Puccino’s

The location itself is very nice. Compared to most of the other Puccino’s locations it’s big and spacious. Nice touch having the drive-​thru also.
I generally don’t have a problem with any of the Puccino’s that have sprouted up all over. The service, drinks and food are usually pretty consistent. This location however… ugh. The staff really needs some training or something.
I stopped in for an iced latte last Saturday. The guy that assisted me was terrible. I placed my order for a latte and a large water. He gave me a small water. I set my exact change down on the counter and he left it there. He was too busy gossiping with the other guy behind the counter. I really could have kept my money and he wouldn’t have had any idea. I’m not that type of person though. When he finally gave me my drink, I tasted it and noted that it did not have the Hazelnut syrup I asked for. I walked back to him (my money was still sitting on the counter and he had no clue) and told him that he didn’t add Hazelnut. He tried to take my drink back with soaking wet hands. I asked if he could please dry his hands first. He added the Hazelnut and gave me the drink back. I told the other guy at the counter that I wanted a receipt and my money was on the counter. He just looked at me sheepishly and printed up a receipt.
As a side note, the drink was lousy and I don’t think I will be going back here too soon.
It’s a shame because I pass by this location at least once every weekend.

I think Puccino’s is now my go-​to for coffee. If you are an iced or frozen coffee fan, this is your place. We don’t have one on the Westbank, but my new office is in Puccino’s territory and I’ve been enjoying it. I can’t believe I’ve been missing out for years.
Their Frozen Cappuccino is fantastic. Tons of sugar, I’m sure, but you can still taste the coffee, which seems to be a rarity in the world of frozen coffee these days. It’s a treat, and a good one at that.
They do have a sign by the drive thru explaining how the Frozen Cappuccino is «good for you»… I would probably take that with a grain of salt, but it is good for my tastebuds!

Interesting place. The interior of Puccino’s is immaculate. I mean, really a work of art with the furnishings. Yet the service that goes along with a good product is so-​so. A little slow at times when it comes to ordering and delivering such items as coffee, sandwich wraps, and pastries. The kitchen closes either at 3 or 4 PM, and you’ll have to walk to the window to pick up your food as opposed to getting it served to you at the table.
Nonetheless, the food and coffee is pretty good, and there is a gambling room that is within the center of the venue. While there are several Puccino’s venues all over the New Orleans area, this one seems to be among the newest.

I am not sure what the fascination is with this local chain, but they appear to be popping up all over town. i cannot speak for all of them, but this one I can, and for multiple visits as well.
I will say just this first, to give something positive, that the inside is well kept and the person working the register is nice enough. But that is where the good train stops.
Let me tell you just of the last two times I have been there. One time I went with a group of 3 for breakfast. We all ordered up front, everyone’s order came out after about 20 minutes except for mine. I didn’t order anything special, just the breakfast wrap. When I told them I hadn’t received my order it was obvious that they didn’t make at all. They rushed to make and called me about 5 minutes later. I sat down to my group with my food, keep in mind they were now done eating now, I picked up the wrap and a pool of uncooked eggs poured out of the back end of the wrap. When I brought it back and showed it to the chef, i demanded my money back and left.
I wanted to give them one last chance. Now this time, (not sure why I kept going back), this time I said okay let me try and keep it as simple as possible for these people. I ordered 2 eggs over medium, bacon and grits. That is it. My food came out on time, but my eggs we SO uncooked that they were still clear. I just couldn’t believe it. I brought it back to the window where the cook was (he looked like he was 12) and there was a guy there who had been walking around the restaurant like he was the manager or the owner. i assumed he was so I showed him first the eggs, he didn’t tell me sorry, he didn’t tell me, «We will make another», he didn’t tell me he would give me my money back. NOTHING! All he did was look at the cook, who at this point I felt sorry for, and said «The Eggs! They are NOT cooked!» to this the young kid took my plate and apologized profusely. I asked for the eggs to come scrambled this time, because I could not risk my love for eggs being ruined by another uncooked embryo from this place. They came out bland and the grits were runny like water.
This place is the worst, sorry kids.
The Good:
Nice atmosphere
The Bad:
sheesh where to a start. — Who I assume was the manager had a bad attitude and did not apologize for mistakes, the food takes a while to come out. Bland microwaved food.
The ugly:
Not once, but twice this place served me raw uncooked eggs. This is a health risk, and that my friends is as ugly as it gets.

The chai and desserts are great, and it’s so close to my office. However, the staff is consistently rude, inattentive, and generally uncaring about everything. The girl who made my chai sighed loudly and muttered under her breath the entire time. I’ve worked in the service industry. I get that it’s not easy and you’re probably having a shitty day. But, come on. Customer service.

