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Boudin Cupertino
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sms
May 2, 2013, 1:26:20 PM5/2/13
to
I went here for the first time on May 2nd, after someone suggested that
we try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street.
The first time was our last time.
Problems.
1. Cleanliness. The cashier could not find a clean coffee mug in the
supply of allegedly clean mugs. Finally I told her to forget it, I would
just take the mug to the bathroom and wash it. Actually I used the hot
water from the coffee dispenser to wash it. If you come here, either use
a paper cup or bring your own mug.
2. Temperature. It was freezing inside. If you come here, bring a jacket
or sweater.
3. No Wi-Fi. We meet to do work and were surprised to find that unlike
Le Boulanger and Panera (or Peet's, or Starbucks), Boudin does not have
Wi-Fi. It's so uncommon to find a restaurant like this without Wi-Fi
that it was difficult to believe that they did not have it.
4. Coffee. While the coffee is very good, no one monitors the status of
the urns. When I went to get a refill there were three customers
standing around looking for coffee. Finally someone saw us there and
came and started a fresh urn.
One employee kept advising me that Starbucks, across the parking lot,
had Wi-Fi, but we a like a quiet place with big tables. Perhaps Boudin
has decided that to increase turnover they should not offer Wi-Fi, but
they could implement such a policy only at peak times.
we try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street.
The first time was our last time.
Problems.
1. Cleanliness. The cashier could not find a clean coffee mug in the
supply of allegedly clean mugs. Finally I told her to forget it, I would
just take the mug to the bathroom and wash it. Actually I used the hot
water from the coffee dispenser to wash it. If you come here, either use
a paper cup or bring your own mug.
2. Temperature. It was freezing inside. If you come here, bring a jacket
or sweater.
3. No Wi-Fi. We meet to do work and were surprised to find that unlike
Le Boulanger and Panera (or Peet's, or Starbucks), Boudin does not have
Wi-Fi. It's so uncommon to find a restaurant like this without Wi-Fi
that it was difficult to believe that they did not have it.
4. Coffee. While the coffee is very good, no one monitors the status of
the urns. When I went to get a refill there were three customers
standing around looking for coffee. Finally someone saw us there and
came and started a fresh urn.
One employee kept advising me that Starbucks, across the parking lot,
had Wi-Fi, but we a like a quiet place with big tables. Perhaps Boudin
has decided that to increase turnover they should not offer Wi-Fi, but
they could implement such a policy only at peak times.
Todd Michel McComb
May 2, 2013, 2:04:34 PM5/2/13
to
In article <klu7dg$i8k$1...@dont-email.me>,
even bother with it anymore, since it's so often congested, or
a hassle in some other way.
sms <scharf...@geemail.com> wrote:
>It's so uncommon to find a restaurant like this without Wi-Fi
>that it was difficult to believe that they did not have it.
Seems like public wifi could go the way of payphones. I don't
>It's so uncommon to find a restaurant like this without Wi-Fi
>that it was difficult to believe that they did not have it.
even bother with it anymore, since it's so often congested, or
a hassle in some other way.
sf
May 2, 2013, 2:26:20 PM5/2/13
to
On Thu, 02 May 2013 10:26:20 -0700, sms <scharf...@geemail.com>
wrote:
> One employee kept advising me that Starbucks, across the parking lot,
> had Wi-Fi, but we a like a quiet place with big tables. Perhaps Boudin
> has decided that to increase turnover they should not offer Wi-Fi, but
> they could implement such a policy only at peak times.
More likely done to discourage people from loitering for hours over a
single cup of coffee. If wi-fi is that important to you, as the
employee suggested, there are lots of other places nearby where you
can find it.
--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.
wrote:
> One employee kept advising me that Starbucks, across the parking lot,
> had Wi-Fi, but we a like a quiet place with big tables. Perhaps Boudin
> has decided that to increase turnover they should not offer Wi-Fi, but
> they could implement such a policy only at peak times.
single cup of coffee. If wi-fi is that important to you, as the
employee suggested, there are lots of other places nearby where you
can find it.
--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.
sms
May 2, 2013, 3:38:53 PM5/2/13
to
it could get.
Panera has a good system, they limit Wi-Fi time during peak hours to
discourage people from camping out. Peet's has a similar system.
