Chilli Banana Unique Sandwich

Don't normally write reviews but want to chime in I suppose with some of those negative reviews below! Having just moved to Hitchin, we are a few minutes walk away and have always had a lovely experience in Chilli B's. Absolutely lovely coffee, cakes and sandwiches. My partner works from home and she has gone there a couple times, loving it so much we took her parents and her grandma! Staff have also always been nothing short of lovely. Thank you :

A shame! I’d heard great things about their food. Despite everything tasting ok, it felt very hostile, we were not warmly greeted and made to feel like our decision on food was rushed. In the queue, we we’re offered to take a menu “so we can decide in advance” before returning. I’m not sure if this was a new staff member, but quite frankly small businesses rely on local customers and I’m not sure I’d return. Improvements in customer service needed!

I went to Chilli B cafe in Hitchin the other day on Friday 4th August 2023 for lunch as I often do when I'm in Hitchin shopping, I'm a very regular customer and have been coming here for years either on my own or with my mum for lunch or coffee and it's always been my go to coffee shop in Hitchin as upto now, until the other day I've always found the food and coffee very good and the staff very friendly and helpful but when I came in on Friday for lunch I was very disappointed because my sandwich wasn't very appetising at all as the bread was dry and stale, the smoked salmon was chewy and there was way too much salad cream in my sandwich and even though I'd specifically asked for no rocket in my sandwich when I ordered they put rocket in my sandwich anyway instead of normal lettuce. When I complained to a member of staff about my sandwich they took the rocket out of my sandwich and told me the reason that they'd given me rocket in my sandwich was because they'd run out of normal lettuce leaves which to me isn't really good enough and very unprofessional I think. After they'd taken the rocket out of my sandwich they gave me back the same old sandwich with the same stale brown bread and chewy smoked salmon so I then asked a member of staff if they could change the bread for me and they told me that the bread was all the same so I then asked if they had any baguettes instead so they said yes and gave me a baguette which was a bit fresher but still with the same old chewy smoked salmon in it, I was so fed up by then that I ate it anyway as I was so hungry but I didn't really enjoy it and it all felt like such an uphill struggle in order to get my sandwich how I wanted it. At the end when it came to paying for my lunch one of the staff asked if everything was OK and I said it wasn't upto it's usual standard. I wouldn't say they were that apologetic and despite my sandwich not being very good and considering I've been a very regular and loyal customer for many years now and go there for lunch nearly every time I'm in Hitchin,they still charged me the full price for my lunch and didn't even offer to give me any discount or a free coffee or anything like that to say sorry for the poor quality of food. I almost felt like the staff didn't really care and I'd have thought especially in these times with a cost of living crisis that a small independent cafe like this wouldn't be able to afford to be so complaiceant with food standards and customer service. After this experience on Friday I am a bit put off about going to this cafe again, on my own or with family or friends which is quite sad as this has been my favourite cafe for many years in my area and until the other day I always thought that Chilli B was the best cafe in Hitchin and I very rarely went anywhere else for lunch or coffee but now I feel different after my experience on Friday and I think it's probably unlikely I'll be going there again anytime soon.

First visit to this outlet and delighted to have found it. Sitting area was full so opted for the bar/stool area in the other side. Mr Mrs Owner could not have been more welcoming and friendly passionate about what they do and the service they offer. Lovely, freshly prepared breakfasts with quite delicious coffee. Will definitely return and would certainly recommend.

What a great little find. Stumbled across this place. Very pleasant service and a beautiful concealed ‘beer’ garden. Our sandwiches were excellent.