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| - Edit: It's been about a year since I posted this, and I'm happy to say that service has taken a decided turn toward the good and even very good. Some employees who were notorious are gone, and the overall feel is much better. So I added a star back (total = 4). If they could get the traffic flow in the room solved, I'd give them six stars...
Original review: Supporting local business matters to me, but if Mirabelle knew how many of my friends have stopped going there due to poor service and emo attitude, their jaws would drop. If a published schedule listed who would be working the register at different times, traffic would be sculpted around avoiding one or two employees... I have considered making "I wish I could stand to shop at Mirabelle" T-shirts, but it would be unkind to profit off misery.
I, too, have had poor experiences there, but come back because I have a thick skin and I really enjoy the food. Their bread is wonderful, and the pastries are worth the early death that all that butter and sugar will certainly induce. Other times, a cup of soup (which includes bread) makes a hearty and delicious lunch. I'm also a great fan of sandwiches served in the French style (simply a great sandwich wonderfully presented and perfectly dressed, without offering a Subway-like set of 6 billion choices in place of quality ingredients).
The only other issue I have with the store is the layout: great bakeries sculpt foot traffic so that you walk past the display case before placing your order. I never have a clear view of what is on sale until I'm at the register, and the employee is usually frustrated that I don't yet know what I want. Customers stand around in a clump--there has to be a better way. Perhaps they can move the register to the far west side of the store instead of in the middle of the two display cases? Waiting to place an order while getting to gaze at the gorgeous baked goods could only help. Isn't this basic business sense?
For the curious, I hereby award Mirabelle seven stars for food, but take away four for service.
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