recently, I was waiting for my honey to arrive, with cash (they still don't accept credit cards, to me just another example of prioritizing his "miserly-ness" over the customers' convenience.) I sat at a table to wait, there were plenty available - yet he unnervingly stood and stared at me as if I were wearing an orange prison suit with ankle chains on. I honestly think he was trying to scare me off. But why, Why would I go to a coffee shop to sit there by myself without a book or anything and stare at the door? Perhaps because I was expecting what happened. Moments later, my cash-bearing dearest arrived and we ate breakfast - but boy you could tell he was worried he might not make money. It's too bad they don't communicate the term "hurry" to their slow-as-frozen-molasses staff. Oh, the irony.

Also, Dogs used to be welcome to sit outside with you. Apparently, smokers still are, but sweet mutts who won't give you cancer are not.

Also very disappointing was when I asked Walter for help picking out some coffee beans to take home. When I asked, "what would you recommend? We like a medium bodied earthy flavor for our morning cup." His reply, "any of them. but you get a better deal if you buy a bigger bag." Wow, how helpful.

• Pros: They do roast some tasty beans.
• Cons: The slow staff and unwelcoming new owner, Walter.

03/31/07

Asked to leave after 1 hour

by carolhansen

I was recently enjoying a leisurely Saturday morning with a friend, catching-up over steamy cups of espresso at Victor's Celtic Coffee Co in downtown Redmond. Our pleasant morning ended abruptly when we were informed by the owner that they "needed our table (because) there are customers waiting". Apparently 2 cups of coffee at $3.50 per cup only buys you one hour of table time at Victor's. Sure, the coffee house was busy. But my expectations in visiting a coffee house is to be able to sit, relax, enjoy my cup of coffee, visit with friends or enjoy my book or newspaper, and enjoy the aroma of the espresso. I am a supporter of individual coffee houses and restaurants. I love the individuality and "small town feel" and had frequently recommended Victor's coffee house to friends and co-workers. It saddens me that I will now be rescinding those recommendations and going elsewhere for my coffee dates.

• Pros: Good coffee, okay pastries
• Cons: Unwelcoming ambience-asked to leave after 1 hour

01/26/07

Great coffee - weak pastries.

by boolicious

Very cozy atmosphere and I've always had excellent lattes. Breakfast sandwich is passable, the rest of the pastries are pretty bad. This place could be so much better - get the pastries from Pomegrante up the street, Walter! The best thing to eat here are Walter's waffles that he makes on Sat and Sun but only when they are relatively hot off the press in the early morning - divine. Don't bother with the old ones they stick in the pastry case - dried out and a shadow of the real thing. Also it's cash only.

12/10/06

Walter times your visit!

by dmcseattle

I have been going to Victor's at least once a week since moving to the area 8 months ago now. After today's experience, I will never go back. Since reading the reviews I am not suprised by what I experienced this morning. I had my study books with me and Walter approached and told me that they have a "study limit" of one hour, and that he had been watching me, and that I had ten minutes left until I needed to leave. I was shocked! I had never been told off before (even after 4hrs of studying) AND to know that I had been "timed". I was not even half way through my coffee.. yet I was to leave! Also, what demise does that leave for studiers over gossipers who can sit there for more than one hour? Also, I usually have a coffee, fresh OJ, and a scone.. (nearing 10 dollars) and yet am told to leave after one hour simply because I have books. For all Walter knew, I was leaving within the hour anyway - but to be rude and tell me to leave when he saw I was still drinking HIS coffee... I just found it absurd! Even for a pick up and run coffee, Victor's has lost my business - and my "hour-long" meetings with study groups.. easily bringing in $60... forget it Walter, it's going to Starbucks where no-one bothers you how long you have been there - nor judges between those with books and those with mouths! Dissaponted as the coffee is great and we like supporting family businesses not giants!

11/26/06

Love their coffee

by netsirksmada

I've been coming here for years, before the change of hands. The coffee is so good. Chai is wonderful too...

• Pros: Chai, coffee
• Cons: parking