Dolce Co - Adelaide

As I arrived, I overheard what seemed to be a manager discussing something trivial with a coworker right in front of the customers. I tried a macaroon, but it was dry and lacked flavor. Additionally, the prices were on the high side. However, there was a male barista who was both charming and skilled; he crafted a beautifully presented coffee, which was truly the highlight of my visit. Overall, it was a bit distracting.

This restaurant earns an extra star for its ample seating and being a tranquil retreat amidst the bustling, upscale shopping center. We visited for lunch and I initially thought Dolce Co was exclusively a dessert place, so I was pleasantly surprised to find some savory options available, especially since we had a hungry (and somewhat cranky) child with us. The lunch menu isn't extensive, featuring just a couple of child-sized baguettes, a chicken salad, and a quinoa salad. My partner and I opted for the quinoa salad, while our child chose the smoked salmon baguette. Although the prices were on the higher side, everything was delicious! Plus, we enjoyed a soy latte made with Bonsoy. Out of the three staff members we encountered, two were friendly (it may not have been the best idea to have the grumpy staff member at the register!). We didn't try any of the enticing sweets this time, but they looked impressive (I've had the pleasure of tasting them before at their city location). While I wouldn't specifically travel to Burnside just to visit Dolce Co, it definitely makes for a pleasant lunchtime option that's a little removed from the crowds.

The assistant continued to make things awkward by trying to force the cake into a box that was clearly too small for it. This gave the impression of being a novice, which isn’t worth stressing over. However, when I finally got home, the cake was simple and easy to deal with. While I don’t blame the clerk entirely, this was the second disappointing cake I’ve purchased from this place. Even after six hours out of the packaging, the cookie base was as hard as a rock. This never happened when I regularly bought cakes from a local bakery. Most of the $60 cakes I bought ended up in the trash. I would recommend avoiding them at all costs.

Here's the issue—if you're selling a product, you should have an in-depth knowledge of it. When a customer tries to purchase a cherry cake based on the label in front of it, and the shop assistant, with an attitude, repeatedly insists on calling it chocolate just because it looks dark, it's a clear indication of her ignorance. Perhaps she doesn’t realize that there are little cards that actually explain what each cake is meant to be—who knows? Misidentifying a dark red cake as chocolate not only confuses the customer but also makes it hard to distinguish it from the three other cakes in the display that she likely believes are also chocolate. To make matters worse, she insisted on cramming the cake into a box that was clearly too small for it. It’s evident she’s inexperienced, so I won’t dwell on that. However, the real kicker was when I got home and found the cake to be completely inedible. While that part isn’t her fault, this was the second disappointing cake I’ve purchased from this place. Even after leaving the cake out for six hours, the biscuit base remained rock-hard. This was never an issue when I regularly bought cakes from the city store. In the end, most of that $60 cake ended up in the trash. I would recommend avoiding this place at all costs.

The experience was disappointing, especially if you appreciate fresh food. The dishes were nearly inedible, tasting like old, stale cream, with no other flavors coming through. I suspect low-quality ingredients were used. I ordered a Pina Colada and a Bluebell cocktail, but left most of it untouched. My partner described the coffee as mediocre, which is particularly disappointing given the reputation of a Slayer machine. We chose this location because the city store was closed over the weekend, but I would recommend snapping a picture of the food— it looks appealing— and then walking away. Your time and money would be better spent elsewhere.