I would rather give everyone a good review, but I just can’t for here because the staff is wildly inconsistent with attitude, attentiveness, and LISTENING SKILLS. Several young people who’ve waited on me & whomever I’m with in the past seem to be drifting with their disinterested «not another one» looks and hamster-​wheel heads with calliope music playing and not hearing «AND A SCONE.» It’s always a scone issue with me, as if someone hit the mute button when I ask for one.
Not everyone who works there is like that – there are a few on staff who are always cool & on point, and trust me that those darling ones know who I’m talking about in the above paragraph.
The other major issue is the coffee is NOT Italian but more like that of a gas station that opened a really pretty café and are using two prepackaged coffee pot packs instead of one. It’s not dark, it’s not rich, and it all has this bizarre, slightly sweetly bitter taste. They truly, sincerely need new coffee period. Someone needs to go to Starbucks and buy a bag of Verona, French, or Italian roast, although if they really want to go gung-​ho, they should find a Torrefazione Italia distributor. That’s the crème de la crème that could turn this place around.
Compare here to Brocato’s, for example, and you’ll agree Brocato’s=Italian and Puccino’s=gas station/​donut shop. I recommend a diet coke or San Pellegrino.
Desserts are decadent, but this is Nola and there’s plenty of competition. Lunch is run of the mill with nothing stand out or unique. They really need a wider variety of simple pastries.

This place is so trippy. Overwhelmingly decorated. My senses go to extremes. There is just too much too take in. The frozen Puccino is a great drink. Coffee and ice cream. Also, the granita is banging. Lots of good muffins. Brunch is actually pretty good. Lots of seating, and comfortable too.
But the kitchen closes at 3. Really disappointing.
All in all, it’s a weird as coffee shoppe. Disorienting in structure and appeal.

I have given this location MORE than enough chances to get their stuff together. Each time they have failed me. I started going to Puccinos in Harahan for breakfasts with friends and their kids, totally good and fine. Then the drive thru opened. EVERY TIME I get my small $ 2.39 wet cappuccino they charged me over $ 4.00??? The revolving door of employees who weren’t properly trained in what to do didn’t know why they have indoor prices and outdoors prices. That blows my mind as well! Why would you up charge your drive thru as a business. Just as I was starting to love two employees there a African American older gentleman and a Caucasian man… They leave :(they understood the frustrations.
Now they are back to the revolving employee ride. I wanted to keep my business here instead of the big corporation chains but unfortunately the owner needs to get his business in check before I will go back!

I come here often since it is on my way to school and I enjoy the coffee. However, I will no longer give this place my money due to the AWFUL staff. There’s someone new almost every week and there’s not one friendly person. Ive been back to give it another chance but the employees make you feel like you are not welcomed there. I work in a restaurant so I know how frustrating people can be… But every employee everyday? I used to be able to go to the drive thru and not experience rude looks but now it takes almost 15 min for me to get a simple coffee when there’s one car in front of me!!! I will say that there’s one lady in the kitchen that has been there since they opened and she is so sweet. It’s too bad she can’t replace the people working the counter. I’ve liked the food that I’ve tried and I love the coffee but I can’t seem to give money to people who are so disgustingly rude.

What a complete joke. $ 4 for a coffee, $ 3 for a coke. We sit down and learn it’s extra $$ for internet wifi access. Ha ha! Judging from the little signs all around giving the staff «do not do» instructions, plus the hyper-​fake over the top pseudo real-​Italian minus the poker machines in your face décor, I’m guessing a greedy controlling owner. The vibe is the opposite of comfortable and inviting.

Some friends and I came in while waiting for another friend to be ready for us to go out. I’m not to sure that the servers cared if we (or any other customer) were there or not. We only ordered drinks (two frozen lemonades and a frozen cappuccino), but there were no suggestions as to what else we might have wanted, no up-​sale at all. I will probably be back, if I am ever in the area again, but this isn’t a place that I will go out of my way to visit. There were multiple televisions, but only football was on, much to my dismay, but it is a Saturday in the south.

Well not sure what happened here. I have been to Puccino’s before and had a pleasant experience. The music and décor are pazzazzie, the food was good but the service was very poor. The ladies behind the counter were not friendly and were very slow! They need to change the counter service. The cooks were great though. My food came out pretty quick and it was very good. Kudos to the cooks!!!

I went here on a whim for breakfast this morning. Being that I live a block away, I was totally surprised at the quality of the food. Pancakes, really good omelets, and the pastries looked good. Best breakfast that I’m aware of anywhere around River Ridge (don’t say caffe latte da please).
So the bad? I don’t drink much coffee – I had a Red Bull, so I can’t debate the quality. That, and the girl at the register was rude for no reason! Sucks to be her, I guess.

