Happy long time customer; go there daily. Staff are friendly we're on first name basis, helpfully and hard working. Coffee is great. If there's something you want just ask & they will try to provide it. Recommended.
I usually love Spelt's and go there regularly. However since the owner change I have noticed it going down hill. While I personally don't like coffee I do get hot chocolates and milkshakes there pretty often. I've noticed however, since the owner change the staff no longer ask if you want whip-cream on the hot chocolate or milkshake! And even when I do remember to request it they always forget or just don't do it! They don't even go the extra mile anymore like putting chocolate sauce on the sides of the cup in a nice pattern or putting sprinkles on top of the whip-cream if they even remember the whip-cream during holidays and stuff... It's also pretty clear that for some of them English isn't their first language either; and while I normally don't mind it to too much it becomes frustrating when you have to repeat yourself 3 or 4 times and they still get your order wrong! Would be nice if they had a local English speaker with them on their shifts if they need it! Also all the old, friendly, awesome staff I used to talk to on my visits are gone! I do however like the buy a hotdog, get a doughnut free deal though.
Changed ownership, got rid of all the great staff and now the coffee is mediocre and atmosphere is not the same. You can't just slide your kids in to be baristas with no customer service skills, care, or pride in the job. Coffee lid/sugar/cream area always messy and often out of raw sugar now. Hopefully these are just growing pains but in three recent visits there was no improvement. Not going back for now. EDIT to note, the below, previous 5 star review was for the original ownership: Friendly staff, consistently good coffee, delicious apple fritters that are cheap and HUGE! Serve Silk Road tea as well, so unexpectedly awesome for a gas station.
Friendly & helpful staff. Good range of food, including great milkshakes, bakery goods love their apple pie, tastes home-baked! and various specialty pies. Popular local coffee shop attached to Shell Convenience Store-Gas Station located in 'downtown' Saanichton.
Good except for the ambiance/decor. I have never met other women there for a morning coffee and never seen female groups there. Maybe men are happier with the gas station atmosphere? The staff are very nice.
Lovely staff Great London Fog with real milk! Clean Could use some new easy chairs.
Had a nice snack in the restaurant.
This used to be Spelts but was sold. The new owner makes Apple fritters half the size of the previous owner. They also don't have other varieties or flavors of fritters.
The doughnuts are so delicious! It’s a problem. The coffee is just the regular, weak coffee found everywhere else. But who cares about coffee when they have great doughnuts?
Simply love this place. 1. It's unpretentious Americana, no blends or fusion cuisines or super foods that you really didn't want in your food to begin with. 2. The prices are fair for what you get and that's rare in Victoria. 3. Leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy. I leave here consiously knowing I want to spend money here again. Love you Spelts! Keep being awesome.
