Three Layers

Walking into 3 Layers, I didn’t know what to expect. However, despite the unknown, 3 Layers satisfied all aspects of what I hoped it would be. It was cozy, relaxed and welcoming. From the moment I opened the door, to the second I unlocked my car, I was greeted and taken care of just as if I had known them my entire life. I ordered the Iced coffee (which brewed to perfection) and had a delightful experience. 5 stars for being all around masters at customer service and the art of coffee-​making.

Let me tell you, I love everything about small businesses and the charm they bring to the community. In that regard, I wanted to love the Three Layers Café. It’s cute, it’s quaint, and it’s off the beaten path, but I can’t patronize bad customer service. I just can’t… ever. There are simply too many other options that get this right. Tonight was my first time visiting Three Layers and I can’t begin to tell you how disappointed I am. But I’ll do my best.
First, the one star is for the «Jeff Square» dessert and the friendly, Hispanic-​looking server (or manger maybe) with longer hair that called me «spoiled» tonight. I grew to truly appreciate him as he did his best in service as well as comedic efforts to counterbalance the owner’s attitude and make an unfortunate situation better. I saw that and I appreciated the genuineness.
My friend and I came to Three Layers to attend the Jazz Tasting event that was being hosted by the Chris Thomas Band as we are fans! Aside from our dealings with Chevie (the owner), the night was great.
[Side Note: In my mind, if you can’t get good service from the owner of an establishment, there’s simply no hope.] I digress. Tonight, Chris Thomas sounded amazing as always, selfies were taken, and «life was but a dream» until…
I did the wine tasting and a dessert. No muss, no fuss. My friend, however, ordered a $ 9 glass of wine and two entrees (the salmon and the stuffed steak) that were both featured on tonight’s new menu roll out … And this was the beginning of the END for us. She was prepared to taste while listening to jazz, and take the rest to go. Well, both entrees were unsatisfactory. First, she tried her salmon and it was dry and looked more like chicken with grill marks than salmon to me. Chevie was called over to discuss it, but basically without discussion, she took the salmon away. Next, the steak. It was served with mashed potatoes and looked quite appetizing. I even commented on the presentation! The «stuffed steak» was rolled and pinned with toothpicks, and my friend was all-​set to enjoy. After waiting for a knife to be brought to her, she finally got the chance to taste her entrée and sadly reported that the steak was unseasoned, slightly undercooked, and bland. Bummer. At this point, my friend knew she would have to have words with Chevie, so she asked a staff member to send her over. After what took about 25 minutes of waiting, Chevie appeared. My friend said she didn’t like the steak either and Chevie immediately looked at me and asked, «What was wrong with the salmon?» (Mind you, the salmon had been gone for some time now.) I replied that it wasn’t my entrée, and redirected her back to my friend (who was speaking to her) after commenting on its dry appearance. She passively acknowledged the dry appearance by turning to my friend and saying, «But did you taste it?» My friend replied, «Yes» and shared that it was indeed dry. Chevie then shot back with, «Well I tasted it and I didn’t think it was dry!» With that, we looked at her blinking in silent disbelief.
Come to find out, while sharing these events via group text, I have several friends who know her personally and professionally. I re-​entered the conversation she and my friend were having and asked if her name was Chevie. She replied yes, I said no more, and she finished her discussion with my friend; ultimately taking the 2^nd entrée away.
After she left, my friend and I continued to discuss the situation amongst ourselves and with the mutual acquaintances. Obviously, the word got back to Chevie. As the next time I saw her– after I called her by name and made the connections, coupled with on-​site visits with a mutual acquaintance and her business associate whom I also know– Chevie went from rolling her neck at my friend, to laughing and back peddling with both of us like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I mean there was a complete change in her demeanor from that point on.
Although I’m too gracious to ever cause a scene, I was seething. When my friend and I were «regular» customers she couldn’t dream of finding good customer service if it slapped her in the face. But after making connections, the joking and fake-​friendly banter commenced. Unacceptable.
Bad night? Maybe. But why would my friends and I take a 35 minute drive, through not-​so-​nice neighborhoods, and pay to be treated this way; by the owner at that? Again, there are too many great options to be reduced to this. Let’s do better.