No great loss. We'll go back to meeting at Le Boulanger.
Steve Pope
May 2, 2013, 4:08:14 PM5/2/13
to
Todd Michel McComb <mcc...@medieval.org> wrote:
>Seems like public wifi could go the way of payphones.
Only if Google un-wedges their mobile devices so that they
>Seems like public wifi could go the way of payphones.
function better (or, at all) on mobile broadband signals.
:-)
Steve
David Arnstein
May 2, 2013, 4:20:29 PM5/2/13
to
>I went here for the first time on May 2nd, after someone suggested that
>we try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street.
>The first time was our last time.
>
>Problems.
Thanks for the warning.
>we try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street.
>The first time was our last time.
>
>Problems.
You also mentioned Le Boulanger, I have experienced very uneven results
with that chain too. Some stores OK, others awful.
This sort of variation surprises me. Consistency is a strong competitive
advantage for chain stores. A good example is Starbucks. When I am
in an unfamiliar neighborhood, I find Starbucks to be an attractive
choice. Not my favorite coffee, but the probability of major
disappointment is small.
By the way, the Starbuck's nearest to me now features food from La
Boulange. This is a marked improvement. It's still not great, but
definitely welcome.
Starbuck's bought La Boulange a while ago. There is a stand-alone La
Boulange on University Avenue in Palo Alto. I visited once, it was
meh. The one feature I remember is that there was an open jar of
Nutella nestled among the dispensers of cocoa powder, cinnamon, napkins,
and so forth. Unsanitary as fuck, but yum.
--
David Arnstein (00)
arnstei...@pobox.com {{ }}
^^
Steve Pope
May 2, 2013, 4:35:11 PM5/2/13
to
sms <scharf...@geemail.com> wrote:
>I went here for the first time on May 2nd, after someone suggested that
>we try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street.
>The first time was our last time.
My sense of Boudin is they are (or, were) one of the last remaining SF
>I went here for the first time on May 2nd, after someone suggested that
>we try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street.
>The first time was our last time.
sourdough-style breadmakers, and their retail shops are an afterthought.
Steve
Todd Michel McComb
May 2, 2013, 5:13:30 PM5/2/13
to
In article <kluhqd$25f$1...@reader1.panix.com>,
David Arnstein <arnstei...@pobox.com> wrote:
>Consistency is a strong competitive advantage for chain stores.
As you note, however, this is only a hypothetical advantage.
>Consistency is a strong competitive advantage for chain stores.
Al Eisner
May 2, 2013, 5:42:10 PM5/2/13
to
On Thu, 2 May 2013, David Arnstein wrote:
> In article <klu7dg$i8k$1...@dont-email.me>,
> sms <scharf...@geemail.com> wrote:
>> I went here for the first time on May 2nd, after someone suggested that
>> we try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street.
>> The first time was our last time.
>>
>> Problems.
>
> Thanks for the warning.
>
> You also mentioned Le Boulanger, I have experienced very uneven results
> with that chain too. Some stores OK, others awful.
>
> This sort of variation surprises me. Consistency is a strong competitive
> advantage for chain stores. A good example is Starbucks. When I am
> in an unfamiliar neighborhood, I find Starbucks to be an attractive
> choice. Not my favorite coffee, but the probability of major
> disappointment is small.
Peet's, which has better coffee, is likewise (in my experience) very
> In article <klu7dg$i8k$1...@dont-email.me>,
> sms <scharf...@geemail.com> wrote:
>> I went here for the first time on May 2nd, after someone suggested that
>> we try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street.
>> The first time was our last time.
>>
>> Problems.
>
> Thanks for the warning.
>
> You also mentioned Le Boulanger, I have experienced very uneven results
> with that chain too. Some stores OK, others awful.
>
> This sort of variation surprises me. Consistency is a strong competitive
> advantage for chain stores. A good example is Starbucks. When I am
> in an unfamiliar neighborhood, I find Starbucks to be an attractive
> choice. Not my favorite coffee, but the probability of major
> disappointment is small.
uniform. Also not my favorite local choice, but reliable.
> By the way, the Starbuck's nearest to me now features food from La
> Boulange. This is a marked improvement. It's still not great, but
> definitely welcome.
