Restaurant Review: Zume's

I've decided that every now and then, this blog is going to contain restaurant reviews, because, as I've recently found out, some people have been to even fewer food places than I have! Also, I never find review websites all that helpful, because I don't know the people, so maybe the people who give horrible reviews are snobs, or the people who give great reviews have no standards. So here's my review for all of you that know me.

Zume's Coffee House is located at 233 Main Street in Charlestown, MA. When I first moved to Charlestown, I was really excited because it was a short walk from my house and looked cute. So now that I've been there a few times, I figure I can write about it.

First things first, I don't drink coffee. So I can't comment on the coffee. I know what you're thinking, how can you review a coffee house if you don't drink coffee? Chill out, there are other things at coffee houses besides coffee! In terms of drinks, I've had the rooibos iced tea, which was decent, and the hot caramel apple cider, which was far too sweet for my taste. I've also tried a few of their baked goods: the glazed and jelly donuts, which are significantly tastier than their less expensive counterparts at the Dunkin Donuts across the street; the chocolate chunk bar, which was pretty nice the first time, but kind of stale the second time; and the cheesecake brownie, which was lovely in presentation, but pretty lackluster in terms of taste.

They have other real food items there too, sandwiches and soups and such, but I've never tried any of it, since it's a little more expensive than other options. The price to deliciousness ratio of the baked goods and drinks is also a bit high. Other reviews have pointed out a lot of problems with customer service at Zume's. I'm not really a customer-service snob, in that I'll stop going to a restaurant I like if the staff isn't friendly, but I must admit that on all but one occasion (that occasion being the second, stale chocolate chunk bar excursion) I never felt like the people waiting on me were incredibly enthusiastic.

The atmosphere of Zume's is pretty nice, it's moderately-lit, chairs are comfy, menu items are written in colorful chalk, and local artwork is displayed on the walls. I guess it's kind of a hub in Charlestown, a home away from home for residents and their cute babies and cuter dogs. Overall, I'd say that if you can afford this place and like "coffee culture," it's worth a visit, but if you're looking for amazing bakery items and affordable drinks, you might want to take your visit elsewhere.

I must admit that this review may be a little biased, as I've applied for a job at Zume's on two occasions and haven't been hired either time, yet according to Craigslist, they're always hiring. I'm guessing, after this review, they're probably not going to hire me ever.