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| - How to start... I've been frequenting Sweet Esc for a while now, closer to when it was still fairly new. I feel like I've seen it go through a lot of changes - from going from just hot plates, to the introduction of a full menu with savory items and cakes/tarts/toasts, having the vicinity card (and then not), working with local artists and displaying their work, live music nights, and now going from a full-service cafe to an ice cream parlour geared towards takeout. The only thing that has stayed the same is the music (mostly Youtube artists and covers).
Perhaps I'm speaking from a place of nostalgia, but the change is quite drastic actually. I do think their menu was a bit bloated before, so I don't think it's a bad change. They've taken everything out of the menu and expanded their ice cream flavors. I always found their ice creams to be the best thing there, so I'm actually glad there's more variety.They use egg now and it's creamier than before; flavour-wise I'm still partial to the original tea ones that they had in the first place like earl grey and oolong. I quite like the pandan, which is new!
They've added specialty drinks (i.e. very instagrammable hot chocolates with chocolate bars on top and such). Personally, the three or four times I've been there since the change, I've never seen anyone order one of these drinks. They seem to be bringing small things back though - last time we went, we were able to get a cookie when before, they were not available. One of the staff said that they were thinking about bringing the hot plates back, but take this with a grain of salt - this was not the owner speaking, and I've seen no indication of any sort that this is true. For now, it is really just ice cream.
What I miss most is the atmosphere. I used to want to stay here all the time and it was very cozy and comfortable. There was table space to do work, now they've changed the seating to just single tables for two (and they are small tables - two laptops will not fit). There is a set of two tables at the back, but it's always taken (because of course you'd want more space). They are definitely focusing on the takeout aspect as this place is not group-friendly anymore. There used to be two or three tables by the window that could seat six, now it's empty save for a table where you can fill your own water (which I haven't seen anyone really do, since they don't stay for long). People notice - once when I was there we saw three separate parties come in thinking that the hot plates were still there and then leaving afterwards.
I totally understand the change. Everything is much more streamlined - before you would need staff making waffles and brownies and savory things in the back, making ice cream if needed, people to fill water and take orders and serve... now it is much simpler. Even the chalkboard menu is gone as it no longer needs updating - just clipboards with the ice cream flavors on coloured paper. No more people waiting in the front, either. Oh, and no more washing plates and cutlery either. Ice cream comes in paper cups or cones. Financially, these changes make total sense, so I completely understand... but something has been lost in the process, I feel.
The changes make sense. However, the staff now don't seem to quite know what to do with themselves. Before, they had things to do (and were a little understaffed at peak times). Now they literally just stand there and wait for people to order ice cream (which as you can tell, is not a lot right now as we are only just heading into spring). I'm really curious what will happen come summer - this plaza does not have the foot traffic, accessibility of transit, or the parking space for people to be coming regularly to get ice cream and only ice cream. What Sweet Esc does have going for it still is that its flavours are truly quite unique.
As someone has mentioned already, the staff also don't seem to make you feel very welcome, even if it isn't their intention. They don't really look like they really want to be there and are probably bored as hell too. One person was kind of robotic when we asked about the specifics of the flavours. I know it's hard when you're not actually the owner of a place, but I would hope that they would hire people who at least sound like they like the food being served. I think some people are also new-ish as one was a bit confused about our ice cream order. The old staff felt friendlier and we would actually even feel comfortable chatting and asking questions when they had some time. I also loved looking at the work of local artists and writers too - it gave Sweet Esc the kind of community vibe that you only really get downtown.
I'll still come here - I'm just sad that it doesn't feel as warm as it used to.
One last thing - I also miss the dried flowers and little plants that were in mason jars on the tables. And the beautiful photography in the old menu. It's the details that matter.
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