>
> Starbuck's bought La Boulange a while ago. There is a stand-alone La
>
> Boulange on University Avenue in Palo Alto. I visited once, it was
> meh.
(or to another outlet) in years. Probably not since the buyout you
describe.
> The one feature I remember is that there was an open jar of
> Nutella nestled among the dispensers of cocoa powder, cinnamon, napkins,
> and so forth. Unsanitary as fuck, but yum.
--
San Mateo Co., CA
Peter Lawrence
May 2, 2013, 6:52:30 PM5/2/13
to
On 5/2/13 10:26 AM, sms wrote:
> I went here for the first time on May 2nd, after someone suggested that we
> try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street. The first
> time was our last time.
>
> Problems.
>
> 1. Cleanliness. The cashier could not find a clean coffee mug in the supply
> of allegedly clean mugs. Finally I told her to forget it, I would just take
> the mug to the bathroom and wash it. Actually I used the hot water from the
> coffee dispenser to wash it. If you come here, either use a paper cup or
> bring your own mug.
Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be confined to its Cupertino location.
> I went here for the first time on May 2nd, after someone suggested that we
> try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street. The first
> time was our last time.
>
> Problems.
>
> 1. Cleanliness. The cashier could not find a clean coffee mug in the supply
> of allegedly clean mugs. Finally I told her to forget it, I would just take
> the mug to the bathroom and wash it. Actually I used the hot water from the
> coffee dispenser to wash it. If you come here, either use a paper cup or
> bring your own mug.
I've had the same problem at it's Sunnyvale location.
> 2. Temperature. It was freezing inside. If you come here, bring a jacket or
> sweater.
> 3. No Wi-Fi. We meet to do work and were surprised to find that unlike Le
> Boulanger and Panera (or Peet's, or Starbucks), Boudin does not have Wi-Fi.
> It's so uncommon to find a restaurant like this without Wi-Fi that it was
> difficult to believe that they did not have it.
public WiFi either.
> 4. Coffee. While the coffee is very good, no one monitors the status of the
> urns. When I went to get a refill there were three customers standing around
> looking for coffee. Finally someone saw us there and came and started a
> fresh urn.
they have it). Same problem in Sunnyvale of keeping the coffee urn full.
What I do now, since it's a lot more reliable, is that I order a tea (you
get to choose from a selection of Peet's tea).
I keep going back to the Sunnyvale location for one thing: their food. The
sandwiches, burgers, salads and soups are reliably good to very good. Too
bad the service is so uneven and hit and miss, even on the same visit.
*Note that the "Boudin SF" restaurants (Sunnyvale, Cupertino) have a
different menu and are operated in the different manner than the older
Boudin Bakery Cafés (Hillsdale, Valley Fair). One peculiar difference, the
Cafés serve Peerless Coffee while the newer Boudin SFs serve Peet's.
- Peter
Peter Lawrence
May 2, 2013, 7:06:18 PM5/2/13
to
On 5/2/13 2:42 PM, Al Eisner wrote:
> On Thu, 2 May 2013, David Arnstein wrote:
>>
>> This sort of variation surprises me. Consistency is a strong competitive
>> advantage for chain stores. A good example is Starbucks. When I am
>> in an unfamiliar neighborhood, I find Starbucks to be an attractive
>> choice. Not my favorite coffee, but the probability of major
>> disappointment is small.
>
> Peet's, which has better coffee, is likewise (in my experience) very
> uniform. Also not my favorite local choice, but reliable.
The coffee yes, the service, no.
> On Thu, 2 May 2013, David Arnstein wrote:
>>
>> This sort of variation surprises me. Consistency is a strong competitive
>> advantage for chain stores. A good example is Starbucks. When I am
>> in an unfamiliar neighborhood, I find Starbucks to be an attractive
>> choice. Not my favorite coffee, but the probability of major
>> disappointment is small.
>
> Peet's, which has better coffee, is likewise (in my experience) very
> uniform. Also not my favorite local choice, but reliable.
The thing I hate most about visiting a Peet's is not knowing what type of
service I'm due to encounter. I've had service that ranges from excellent,
near perfect to downright brusque if not outright rude. Service that range
professionally top notch to simply amateurish. Even at the same Peets, the
service level can change remarkably depending on the staff on hand.
