My bride and I went here last Sunday morning...the place was packed! We ordered breakfast sandwiches and they were delicious. My wife enjoyed their coffee as well. The speed of service could have been faster, but wasn't terrible...plus it was understandable as the place was so busy. Overall, we enjoyed this place and would definitely return!
(4)
Joyce H.
The breakfast sandwiches are great! Enjoyed the quaint atmosphere and the friendly customer service. Will definitely go back and entertain guest for breakfast or brunch.
(4)
Stephanie G.
They now take credit cards. I went for a late breakfast today with friends and the food was fine. Some customers were getting lunch and the sandwiches looked good.
(3)
Sam M.
We have been coming to this place for ages. My in laws live close by so it's our "go to" for quick coffee/cappuccino, etc. Recently there is a new manager (owner?) who seems to like to hear herself yell...a lot. It's uncomfortable for paying customers (and unpaying too!). We've decided there are nicer (friendlier) places just slightly further away. So we've moved on.
(1)
Michael M.
Not sure why anyone would bother coming here. If you ask any questions about where their food comes from, you'll be sorely disappointed. Their "house baked" muffins are just packaged pre-mixed batter squeezed in a pan. Their hummus comes from a jar. Their roast beef comes pre-cooked, pre-sliced. Even their turkey, which they brag about roasting themselves, just comes as a pre-seasoned, plastic wrapped block that they just toss in an oven. Make no mistake, nothing you eat here is even close to being cooked from scratch. When I spend my hard earned money on a restaurant, I expect a little more than dumping premade food out of a box. Also, celiacs beware. If you order anything gluten free from their menu, it's probably contaminated. They cook their gluten free pancakes on the same surface as everything else without sanitizing and even stack them right next to wheat pancakes and bread. That's just lazy and shows a lack of respect for their customers' food safety. Another warning sign is the smell. The whole place smells like a dirty grease trap. Definitely not what I imagine when I walk into a cafe. I expect smells of coffee and fresh baked pastries, and instead it's burnt oil and smoke. Had breakfast here and still had the smell in my hair and clothes when I went home in the afternoon. Another sign of laziness. If they can't be bothered to keep the clean their greasy cooktops, think about how dirty the food is. Be warned. Spend your money at a better establishment.
(1)
C K.
What a difference a year can make. Had Mother's Day breakfast here with the kids and everything was great. The new owners are obviously working hard, have upgraded the food, and are doing a much better job!
(4)
Shelly B.
This is a great cafe! Nice place to get a coffee and quick breakfast or lunch. I have a couple complaints though - 1. I wish they were open a bit later - maybe till 4:30 for an after school treat. 2. The ventilation needs to be better so that I don't come out with my hair smelling like bacon frying!! The free WIFI is nice....
(4)
Tim B.
The food is consistently good and the portions are generous. The music, though often hard to hear over the din of conversations and sounds from the active, open kitchen, is a nice, eclectic variety ranging from David Bowie to Willie Nelson. Location is convenient to the area. It's a great jumping off point once you've enjoyed your breakfast. Service is the only downside; the line to place your order can build rapidly and move slowly. Delivery is problematic, as well. We watched as the cook placed plates on a shelf where they sat and chilled for 5 - 10 minutes before a server stumbled upon them and recognized someone was waiting eagerly for breakfast.
(3)
Jessica E.
The coffee here is absolutely wonderful! I crave this coffee when I am not around this area. I realize that people have different tastes in coffee, but the quality here is evident and the prices are quite reasonable. Also, they have several selections of coffee, so you are likely to find something that suits your taste. This is also a great place to get a breakfast or lunch on the go or sit down for a lighter meal. I usually get a sandwich. They clearly use high quality ingredients and put effort into each order. The service is usually very good and the decor is charming and inviting. I only have two concerns. I have occasionally gotten a less-than-fresh piece of bread or bagel and when ordering on the go, as I usually do, this cannot be remedied very easily. Also, while I understand why they do not take credit cards, this has kept me away quite a few times when I was in a hurry and had no cash. I refuse to pay a surcharge at an ATM when there is a surcharge-free ATM at the wawa next door. And if I am already in the wawa and feeling hungry...well, you can figure out where I am going with this.
(4)
mary p.
I, unlike Heather, think this place is wonderful. I end up here almost every day I'm visiting my parents in Delaware. It's a great latte and a delicious breakfast (unless you get the breakfast sandwich, which Heather got, and was pretty bland). I usually get an omelet and have never been disappointed with that. Moreover, it's local, it's comfy, lots of room, you can sit for hours reading the paper, and I want to keep Starbucks out of Hockessin. Why? I'm not sure. I just do.