Great great great atmosphere! Got an awesome vanilla latte and the famous Jeff square… In my opinion the Jeff square was good but a little over rated– pretty sweet for my taste. There were other cakes there that looked great though and I think I will try those when I return… They had live music and comfortable chairs to lounge in as well as dining tables… Loved it and will return!

I’m enjoying one of the best dirty chai latte’s I’ve ever had, thanks to Three Layers! This shwanky café is real gem, and I highly recommend checking it out if you consider yourself a fan of coffee. Can’t wait to go check them out some night for more coffee and live music.

Three Layers has a fairly standard drink menu and sadly, no bunnies. The standard menu typically warrants three stars, but the chai tea we ordered tasted as though it came out of a Oregon Chai container box with pumpkin spice seasoning in it. Far from chai, and super sugary. I didn’t try a dessert because I just came from brunch, but they look spectacular and the reviews did make me a little curious.
The café is super busy so it can make it a difficult studying environment, but its cozy and has plenty of seating, making it a great place to socialize with friends. Also, another perk of this café is the parking. No trouble even though it’s located in a relatively urban neighborhood.

Love the atmosphere of three layers the most. I’ve spent many nights studying, playing board games and just hanging out here over the past few years. The owner is super friendly and I’ve never had a complaint about the delicious food and drinks that I’ve ordered. Their café is set up just like a big homey kitchen and living room. You definitely have to try the Jeff square heated. It’s like heaven erupted in your mouth.

Good atmosphere. Service was very slow. Not the best neighborhood. Not a lot of food options, but my chai tea latte, espresso, and Jeff’s squares was good. Would I come again? If I was in the area then yeah, but not at night.

I had nice experiences here a few years ago, but the only way I got any attention today was by leaving. I was standing at the empty counter for several minutes with no employees in sight when the phone rang. As she answered it, someone gave me a «just a minute» gesture, and proceeded to have a long phone conversation. After which she chatted with a customer at the bar who had walked in while I was waiting.
Apparently they have all the customers they’re interested in having, these days.

Updating my review after 4 years. This place is still wonderful, every time we come here. The coffee is always good and the treats are awesome. I finally got to try a Jeff Square — mmm, so incredibly delicious.
As I mentioned previously, this is an adult place where I feel perfectly comfortable taking my daughter to. Last time we came, we brought her boyfriend and another friend joined us. We sat in the garden and talked to Bugsy and enjoyed our drinks and Jeff Square. It was very relaxing and we never felt rushed.
This coffee shop is a true Jacksonville treasure.

The friendliest staff, the best lunch at a decent price. The vanilla chai tea is
!

Good, good, Great food!
The salad, soup, sandwich were all great. The cake was just the correct level of sweet. Wow this is a hit. I will be back again and brining friends.

I used to LOVE this place. It’s really gone down hill. I ordered cake and a drink. Drink wasn’t correct. Bathrooms were dirty. Had to try out several different tables and chairs before I found one that wasn’t wobbly. One chair I sat in I actually don’t know what was holding it together. It certainly wasn’t the tattered and torn cushion on top. I will say this… The staff is better than some.
And the cake… Well it certainly was yummy.

If you’re looking for a quaint, relaxing, cozy spot for some coffee and dessert Three layers is that place. Yeah it is off the beaten path in an atypical location but it is worth me taking the interstate and crossing the bridge to get to.
The ambiance is laid back feels like you have been invited into someone’s home. The service good and I feel like I could just sit on one of the couches there for a few hours passing time with friends but I was on a mission and came for 1 reason: JEFF SQUARE
I don’t know exactly what it is (Mark B says Blondie, I say Addiction square) but that has to be one of the best dessert I’ve had in a while. It is eerie how they get it to be crunchy, sweet and moist at the same time. Believe the hype on this one.
Oh yeah Bugsy is cool too.
Great food, comfy spot. Jeff Squares. Enough said

