Caffe Carpe Diem

I am not one to complain, I work in the industry… I know what its like to work AM’s and when your personal life isnt going well… but seriously.
Service was CRAP, she made me feel like i was wasting her time… she brought out my Toasted bagel… aka STALE bagel and didnt even look at me when she gave it not to mention when I said Thank you.
I live directly across the street and I am SO bummed, bc the place is soooo cute!
*OWNER– hire me, I can do a heck a lot better and draw in the customers you deserve!

Whenever a friend wants to meet for coffee, I always take them to Carpe Diem. There is some cozy bench seating and the décor is fun and sophisticated.
But really what I’m into is the Toasted Bagels with Cream Cheese and Lox. It is AMAZING!
But when I walk in, I rarely feel like I’m doing things right. I know I’m supposed to sit down to order, but then I have to stand back up to get my water, coffee, cream, and later get back up to pay. When I was 9 months pregnant, this was annoying.
And why does I feel like ALL of the waitress’ refuses to return my warm and friendly communication? There used to be one friendly french woman but I don’t see her anymore.
The truth is, I am going to keep going back because the food and environment is so good but I hope the owners will consider hiring more communicative people so it doesn’t always feel so awkward for me and my friends.

A coworker/​neighbor of mine suggested this place and I’m so glad I finally made it over there. Sunday breakfast in North Park is like a madhouse usually. This place was super mellow, which was really, really nice.
The service is coffee house style and slightly rude in my opinion, but the laid back ambiance and food off-​set that for me. The food was really yummy, and my only complaint is that they don’t have any sweet breakfast options (pancakes, french toast, waffles, etc). I will go back, and definitely if I know it’s going to be mellow like that.

«We are sorry we ate here. It won’t happen again»
That’s what we wanted to write on our receipt after breakfast here on a Sunday at Caffe Carpe Diem.
My friend was visiting from LA, and my husband and I wanted to take her out for breakfast.
We usually go to Rudford’s since it is our favorite go-​to breakfast, but we wanted something healthier. So we drive to University Ave and look for Carpe Diem.
We were standing there for about 5 minutes and no one (NO ONE) even said hello. So we thought, okay, maybe we just seat ourselves.
We proceed to the nearest vacant table. After sitting down, the waitress asks for our drinks. My husband asks for a slice of lemon in his water. She looks at him and says «ooo…kay» in a snarky way! I’m sorry she has to bother accommodating us!!!
THEN, she comes back with our drinks and asks for our orders. I ask for the mushrooms and onions to be left on the side. That bitchy waitress again looks at me weird, as if I had asked for something really weird.
The food was really really good. It is a shame the customer service SUCKS.
I’ve dined in Europe, and the waiters are not at all bitchy.
So Caffe Carpe Diem, you can take your organic food European food and shove it elsewhere. I am never coming back.
We left without tipping, completely turned off.

Very quaint and cozy caffe in the heart of North Park.
Perfect for breakfast or lunch any day of the week. Never crowded.
The staff is friendly.
The décor is artsy and eccentric (oh. they have small art gallery attached to the side of the shop)
The menu has a good variety of omelets and paninis, and the plate presentation is wonderful.
Last time i got the Rise & Shine omelet (ham/​spinach/​sun-​dried tomatos/​cheese) and it was delish. All the flavors went together perfectly.
Side salad with the pomegranate seeds was healthy and fresh.
Must come back !

Caffe Carpe Diem
SD: North Park
Sunday March 6, 2011
Four Stars
This is a Super Cute and Super Artsy place to enjoy Sunday brunch. No wait. No crowd. Inside the store, you can view an art gallery showing. The entire atmosphere was fun and mellow. Their cappuccino was well presented and tasted delicious. (their espresso machine looked like a steam punk contraption. The House Blend coffee was quite tasty as well. They both come with chocolate straw thingys. We both ordered different Eggwichs. I had mine on a butter croissant with Tomatoes, Roasted Red Bell Peppers, and Smoked Mozzarella Cheese. Sara got hers on a sesame bagel with Spinach, Sun Dried Tomatoes, and Smoked Mozzarella. The presentation was nice. Big White Plate. Fruit Garnish. The waitress did a good job. Overall, a delicious and nourishing meal for both body and mind.