Starbucks, on the other hand, is a model of consistency, a consistent high
level of customer service. I rarely have encountered less than excellent
service at any Starbucks, be it one in the City, here on the Peninsula, or
out in the boondocks, in cities like Oakdale or Patterson.
Starbucks knows how to train its staff. Too bad their standard coffee
blends don't taste better.
- Peter
Hans Klager
May 2, 2013, 7:16:14 PM5/2/13
to
On Thu, 2 May 2013 20:20:29 +0000 (UTC), David Arnstein
<arnstei...@pobox.com> wrote:
>
> Boulange on University Avenue in Palo Alto. I visited once, it was
> meh. The one feature I remember is that there was an open jar of
> Nutella nestled among the dispensers of cocoa powder, cinnamon, napkins,
> and so forth. Unsanitary as fuck, but yum.
Cootie alert!
<arnstei...@pobox.com> wrote:
>
> Boulange on University Avenue in Palo Alto. I visited once, it was
> meh. The one feature I remember is that there was an open jar of
> Nutella nestled among the dispensers of cocoa powder, cinnamon, napkins,
> and so forth. Unsanitary as fuck, but yum.
--
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
- George Orwell
Al Eisner
May 2, 2013, 7:51:20 PM5/2/13
to
On Thu, 2 May 2013, Peter Lawrence wrote:
> On 5/2/13 2:42 PM, Al Eisner wrote:
>> On Thu, 2 May 2013, David Arnstein wrote:
>>>
>>> This sort of variation surprises me. Consistency is a strong competitive
>>> advantage for chain stores. A good example is Starbucks. When I am
>>> in an unfamiliar neighborhood, I find Starbucks to be an attractive
>>> choice. Not my favorite coffee, but the probability of major
>>> disappointment is small.
>>
>> Peet's, which has better coffee, is likewise (in my experience) very
>> uniform. Also not my favorite local choice, but reliable.
>
> The coffee yes, the service, no.
>
> The thing I hate most about visiting a Peet's is not knowing what type of
> service I'm due to encounter. I've had service that ranges from excellent,
> near perfect to downright brusque if not outright rude. Service that range
> professionally top notch to simply amateurish. Even at the same Peets, the
> service level can change remarkably depending on the staff on hand.
I disagree. Or, put better, I've not encountered such problems in any of
> On 5/2/13 2:42 PM, Al Eisner wrote:
>> On Thu, 2 May 2013, David Arnstein wrote:
>>>
>>> This sort of variation surprises me. Consistency is a strong competitive
>>> advantage for chain stores. A good example is Starbucks. When I am
>>> in an unfamiliar neighborhood, I find Starbucks to be an attractive
>>> choice. Not my favorite coffee, but the probability of major
>>> disappointment is small.
>>
>> Peet's, which has better coffee, is likewise (in my experience) very
>> uniform. Also not my favorite local choice, but reliable.
>
> The coffee yes, the service, no.
>
> The thing I hate most about visiting a Peet's is not knowing what type of
> service I'm due to encounter. I've had service that ranges from excellent,
> near perfect to downright brusque if not outright rude. Service that range
> professionally top notch to simply amateurish. Even at the same Peets, the
> service level can change remarkably depending on the staff on hand.
the branches I regularly visit. It's probably a Sunnyvale thing. :)
(Or is it Mountain View?)
> Starbucks, on the other hand, is a model of consistency, a consistent high
> level of customer service. I rarely have encountered less than excellent
> service at any Starbucks, be it one in the City, here on the Peninsula, or
> out in the boondocks, in cities like Oakdale or Patterson.
>
> Starbucks knows how to train its staff. Too bad their standard coffee blends
> don't taste better.
Travis James
May 3, 2013, 2:08:38 AM5/3/13
to
On 5/2/2013 1:20 PM, David Arnstein wrote:
> In article <klu7dg$i8k$1...@dont-email.me>,
> sms <scharf...@geemail.com> wrote:
>> I went here for the first time on May 2nd, after someone suggested that
>> we try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street.
>> The first time was our last time.
>>
>> Problems.
>
> Thanks for the warning.
