It is always sad for us when a great food place flounders. While the baker at d'Angelo Bakery in Santa Barabara is maintaining his high quality (except for his baguettes for some strange reason), the café side of the business what was always so special has plummeted like a stone.
This used to be one of those great finds where not only could you buy high quality breads, rolls and pastries, but you could consume them at leisure as toasts, breakfasts, and lunches. It was not always speedy regarding service, but it was always good and well prepared.
Today, however, the efficient waitresses have been replaced by people who don't seem to know what they are doing. We waited for 25 minutes for toasted baguette which when it finally arrived was not toasted at all; it was barely warm and had no color at all. Nor were there any utensils to spread the ice cold butter and jam. We looked around and noticed other tables were commiserating with us since they too had been having problems. A honey-moon couple from New York were ready to expire from starvation.
The waitress's response was that it took 10 minutes to toast toast. This after a 25 minute wait? It took another 15 minutes to have them re-toasted, and when they finally arrived they were barely colored and cold. No apology, just sullen behavior. I spoke to the manager who had no response nor an apology.
So by all means buy their bakery goods, enjoy a good cup of coffee, but unless you are prepared to spend a long time to get your order the way it should be, find somewhere else to sit at a table in the sun and enjoy.