Short version: Great food and amazingly surly service (and not in a good way).
Long version: Stopped by here with my wife and a friend for a quick lunch. Waitress came over and took drink orders, and informed us the water was self-​serve. I ordered a black coffee which was also self-​serve. At this point I’m starting to wonder if you’re going to have both water and coffee as self-​serve why not just switch to counter service.
Anyway — onto the lunch order. My wife went with a salad, my friend went with the Turkish sausage panini, and i did the turkey panini, subbing mozzarella for the swiss. The waitress gave me this «are you f***ing kidding me» look.
(Aside: I’ve done time (waited tables) and worked as a cook. I know what a PITA it can be when people create their own menu. But all I was doing was swapping out one cheese for another. Simple sub, simple request, and it wasn’t like I said: «I’d like the turkey panini, but can I get ham instead of turkey, mozzarella on half and swiss on the other half, and can you put the sauce on the side. Oh — and can I get that on rye bread instead?»)
The food was fantastic. My wife’s salad was huge and tasty, my panini was outstanding, and my friend loved his. In fact, the only reason this place winds up with the four stars from me is because of the food. I’d normally give it three stars for service this bad, but the food really keeps the rating up.
You might be thinking at this point, «Why you so upset about the service? So the waitress just gave you a bad look…» Well, it didn’t end there. When we went to pay I was paying for myself and my wife, while my friend was paying for himself. Two cards. Simple request — two thirds on one, and one third on the other. Again — not like we handed her 5 cards and asked for a percentage split involving the square root if pi. Upon making our request the waitress said, «Are you kidding me?!» Um — no. Not kidding. She then proceeded to pull a calculator out of a drawer, tossed it on the counter in a huff making a huge display of it, and punch the on button a couple of times. When the thing didn’t jump to life she decided to try doing the math in her head… On a $ 40 tab she came up with a split of $ 30/​$ 10. Not exactly the split we were looking for. I wasn’t going to say anything at that point.
The food is great. But you will have to suffer through the service.

It’s not my favorite coffee shop in a city full of quaint and cute coffee shop. They have a good Mexican Hot Chocolate there, but not enough pastries as per the normal coffee joint. The place is much too tiny to feel comfortable with the chai lattes, and while the service is friendly, it’s just not the same feeling as Caffe Calabria.

How have I lived like 2 blocks from this place and never come here for breakfast!!! Well at least now I know…
My new fave place for breakfast – super chic and cozy on the inside, very cute. Three selections for coffee~ The Hawaii Nut tastes like magic~
The menu has a good assortment for everyone, plus healthy options with veggies, etc. Perfect for the day after 8 dirty martinis. I had the Mediteranean omelet, everything tasted fresh and was prepared to perfection. Plus the toast comes in a heart!!! Our favorite part! And you get a salad with magical couscous and fresh fruit. Love this place~