(4)
Liz W.
Really really delicious food and lattes! The chocolate croissant was AMAZING!! I also tasted some of my sisters meal which was the Sampler and it was also delicious. You could tell the eggs were homemade, the bacon was delicious and the pancakes tasted far from fake. Even the syrup tasted like it wasn't just from a bottle from the store. I didn't give a full 5 stars because the wait seemed a little long for a Monday at 11, but considering the quality of the food, it wasn't that big of a deal. It did seem like everyone was waiting on their food though, so it could be a recurring theme. If you're feeling patient, DEFINITELY stop in here for a bite to eat and some caffeine! (Major plus: they have almond milk)
The layout is terrible and causes the line to move very very slowly. I heard the manager yelling at the employees the entire time I was there.
(1)
Albert L.
A really local cafe spot to grab a quick coffee or to have a nice lunch. Came with the family on a weekend, and we ordered some salads and a sandwich, all of which were actually pretty good. I got a chicken and artichoke salad that had homemade bagel crisps - great stuff. The food is simple and veritably well-put together here. Now, I must actually agree with Nichole E. on her sentiments about employee interaction that is completely visible to the dining room. They need to have some kind of wall or divider between the dining room and prep/kitchen area, because everyone can see what is going on with the staff behind the counter. It makes the experience a little bit uncomfortable if you're not expecting such a thing, and I also think diners will appreciate a little bit of separation from the kitchen in terms of watching food prep. Definitely give TPCC a try if you're in the area. The staff is friendly and patient, and they need the local community's support!
(3)
H H.
What a turnaround!!! This place apparently has new owners and I'm so psyched to report the food is totally great! Love the new layout and the whole place seems fresher and more updated. Love. We'll be back!!
(5)
Dracunculus R.
I've been coming heard off snd on for the past 10 (?) years. I grew up in Hockessin until 1976 and only come back for intermittent family events. If I lived here still I would eat at yhe perfect cup regularly. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Clean. Food and coffee is very good snd reasonable. Staff is always polite.
(5)
Derek F.
The atmosphere is nice and so are the people but the food is just normal, nothing special besides the baked goods. For what they are they are a four. Love the place though!
(4)
Kris S.
Well, I have lived in the area for two years and visited the Perfect Cup frequently before the new owners took over. The food was still good when things changed hands but I would loose my appetite after sitting and listening to the owner berate her staff loudly and in full view and hearing of us, her paying customers. I experienced that a few times and stopped going because I thought she had outstanding staff with good customer service skills, but you would never hear a complement, only harsh criticism. That was about a year ago. Today I gave it another chance thinking maybe the owner has worked out the links and gotten over her self-righteous attitude. Sadly, I was disappointed. She has toned down the berating of her staff to conversational volume...I wasn't there five minutes and she began berating the busboy. Unbelievable. Why she thinks we want to be witness to her horrible management skills escapes me. Furthermore, the coffee was burnt (I can get way better coffee at work for free) so at $2.25 for a large to go cup ($.75 refills) it is way overpriced for my taste. When I left the cafe, and got into the car, I realized I was still smelling the cafe. It was ME! My clothes wreaked of grease odor. I wasn't even sitting near the grill. I don't understand why there were other people staying there absorbing up those odors. One positive was the breakfast sandwich. I had it on sourdough bread which was nicely flavored and I picked goat cheese for my cheese choice which I LOVE on anything but don't get to choose very often. I would maybe go buy a sandwich or pastry to go, but someone really needs to tell that owner to take better care of the good workers she has. That's just sad.
(1)
Nichole E.
After I wrote my initial review, I witnessed the most disrespectful conversation I've ever heard between manager (maybe owner?) and employee. The manager, a woman, chewed out the employee because she had just answered a phone call and didn't handle it as the manager thought it ought to be handled (she was going to take a message instead of handing the phone to the manager). Now this employee was my cashier just minutes earlier, and she was extremely friendly. She was fast, knowledgable, friendly and welcoming. Great service! The credit card machines were down that day, and it was clear that the entire staff was stressed out, but this employee still had a smile on her face. I can see why everyone would be stressed... if the manager treats all the employees the way I witnessed her treat this employee, I'd expect morale to be low. It was so disrespectful, condescending, and downright nasty that I am kicking myself for not saying anything. Worst of all, there were several customers within earshot. If you need to talk sternly to an employee, at least don't do it in front of paying customers. Very unprofessional, not to mention an added level of disrespect to the employee. I would not come to this cafe again even though I very much enjoy their lattes and their coffee flavors, if for no other reason than to protest the way the manager treated her employee. Absolutely inappropriate. To that employee, if you ever read this: walk away from that place!!!! You deserve to be treated far better than the way your manager treated you that day.
