Me & Ollie’s Bakery and Cafe

Ugh. How frustrating. Downtown Exeter is being torn up for new sidewalks. Businesses are complaining foot traffic is down 75%. So I stop by at 7:15 a.m. for coffee and a bagel to support the local establishment. No everything bagels, asked for the onion bagel to be toasted extra dark, it came out still white. It was obviously a stale leftover as it was chewy as rubber. And once you add a little cream to the coffee, it becomes room temperature.
Sorry, tried to give you guys another chance.

The coffee is never hot, it’s always lukewarm even when though they make it right in front of you. It leaves a film in your mouth, kinda like when you eat a whole bucket of cheese balls. Sandwiches are always greasy. I do have to say I like the couches, just because they look like they’ve been sitting outside in the rain for weeks. it feels very artsy to me. In all seriousness though, do come here. You will be severely hypnotized and nauseated by the smells and décor.

Is it possible that this place has actually gotten worse … Yes it has! The baked goods used to be ok but no more. Now often these are stale .They tried to upgrade the finishes but wasted their money and left the ratty old couches that have been there 15 years … Don’t sit on them, they are gross. The other day I went in there to get a coffee as green bean a cross the street was closed. I threw it in the trash, it was not drinkable so bitter, worse than gas station coffee. I don’t know how this place stays in business. Stay away ! There are better places in walking distance.

Their Turkey Chipotle Panini brings me back every time I’m in the area. Just stellar. And the interior is perfect if you’re looking for a coffee shop, chill out kind of vibe.
Writing this review has triggered a need for that freakin sandwich. Heading there now.

Worst bowl of oatmeal I’ve ever had! «Real oats» they said. Great, but it helps to cook them first! They served raw oats in a paper cup with warm water. They told me to let it sit, which I did. 10 minutes later, water was lukewarm and oats were still raw and chewy. I thought it was impossible to make a bad bowl of oatmeal, but these guys managed it. Blech!

Food here is actually decent. The reason for two stars is the indoor air quality. HVAC is important and this place has it all wrong. No air circulation whatsoever. You go in here for 10 minutes and you come out smelling like burnt coffee and bagels — also the place is also way too hot all the time.

When you have to pay for ice tea refills… Really???
This business will not get my return visit…
Only business I know of which charge for beverage refills. Especially ICE TEA!!!

Downhill alert. Today I had a breakfast sandwich. Bagel not bad, but in it was this disk of congealed egg, yellow on one side and white grey on the other. Looked and tasted like a mini frisbee.
Coffee burnt and lukewarm.
Too bad

Lived in Exeter for years. I go by the 3 strikes rule. Have had terrible service where the folks behind the counter are gabbing and there is a line of at least 3 people (more than once), have had stale pasteries (more than once). Nothing at all outstanding which differentiates it from their nearby competitors which would in any way entice me to go back. I don’t understand how it is still in business.

Great place to grab a bite and hang out. Not too loud and enough activity that you feel the buzz of Exeter. Coffee and food is nice, they are constantly baking… smells great! Sandwiches are very nice and the staff is very friendly.

I would not come back here for food. There were three people working, no one waiting for food and it still took over 10 minutes to make a panini. A panini which was nothing more than thin white boring bread they threw in the press. Just disappointing, I could have done a better job at home. The only positive was my iced chai.

Me and Ollies is my go to spot for working from home out of my house. I am a regular here during the week for breakfast. Their oatmeal is among my favorite quick breakfasts in town. I believe they use their homemade granola in it, and the flavor is delicious. I am also a big fan of their iced coffee with pumpkin syrup for fall currently.
The space is really well set up and a great spot to work, study, chat etc.
Lunch is more of a mixed bag. I’ve had some good sandwiches and some ok ones. For me, the Green Bean up the road is more consistent in terms of sandwiches and hot food, but tends to be less of an ideal spot to work or even chat when they are busy. I also consistently have issues with them getting basic requests wrong. Think: Requesting a sandwich on sourdough vs. wheat and getting wheat etc.
Solidly middle of the road for food and beverages, and top of the line for getting work done!

Nice. Cute little stand in the grocery store. Prices were fair considering it’s in a health food store. Got the turkey, bacon, and Brie sandwich grilled — pretty tasty. My Girlfriend got a veggie sandwich and liked it. I also got 2 cookies (Heath bar crunch and PB chocolate chip) — both were big and tasty.
Food was better than I expected for the average rating of 3.

This place is frustrating. It’s in a great location and is set up fairly well with various sized tables and some couches. The problem is that the coffee is terrible, the menu choices are weak and the service is fair at best (not overly friendly). It could be a little cleaner and could smell a bit better (bad coffee smell) too. It’s a shame because Exeter needs a really good coffee bistro with some parking and a decent amount of room inside.