The only reason I am updating and giving less stars is because this place lost its flair! I love the food and coffee, but the people who used to work there made a difference. Unfortunately, now the customer service is lacking in a major way. No one is personable or helpful.
I have been twice now since the turnover of employees. The last time was a week ago and I went in for lunch. When I made my way through the door an walked up to the counter to see a menu, the girl at the counter didn’t even smile. She simply said, «what can I get you?» I hadn’t even had a chance to look at the menu. I stood there for a moment and looked and she acted as if I was taking too long or wasting her time. First off, I usually sit down and someone comes over to take my order. I didn’t know that had changed. She never said another word. She preceded to make my chai and I didn’t even know if I should sit or wait for it.
When my food was ready, she didn’t even bring it over. The cook brought my food to me. That’s fine, but she had just finished with a customer and just sat down to read her book. She read that book the whole time I ate, with the exception of two customers who got take-​out or coffee. I kept looking for her to check on me so I could ask for some fig jam. Why would I wanna eat plain dry toast? Why don’t they offer the jam anyway? Needless to say, she never checked on me at all. I had to get up and walk over to her and ask for it… interrupting her reading. She didn’t even respond to me asking, she just got up and got the jam and handed it to me.
My husband had the same experience last weekend. He goes there every day to get his morning coffee. He used to be greeted with smiles and friendly conversation. Marie, Monica and Olivia were all very sweet. None of them are there now and it shows. You would think people would be friendly if they see you every day, but it isn’t so. Sad to say, since the food is so good.
(REVISED after message)
After receiving a carefully and thoughtfully written message from the owner, I am willing to visit this place again. I never totally give up on a place, but take a little break and then go back when I feel it’s been a good amount of time. I appreciate the time the owner put into writing me and she was very sincere and fair. As I have mentioned before, I love the food here and the coffee is better than anywhere else I have been. The atmosphere is different than any other coffee shop I have been to and I love the European flair.
My recent review was in no way a means to banish this place or bash anyone there, just an honest review of my recent experiences and a way to express how important customer service is. Many employees are good in a number of ways, but in my experience of working in customer service for 20 years, I feel I am entitled to have an opinion on good or bad customer service. I have seen horrible and excellent service and what made me change my review was in the middle. No one was rude or nasty, just less attentive than I was used to after coming here for the last year. I think checking up on eat-​in customers is important and being friendly when a customer comes in and leaves are very important opportunities to leave a lasting impression. The food, coffee and atmosphere sell themselves. Check it out for yourself.

Recommendation: A fresh from the oven chocolate scone or croissant.
Food & Drink: I have yet to visit for lunch, but I have had several items from the breakfast menu that have been delicious. They use a variety of meats and cheeses that you don’t see too often. The egg witch with black forest ham and kashkaval cheese is very tasty. I have found that the best time to stop in is mid morning when they are just finishing baking the scones for the day. A chocolate chip scone fresh from the oven… so delicious!
My only complaint about Café Carpe Diem is that if you would like a regular coffee you are handed a cup and have to fill it yourself from the thermoses. The coffee is decent, but when you pay as much as you do here for a cup of coffee I just think that someone should get it for you.
Service: Everyone that works here is really friendly. All the girls are cute and dressed very European.
Location & Parking: Located in North Park there is only street parking. Lucky for me I can walk to here for my coffee and pastry fix.
Décor: The space is very cute and combines a industrial look with contemporary french. Boldly painted walls with contrasting trim and unique furnishings make you want to just hang out for a while.

My coworker gets coffee from here nearly every morning, so I finally made up my mind one beautiful Saturday morning to walk over for some breakfast and see what keeps him coming back. This place is adorable! They make a fantastic omelette, and I love that it comes with a salad, some amazing couscous, and fruits. Everything is really tasty, fresh, and makes for a great start to the day. They have a ton of coffee and tea options, but I opted for the brew of the day and it was quite satisfying. The décor is really unique and inviting, and there’s a decent amount of traffic, but it doesn’t feel too crowded. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a relaxing and yummy place to spend your morning!

I like it here.
The food is pretty good, but for a café is a little on the expensive side, I suppose it’s the price you pay for organic food. The coffee is also Fair Trade which is nice as well. As much as I like eating outside, it’s sometimes a bit cold in there, the view isn’t so great… You can see CVS, Walgreens, and the dispensary across the street — not too pretty.
Carpe Diem Omelette: It’s pretty good, I am a big fan of eggs in the morning and I like this one. I am also a fan of the salad on the side, the feta cheese is delicious. The couscous is OK, usually doesn’t taste like much, but it’s a nice change between the omelette and the salad.
Farmer’s Omelette: Also good, I’m a big fan of spinach in my omelette.
Bagel & Lox: Deeeelicious. I think my favorite thing here, I always get it. If you’re a fan of lox on your bagel, definitely get it here.
Overall: Good place for breakfast and coffee, but a little more expensive than I would like.