(1)
P. L.
I was here visiting for the weekend and got trapped in the snow after eating lunch across the street. We went here to grab some coffee and wait for a ride to come pick us up and even though they were closing the owner's mother opened the place for us and we picked up coffee and a bag of fresh muffins the owner baked that morning. We gabbed with the owner's parents for a while and they were so nice and friendly along with the staff. Our ride got there 20 minutes after us and they even let him in to get fresh ground coffee, 20 minutes after closing. They had a really nice, small town, friendly appeal that was refreshing. Not too many places would let you in after closing and actually care about how you're getting around in the bad weather and take the time to get to know you. We ate the muffins later and they were delicious. The next morning we went back for coffee and the girl at the register remembered us, was friendly, and remembered our whole situation and took the time to ask about it. We both regretted not ordering fresh made breakfast sandwiches for our road trip but I will have to try them another time when I'm in town.
(4)
A H.
Don't waste your time. I have nothing nice to say at all. The owner belittles and degrades her employees. I've never witnessed someone hush a grown man or yell at employees in front of paying customers. And I'm not sure what's worse - her attitude or the smell of the cafe. Both are disgusting. Just sell the place. She only gets one star because I can't give her zero.
(1)
Alex M.
Great place to grab coffee with friends.
(4)
Mike P.
Creative and well-made sandwiches make for a very pleasant lunch. And free wi-fi, a luxury these days sadly. The Chai is excellent. Very convenient, with good parking. The young staff are sometimes distracted but generally ok. Nice place, good and well-prepared food.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
L T.
My bride and I went here last Sunday morning...the place was packed! We ordered breakfast sandwiches and they were delicious. My wife enjoyed their coffee as well. The speed of service could have been faster, but wasn't terrible...plus it was understandable as the place was so busy. Overall, we enjoyed this place and would definitely return!
(4)Joyce H.
The breakfast sandwiches are great! Enjoyed the quaint atmosphere and the friendly customer service. Will definitely go back and entertain guest for breakfast or brunch.
(4)Stephanie G.
They now take credit cards. I went for a late breakfast today with friends and the food was fine. Some customers were getting lunch and the sandwiches looked good.
(3)Sam M.
We have been coming to this place for ages. My in laws live close by so it's our "go to" for quick coffee/cappuccino, etc. Recently there is a new manager (owner?) who seems to like to hear herself yell...a lot. It's uncomfortable for paying customers (and unpaying too!). We've decided there are nicer (friendlier) places just slightly further away. So we've moved on.
(1)Michael M.
Not sure why anyone would bother coming here. If you ask any questions about where their food comes from, you'll be sorely disappointed. Their "house baked" muffins are just packaged pre-mixed batter squeezed in a pan. Their hummus comes from a jar. Their roast beef comes pre-cooked, pre-sliced. Even their turkey, which they brag about roasting themselves, just comes as a pre-seasoned, plastic wrapped block that they just toss in an oven. Make no mistake, nothing you eat here is even close to being cooked from scratch. When I spend my hard earned money on a restaurant, I expect a little more than dumping premade food out of a box. Also, celiacs beware. If you order anything gluten free from their menu, it's probably contaminated. They cook their gluten free pancakes on the same surface as everything else without sanitizing and even stack them right next to wheat pancakes and bread. That's just lazy and shows a lack of respect for their customers' food safety. Another warning sign is the smell. The whole place smells like a dirty grease trap. Definitely not what I imagine when I walk into a cafe. I expect smells of coffee and fresh baked pastries, and instead it's burnt oil and smoke. Had breakfast here and still had the smell in my hair and clothes when I went home in the afternoon. Another sign of laziness. If they can't be bothered to keep the clean their greasy cooktops, think about how dirty the food is. Be warned. Spend your money at a better establishment.
(1)C K.
What a difference a year can make. Had Mother's Day breakfast here with the kids and everything was great. The new owners are obviously working hard, have upgraded the food, and are doing a much better job!
(4)Shelly B.
This is a great cafe! Nice place to get a coffee and quick breakfast or lunch. I have a couple complaints though - 1. I wish they were open a bit later - maybe till 4:30 for an after school treat. 2. The ventilation needs to be better so that I don't come out with my hair smelling like bacon frying!! The free WIFI is nice....
