Arena

I rarely give business a rating of one, because I save the ones for place that are truly not worth my going to again. Arena at The Glen has truly earned a one.
Arena is a short order café, that also does cakes and obviously coffees. Their bread and butter is clearly customer service and their coffee, that’s just common sense. Unfortunately, Arena, fails at both these vital aspects.
In one experience I had with Arena, I ordered a double Ristretto Latte in large, which cost with $ 4.50, 50 cent surcharge for EFTPOS. I waited a whopping 13 minutes and then was presented with something in a small cup, I advised the ‘barista’ who had taken my order that I ordered a large and he quickly went on to make me another.
I waited for my new coffee, I instantly smelled burnt beans. At this point, I thought ‘whatever, I just want my latte.’ The ‘barista’ had places two cups over lapping which I though was strange, but then realised it was because the coffee was at volcanic temperatures!
Upon observing the tiny mouth piece, to my coffee deprived despair I noticed I was given a long black, with burnt beans at undrinkable temperature not the double Ristretto latte I had asked for and waited for 20 minutes!
So again, I went back, I was met with rudeness and an attitude that suggested I should just accept their lack of care and customer service skills. I again told him what I wanted, and walked away with a single shot latte that was warm at best. I gave up.
Take from this what you will, but I’d get a Big M (if they still sell them?) before going back to Arena.

If you can’t be bothered walking to the food court about halfway down the centre, then this is an acceptable place to grab a coffee. Not amazing. Oh, no. My cappuccino has only ever been acceptable here. I’ve had the burnt milk experience here a few times, but at other times I’ve found them to be pleasant enough.
The service is alright. Not amazing, but not terribly awful either. The worst I’ve ever had here has merely been benign neglect. And that hasn’t been very often. Staff are friendly enough, and they do a mostly decent job of keeping customers happy.

This is not my first choice for coffee or food at the Glen, though when said places are very busy I have been known to duck in here for a coffee or a bite.
The coffee is okay. Unlike Jessica I generally order a capp which isn’t too hard to get right, even if the end product is merely just average. It’s by no means the best coffee, but it does the job, particularly when I have a long day of shopping ahead of me.

Pretty standard café that occupies a seemingly huge amount of space at the posh end of the Glen. Because the ceiling is two or three storeys high, eating or having a coffee there feels a teensy bit like doing it at a food court, except, of course, for the fancy preparation area and nice looking chairs.
Service wasn’t so speedy, and the coffee wasn’t so spectacular. Actually it was a little burnt, but then I do order long macs which are notoriously easy to screw up so I’m not that fussy any more. The speed at which they sprinted after us when we (honest to god it was an accident!) forgot to pay our bill, however, was very impressive!