If I could give this place zero stars I would. I have lived in Exeter for almost 30 years. Recently I moved to California and was home visiting my parents for Christmas. I was looking forward to Me and Ollie’s pastries, sandwiches and teas, but the two times I went into this place over the last 4 days will be my last because of two employees. A boy named Jake and a girl named Emily.
On Friday I went in with my mom (who is a frequent customer-​she loves Michelle and Josephine-​I guess they are the only ones who know what they are doing) and we ordered a tea and a cappuccino. My mom had to repeat herself twice saying that she wanted whole milk in her cappuccino. When I asked what they put in their smoothies he stated «We put concentrate in them.» With an attitude that translated to «concentrate, of course, you idiot!» Im sorry for asking-​some places put yogurt, milk, juice-​and I was just curious. When my mom paid, he practically threw the receipt and the change at my mom. My mom walked out in tears!!! I decided to forgive this Jake boy, because maybe he was having a bad day? Not feeling well?
So here we are on Tuesday-​Christmas Eve. I go in to buy a ham and swiss cheese sandwich, raspberry Danish and hot tea. And who is at the cash register but the boy named Jake. I noticed that it seems to be a habit of his that he throws money at people-​since he did this to the gentleman in front of me. Hmm-​another bad day? I think not.
I proceed to order a Ham and Swiss cheese Panini-​he asks for my name, then he says, is Jen ok? My name is Jennifer and apparently writing the extra –nifer is either too difficult to spell or too much work. Hmmm… I guess the word lazy is a big part of his vocabulary.
Then I went on to order my next item-​he was obviously annoyed that I wanted to order something else-​a Raspberry Danish and then a large lemon berry tea. He asks”-Oh do you want that sandwich hot or cold?” Remember I ordered a Panini? I said to him-«I ordered a Panini». He goes «Yea well we have hot or cold.» Yes and a Panini is a hot sandwich, right!!! Then I proceed to tell him that this is now the second time I have been in, reminded him of his rude answer when asked about the smoothies and told him how unbelievably rude he was being. Sarcastically he says «Sorry.» Then he goes to ring me up and says «So the sandwich and the tea?» Yes AND the raspberry Danish. He then goes to grab a SCONE! I say «No a raspberry Danish, NOT a scone, a Danish.» Come on! Its the Panini and now the Danish???
THEN the girl making the sandwiches comes over and asks me «Do you want that sandwich hot or cold?» You are joking right?! I lost it «I said a Panini, Panini’s are hot sandwiches right?!?» She rudely states «Well we have hot and cold sandwiches.» REALLY!!! And what is a Panini?! Why bother writing two separate sandwich columns that say «Cold» and «Panini.» I dont blame the manager here, its just plain stupidity that Jake and Emily do not know the difference between a cold sandwich and a hot sandwich/​Panini. But a word of advice to the manager– One of the requirements of your employees should be that they are aware of what they are selling.
Emily then proceeds to roll her eyes at me. Yes, she ROLLS her eyes at me! I was not going to be treated like a second class citizen by these people any longer. So I put her in her place «I am the customer, the customer is always right and you should NOT be making faces at me right now.» I asked if the manager was available (of course she had just left). Then I asked for both their names, wrote them down on the receipt and got the managers name.
I have NEVER, EVER been treated so rudely in a me and plies establishment. Needless to say this boy has no smile, no personality and obviously NO manners. Shame on his parents for not teaching him better. And shame on Me and Ollies for allowing both Jake and Emily to work at their establishment. Either business is just so good that they can afford to hire people who treat their customers like door mats or they just don’t care and have the attitude «well if you don’t like the way our employees treat you, then just don’t come back.» Which is essentially what the girl who was standing behind me with her boyfriend said when I left. «You can always go to the green bean instead.»
It made me feel better when I was waiting to get my sandwich, not one but TWO people came up to me and told me that the girl and the boy were rude and unpleasant to them as well.

Decent food but really not worth it. I waited 40 minutes for two ham an egg breakfast sandwiches on toast. I said thanks as I grabbed the bag, but unfortunately the guy didn’t hear me and muttered a really sarcastic and bratty sounding «your welcome» as I walked away. Really uncalled for.

Nice place to hang out and relax, read the paper, do some light work, or meet a friend for a casual lunch. Servers are usually very friendly and nice. Coffee and iced tea are good. Food is overall mediocre, the Asian sesame chicken salad is decent and the soups are good. It’s nice they try and use some local ingredients. The turkey havarti panini is very tasty but there are unfortunately no gluten free options.
It would be nice if they kept up with times and offered some gluten free options for those who chose not to eat wheat.

Great food once you actually get. Horrible service, great café environment though

The terrible customer service keeps me far away from this place! They have great bread but their coffee is bitter, their iced tea tastes like chemicals, and the waitstaff are a collection of rude, under socialized, soulless teenagers.
Go to the Blue Moon, the Green Bean, or St. Anthony’s Bakery for friendly/​helpful service and better food, too!

Fluffernutter sandwiches!
Today I get to be seven years old again. For those unwilling to join me on my journey back in time (I’m looking at you, Mama B. and Sister B.) there are more adult creations such as the chicken sandwich and veggie panini they respectively selected.
if you didn’t know better, you’d be excused for thinking this place was New England’s version of Panera. It looks a little… franchise-​y… from the outside. Inside, however, you can read all about how they get their wheat from Bob the Farmer all the way over in Montana and bake it fresh every day in a pictorial history painted on the wall.
The adjacent wall comprises the «Kid’s Corner». There are several plush places to sit and the wall is painted with chalkboard paint so kids can create. I enjoyed watching a 10-​ish year old boy painstakingly chalk his name in huge bubble letters only to have his 8-​ish year old sister write «STINKS!» underneath without him knowing.