(4)Tim B.
The food is consistently good and the portions are generous. The music, though often hard to hear over the din of conversations and sounds from the active, open kitchen, is a nice, eclectic variety ranging from David Bowie to Willie Nelson. Location is convenient to the area. It's a great jumping off point once you've enjoyed your breakfast. Service is the only downside; the line to place your order can build rapidly and move slowly. Delivery is problematic, as well. We watched as the cook placed plates on a shelf where they sat and chilled for 5 - 10 minutes before a server stumbled upon them and recognized someone was waiting eagerly for breakfast.
(3)Jessica E.
The coffee here is absolutely wonderful! I crave this coffee when I am not around this area. I realize that people have different tastes in coffee, but the quality here is evident and the prices are quite reasonable. Also, they have several selections of coffee, so you are likely to find something that suits your taste. This is also a great place to get a breakfast or lunch on the go or sit down for a lighter meal. I usually get a sandwich. They clearly use high quality ingredients and put effort into each order. The service is usually very good and the decor is charming and inviting. I only have two concerns. I have occasionally gotten a less-than-fresh piece of bread or bagel and when ordering on the go, as I usually do, this cannot be remedied very easily. Also, while I understand why they do not take credit cards, this has kept me away quite a few times when I was in a hurry and had no cash. I refuse to pay a surcharge at an ATM when there is a surcharge-free ATM at the wawa next door. And if I am already in the wawa and feeling hungry...well, you can figure out where I am going with this.
(4)mary p.
I, unlike Heather, think this place is wonderful. I end up here almost every day I'm visiting my parents in Delaware. It's a great latte and a delicious breakfast (unless you get the breakfast sandwich, which Heather got, and was pretty bland). I usually get an omelet and have never been disappointed with that. Moreover, it's local, it's comfy, lots of room, you can sit for hours reading the paper, and I want to keep Starbucks out of Hockessin. Why? I'm not sure. I just do.
(4)Liz W.
Really really delicious food and lattes! The chocolate croissant was AMAZING!! I also tasted some of my sisters meal which was the Sampler and it was also delicious. You could tell the eggs were homemade, the bacon was delicious and the pancakes tasted far from fake. Even the syrup tasted like it wasn't just from a bottle from the store. I didn't give a full 5 stars because the wait seemed a little long for a Monday at 11, but considering the quality of the food, it wasn't that big of a deal. It did seem like everyone was waiting on their food though, so it could be a recurring theme. If you're feeling patient, DEFINITELY stop in here for a bite to eat and some caffeine! (Major plus: they have almond milk)
(4)Ainsley A.
Great food, great people, and great coffee. Came here on the spur of the moment this morning on the way to an appointment. The staff is very friendly, the décor is very heartwarming and comfortable and the menu is extensive. They have everything on their breakfast menu from eggs to French toast. They even have a lunch menu which I didn't have a chance to scan over, but I will definitely be back to try their lunch. My mom and I essentially had the same meal. I had the breakfast burrito, and she had it in omelette form. I loved the fact that the burrito was not calorie ridden; eggs, a tiny bit of cheese and amazing sautéed vegetables topped with salsa was found inside the perfectly warm tortilla. They even had two different types of hot sauce I could choose from. Price points are average and definitely worth it for the quality of food you are getting. I cant wait to come back!
(5)JT F.
The layout is terrible and causes the line to move very very slowly. I heard the manager yelling at the employees the entire time I was there.
(1)Albert L.
A really local cafe spot to grab a quick coffee or to have a nice lunch. Came with the family on a weekend, and we ordered some salads and a sandwich, all of which were actually pretty good. I got a chicken and artichoke salad that had homemade bagel crisps - great stuff. The food is simple and veritably well-put together here. Now, I must actually agree with Nichole E. on her sentiments about employee interaction that is completely visible to the dining room. They need to have some kind of wall or divider between the dining room and prep/kitchen area, because everyone can see what is going on with the staff behind the counter. It makes the experience a little bit uncomfortable if you're not expecting such a thing, and I also think diners will appreciate a little bit of separation from the kitchen in terms of watching food prep. Definitely give TPCC a try if you're in the area. The staff is friendly and patient, and they need the local community's support!
(3)H H.
What a turnaround!!! This place apparently has new owners and I'm so psyched to report the food is totally great! Love the new layout and the whole place seems fresher and more updated. Love. We'll be back!!
(5)Dracunculus R.