I’ve only ever been here early in the morning, recently I went during the afternoon and it’s a much different scene. There was an art thing showing next door, and the place was full of French people. Even the barista was French.
Only 3 stars though, besides the electic vibe, and attractive staff this place falls short in the most important aspect, coffee. The espresso is bitter, the coffee is meh.

I did make-​up for a fashion show in North Park, and wanted a cup of coffee before starting. Wondering the streets at 8AM, looking for a coffee shop and no one is open. No Starbucks to be found. I come across this beautiful café on the corner with a man sitting outside with his dog. And really pretty girl telling some dude to remove her plants. Haha.
I walked in and saw a man sitting there. But no one behind the counter. So I looked at the menu and I took a picture of the place and the pretty lady walks in and greets me. Very sweet lady :) I loved her tights… haha. I very much enjoyed the music. I liked my frap. I just wished it was a little stronger on the flavor. Mm, beautiful Caffe. I would definitely come back… here’s a pic :)
I don’t think the girls minded that I was doing my make-​up in their café… Lol. She also mentioned they have homemade whipped cream, but I’m not for that… so if you are, try it! :)

A European café not a mile from home! I was thrilled to discover the place and, when I finally managed to get myself there for breakfast, thrilled to discover that it totally lived up to my expectations.
First off, the waitress was wonderful. She was prompt and funny (and very, very French), and so cheerful that she made me smile every time she came over. The coffee (Mexican mocha, yum) and the Atlantis omelette were both excellent. I particularly liked the vibe and décor of the place: open, airy, casual, artsy — something I could imagine in an endroit of Paris. The next time I have an afternoon free to indulge in a book, I’ll be indulging in this Caffe, too.

Yum, yum, yum!!!
Ohmygosh, one of my fave lunch spots now!
What an adorable space too! The outside, and locale leaves maybe a bit to be desired, but inside is quaint, cute, and comfortable. Service is perfect for the café, and you feel both pampered and at ease there.
I ordered the croque monsieur because the owner recommended it, and I usually have a difficult time passing that up if it’s on a menu (FYI, if you’re ham-​adverse, you can order a vegetarian croque monsieur, and it comes with grilled veggies instead). It was phenomenal! The rice timbale, green salad with simple olive oil dressing and fresh fruit that accompanies each sandwich was also a lovely treat, and made with obvious care. House coffee was outstanding as well.
I can’t wait to go back!

Blood orange iced tea, delectable snack items and Jonathan Adler-​approved, Top Design-​like interiors, this swank little café is perfect for a quick reprieve from the madness of University avenue.
On my last visit the café was completely staffed by gorgeous Euro-​dames with French accents who also happened to be very hospitable.
C’est fantastique!

I feel compelled to write something profound, but nothing comes to mind. Except for the fact that this place fails to Seize the Day as «Café Carpe Diem.» What they need to do is seize better coffee.
The ambiance is strange — it combines outdoor café with dark, cushy couch-​space with well-​lit art gallery (wha? 2 stars for Need To Define What Kind Of Space You Are). I ordered a decaf coffee and got an watered down espresso. It wasn’t great, and it was way too expensive (2 stars for not having decent decaf coffee… and for charging me too much for an item that should obviously be on the menu of ANY café).
I’d rather either 1. go to a coffee shop that specializes in great coffee, 2. spend a day at a café that is, in fact, a real café, or 3. go to an art gallery. Needless to say, I won’t be back.

Cute little place
I was on a mission for some decent breakfast and free wi-​fi in a cozy little coffee shop. That’s exactly what I got when I discovered Carpe Diem.
The Rise & Shine omelet was really really good and I got a soy latte that had a lot more character than I expected with it’s fancy cup and chocolate stick (photo posted). They add extra little touches of sophistication to everything, which is expected with the higher prices they charge.
The place is small and I would have split if it got busy because I felt like I was taking up space as I lingered with my laptop.
Friendly staff, and I really liked the décor. They need to finish posting their menu on the wall, so people can decide what to order while they’re in line.
Get a screen door to cut down on the aggressive flies!
So overall, it’s nice. I’ll come again someday. But maybe for a breakfast date, not laptop study-​time.