>
> You also mentioned Le Boulanger, I have experienced very uneven results
> with that chain too. Some stores OK, others awful.
>
> This sort of variation surprises me. Consistency is a strong competitive
> advantage for chain stores. A good example is Starbucks. When I am
> in an unfamiliar neighborhood, I find Starbucks to be an attractive
> choice. Not my favorite coffee, but the probability of major
> disappointment is small.
>
I agree, but there are days like mine today as I passed through Los
> In article <klu7dg$i8k$1...@dont-email.me>,
> sms <scharf...@geemail.com> wrote:
>> I went here for the first time on May 2nd, after someone suggested that
>> we try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street.
>> The first time was our last time.
>>
>> Problems.
>
> Thanks for the warning.
>
> You also mentioned Le Boulanger, I have experienced very uneven results
> with that chain too. Some stores OK, others awful.
>
> This sort of variation surprises me. Consistency is a strong competitive
> advantage for chain stores. A good example is Starbucks. When I am
> in an unfamiliar neighborhood, I find Starbucks to be an attractive
> choice. Not my favorite coffee, but the probability of major
> disappointment is small.
>
Banos. Chewy coffee.
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/1cu499fdlmovuk6/Mpb6PvkLN3
Helpful person
May 3, 2013, 9:31:58 AM5/3/13
to
On May 2, 7:16 pm, Hans Klager <hans.kla...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> --
> In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
> - George Orwell
Great quotation.
>
> --
> In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
> - George Orwell
Helpful person
May 3, 2013, 9:35:55 AM5/3/13
to
On May 2, 5:13 pm, mcc...@medieval.org (Todd Michel McComb) wrote:
> In article <kluhqd$25...@reader1.panix.com>,
can't figure out why they are unable to serve decent food. How
difficult is it? Surely I'm not the only potential customer they've
lost.
http://www.richardfisher.com
> In article <kluhqd$25...@reader1.panix.com>,
> David Arnstein <arnstein+use...@pobox.com> wrote:
>
> >Consistency is a strong competitive advantage for chain stores.
>
> As you note, however, this is only a hypothetical advantage.
True, look at Starbucks. Their food is consistently terrible. I
>
> >Consistency is a strong competitive advantage for chain stores.
>
> As you note, however, this is only a hypothetical advantage.
can't figure out why they are unable to serve decent food. How
difficult is it? Surely I'm not the only potential customer they've
lost.
http://www.richardfisher.com
sms
May 3, 2013, 9:45:22 AM5/3/13
to
On 5/2/2013 11:08 PM, Travis James wrote:
> I agree, but there are days like mine today as I passed through Los
> Banos. Chewy coffee.
Los Banos Starbucks is probably the Starbucks I go to the most as we
> I agree, but there are days like mine today as I passed through Los
> Banos. Chewy coffee.
seem to be passing through there a lot lately. I've never had a problem
with them. Standard Starbucks swill.
Usually I'll make my own coffee but if I'm meeting someone somewhere I
want to go to a place with a) Peet's coffee, b) a quiet atmosphere, c)
decent food, d) Wi-Fi.
I've given up on clean cups, that seems to be something that's too
difficult for any restaurant. It's amusing at Le Boulanger, when you ask
for a real cup the cashier automatically examines the cup for
cleanliness and rejects the dirty ones. You'd think that the dirty one
would be rejected earlier in the process. Now I just bring my own cup.
Ciccio
May 3, 2013, 10:17:09 AM5/3/13
to
On May 2, 10:26 am, sms <scharf.ste...@geemail.com> wrote:
> I went here for the first time on May 2nd, after someone suggested that
> we try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street.
> The first time was our last time.
>
> Problems.
[snippage]
> I went here for the first time on May 2nd, after someone suggested that
> we try something other than our usual Le Boulanger across the street.
> The first time was our last time.
>
> Problems.
Thanks,I'll keep in mind your complaints if ever I am in Cupertino for
lunch, which I never have been. Otherwise, I might expect the Boudin
there to be like my only suburban Boudin experience, which has been in
Walnut Creek. I have gone to that one, once in awhile, for years, and
I have found it to be pretty good.
Though I have no idea about its wifi as I very seldom use wifi in any
restaurant/cafe.
Ciccio
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