I've been coming heard off snd on for the past 10 (?) years. I grew up in Hockessin until 1976 and only come back for intermittent family events. If I lived here still I would eat at yhe perfect cup regularly. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Clean. Food and coffee is very good snd reasonable. Staff is always polite.
(5)Derek F.
The atmosphere is nice and so are the people but the food is just normal, nothing special besides the baked goods. For what they are they are a four. Love the place though!
(4)Kris S.
Well, I have lived in the area for two years and visited the Perfect Cup frequently before the new owners took over. The food was still good when things changed hands but I would loose my appetite after sitting and listening to the owner berate her staff loudly and in full view and hearing of us, her paying customers. I experienced that a few times and stopped going because I thought she had outstanding staff with good customer service skills, but you would never hear a complement, only harsh criticism. That was about a year ago. Today I gave it another chance thinking maybe the owner has worked out the links and gotten over her self-righteous attitude. Sadly, I was disappointed. She has toned down the berating of her staff to conversational volume...I wasn't there five minutes and she began berating the busboy. Unbelievable. Why she thinks we want to be witness to her horrible management skills escapes me. Furthermore, the coffee was burnt (I can get way better coffee at work for free) so at $2.25 for a large to go cup ($.75 refills) it is way overpriced for my taste. When I left the cafe, and got into the car, I realized I was still smelling the cafe. It was ME! My clothes wreaked of grease odor. I wasn't even sitting near the grill. I don't understand why there were other people staying there absorbing up those odors. One positive was the breakfast sandwich. I had it on sourdough bread which was nicely flavored and I picked goat cheese for my cheese choice which I LOVE on anything but don't get to choose very often. I would maybe go buy a sandwich or pastry to go, but someone really needs to tell that owner to take better care of the good workers she has. That's just sad.
(1)Nichole E.
After I wrote my initial review, I witnessed the most disrespectful conversation I've ever heard between manager (maybe owner?) and employee. The manager, a woman, chewed out the employee because she had just answered a phone call and didn't handle it as the manager thought it ought to be handled (she was going to take a message instead of handing the phone to the manager). Now this employee was my cashier just minutes earlier, and she was extremely friendly. She was fast, knowledgable, friendly and welcoming. Great service! The credit card machines were down that day, and it was clear that the entire staff was stressed out, but this employee still had a smile on her face. I can see why everyone would be stressed... if the manager treats all the employees the way I witnessed her treat this employee, I'd expect morale to be low. It was so disrespectful, condescending, and downright nasty that I am kicking myself for not saying anything. Worst of all, there were several customers within earshot. If you need to talk sternly to an employee, at least don't do it in front of paying customers. Very unprofessional, not to mention an added level of disrespect to the employee. I would not come to this cafe again even though I very much enjoy their lattes and their coffee flavors, if for no other reason than to protest the way the manager treated her employee. Absolutely inappropriate. To that employee, if you ever read this: walk away from that place!!!! You deserve to be treated far better than the way your manager treated you that day.
(1)P. L.
I was here visiting for the weekend and got trapped in the snow after eating lunch across the street. We went here to grab some coffee and wait for a ride to come pick us up and even though they were closing the owner's mother opened the place for us and we picked up coffee and a bag of fresh muffins the owner baked that morning. We gabbed with the owner's parents for a while and they were so nice and friendly along with the staff. Our ride got there 20 minutes after us and they even let him in to get fresh ground coffee, 20 minutes after closing. They had a really nice, small town, friendly appeal that was refreshing. Not too many places would let you in after closing and actually care about how you're getting around in the bad weather and take the time to get to know you. We ate the muffins later and they were delicious. The next morning we went back for coffee and the girl at the register remembered us, was friendly, and remembered our whole situation and took the time to ask about it. We both regretted not ordering fresh made breakfast sandwiches for our road trip but I will have to try them another time when I'm in town.
(4)A H.
Don't waste your time. I have nothing nice to say at all. The owner belittles and degrades her employees. I've never witnessed someone hush a grown man or yell at employees in front of paying customers. And I'm not sure what's worse - her attitude or the smell of the cafe. Both are disgusting. Just sell the place. She only gets one star because I can't give her zero.
(1)Alex M.
Great place to grab coffee with friends.
(4)Mike P.
Creative and well-made sandwiches make for a very pleasant lunch. And free wi-fi, a luxury these days sadly. The Chai is excellent. Very convenient, with good parking. The young staff are sometimes distracted but generally ok. Nice place, good and well-prepared food.
(4)