This is a very good coffee shop, I did agree with some other reviews, the coffee is a little weak. When they first opened they had someone to clean the tables but for the oats month or two I haven’t seen anyone bus the tables, but they do have a window cleaner who does a great job. Please get another bus person, it is very annoying when I have to pick up someone else’s mess, OR… I have a great idea, pick up your own mess people! Your not in your house, have respect for other people who will come in after you.
Food is pretty good, love the biscuit sandwich. Sandwiches are good. I haven’t had dinner yet. Love the ambience very comfortable place to have coffee and breakfast.
And for the other reviewer, forgot his name, Nazi Germany, really?

The frozen Puccino gets 5 stars, most everything else 2 – 3 stars, including the service. It’s just blah and basic — nothing that differentiates them. I do like that you can request a decaf frozen Puccino. I tried the ½ sandwich & soup combo and it was average. It is definitely not worth $ 7.99 though. The tomato soup, eh. I didn’t finish it all. The ham is thick sliced and has the skin on it? Ham with skin annoys me on a sandwich. The Swiss cheese is average, as is the wheatberry bread; which tastes like regular ol’ wheat bread to me. $ 1.89 for a 16.9oz bottle of Kentwood water = ridiculous.
They have a $ 5 credit card minimum. That in and of itself infuriates me and makes me not want to return, although I do.

Puccini’s is not cool. That’s not a criticism, as «cool» here is used in its pre-​West Side Story former sense: understated, quiet, calm, muted, unemotional. Puccini’s is none of these, with its bright lights and colors, seemingly endless array of menus and promotions in front, behind, hanging above, and atop the counter, a wide range of products arrayed there as well as on shelves and rolling carts all around the place, and even a collection of motivational words running along the molding overhead.
Did that last sentence leave you a bit overwhelmed? If so, I’ve succeeded in conveying the feeling of sitting down with a cup of coffee at Puccino’s.
My experience is limited to the cup of brewed coffee, which was surprisingly weak but still satisfying, and a scone that moist and fresh with a biscuit-​like texture. There is a complete brunch menu with sandwiches and egg-​based dishes.
Back to those motivational words: The list overhead included «accomplished, astute, confident, creative, resourceful, strong, loving,» and «discrete». Discrete? All the rest I could imagine on posters at the office, but «discrete»? Did they mean «discreet»? The latter probably applies to some of the rendezvous at coffee shops, but how did the word – in either spelling – end up on that list? I will carry that question to the grave, I fear.

Check your order before you leave.
My order was messed up the first time I went, but they were VERY busy. Last time, they left off the aioli, sandwich was dry, but whatever. Today, they were NOT busy, I was the only one in line and my sandwich came out with no aioli, no cheese, no bacon. I think they made a judgement call and decided I didn’t need the fat. If that was the case, they could have knocked a buck off the sandwich.
Tried to call when I got back to the office and found my order was wrong. Line was busy.
I’ve no problems with the Lakeside and Vets locations.

I have officially come here for coffee, breakfast, lunch and post dinner coffee (in that order). So sit down and get ready for a serious well rounded review.
— Coffee: They offer a full menu of coffee drinks so if you have a favorite they got it. I enjoy the iced Puccino, iced coffee, and when I’m in the mood for dessert coffee, the frozen Puccino.
–Breakfast: I love the waffle sandwich, its perfect for a hearty Sunday breakfast.
–Lunch:I love the apple turkey and brie sandwich and get it almost every time.
–They do not have a wait staff. You order at the counter and wait for your number to be called. It’s a little unclear if its expected to bus your own table and I’ve seen people do both.
–They have outdoor seating
–This Puccino’s has a drive thru, but a few times I have tried to use it, they’ve had issues and it takes longer than if I would just walk inside.
If you have been to any of the other locations, this one is no different except it is larger. Yes, they still have clusters of crap everywhere, as if someone bought one of everything from World Market and threw it on the counter. The music is a no go, its super loud italian pop music.
Since its been open I have never seen it empty so the people of River Ridge and Harahan are taking to it well. I grew up in the area so I love seeing new businesses popping up.
During the week nights a lot of high school kids were there studying, but it still wasn’t a problem finding a booth.

Food was good. Yet all of the positively was cancelled out by the loudness and «instructional signage» to the staff. (As well as instructional signs to the customers?!) Music too loud, and I found the PA announcements about food being ready for pickup VERY annoying.
The atmosphere was very ornate but the signage was over the top. Inspirational quotes were good here and there but it seems the person who designed the interior has serious control issues. Sincerely… Is the owner expecting customers to turn a timer on signaling that it’s time to «bus»?
If go back if were full service and less signage.

Puccino’s has opened a new location, this one at the site of the old Cellars of River Ridge. Amazing what they did inside, nice faux Italian look, with a sharp modern touch. Plenty of seating, booths, tables, and couches. Stopped in for a light lunch. My wife ordered the turkey Apple Brie panini while I settled for a cranberry muffin. Food was good. Local coffee shops have some serious new competition.