"I went to this Coffee House on Saturday, February for breakfast. This Café is located on Löhrstraße in Koblenz. I have been to this Coffee House about four times. I have been to Ulrike’s Kulturbackhaus on the same street but wasn’t very impressed...with it either. I am not a coffee drinker. I do however go with my partner for coffee, when she wishes. I found the service at Café Baumann better, on this day than the service at Ulrike’s Kulturbackhaus. A few days prior, we made a reservation to have breakfast at Café Baumann. We arrived about and we found the place mostly empty. The main crowd had not yet shown up, but would arrive over the next minutes, as we were there. We were greeted from the chocolate cake counter as we entered the establishment and again when we entered the dining area. Since we had reserved a table, we asked which table was ours and since the place was almost empty, we were offered a table closer to the kitchen. The waitress then brought from the other table, a plate with the words “Reservation”, our name and the time of the reservation, on it. On the every table one finds the crème, sugar, and the menus. Paper napkins, which I prefer over cloth, are served on an empty plate along with the silverware, before the food arrives. Unlike Ulrike’s Kulturbackhaus which has a ‘Comment Card’ on the table; Baumann’s did not. Since each table had a Menu laying on it, we looked at the menu to decide what we wanted. (The Menus were clean without food smeared on them A few minutes later, the waitress came to take our order. While the Menu is easy to read and understand, my partner wanted to know whether the various breakfast packages listed are also available on Sunday or only the Breakfast Buffet. So, after asking this question concerning the menu, we were given some more time to decide what we wanted. The difference here at Café Baumann’s compared to Ulrike’s Kulturbackhaus is that the waiter/waitress has a view from the kitchen of the whole dining room. So, the waitress noticed when we were ready to order and immediate came to our table to take our order. On Saturday, there is no Breakfast Buffet but several various breakfast packages available or one can order ‘A la carte’ (item by item) from the Menu. I did not see anything on the Menu for the ‘small guest’. However, there are items available on the Menu for vegetarians. Plus, since the Menu states that each breakfast packages comes with either coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and I do not drink coffee or tea, but milk or hot chocolate; I prefer Café Baumann over Ulrike’s Kulturbackhaus, because I can substitute hot chocolate for the coffee or tea in a breakfast package and not have to pay for a drink, that I would not want. We ordered order of three scrambled eggs (scrambled with ham and chicory) also with slices of toast, butter, a slice of lettuce and two tomato slices, (even though I did not ask for or was it listed on the Menu that my eggs would be served with lettuce and two tomato slices as decoration), croissants with jelly and butter, bread bun, coffee, and hot chocolate. We received what we had ordered. We did not paid for a lot of extra food that we did not want, because we were informed, the Menu is clearly written, and the order was taken correctly. Our drinks were served first, together, and hot, as it should be. My hot chocolate was served hot with shaved pieces of chocolate on top and a piece of milk chocolate on the side. I was asked, if I wanted whipped crème on top of my hot chocolate, but said, “No”, and it came as ordered. While the three scrambled eggs could have been cooked a ½ minute more, they were scrambled hard, not runny, as I like them. Our food was served shortly after our drinks; hot and fresh and all of it was served together. The only negative comment I can make is that the butter served was too hard to spread on my bread properly. The bread came in a nice basket lined with a napkin. Here at Café Baumann unlike at Ulrike’s Kulturbackhaus the waitress that took our order did not try to pass us off to another waitress. Also, she took and served our order herself. And she got our order correct. Plus, I noticed that the staff working at Café Baumann wears a simple functional uniform; a white shirt (with the words ‘Café Baumann’ on them) and either a dark skirt or pair of pants. Plus, they work as a team, as another waitress, assisted our waitress, by taking our empty dishes away. While it is not the atmosphere of a Star Restaurant, Café Baumann’s, is nicely decoration and easy on the eyes. The decorations inside are Victorian Era with hard wood cushioned sofas and chairs and round glass bubbled like gas street lights. On the walls are modern pictures, drawings, and paintings. There are also some plants in the middle of the dining room and at least two places to hang coats, jackets, hats, or places for umbrellas. Unlike Ulrike’s Kulturbackhaus where the sitting areas are all sectioned off with furniture (shelves and cabinets) which provide customers with a sense of privacy and also block the view. At Café Bauman’s they create the same privacy effect, by facing the furniture towards each other and grouping it around the tables, such that the staff can see the entire dining room from the kitchen. Which means the staff can greet customers when the arrive, take customers orders when they are ready, serve customers when the food is ready, present the bill, and say goodbye, when customers are ready to leave, etc. However, while the furniture is group around tables and the space is well organized. Ii is not roomy and there is not plenty of space between some tables and chairs, such that customers coming and going must slide past others or disturb others customers to get to their table. The table tops are marble; either round or square. The tables are or person tables. Some sitting areas have two tables together for or persons and more tables can be pushed together or chairs added for to persons. However, to put more than persons at one table is difficult to organize concerning space and the seating can get very tight. The tables are supported underneath by a single column stand, which can make it difficult for people with long legs to find a space on the floor to place their feet and still sit close to the table. The floor is either tiled or carpeted depending where you are standing or sitting. The ceiling is high but is not a noise absorbing ceiling. Therefore the noise level is OK, since between the high ceilings, carpeted floor, and cushioned furniture the noise is somewhat absorbed. However, while one can converse and hear others sitting next to them; the noise level can be such that one must raise their voice at those farther away, at their table. We were allowed to have a conversation at our table without constant interruptions, which I like and we were asked at least once, if everything was OK with our order. Also, there was no background music playing, which would have been nice, since they do have loud speakers in the dining area mounted on the wall. The lighting is OK. I could easily read the Menu with the light available and the light was not so bright that it hurt my eyes. The temperature inside was OK and the cold from the front door did not reach those in the dining room each time the door open/closed. The air circulation inside was fine. The Breakfast Buffet on Sundays, cost per person at Café Baumann, which is more than the € per person” at Ulrike’s Kulturbackhaus. However, I cannot report, whether the Breakfast Buffet price or portions are fair, because I have never seen nor eaten the Breakfast Buffet at Café Baumann. While they have newspaper available to read, they are hidden, hanging on the wall next to the restrooms. Since the newspapers cannot be seen from most of the tables in the dining room; one either has to ask where they are or know already where to find them. The restrooms are on the same floor as the dining area and they are clean. That means the kitchen is also clean! This Café has its own Internet Page in German; but not English. Their internet page has a lot of useful information. E.g. restaurant opening hours; the Café’s address and phone number; a Map showing its location; photos of the Café and Konditorei; an On-line Menu; an On-line email address; and listing of products; list of jobs available. The restaurant also has its own Wi-Fi, but we have never used it. Plus, they have an Internet page on FaceBook which is in German and English. Unfortunately, this Café and Konditorei does not have its own parking lot, so one has to find a parking spot and pay to park, (except of Sunday) if they want to visit Café Baumann. Disabled access: There is parking in front, no steps to overcome, one front door to overcome, a chair can be removed for access to a table, but access inside while tight is possible, and restrooms access while on the first floor might be a tight fit for a wheelchair. Dogs are also welcome. I would probably be back to eat at Baumann’s again because my partner likes to have coffee and breakfast here. I find it OK."
Koblenz