Nice place but kind of a strange location. Parking is strictly off street but there was plenty of room. I had no difficulty finding a spot. Note that they DO NOT take American Express.
It’s a quaint place with lots of delicious desserts. They do have a great orange moscato wine that was wonderful. My friend ordered pizza. It was good but not exceptional.
The staff is awesome but understand they don’t do table service in the zen garden. The garden is nice but it looked like it needed some attention. It is just the beginnings of summer so maybe there are plans in the works. The bunny in the garden is a nice touch and awfully sweet.
The inside bar is very nice and for a small place, had a good wine selection. The prices are very reasonable.
I gave it 4 stars but really wanted to do 3.5. Honestly, I bumped it up to 4 because I think it’s a great place, just not a place I would regularly visit. It’s more a personal feeling and I wanted to be objective so bumped it up.

Clean place, tasty coffee, laid back, lots of comfy chairs.
Not quite downtown but that’s cool.

This is a great little spot that tucked away, but worth the journey to find. It is a coffee bar with a twist. They even have a small wine bar in the back, and a patio that is perfect for clear summer nights (or days).
Drinks are great, atmosphere is a nicer version of Starbucks (complete with wifi), and is exactly what you expect from a locally-​owned (and hip) spot.
This is a great, local coffee shop that will definitely get my business when I am in the area.

This place is really adorable if you happen to be in the Springfield area. It’s a total hipster-​centric establishment with really friendly service and a plethora of offerings. I stopped in just for a latte and it was very good. They offer raw brown sugar as one of their sweetener options and have a good selection of baked desserts. They also have lunch plates which looked healthy and appetizing.
The Zen garden in the back is the place to be with a very cool rabbit that you can visit while enjoying your noshes surrounded by bamboo trees. The also have seating outside at the front entrance if you want to enjoy your nibbles, beverages and a smoke.
Overall, I enjoyed my first experience. They have drink specials on certain nights and the atmosphere is very chill. If I actually lived in the neighborhood, it would probably be one of my regular spots. It’s definitely a place to check out for sure. :)

Despite one reviewer calling the location sketchy, I love this place. It is located in a transitional neighborhood and it’s an urban area. So if the suburbs and Starbucks are your preferred hangout, this is not your scene. It’s a coffeehouse in the best sense. It’s located in a community and hosts spoken word, open mic night, local art and even yoga. Wine tastings on certain Tuesdays and live music often. It was awesome when it first opened around 6 – 7 years ago and it’s still a great hangout for the neighbors, explorers, coffee lovers and those with a sweet tooth. Bugsy will try to sweet talk you into getting some of your chips. Make sure to remind him it’s bad for bunnies.

Love this cute little coffee shop! You instantly feel right at home. The coffee is great and they have a resident bunny in the garden in the back!
My only complaint with this place is the location. It’s in the middle of nowhere and a little sketchy. On top of that, the parking situation is pretty bad. However, if I’m downtown, I’ll definitely take a detour and stop by again.

Have you had a long, stressful week? Would curling up with a warm Chai Latte in a Japanese Zen Garden while watching a bunny hop around make you feel better?
If the answer is YES than Three Layers is the perfect antidote for you!
Three Layers is my peaceful sanctuary that costs less than $ 5. I have been a fan of it since its opening and Jeff, of the infamous «Jeff Squares,» still owned this Springfield gem! My biggest temptation is their three layer Orange Creamsicle cake! Light, fluffy, moist, and a hint of orange and cream. I wish they had it available EVERY time. That being said, *all* their cakes are awesome! Even their hummus is scrumptious if you wanted a healthier snack.
Their Chai Latte is my FAVORITE in town. It’s always rich with froth and cream with that notable Chai and Cinnamon flavor.
The Zen Garden out back houses everyone’s favorite bunny, Bugsy! Bugsy is quite friendly but WATCH OUT or he’ll nibble your food if you’re not careful! The patio is framed by bamboo enclosing the cobble stones, a wrought iron bridge and other flora to whisk you to a zen like state. If outdoors isn’t your thing, they have the words comfiest leather couch you can sink into to and zen-​out.
Three Layers is perfect choice for a date or alone with a riveting book. You’ll find me there anxiously anticipating to see my beloved Orange Creamsicle there in the cake display!